Agreed, the Training Department is in complete shambles, and the letter from the COO confirms it...but says nothing about how it will be fixed with anything tangible or specific. Cute, buzz-words from MBA School won't fix the deep-rooted, festering problems and self-inflicted wounds. Much like an alcoholic initially won't admit they have a problem, Mesa continues the same, arrogance-based, pilot-hating, blame-everybody-else approach.

By way of example, the Training Department (E-Jet):

* Has had to send three (3) emails to pilots in the Pipeline to ascertain where/when they were in the pipeline, despite the record-keeping requirements an FAA-mandated obligation of Mesa;

* Has not/never supplied a Training Syllabus or Footprint to any of the pilots within the Pipeline, even though many have asked repeatedly, and even though this is another FAA-mandated requirement of a Part 121 Training Department;

* Has not/never supplied Completion Standards (similar to the PTS/ACS) to any of the pilots within the Pipeline, but evaluating them on a moving-target of inconsistent and haphazardly-applied opinions, which vary by Instructor, in clear violation of any FAA Training-based Regulations;

* Routinely schedules training sessions, class time, etc. spanning 6-8 hours but curtails it at the 2-3 hour mark, which fails to supply adequate instruction but fails to meet any standards of time-protocol;

* Haphazardly schedules events out-of-sequence, this forcing pilots in the Pipeline to: a) take 2-3 oral exams because of the 60-day rule; b) conduct "observations" before ground, FPT training is completed; and, c) leaves already-completed ground-FPT-trained pilots hanging for weeks/months at a time with no schedule, no study protocol, and no program to keep them "current" with knowledge. You don't simply tell "go home and study, and wait for the email";

* Five (5) to seven (7) months from DOH to IOE is egregious and has no comparison in the industry - The delay causes these pilots serious financial problems as they struggle to live in Phoenix AND support their family back home on the guaranteed, but minimum wage, and without the end-of-IOE-bonus [which is now being used to simply pay off their credit cards racked up while in training]. It's fraud, pure-and-simple;

* Routinely refuses to answer emails about scheduling, scheduling events, and SIM time, thus forcing pilots in the pipeline to just hang around Phoenix - come on, Mesa knows the SIM time it's purchased well in-advance, so communicate;

* Uses Instructors who have never flown the E-Jet and, in fact, haven't flown anything in decades ~ yes, they are nice guys and book-smart, but supply no insight into practical reality;

* There is no standardization among Instructors;

In short, the E-Jet Training Program is a complete fail and possibly illegal under FAR 121. Sooner than later, United will comprehend Mesa cannot honor their flying commitment and it was because of Mesa's own negligence, lack-of-planning, and arrogance. The FAA will learn Mesa simply can't train pilots in accord with the Regulations. The competition sharks have already smelled blood in the water...

...we all know how this story ends.