Originally Posted by
Lighteningspeed
This is true. In my class last year, we had 4 or 5 UND graduates and the rest were from another regional, 1 military, 2 corporate, and 2 or 3 CFIs.
They all had 1000 hours or over. 2 had close to 4000 hours. Everyone finished but 1 UND was asked to resign. 1 FSI was also asked to resign.
Whether you get assigned RJs or Saabs is completely dependent on the needs of the Crew Planning and the logistics of the Training Department.
If you have never flown a turboprop, don't be so quick to dismiss it. You will regret not flying a turboprop later on in your career. First of all, quick upgrades are into the Saab, so you definitely want to upgrade in the same type of AC you have been flying. Secondly, I know a lot of guys missing their days flying turboprops after they have transitioned into jets. I have flown turboprops not at mesaba but elsewhere, and it is a lot of fun flying them. At Mesaba, Saab drivers get to do some really fun stuff into small airports and at lower altitudes. Some older Flight attendants only want to fly in the Saabs.
I highly recommend that any prospective new hire or new hire at Mesaba read what this wise person just said. If you are a young person at the regional level trying to break in on an airline career there are 4 things that matter.
1. Pay
2. days off
3. quality of experience (if interested in moving up to the majors one day)
4. Respect. (For senior pilots to you. they have a wealth of knowledge and we know little in comparison. Ask questions and keep the ears open, you will learn a ton.
People complaining about assigned turboprop flying are ignorant of the opportunity granted to them and might as well go somewhere else.
log books rj or turbo prop : SIC time turbine time
Not much of a difference in the books either