This isn’t a bad place to be right now.

New to the forums so sorry if this has been posted somewhere else already. I am looking at both Mesa and Skywest as potential places to apply since they have bases that are short direct flights from where I live. I only have 1200 hours and 6 months left on my current contract where I am right now but by the end of the contract should have the 1500 TT for a regional. Any suggestion on when I should apply? Does it make sense to apply before I have my 1500 TT? Any info is appreciated.

Supposedly classes are filled into February/March. You should apply now.

Apply to both. Take the one with the earliest class date. Seniority is everything.

Just curious on how the Mesa pay increase has affected morale? Mesa is up there on top with first year pay. Are people happier there now? I don't think anyone would be having the Mesa or Skywest conversation a year ago but now it is a real thing. Is the increased pay worth going to Mesa over Skywest? Just looking for opinions from the pilot group.

Mesa is just slightly behind sky west as to issues with staffing. We are still needing first officers on the ejet side. On the crj side we need captains. Few are taking the upgrade.

Unhirable?
 

Hi there. Any chance you can elaborate on this? Why would someone be allowed to keep their job but unable to find employment elsewhere? They are truly forever stuck?? Can this happen anywhere or is it unique to Mesa?

Thanks!
-Student Pilot

there are many reasons why someone might get stuck at a regional. Too many failed check rides, DUIs, bad attitude, bad pilot, bad interview candidate. But it’s not unique to Mesa. Every regional has their lifers. Some even choose to stay thinking it’s better at a regional. It’s not. They just talk themselves into that mindset to justify staying. No one is ever truly stuck. With so many jobs right now, anyone can make a move. ULCCs are bordering on desperate. Anyway. Don’t stress about this stuff too much now, By the time you get to that phase, things will be different for sure,

Mesa has significant retirements in the next 5 years. We had people here 40 years who did want to move on but could not. It’s nothing yo do with them but the mainline hiring door cracked open slightly in 2018 but didn’t bust open wide till post covid. It’s the industry more that the pilot. At this point 3-4 years at mainline as an fo won’t even break even money wise for a senior ca. I have to laugh at FOs being upset about 6 months in reserve. Dude because of covid I’ve been a ca on reserve for 3 years. And that’s nothing. In the not so distant past pilots could spend 5-10 years on reserve as an fo. Movement in the industry is key.

Less to do with those and more to do with the industry. A DUI 10+ years ago or a 121 failure for your initial type rating wont hurt.