CodyPilot

I just spoke with a recruiter who told me Mesa upgrades at 1,000 SIC of 121 for the E-Jet out of IAH. I was also told IAH has about 2 months of reserve, and the average upgrade time is 21 months for IAH/E-jet folks.

Can anyone attest to why it would be 21 months? Recruiter said CRJ upgrade is taking about 14 months, which seems much more plausible.

calmwinds

Because the Ejet FO’s value the lifestyle (weekends off) that comes with being at the top of the seniority list after 15 months.

There is absolutely no difference in upgrade timeframes between the CRJ and Ejet except the initial training for the Ejet is taking two months longer because of breaks in training. And, a CRJ upgrade in 14 months is pretty optimistic.

If we continue on this trajectory, a Ejet new hire should be eligible to bid for an upgrade the moment they get 1,000 hours SIC. Or, 13 months after the start of IOE.

pangolin

I’m 12 months out of ioe on crj side. Last two bids went Sr to me in dfw. I could hold Sdf easily. But I’m not looking to go there. I could have bid to the ejet and I would have been awarded it. I’d have 3 below me. But I think swapping aircraft with the upgrade is plane foolish.

backtoregionals

Its good to see at least one pilot here has enough common sense not to upgrade into a plane they’ve never flown.

avi8tor614

Ummm, a plane is a plane, close to 10000 hours of flight time, 3 types later, plenty of "previous" PIC experience, and plenty of common; I would not call myself a fool. Transition was fine. I studied hard, way before I even bid over. challenging? Yes. Great experience?
Yes. Most importantly was I ready? Yes. Still learning the planes nuances? Yes. I'm a pilot I fly the aircraft and manage it just fine. I ask FOs after every trip how did I compare to other captains since I was a crossover because i want to keep improving. All of them say same thing. Awesome, great time, or something else positive. I love a challenge that's why I didn't think it was foolish, I had plenty of common sense, studied and prepped hard before going to upgrade and was ready for upgrade and here I am. Captain on the E-175

pangolin

Maybe I should say - swapping Aircraft FOR ME at this time would be foolish. I'm just barely over 1000 121 time (plenty of PIC on Turboprops and 135 but no jet). So at my experience level while I could easily hold IAH, as a CRJ FO presently I think it would be foolish - FOR ME. Not that I could not learn the plane or pass the check rides, I'm confident I could - but would it be prudent for me? Doubtful.

amcnd

Or does that show lack of confidence in Mesa training department...???... the only other airline with 2 types is Envoy/SkyWest. You dont see there pilots concerned about it...

calmwinds

Maybe, it is a lack of confidence in their own skills. Or, maybe, it IS our training.....

I haven’t asked my buddies over at Envoy, but my buddy at SkyWest tells me they give a lot more sim sessions before you are sent to IOE than we do.

We give 9 training sims and then a checkride, and one LOFT. If I recall what he said, SkyWest has 14 training sim sessions, with 9 preparing you for a checkride, a checkride, and then 4 LOFTS. LOFTS is where they teach the stuff one encounters on the line: such as PRM approaches, RA resolution maneuvers, windshear, CAT II, Special Single Engine departure procedures, etc. Their new hires,’same type upgrades, and type to type pilots go through all the same training. They try to pair Captains with FO’s so they get 15 four hour sessions in the appropriate seat.

All the same stuff we cram into our first 9 lessons with FO’s paired with FO’s and CA’s paired with CA’s. So, a pilot really only gets 18 hours of seat appropriate training compared with 60 hours at SkyWest.

No wonder we can’t master a CAT II on the Ejet.

amcnd

Close. OO is 5 session MV, 3 sessions, LOE. Thats sim not including FTD (CRJ)

calmwinds

Ok. Maybe, he was counting the IPT. We don’t have anything close to that. Only a paper tiger. Does that count the checkride?