Bucketofpropwas

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InvalidDB

If you talk to some of those captains, it becomes apparent that there are other reasons they weren't picked up ("lost decade" aside). And some will just tell you that they make enough for their lifestyle and enjoy high seniority. I've been to many job fairs and am not a 15-year captain. It's ok to stick it out for a while and see what happens before choosing an LCC. Especially with low-ish time and less than 1000 TPIC. Without knowing what they're actually looking for, you can't say ACMI looks better on a resume. From a stability standpoint, six years at Mesa with an upgrade, good extracurriculars and no training failures probably looks better than two regionals and an LCC over that same time period. Which candidate probably has more grit? Judging by some of the people I've seen being picked up, the LCC bar isn't particularly high.

There are 16 - 20 year captains at every regional.

No Land 3

You just need to ask yourself what is more beneficial to you? Staying at Mesa while waiting for that phone call, or somewhere else that may have a better QOL, higher pay, and probably add another type to your resume?
Will that phone call ever come? If you go somewhere else, will you end up liking it so much, that you won't care anymore? You need a plan B, C,D,E,F...

No Land 3

Well, reading this post, I am going to say you are probably holding out for Delta, and thats great. You seem to have a type A personality, and would probably be a great fit for them. All the power to you. A mesa pilot that was in my new hire class is starting his class soon over there, you could do a little digging, find out who he is, and contact him. He is a sharp cookie who managed to make his resume really stand out, particularly due to how junior he was for the position he held.
You know, Kalitta was a choice that popped up at the last minute, really wasn't on my radar. I really wanted Spirit or Frontier. If it wasn't for the job fair I went to, and the presentation, I'd still be stuck at Mesa.
It seems to me, most regional pilots want to stick with what they are used to. I am so glad I tried ACMI freight, I will never entertain going back to flying PAX. I don't care, I think international freight with home basing is the best kept secret in aviation.

Santos Dumont

Have you been junior assigned?

InvalidDB

Good to know. I've talked to them and have considered it. Just worried about sleep. Have the timezone changes affected you much? And what's a realistic first-year W2? Sorry, not the Kalitta thread...

deltajuliet

I think ACMI would be great if you're single, but 2 weeks away from the family is too long. Home basing would be amazing, and while you can get that sort of thing at a place like Netjets as well, your W2 will never be what it could've been.

No Land 3

I actually feel much more rested here than Mesa. On any given flight with an augmented or double crew, you get to rest. Sometimes you are very tired, but I managed so far to get in six hours of sleep before show time, which helps greatly. If you can't sleep on an airplane, don't come to K4. It's very nice having a single 12 hour flight every couple of days. You get plenty of down time to explore everywhere you go usually. You know, the most senior position at AA is the international relief pilot, and starting out here, thats what you do the most. I've been to Hong Kong, Korea, Germany, Belgium, Kuwait, Bahrain, India, France, etc. Love walking around Hong Kong. The international hotels are very nice, four or five stars, breakfast included in the vast majority of them. The catering is amazing, always more food than anyone could possibly eat. Regional pilots seem to have this idea in their head that K4 is the Mesa of the cargo world. I get a laugh out of that, if only they knew how wrong they are.

No Land 3

This is the other point that regional pilots simply do not understand. Everyone wants to go to Spirit for their four days off between trips...
Do you have any idea how nice it is to have all of your days off in a row? Every time you come home, it's like a vacation. You work the first half of one month, and the second half of the following month, you get a month off, and you haven't even touched your vacation time. Theres pilots here who don't even use vacation because they don't feel a need for it. I am married, I have kids. When daddy comes home, we have quality time together, we can do stuff. I'm not stressed out and cranky on the last day at home because I have a paid ticket to go to work. I don't have to go early for multiple chances, and all that garbage. I don't have to pay for a hotel room ever, nor for transportation. No crash pads. This goes back to my point that regional pilots want to stick to what they are used to. Let go, broaden your view, you might be much happier.
Your W2? Fourth year CA pay to first year here is a pay increase. One of the CA's I flew with made 280k last year. Thats old contract...
I don't know about you, but making six figures where I live is pretty comfortable living. At the absolute minimum, without perdiem, first year is 6000 a month. In the busy months, you can make closer to 10k, maybe 15. I know some guys that had 140 hour months.
Your W2 will suffer if you stay at YV waiting for that call from Delta.

deltajuliet

Right, I realize waiting for Delta to call is the first step in becoming a regional lifer. The W2 comment was Netjets vs. legacies, Kalitta's new pay scale is pretty decent. Too bad the monthly guarantee wasn't a little higher, but what can you do? It's still an attractive operation with the new contract, and I'm glad the lifestyle suits you.

Commuting to and from work, do you have any influence on what time you leave or anything? Do you find the commute eats up two days a month, or do you still have some time at home those days?