I can't believe I'm actually going to put this on the table, but....

Mesa has an ab initio program as well called Mesa Airlines Pilot Development. If you finish "The Program" you are guaranteed an interview, and you don't have to pay for instructor ratings. You don't need to be a CFI (CFII, MEI) to be an airline pilot. And, like everything else at mesa (mgmt. labor expenses, mgmt. mentality) it's fairly cheap. Last I heard, 2-3 years ago, it was $60k (plus living expenses) for private, commercial, and Multi-Comm-Instrument ratings, which is the bare min to fly at the regional level. Training is done in Bonanzas and Barons and there is a CRJ sim on the campus as well.

Probably the best thing is this...if you get your mulit-comm-inst. and build your 1,500 hours away from the training program you can come in and just do your ATP with MAPD and get the same guaranteed interview.

One other scenario is to go to the DCA and get your instructor ratings AND THEN come teach at mapd. After two years of instructor you to can become a regional pilot at mesa.

Here's the problem, Mesa is THE WORST airline in the U.S. as far as mgmt. goes. The people you will work with are great, but get your 500-1,000 RJ hours and then run away as fast as you can. AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!! to another regional that will treat you with some respect.

I believe the web-site is flyingcareers.com or something along those lines, and there is also a link on the mesa-air.com website. Training is provided through San Jan College in Farmington NM and through the ASU East campus at Williams Gateway in Phoenix.

I'll say this one last time...mesa is NOT!! a place you want to spend 8 1/2 years like I did. However, mapd will save you five years of building time as an instructor in trying to become an airline pilot.