No the goal was 16 upgrades--4 PHX, 2 IAD, 10 EJET.

Pretty sure they went one over the "anticipated" awards on the EJET bc one of them is an upgrading as an instructor pilot (note the INS on the award next to his name).

You could have your 1000 in less than 15 months depending on what base you're in.

 

You might get to jump over some people--all these guys seem to think they're going to fly 1000 hours in a year, but they're projecting off of the status quo, and they aren't considering the effects of ORD closing, CLT closing, cancellations in wintertime, and flying being consolidated into fewer bases--that can and will push some people onto reserve and cause people to fall behind on their "1000 hours in 1 year" fantasy.

I don't want to be a pessimist, just saying a whole lotta new folks seem to think everything is certain and guaranteed, and they haven't even hit IOE yet!!!

 

What's the goal in upgrades per month? 16?

 

Yeah i think projeted was always around 16 per mo. 6 CRJ 10 EJET

However last bid was 22

 

Good points!
So, on average how many hours max can one expect to fly at Mesa? 500? 800?

 

On Mesa's website, it discusses a training contract of 12 months. Straight from the website:

"Mesa Air Group pilots with less than four (4) years longevity are required to execute a training agreement as a condition for entering into initial, upgrade or transition training. The aircraft assigned determines the promissory note amount. The duration of the note is one year, which prorates equally over the 12-month period. If the obligations of the note are not satisfied, the balance, if any, is then payable by the pilot to the Company."

After reading this, this sounds as you owe Mesa a year of employment. If not, then you must pay them back any training costs at a prorated amount. Anyone from Mesa able to confirm this?

Was recently reading good things about this company, but this caught my attention. It is not like you are receiving a cash bonus for accepting the job.

Also, does this start immediately upon first day of training?

 

I think that's standard at all the regionals. The only exception I've heard is the Q400 at Republic, because let's be honest, who wants to go do that?

It's effective from the point you pass your 121 checkride.

With the investment they put into training you, I don't think staying a year is unreasonable. Where else would you go, anyway?

 

I was thinking of leaving a while back and talked to a couple people who did so not long after training. Apparently no word from Mesa on the contract. Others have said they send you a scary bill in the mail, but don't actually pursue the issue. The prorated amount is cut in half if you give them 45 days notice, so there's also that.

If company emails and the staff I've met are any indication of how Mesa operates, I'm not sure the company is organized enough to come after anyone...or to even know you've resigned for that matter.

Yes, first day of training.

 

Lots of people are militant about stuff like this, but even as a fairly leftist/labor-friendly guy, I personally have zero problem with it--in the past, Skywest had a 5-day CRJ course and was essentially poaching Mesa pilots the second they finished training. The company spends more than your entire first year salary on training you, and they use the training agreement to protect their investment (and weed out people who are just here to get current and leave).

Every single person I know who complained about it was simply using Mesa as a way to get 121 currency and/or a free ATP, and one guy who refused to sign it was asked to leave.

 

Good point regarding the training investment.

Many guys (a year ahead of me) from my last squadron flew regionals for less than six months, and have all been hired by DAL, AA, and UAL. I will have to ask them if they paid anything back.

Still new to all of this 121 vs 135, and trying to be as informed as possible when I separate from the Navy. This website has been beneficial.

Thanks for the info.