First off, I am neither an advocate of MAPD and MESA nor an opponent. I have tried to be objective with my comments, but let's stick to the facts:
Originally Posted by rickair7777
1) MAPD graduate do not come anywhere near to meeting ICAO ATP mins due to their low PIC time...they might have the seniority to upgrade in 2 years, but they often won't have the flight experience for 4-5 years. I have known folks to buy a 152 to get the 1200 hours PIC...in fact that 152 got passed around a bit...
This depends on several factors. First, what equipment you are on. The Beech 1900D upgrade does not require the ICAO mins as you do not fly international. The ICAO mins will also likely be waived for much of the Dash-8 domestic flying. Even so, if you fly regularly you will meet all ICAO mins after 3 years with Mesa (assuming you graduate from MAPD with bare minimum time). And the upgrade to CA on the ERJ is currently less than 2 years, and the CRJ about 3 years. So even if you have to wait to meet ICAO mins, you still are looking at going from private pilot to the left seat of a regional jet in 4.5 years total. If you go with the CFI route you are going to spend 3.5 years+ before you can apply to a regional. As pointed out, however, the CFI route does certainly give you some invaluable additional experience flying which is always a good thing.
Originally Posted by rickair7777
2) MAPD and other pay-for-training (PFT) programs are generally not held in high regard within the rest of the industry. Graduates are considered (rightly or wrongly) to have bought a job and to have a very shallow experience base. Many airline pilots hold each PFTer personally responsible for the current state of the industry ( I do not, so hold the flame).
This can create real problems if you ever decide to leave Mesa for a major airline...you will be competing for jobs with folks who have CFI and/or 135 experience in their background. And if you think you will want to stay at Mesa...let me just suggest that you keep all of your options open...
I certainly can't comment here on what other airline pilots think. Perhaps this is true. However, I would think that this is a rather narrow view held by a select few. I will say that I personally know and/or know of MAPD grads that have gone to United, NW, SW, JetBlue, Fed Ex, UPS, US Airways, Continental and Alaska. As a matter of fact, I know of at least 7 MAPD students who were sent to the program by their father's who were Captains at United, Continental, SW and Alaska - all of whom thought MAPD was the best option for their child to enter the airline aviation business.
I would think once you build up the time to meet a major airline's hiring requirements, whether you were MAPD or not is going to be of little significance. Your personality, competence, and connections are going to be what gets you the job.
Originally Posted by rickair7777
If you have any doubts, go over to the APC major airline forum and ask those boyz what they think about an MAPD graduate flying airliners...
Actually I think this is a really good idea. I'll make the post. I'm very curious to see what those guys have to say.