Mesa or skywest
07-09-2019 | 01:02 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,049
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From: I pilot
07-09-2019 | 01:06 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,578
Likes: 48
From: Semi-Retired...
Look at it this way.
Sign-on bonus: Mesa is currently offering $30k for CRJ pilots. Skywest is offering $7500.
Pay: Mesa FO starting pay - $36/hr, Skywest - $45
DFW based: Mesa, you can hold it after training. Skywest, no idea.
Upgrade: Mesa, upgrade after 1000 SIC, and probably still be DFW based. Skywest, I think the same, but will have to move to a junior base after upgrade.
Class dates: Mesa can get you in class in a couple weeks. Skywest in late October. You’ll be almost finished training with Mesa by the time the Skywest class starts.
Flying: You’ll fly a lot with Mesa. Short reserve in DFW (if any) after training. Skywest I have no idea.
Skywest has the largest fleet, largest pilot group, most bases, decent pay, good QOL as far as I know, and has contracts with 4 legacies. But no pilot union.
Mesa has low pay (but lots of flying, some at 200-300%), 145 aircraft, about 1370 pilots, 5 bases, decent QOL and contracts with 2 legacies. ALPA pilot group.
Get all the facts, and don’t believe everything bad you hear coming from pilots who don’t work at the regional they’re bashing.
Sign-on bonus: Mesa is currently offering $30k for CRJ pilots. Skywest is offering $7500.
Pay: Mesa FO starting pay - $36/hr, Skywest - $45
DFW based: Mesa, you can hold it after training. Skywest, no idea.
Upgrade: Mesa, upgrade after 1000 SIC, and probably still be DFW based. Skywest, I think the same, but will have to move to a junior base after upgrade.
Class dates: Mesa can get you in class in a couple weeks. Skywest in late October. You’ll be almost finished training with Mesa by the time the Skywest class starts.
Flying: You’ll fly a lot with Mesa. Short reserve in DFW (if any) after training. Skywest I have no idea.
Skywest has the largest fleet, largest pilot group, most bases, decent pay, good QOL as far as I know, and has contracts with 4 legacies. But no pilot union.
Mesa has low pay (but lots of flying, some at 200-300%), 145 aircraft, about 1370 pilots, 5 bases, decent QOL and contracts with 2 legacies. ALPA pilot group.
Get all the facts, and don’t believe everything bad you hear coming from pilots who don’t work at the regional they’re bashing.
07-09-2019 | 01:08 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,578
Likes: 48
From: Semi-Retired...
I don't think southwest VS sun country is a good comparison as both of those would be someone's end game VS a regional stepping stone. But the post was completely serious. If the ultimate goal is to fly and get out as fastest as possible wouldn't mesa make sense? Endure the suck for a short term to get out as fast as possible? But no aa I could care less about the flow. Long term would be south west/FedEx, ups, k4 maybe
Both sell their own tickets under their own brand
Both fly the same equipment
Both are far far far from the same job
The same can be said for Skywest vs Mesa
Same subcontractor business model
Flying the same or similar RJ equipment
All regionals are not alike.
Last edited by Cujo665; 07-09-2019 at 01:29 PM.
07-09-2019 | 01:14 PM
#14
In a land of unicorns
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 102
From: Whale FO
07-09-2019 | 01:21 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 3,578
Likes: 48
From: Semi-Retired...
In this case, he doesn’t even need the 500 hours to go to ACMI. He can go as soon as he has his ATP. Southern is hiring right into the 737.... 500 hours of 121 gets him the 777 instead of the 737 at Southern.... and by the time he accumulates 500 of 121, the LCC minimums will have dropped yet again. Then, if he networks his tail off he can do like a recent Mesa pilot and go from restricted 1000 Hr ATP at a regional to 1550TT straight to a legacy.
But you keep on digesting the garbage your Envoy masters are feeding you.
That might not be a bad idea. At Southern he’d be home based in DFW and they’ll get a contract sooner rather then later. After that the line to get in will drastically increase.
Oh, and Atlas accepts ATP mins also. Both are AAWW
Last edited by Cujo665; 07-09-2019 at 01:31 PM.
07-09-2019 | 01:40 PM
#16
In a land of unicorns
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 102
From: Whale FO
See what they say when you apply at ATP mins.
I can tell you:
" Based on your resume you are not currently competitive for Atlas Air's larger gauge aircrafts. We do however believe you would be a great candidate for our sister company, Southern Air, which operates the 777F, 737-400 and 737-800 aircrafts."
The cutoff seems to be 2500 hours for Atlas.
I can tell you:
" Based on your resume you are not currently competitive for Atlas Air's larger gauge aircrafts. We do however believe you would be a great candidate for our sister company, Southern Air, which operates the 777F, 737-400 and 737-800 aircrafts."
The cutoff seems to be 2500 hours for Atlas.
07-09-2019 | 02:27 PM
#17
Line Holder
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Q400 Captain
I’d say take the one that’ll get you based where you want to be the fastest. You won’t dislike SkyWest if you go there (I speak from experience,) but living in base is a jewel, especially during your first year at the regionals. I know SkyWesters who abhor their job, and I know Mesa guys who love their job. It’s all subjective, but live in base if you can.
EDIT: Also, people here are talking about ACMIs and stuff, UPGRADE AT YOUR REGIONAL FIRST AND GET PIC TIME. Makes it easier to move on to better things if you don’t like the ACMI life (that’s also from experience.)
EDIT: Also, people here are talking about ACMIs and stuff, UPGRADE AT YOUR REGIONAL FIRST AND GET PIC TIME. Makes it easier to move on to better things if you don’t like the ACMI life (that’s also from experience.)
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