I have just been accepted at Mesa and I read in one of the posts that Mesa and US Air were parting ways, any real input on that would be helpful in my decision.

Thanks

 

Air Wisconsin is currently putting its' 70 CRJ-200's in the US Air system. Mesa is removing most of their aircraft and putting them on a delta codeshare. That is probably what you've heard.

The $64,000 question is what will happen to mesa's contract with America West in the future. I have heard both sides - one states that their contract is specifically with America West and once their (America West) operating certificate gets transferred to the US Air certificate the contract is null, and Mesa will lose its America West codeshare. I'm not sure how true that really is to be honest with you.

The real question you should ask yourself, is if you really want to work at mesa!?!

fosters

 

I see what your saying, there always seems to be a lot up in the air though. Chataqua had the delta routes that Mesa is taking over in Orlando, from what I know. And express jet will be asking for pilot concessions when the contract with CAL comes up because they will be underbid by someone. Pinnacle, I am not sure about but with Northwest considering starting thier own regional service they could be left with out a carrier.

As far as do I want to work for Mesa, compared to where I came from Mesa could make me ride on the wing pay me half and it would still be better. Upgrade potential alone puts me further ahead. Am I going to make a life at Mesa, probrably not but getting from one point to another I don't see how one regional is much better than the other right now.

 

Atitudes like this is why we are making $22 an hour, your a skilled guy, you fly million dollar jets, get paid for it, bus drivers in NYC make three times what we do to start!!!!!

 

I agree with you but what am I to do about it, sit on the side lines while others take the jobs that get them the time and they advance years ahead of me. My boycotting a $22/hr job is not going to get me to a $75/hr job anytime soon either. I am not being snide I just don't see an alternative.

Things are changing in this business. Soon we will have Virgin America, and Skybus competing with Southwest and Jetblue, that’s going to drive wages down as well. I agree why after all of these years of training should we have to settle for the wages we are accepting, but what’s the answer. We are all so eager to get that first regional or airline job that we jump at what is offered.

But seriously what are we to do about it. Its the job, its the circumstances, you want in you take the good with the bad. I am new to this I changed careers and need to get back to the earning column, I am open to your advise.

 

I've got to agree with STILL GROUNDED. What IS the answer? I'd love to hear a solution from some of these old timers as to the solution to the problem of low wages.
Like you said, do we sit on the sidelines in protest (as a minority) and watch as nobody else joins us in solidarity and the circle continues? I'd be the FIRST to walk if I knew everyone would support the idea and really do it. It won't happen and I'm not prepared to explain to my kids the reason why I decided to walk and have to look for a new job.

 

Dudes,

Every profession has its cycle. At one time the blacksmith was the highest paid professional in town, and we all know what happened to his profession. Ours is on the down hill slide. Pilots are easy to come by these days. The industry is flooded with starry eyed dreamers. Unless you can stop the flow of newbies all is lost. In ten years a domestic jet captain will earn as much as an urban bus driver.

SkyHigh

 

You guys have opened a can of worms regarding the downward spiral of this profession. On an individual basis I see STILL GROUNDED, if I were in his shoes I'd be saying the same thing. The answer lies in a collective resolve not to be baited to work for less, lease the (insert your company's name here) convince its employees that, to keep their jobs, they will have to work for less than some other people group also being brow beaten with the same argument
Its tough enough starting out in the profession. The people entering are not in a position to effect changes that will stop this trend. The successful shops up and running (you know who I'm talking about ) need to organize their ranks, sit down with their management and negotiate a contract that reflects the value they bring and others have (in the past) received for the work we all preform. Lets stop cutting each other off at the knees while justifying the reduced scale we've come to expect from this industry. Remember, over time is not a pay raise!! Working 20+ days a month, spending most of them out of town, is not fair to our families. There is life beyond the cockpit, we must not let the tail wag the dog

 

The fact is that unless you work for either UPS or FedEx, you are phucked. The passenger carriers, all of them including SWA, will be under intense pressure for the foreseeable future. The only two carriers that will have the pay, benefits, pension and the widebody international flying that you all dreamed of when you took your first flying lesson are UPS and FedEx. I'm no UPS koolaid drinker either. I can't stand this place, I work for the biggest groups of *********s you have ever seen. That being said, my above comments are still valid.

 

How can we, as newcomers to the airline industry, do something about the over abundance of pilots?