I'm still here Sultan, sorry for the delayed post. Here's the scoop on my app, and on what I found out while at Mesaba.
I applied from the Mesaba internet site on Sept 13, received a call for the interview in mid-October, scheduling for an interview on 30 Oct. This seems to fit the timeline of others who have been recently called.
I asked HR about how many apps they were receiving, and the person I asked said that it was running between 100 and 150, every day. I was also told that they are interviewing three times per week, and from my experience and what I've read here, it looks like they like to have about 8 candidates for the interviews. So, there is there potential of them receiving over 1000 applications per week, and out of that 1000, they are only going to select about 24 for interviews.
Based on this, each candidate must ask themselves "HOW will my application stand out from 1000 others?" It is my OPINION, not based on any imperical evidence, that the best way is with a good cover letter. Having a cover letter that makes someone want to open and review your resume seems like the best shot to stand out from the crowd quickly. Also, after having been through the interview process, I can also say that I'm very impressed with the company and am convinced that they really do want to hire people with great attitudes, friendly personalities, and who honesly want to work for the company, not just fly. Once again it is OPINION, not fact, but I believe Mesaba puts less weight into hours and prior experience than they do your personality. I base this on their very unique (simple) simulator evaluation. They are putting you in a Saab sim to see if you can impress anyone, they put you on a simple desktop trainer and see if you are trainable, and just as importatly, how you interact with the staff.
So, my advice is to continue to apply, brush up your resume and cover letter with an emphasis on your desire to work for this company, and past examples of your ability to learn under pressure, and how you get along well with others. Sure you could fake this, but if you get the call and go to the interview, I believe they will see right through it.
Good luck, and let me know if you would like any additional info.