Most guys think they are getting a jumpstart on their career by attending the mesa training program. Here is a few things worth considering.

1. You will get your 1st part 121 job quick no lie about that.

2. Then you will watch many former CFI's or Cargo dogs beat you to the left seat. By the time you have the necassary hrs in your logbook to upgrade to captain the CFI's and C-dogs (who have the same seniority) will be applying elsewhere with triple the amount of PIC on their RESUME. Remember PIC is everything, OK that and who you know.

3. With most of your experience coming from the right seat flying with an experienced captain. Be ready to learn what CFI'ing is all about once the newbies start coming thru enjoy.

 

Agreed. In addition to this, why would you spend this much money on the PACE program ($10k) to get hired at 250ish hours when they are taking people off the street with less than 500. In other words, you could instruct at a busy flight school and have the flight time in less time than it takes to do the MAPD program. All while earning income!

As far as their primary/ab initio program, a much better deal is to do ATP's 90 day Career Pilot Program. You instruct at the end of it and have chances at more than one company: http://www.pilotjobs.com/ And.. all of those companies aren't MESA!

And while you're at it, why would you go to Mesa at 500 hours when other finer regionals are hiring at 500-600 hours!??!? That's the question of the decade.

XJT, Republic, SKYW, Eagle are all much better choices. Ornstein Air can tank for all we care.

 

Good Question Ski Patrol. It really is not any different then going to Flight Saftey or ATP for that matter. And in todays hiring world you might as well stay at home and get your ratings.

The one thing that happens to those new hires who get stuck in the seat for a little longer while Jr people upgrade around them is that they are building turbine multi time, not 152 "Oh My GOD" time. They will also find that they can hold hard lines once they are eligible to upgrade where the Jr Captain is stuck on reserve for christ knows how long, ask Extreme150 about that.

 

First off, do not work for Mesa, at least not 'til they get a decent contract, and J.O. gets struck by lightning while riding his bike.

Second, as mentioned above, is a bit of a trade off, do you get your seniority number first and build your time on the line, or do you wait just a bit longer and get in but actually have the time required to upgrade. Either way is up to you and your needs. Ab Initio, and programs like this one are about to become very popular, and within the next 5 years due to the pilot shortage upon us, most regional carriers will be hiring at 250, 300 hours....pure demand and supply, and demand is much bigger right now.

So, I guess it boils down to economics, do you drop 12K or however much it is now? Or build a little more time and wait for the industry to catch up to you, and maybe have a few more options?

 

I would say no, you wouldn't. It's about 18-20 months for the average person to go from start to finish, zero to hero in the ab initio program. That's a lot of time compared to other programs. Reference ATP's 90-day program, or even a self-paced program could do zero to CFI/I/MEI in 6 months or less. With the lack of CFI's at most areas around the country you could easily be 1000-1200TT within 18 months of starting flight training. You've spent less money, and have quite a bit more hours which makes you more marketable to companies other than strictly Mesa. You could go freight or regional.

I would say this probably isn't the case most times. Maybe at SkyWest right now (for the EMB) but not most places with a 2, 3, or 4+ year upgrade time.

Some of the best captains I flew with as a new FO weren't CFI's. So this post would be N/A.



So I would conclude by saying MAPD isn't a good program in todays environment, but not for the points you raised.

 

Allright Fosters we agree on something MAPD is not the way to go. However my post is from observations first hand ya know I work here. So I can say with absolute confidence I know what I'm talking about. And no I did not go there I CFI'd and 135.
Cheers

 

I'm not really sure where you work. Sorry I hit a nerve. I thought my observations were accurate as well. I've been reading mesahub, upgrades except for the 1900 and D8 aren't that low. The "Upgrades just around the corner!" paints a pretty good picture of what I'm trying to convey.

 

1...I DO NOT WANT TO INSTRUCT. I know I would not enjoy it at all, and instructors should be liking their jobs. I hate the guys who are only in it for the hours and have no goals teaching besides hours and a paycheck. That and I cant help but emphasize that Riddle is 142, so flight times a whole lot less

2...Im walking from Riddle with ~200 hours...not like its going to be that much of a towering debt compared to what I have now. Plus, factor in flight costs if I was going to get hours from Billy Bobs Hangar to get up to minimums assuming $130/hr.

3...15 weeks to the right seat? Far shorter time than it would be with that first point I mentioned. Ill have the ratings and be Riddle-ized, and all they need to do is Mesa-fy me.


Yes its not the prefered way of getting into 121, yes Ill probably be despised by some who have been it it the 'old fashion way', yes it is going to cost me, but Ill take it. Argue me otherwise if my logic is flawed.

 

I may get blasted for this........but hasn't your logic already been flawed?


Riddle then mesa? Dude!!!!

 

Walk from Riddle yes. Go to PACE debateable.

In order to be captain on the jet at mesa you need minimum 2500tt with 1000 multi PIC or 2000 multi SIC and then there are the Int'l ICAO mins. In effect you spend 1.5 to 2 years extra (over your counterpart the CFI) building worthless SIC time. You finally upgrade having rarely made a decision in your aviation career it makes for a handful when the s#$t hits the fan.

With that being said if you do go to pace, make damn sure you get the beech 1900 so you can learn to be a real pilot 1st before hitting the jet.
Course all this is just my .02 from 1st hand observation.