Mesaba Street CA or FO?
 

I'm strongly considering going to Mesaba, I'm looking to get alittle better QOL, I currently work on demand freight. I exceed the requirements for a street CA, 3,600TT, 3,000ME, 2,900PIC, 1,000Turbin, Currently CA on a Turbo Prop, most 135, NO 121. I want to be a Captain, but I hear they're being pretty selective on their street CA's and having no 121 time I don't know how I stand. I also know a guy with over 10,000hrs and is typed in the 340, that was recently interviewed for a street CA and hasn't heard back. Now I'm sure I could get hired as an FO, but obviously I want to be a captain. What I'm trying to decide is if I should try to get hired as an FO with the hopes of upgrading within a couple months, or just apply for the street CA position. Now I don't want to get stuck as an FO for too long as I simply can't live on FO pay for more than probably 6 months. What do you guys at Mesaba think?

Well they didn't like him, obviously he is qualified, most people with that kind of time are at a major, the fact that hes not might mean something about his attitude/personality. You have the 1,000hrs PIC Turbine, go to a good Jet regional...................(XJT, AWAC, COMAIR, CHQ, SKW). Basically pick one of those that has a base near where you live

Only about 1/2 my turbine time is PIC, plus I forgot to mention I have NO jet time, which is why I'm shying away from Pinnacle, that and I heard they have about a 50% wash out rate. I know that I could easily transition to the Saab, being that I already fly a T-prop, about 2/3's it's size.:) I'm not real worried about getting into a jet right away either I've been offered to move into the jets where I fly as an FO a couple times and turned them down. I like flying props, I like living in Michigan, I'm very familiar with the Great Lakes area, and I like being able to see the ground pass below me from time to time. I also like being in charge, I don't know what all those identifiers are up there, but as far as I know only Mesaba, Chautauqua, and Pinnacle are moving captains up quickly. I DON'T want to be an FO for any length of time.

As for the guy I know they haven't called back, he's like me in that he doesn't want to move or commute, he's worked 135 for quite a while, but he does have abit of a harsh attitude. He's a great guy, but doesn't put off a good first impression, which IMO is probably why he hasn't heard back. I'd like to think I'm alittle easier to get along with.

neither do I, but thats life pal...............and the reason why Pinnacle has a 50% washout rate is because they hired guys with 300hrs total time.................. And not to get into a T-Prop time vs Jet thread, but I would bet airlines would rather hire a guy with both jet & T-Prop time, then just straight T-Prop time..........

He wants the cake and eat it too.

I exceed captain mins for the company I'm looking at, which is one of the prime reasons I'm looking at them. I'm ONLY considering hiring on as an FO simply from a hirablity stand point. I see on Mesaba's site that they have a 36 month seat lock that I don't want to get stuck with. If that's the case I would only apply as a CA.


Mesaba is getting ALOT of jet's I'm not too worried about getting jet time, it will happen when it happens, I don't have SJS . I'm also not worried about what the airlines want, that's another one of those it will happen when it happens. I'm only 26 and likely have another 39+ years before mandatory retirement, I'm not in any hurry I think my career is moving at a decent pace.

Back to my initial question anyone?

Highly doubt that they will hire you as a street CA with no 121 time or SF3 time.

The seat lock only applies to lateral movements (SF3 FO to CRJ FO). There is no seat lock to upgrade. Once upgraded, or if hired of the street (CA) there is a 24 month seat lock.

I say go ahead and apply. You have nothing to loose! Things are crazy around here.....it wouldn't suprise me if they DID hire you as a street captain.

If they only offer you an FO position it's not so bad either. Becuase they are hiring street captains, a line FO can bid for capt that meets the reqs and HAS TO BE AWARDED IT before a street captain can per our contract.

Basically it comes down to being an "FO" through training and maybe a little line experience before you can be awarded captain but that's faster than any other 121 operation with your situation IMO.

One thing you do need to consider when talking about QOL is that you may be captain very soon but you'll be very junior to a lot of people that haven't upgraded yet. So you'll basically be on reserve for a long time.

That 36 month seat lock is only is you want to move from one FO position to another, it doesn't keep anyone from upgrading.

It's debatable how long it would take you to upgrade if you joined as a FO. I personally don't think you'd wait more than a few months because large amounts of the FO list are about 1000hrs shy of ATP mins. I say try for the street CA position and let them know during the interview that if they decide to turn you down you'd appreciate a FO position...hell that might win you the CA spot right there!:)