Of course it is acceptable or they wouldn't let you wear it. That's why I said "personally." I think it is only acceptable for current military pilots to wear because of its heritage.

 

Funny to see a disagreement over a leather jacket (read: functional piece of clothing for cold weather) when so many pilots wear shirts that don't fit and/or are wrinkled, pants that don't fit (bunch up around the shoes) and/or haven't been dry cleaned in the last several months and scuffed shoes (or tennis shoes) that have never been polished.

Yep, the leather jacket is the reason you look bad walking through the terminal.

If everyone cared half as much about keeping their shirts and pants clean and pressed as you guys do about leather jackets vs. a blazer, it would be a good thing.

 

I dont know what your argument is. I've always argued that maintaining a professional appearance is important.

 

I get that the east coast is more accustomed to coat-and-tie than the west coast, but I'm not gonna sweat it. Leather jacket it is.

 

How many on the list are lifers at Mesa? Why is the attrition so low? I've been hearing if you're lucky there are 8 people moving on each month.

 

Mesa is an old regional. When I first was hired I flew with a lot of Captains that had been with the company 20+ years. (Doesn't happen much anymore as upgrades are running galore.)

These guys are set in their ways, mostly are above the age of 50, make more than 100k a year and have no interest in starting over at the bottom of a mainline list and sit in the right seat for the last 10-15 years of their career.

Also you have to remember pre-bankruptcy Mesa's seniority list consisted of 1800+ pilots. Once all the Dashs, 145s and 200s got parked, that list shrunk to a mere 600 pilots, leaving only the most senior guys in the left seat and most of the relatively young pilots bailed to other airlines.

Long story short, I'd say 200-300 guys on the list are lifers. Don't have a list in front of me but I think there's maybe 900 total on the list now.

 

I was told by the recruiters Mesa will need another 1,000 pilots...so a total of 1800+. Does this seem accurate/consistent with the new growth?

 

Yeah breezy beat me to it again.

What's your point? I don't think anyone disagrees that someone with a fitted clean uniform looks better than the alternate.

What ticks me off is all these overweight pilots. Especially the young overweight ones. I don't buy this whole "this airline lifestyle keeps me from being in shape/healthy."

All it takes is a little ingenuity on overnights to stay in shape. Walk to a gym near by or if you don't want to do that, go for a jog and throw in some push ups and sit ups.

I don't care if your uniform is fitted and pressed. If you are fat it still looks unprofessional.

 

Yes, remember only about 6 of the 30 175s have been delivered and only about 6 of the 10 900s from Europe are in service. We have lots of deliveries still to take.

And this isn't the end, watch for another announcement soon of more flying.

(Disclaimer, before all the Mesa bashers jump this post. No where am I stating that I am happy that we are getting aircraft over airlines that have stood up for the industry, such as XJT, Eagle and the like, I'm just giving news as I hear it.)

 

First off, you should NEVER believe what a recruiter tells you, especially a sensitive nipple steroid junkie. Secondly, where do you come up with needing 1000 more pilots on deliveries of only another 28 airplanes (24 175's and 4 more 900's)? Now I'm not that good at math, but 28 planes at 10 pilots were plane would be another 280. A long cry away from 1000.