BeatNavy

Remember those conf calls when the union and management said that these 50 seat companies like SkyWest have stocks that were cratering because of all their 50 seaters? And they'd have to file a bankruptcy to get to get rid of them? And that Mesa was the best place to work because it's the only company that is well positioned with no 50 seaters and good cost structure? They said that when SKYW stock was at a 2-5 year high (low-mid 20s a couple dif times they said it). SKYW yesterday announced a deal with bombardier to give their 200s back (on the XJT side I think, not sure of the details), got paid $90m by bombardier, and their stock is now again at an all time high at $39. Guess what...no bankruptcy. Do you really have faith in mesa management and union leadership when they make claims like this as reasons/justification for why they can't pay you? Just thought I'd rehash that gem touted by both JO and union leadership leading up to/during the last TA.

Skyler02

This. All of this.

The main thing that is going to impede a company's ability to survive at this point, is a lack of pilots. Companies that pay their pilots, will have pilots.

End of story.

daOldMan

Mesa will always be able to hire pilots. There will always be pilots that fail out of training at other airlines, pilots with 5+ check ride failures, pilots with multiple DWI's or other felonies, and pilots with other major issues that no one else wants.

They will all be able to find a home at a place like Mesa - an airline that will hire anyone over the phone and send them out to fly an airliner.

InvalidDB

Felonies? Almost every IAH trip goes to Mexico or Canada at least once. There are plenty of professional, competent pilots at Mesa with no skeletons.

daOldMan

Why? Why would any "professional, competent" pilot go to Mesa?

Ifly4u2c

So, why go to such a awful place? I cant find a good reason... Base? There are other regionals at the same base Mesa is. Why make 24K a year when u can make 40 or 60K everywhere else?? Quick upgrade?? Well last I heard, isnt that quick anymore.
A professional and/or competent pilot, will look out for himself and his family, before applies for mesa, unless it is his last option. Maybe a CFI job would be better in QOL and pay now a days....

InvalidDB

The "why the eff would you go to Mesa?" thing has only existed for about a year and half. Before that, plenty of "competent and professional" people came here to upgrade. And before that, Mesa had been around since 1980. The entirety of the pilot group isn't represented by a fraction of the new hires. Even now, some people just choose to come here. I don't know why. They just do. A less exaggerated version of the people daOldMan describes exist in each class (as in all regionals), but the standard 1500-hour CFI type is still present as well. Also, a lot of these international people are coming from foreign airlines to get 121 time. I don't know the recruiting tactics, but maybe Mesa is going after these folks. Heck, in the past year and a half the Navy, AF and Army (pilots, that is) have all been represented. Yes, I realize the daOldMan's post is troll-ish, but don't rag on your fellow pilots.

As far as leaving goes, once you're here, jumping to another regional isn't necessarily the best financial/career decision considering the break in flight time and income (especially as a captain), as well as the fact that Mesa simply has to come up with a new contract at some (very soon) point to stay in business, in which case you've received the pay bump transitioning to another regional would have provided.

daOldMan

You think Mesa is getting a pay bump and a new contract? Seriously?

Mesa is going to be the place for the misfits that no one else wants and that is it. It doesn't really matter what it used to be. It was never a good place, but now it is a terrible place.

word302

Um no. Mesa has had a bad reputation for many years. I was told by several people when I got in to this industry to avoid them like the plague, that was over 5 years ago.

MesaMentor

Well, let me give you some insight into these tactics. Marcian Kolodyzefgdajjag and his esteem group of recruiters will literally tell you anything to get you to sign and by sign I mean your training note to join the lowest paid regional.

Recently new hires have been told they'd upgrade in two to three months (if they had the upgrade mins) or that they'd be flying cargo in the new A330's that are coming online. The best one I've heard in the last few days is that 200 recruits from Riddle have been locked in by Marcian Kolologagsyahajzyek to keep the new hire pipeline strong.

"Pilots helping pilots" is the phrase Marcian Kololgafaand his crew of recruiters are using. Don't be a sucker and fall for a line given to you to join that crap company.

God forbid you resign to better your career and life. They'll garnish your entire last check and rip you out of CASS leaving you stranded.

Mesa Airlines, the pyramid scheme of pilot hiring.