minivan

I've seen the news of an SDF base for Mesa in February 2018. I'm weighing the options of home basing at SDF versus an AA wholly-owned with a commute. Is SDF primarily one airframe or another or is it a mix? Thoughts, opinions, rebukes, rebuttals? I'm aware that most people hate these kinds of threads...

Thanks!

chrisreedrules

Go to the WO. Commuting isn’t that bad, especially out of SDF which has a ton of flights to the hubs. Better pay, better opportunities, etc. True story, just ran into a new hire here at PSA who was a CA at Mesa before coming here. I wonder why Captains from Mesa are making moves to other regionals if it’s so good at Mesa? Captains from the WOs are moving up to legacies.

No Land 3

You will discover that SDF will be a short term base, no one thought CLT would close, and DFW is shrinking. When they opened DFW, the talk was 1000 pilots at DFW. Both CLT and apparently DFW, the trolls from PSA and Envoy were actually telling the truth. People had just closed on buying new homes around CLT only to find out two weeks later it was going away. Senior CA’s quit, FO’s left for PSA, others became commuters to IAD and DFW.
Go to a WO like Chris suggests.

ChickenChicken

It's possible Louisville and Atlanta are opening simply to entice new hires from that region since the majority of the current bases are west of the Mississippi...AA isn't increasing flying out of Louisville and UA could care less about Atlanta.. It's a marketing ploy

MagPBS

DFW is only “shrinking” because sdf opened. The block hours had to come from somewhere. So no the “trolls” still are not right. And neither are you.

No Land 3

They were right about CLT, and B terminal is a sad cry from when I was there.

avi8tor614

Personal decision is your best option. First of all no regional base is safe forever. Once you get that in your psyche, you've taken the first step in the regionals. Whether its a ploy, stunt, or whatever. Bases come and go. If you own a home in SDF and WANT to be home DO IT. Commuting gets old period. WO's may have it better contractually right now hats off to them, but your flow time at PSA is 6 years good friend of mine is there right now, I don't know what Envoys is. Don't let anyone on these forums dictate your future. Some regional have great deals right now; flow, money, work rules ect. Key word "right now" my friend went PSA for money right now and FLOW in couple YEARs That works for my friend. For me it does not, I have seniority, easy commute, and I apply every where I'm and i am not locked into one system. Had few interviews with other major airlines as well. Mesa is ok. NOT best but not bad. QOL is important to me. I manage on what do here with a a well balanced home life. Some people are about FLOW and money. You have to pick and honestly that's the difference between regionals. Money, Flow, QOL and opportunity. It's all about rolling the dice. PSA on top today bottom tomorrow, who knows. Mesa well.... it's Mesa. There are opportunities here just like anywhere. Grass isnt always greener. I laid my own seed and I'm watching it grow. May not be that green to others but it's an OK green for me. That's all that matters

frankgh

This guy gets it!

minivan

Well I guess they've had a maintenance operation at SDF for some time now. So realistically, if they open a crew base in February 2018, when is the soonest anyone here could fathom them closing the base? What does the history of other bases show?

I don't doubt anybody's input here and I'm grateful for all of the feedback.

mjpilot

Well said, I am in a similar boat.