"Sweet chedda" at horizon or Skywest flinging gear for years @ 40k is still complete crap. Anything less than 50-60k and i guarantee those boys and girls have issues paying those school loans back.

Last I checked long-term regional is not the way we want to go Right? Being stuck at one is another issue.

I don't know where that guy got 4yr upgrades from? But as of right now I'd say 2yrs or less* (dependent on a lot of variables)

There are abnormal situations where people did very little time at regionals, no one denies that. For the vast majority of regional pilots at any regional the career has been a long one, much longer than they expected. You're absolutely foolish to treat this career as a stepping stone, you're setting yourself up for a lot of disappointment.

If it was truly a stepping stone do you think there would be so many 10 year regional pilots? Yes some of them want to retire at a regional, but what about the others?

I'm confused on what you're trying to get at?

Yes, 9/11, recession of 2008, its been a hard 10 years for this industry.

However, for all the guys that are stuck right seat 5+ years at a Regional or regional CA that hasn't moved on there are A LOT of guys that did it right, (internal recs in order, networked, good attitude, etc) that are sitting right seat at a major and did only 3-4 years at a Regional.

This thread is titled "MESA" and at Mesa we are about to have sub 2 year upgrade times and a TON of movement.

The title of this thread is not "Most Regionals haven't had much movement in the last 5 years."

If you want to get in and out and move on this IS the place to go right now.

I'm beating a dead horse as I've said this multiple times but Mesa IS way better than Republic. My first year pay is the same, and here I have a chief pilot that will go to bat for me, not against me.

So would you go to XJT or Mesa in the current environment? I have an offer for an EMB-145 class at XJT. I live in Chicago, both have bases here. Want to upgrade and get out. Possibly looking to commute from Ireland at some point in the future, for at least 30% of the time at least.

Did it "right" (internal recs, networking) there are a lot of reasons this industry is horrible and nepotism, cronyism are right up there at the top. You can point to a few successful individuals all you want but when the music stops (and it will) or your contract carrier gets whipsawed and that "quick upgrade" you counted on doesn't come, are you truly prepared to spend a large portion of your life at the regional who currently employs you?

That attitude of "stepping stones" and "quick upgrades" are a huge part of why regional compensation is so low.

Mesa better than republic? That sir is a far stretched statement. That's like saying my turd is better than your turd.

Mesa without a doubt. Like I said before, you'll upgrade at Mesa in the same amount of time it takes for you to get off reserve at XJT. Especially if you're looking for an ORD base

The entire regional business model is built on get in and get out. Trying to change that will get you whipsawed or Comaired. Mesa has produced FAR more mainline pilots than Horizon.

Get your time, move on so another CFI can do the same. End of Story

Source please?


I'm not trying to be confrontational, I just don't know much about Mesa. The APC page show upgrades at 10 years for most domiciles. Where is all of this movement coming from that upgrades will be down to 2 years for a new hire?

Right, because you've also been at both? I'm probably one of the few who can make this statement, without using "well my buddy at mesa or my buddy at republic..."

Mesa right now, (not 08 mesa), but right now, is better than Republic.