Mesaba Street CA or FO?
12-18-2007, 09:17 AM
#31
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Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Groundlooped and liking it
Posts: 266
Making all those decisions is great. But, as said before, making those in the confines of company policy with higher scrutiny by the FAA is different. Starting here as an FO wouldn't hurt you a bit. Get comfortable with the way we do things and then upgrade. I am waiting on the upgrade myself--not because I don't have the time or flying skills but because I am still working things out on how to be a good Mesaba captain. Maybe that will only take you a month or two, maybe longer but if you start as an FO you have the luxury of time that you don't as a street CA.
Just my $.02 but what do I know, I am just a lowly FO
Just my $.02 but what do I know, I am just a lowly FO
12-18-2007, 09:44 AM
#32
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Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: G550 Captain
Posts: 1,206
That's exactly what I was thinking (especially the lowly FO part). Seriously though, the hardest part about switching companies has to be learning how to be a good pilot for the new place. Different ops specs, different culutures, different goals even. I'm a lowly FO also. Isn't it great?
12-24-2007, 05:04 PM
#33
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Joined APC: Nov 2006
Posts: 124
Another question then, if one was to end up getting hired as a street captain at Mesaba in the next few months, how long would they expect to be on reserve and what would a typical schedule be like, 5 days or 6 days on and 2 days off? From a qol standpoint (not talking about type of experience) that isn't much different then flying on demand, except OD at least the 2 days off are on the weekend versus a monday tuesday or worse, the call out time would be different but that isnt saying much when you already live an hour away from the airport you'd be on reserve at.
12-26-2007, 06:37 AM
#34
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From a qol standpoint (not talking about type of experience) that isn't much different then flying on demand, except OD at least the 2 days off are on the weekend versus a monday tuesday or worse, the call out time would be different but that isnt saying much when you already live an hour away from the airport you'd be on reserve at.
-IHM
12-28-2007, 07:39 PM
#35
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Well I applied for FO today. I'll be waiting for the yea or nae. My Buddy go the nae BTW that was one of the deciding reasons for just applying as an FO.
Also even reserve doesn't come close to what I do now. From what I read reserve is on call for 14 hours a day with min of 11 days off and as stated above 1:30 show. I only live about 40 min from DTW. My current schedule is on call 24 hours a day with 2-4 scheduled days off a month and a 20 min call out. Basically what I really want to get away from is getting called out at 11pm after being up all day then flying a 14+hour duty day. That just plain sucks.
Also even reserve doesn't come close to what I do now. From what I read reserve is on call for 14 hours a day with min of 11 days off and as stated above 1:30 show. I only live about 40 min from DTW. My current schedule is on call 24 hours a day with 2-4 scheduled days off a month and a 20 min call out. Basically what I really want to get away from is getting called out at 11pm after being up all day then flying a 14+hour duty day. That just plain sucks.
12-28-2007, 08:16 PM
#36
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Also even reserve doesn't come close to what I do now. From what I read reserve is on call for 14 hours a day with min of 11 days off and as stated above 1:30 show. I only live about 40 min from DTW. My current schedule is on call 24 hours a day with 2-4 scheduled days off a month and a 20 min call out. Basically what I really want to get away from is getting called out at 11pm after being up all day then flying a 14+hour duty day. That just plain sucks.
12-28-2007, 08:30 PM
#37
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Actually I've worked for both. Just trying to get ride of the pager now, either are a good place to build some time though.
12-28-2007, 08:45 PM
#38
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Well good luck to you. I know reserve life at Mesaba is a big improvement over the kind of stuff you are used to. I spent 4 years as an FO on reserve at Mesaba back in 1st part of the decade. It’s not all that bad but it can get old after a while. Get to know the screw schedulers well and you should be able to get some decent trips, at least some of the time. But from the sounds of it, you shouldn’t have to be on reserve very long if you get hired in as an FO.
12-28-2007, 09:03 PM
#39
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Well if I get hired the idea will be not to be an FO long enough to matter wether or not I get a line. From what's been said here I should be able to get into a captain class in 2-4 months without too much trouble. Like you said Mesaba reserve will be a big improvement in QOL for me, so if I have to spend a couple years on reserve that won't kill me. Thanks.
01-04-2008, 12:49 PM
#40
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I got a rejection notice emailed to me! I figured I'd at least get to the interview by applying for co-pilot. I don't understand this. I met and exceed the qualifications for Co-pilot, by far. Could it be because I don't have my ATP written done or a current first class medical?
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