Originally Posted by JustAMushroom
1.You can go form RJ FO to TurboProp Capt. at SkyWest..not at Mesa.
2.If you are actually going to have a 4+ hr scheduled break, SkyWest will get you a hotel..I don't think Mesa does. (middle of the night in Edmonton..yikes)
3.CrewSchduling will actually work with you (not that you get what you want) but they will try. There are thousands of times this is important. Like deadheading to a trip from out of base..or if your last flight mechanicals and you just want to jumpseat home,or your wife is having a baby...or...
4. SkyW doesn't hire 250hr pilots.
5. SkyW gives a lot of time in the RJ sim. Some call it overkill. But by the time you are ready for your Checkride and IOE most guys feel very prepared. I'm not sure how Mesa does it, but I'm betting its 1/4 to 1/3 less time in the sim.
Finally, there is a reason there are hundreds of X-Mesa pilots at SkyWest..not the other way around.
1. True
2. False. Mesa gets hotels for 4 hour layovers, sometime even shorter ones if they're redeyes.
3. Mesa CT will release you if it makes sense. Sometimes during peak travel periods they will go to a temporary no-release policy. The CP on duty can always release you for a family issue. SKW is probably more helpful.
4. I belive they hire DCA PFT pilots, but probably only because DAL requires them to, so they are few and far-between.
5. RJ: 32 Hours SIM, 4 Hour checkride, 4 hour LOFT, 25 hours IOE.
There are lots of ex-mesa FO's at SKW. They have a better QOL and recently they have had a fast upgrade window, so why not?