Mesa's contract is only one of many problems that they have. They have been troubled in the management of their business for as long as I can remember. Going back a good 12 or 13 years that I can remember off hand. Everything is always in crisis mode.

Its a screwed up company. It always has been and i always will be. For pilots its always been a place to get your foot in the door of the industry. Get in and get qualified and then move on. Nobody takes a job there thinking that they are going to spend their career there.

Partly true in the sense that the NC gave up everything to kill freedom. Unfortunately it was not necessary...alpa had a lawsuit pending to shut down freedom that would have almost certainly prevailed. But it would have taken another year +

However I'm pretty sure that JO will have his way again this year. He will come prepared with multi-pronged tactics, and there are just too many spineless wonders over there. Yes I was there, and I worked some great folks, but there are too many who won't stand up for themselves. But who knows, maybe I'll be pleasently surprised....

We don't need Mesa.

We don't need Mesa. That is true. However, in every industry there is always a bottom feeder or two (i.e. Mesa and Gojets.) They will always exist. Theres nothing that can be done about that. If there isnt one in place someone will bring one in and set up business.

The China operation should be great.

Boiler,
Could you elaborate more on the circumstances of the contract. I know that freedom had a lot to do with it, but other than that I dont know any other details. Just curious, those who dont know the past are doomed to repeat it. Maybe we could all learn something from them. Doesnt have to be long, just an outline I think would do.

I'll let a MAG pilot give you the 100% accurate scoop...but the Clif Notes versions is this: non-union Freedom was up and running, and was a direct threat to the jobs of Mesa ALPA pilots (see the current TSA/GoJet situation). Mesa pilots took it on the chin with their workrules and payrates in order to end the whipsaw and gain scope over all Mesa Air Group flying. "A-listers" worked at Freedom prior to the contract being ratified...

Thanks man, thats what I thought had happened. Just wanted more info on the deal. I am going to start volunteering for union work (probationary) and I can see NWA trying to pit us against Compass, like I said only fools look past history. How is AWAC by the way, I sat next to a CA from there the other day that didnt have a very positive outlook on the future there.....In fact she stated and I quote "I dont think we will be around in 3 years" Dont have a clue what she was talking about, but I think my eyebrow went up so high that it might have chimed the FA.

The only problem with mesa accepting such a deplorable contract is it sets the bar so low for everyone else and so on............Pilots need to quit worrying about not having a job and secure their contract whatever it takes. Do not accept subpar crap. I wouldn't go to mesa if it was the only job left in the world in which I could fly. Don't make excuses as to why you signed a crappy contract there shouldn't have to be a regional that is only a stepping for and that is why "it's okay that our contract sucks, because we aren't staying here." Thanks alot ******* for the future of those coming in.

Things are going good for me...then again I wasn't forced by a company lie into a crappy transcon commute like some of our pilots were...

Our contract with Airways runs until, I believe, 2015. There might be an early-out clause in there somewhere but we are the primary 50 seat feed for Airways; even though they want to keep shrinking the 50 seat fleet there will be a need for the RJ at least until 2015.

I still know very little, but until you have flown in this industry for 6 months or so, you really don't know anything. Reading these boards and listening to buddies stories about working for the airlines don't make you knowledgeable. You have to experience it.