I only know what I read on the interwebs. If you check Mesa-air.com, it only mentions 1982. But if you search that original certificate, several sites show it originating June 29 1979. I am not sure which is more accurate, but I was giving Mesa the benefit of the doubt. If I falsely claimed 3 extra years of life, I apologize.

Either way, they have been around a few years. Perhaps longer than many of their FOs.