I don’t cheerlead Mesa. I just recognize trolls when they come to our page and call them what they are.

 

Tell that to the Envoy CA’s flowing into the MD80.

 

But you failed to answer my most important question. Other than the 300% pay and the possibility of living in base, what are the compelling reasons for coming to Mesa?

 

Most of those are by choice. And many consider themselves lucky to get DFW on their initial award.

 

1. Time is built quickly (max flight hours per year)
2. A line can be held quickly. Little reserve.
3. The Ejet.
4. Quick upgrade on the Ejet (23 months)
5. You move to a major in 3 to 4 years.

The reasons not to come here:

1. Health insurance sucks
2. Training on the Ejet is backed up
3. You have other options with the same or
better QOL (commute is included in
QOL)

 

You left off a few reasons not to come to Mesa:

1. The contract and work rules suck (deadhead pay, no minimum day pay, etc).

2. Frequent unstacking on the schedule.

3. Pi$$ poor management.

4. 5-7 months from hire to IOE completion, all while being paid the industry's lowest hourly wage.

5. And the undeniable "Mesa Stink" that is a reality and not a myth.

As far as reasons to come, you list flying the E-Jet. Other regionals also fly the same plane, but why is that such a big draw? Does is have massaging pilot seats or do you like all of the automation (makes for lazy pilots). Quick lines? That's because there is a severe pilot shortage. It's worse than most at Mesa. Most other regional have quick upgrades as well. Some are considerably quicker. And move to a major? Where are the numbers that support just how many are doing that? I've seen nothing other than anecdotal claims here and other places that talk about this. See #5 on the list above why that might not be so common as advertised.

 

#1 I voted no on the contract and was vocal that we should vote no. It is what it is at this point. I still outearn nearly all other regional’s pilots given the 300%.

#2 Unstacking only occurs if you are unwilling to take reserve or don’t know how to bid.

#3 The training issue on the Ejet makes me question management. JO is a convicted felon.

#4 I covered this and it is a problem on the Ejet side.

#5 has not stopped Mesa pilots from going to United, Delta, Southwest, and Alaska recently.

 

Do they really?


Idea to ponder... why would a legacy want to cannibalize their own regionals?

Wouldn't a legacy be better off poaching new pilots from their competitor's regionals, or somewhere else entirely?



Serious question.

 

The answer to your first question is no, they don’t.

 

The legacies clearly aren’t canibalizing their own regionals. The trend seems to favor the canibalization of contract regionals while investing heavily in the operations of their WO regional partners.