I find it funny how many people talk bad about Mesa. I would like for someone to give some concrete reasons. Everyone says it sucks but then that is all they say. They have nothing really interesting other than that. If anyone has real reasons for the airline sucking, please let me know.

 

Here we go...

 

I'll start. The major reason is because J. Ornstein has no respect for the contract (or pilots for that matter). "I know that's what it says but that's not what it means." is a common refrain in the Mesa world.

There, I kept it clean and didn't lose my head.

 

From what Ive heard about Mesa the biggest reasons people dislike them is:

1. Mesa was pretty much the first airline to start PFT. they made new hires pay for training and they didnt even get a typ rating out of it.

2. They used to be non-union which led to well below industry standard pay.

3. Mesa somehow (I hear its a connection between the CEO and Richard Branson) out bids EVERYONE for routes and hubs.

Ive been told not to apply to Mesa and that it wouldnt be worth it. But I've gotta say hey it doesnt look like they are going belly up right?

 

I would like any info any of you senior pilots have on this one as well. The airline is planning on interviewing some 25 ppl that I know very soon and would like to know if there is any info that should also be on the plate going into an interview with this company. All views appreciated.

XtremeF150

 

I may, or may not, be able to add any insight to this question, but being a Mesa pilot, I'll at least take a stab at it. I won't try to change anyone's views on Mesa because I'm the last one to be waving a Mesa flag.

I'm not sure about Mesa being the first airline to PFT. It may very well be, but I've never heard that one. I guess I'm not very saavy on the history of the regionals, so if that's the case, I'd like to hear about it. Maybe that's confusing PFT with the Mesa ab-initio program (which, at least in my view, is more pay-for-interview, and I wouldn't recommend it). And about being non-union, that's only correct when speaking to the (former) Freedom fiasco...at least as far as I know.

I've heard just about all of the reasons as to why Mesa sucks, and a lot of them I can't argue with. Our contract leaves much to be desired, to say the least. Having not been here during those contract negotiations, I've asked practically everyone I've flown with who WAS here "why did you guys agree to that garbage?". The conclusion I got were that their hands were tied with having to kill the Freedom virus, and that concessions were the only way to gain scope, and keep that flying within the Mesa pilot group. Freedom was a cancer that needed to be stopped, no doubt.

And many said that ALPA and the MEC simply didn't communicate well with the pilots on what the contract actually entailed while promoting their "roadshows". I still don't know what to believe. There's more to the story, but that's pretty much the guts. I know everyone around here is foaming at the mouth to improve every facet of the contract in 2007, but we'll see if action speak louder than words.

Then, of course, there's management...and that's where the problem lies in the views of many. JO gets credit for striking deals to keep Mesa profitable (which, by business analysts' views, he's been a genius). However, he's done so at the expense of his employees, and the industry. Indeed, getting more business means more jobs (or job security at the very least) yet there's a price involved to pay. We're the cheapest out there...bar none. And JO uses that to his advantage in trying to win new business (or keep existing business). What does that mean? Lower wages for employees, minimal staffing in corporate (scheduling, tracking, etc) and doing "just enough" to keep the airplanes in service.

The problem is that Mesa continues to set the bar low, and agree to fly for less than the competition. That's great for Mesa (the company, not the employees!) yet doesn't win Mesa any friends amongst others (nor should it!). The likes of Comair, ExpressJet, etc have worked so hard in the past to not take concessions, improve their contracts, and essentially try to raise the bar in this industry. And at the first opportunity, JO comes to the table and says "well, we can do the same flying for less!". And given the shape of the legacy carriers we all fly for, money talks (unfortunately).

I've got friends at practically every regional out there, and try to talk to others to gain insight as to the differences between Mesa and their companies. There's certainly a trade-off. For instance, I've been able to be a lineholder since my second month online, versus some friends who've sat reserve for over a year elsewhere. Personally, I would rather be a lineholder and have 12-14 days off, versus being on reserve. I wouldn't wish reserve at Mesa (8-days off, constantly being abused by crew tracking, etc) to my worst enemy.

Mesa doesn't have PBS (although it's currently in the process of being tested) so the carriers that do have an advantage in scheduling. Regarding pay, in my view at least, an additional few bucks an hour elsewhere is just that...a few bucks an hour. I didn't come to the regionals to be rich, and planned ahead financially to get through the "lean years". Not saying that more pay wouldn't be nice!

Anyhow, I guess I'm rambling here...I apologize. Mesa is what it is...another regional. Everyone tries to seperate carriers as "apples to oranges" but I tend to disagree (somewhat!). We all fly the same equipment (give or take), the same routes, have to deal with managments s@&*, and have to deal with the same issues. Having worked in the business world, and made roughly 4X the salary I'm currently making, I still enjoy this MUCH more than the stresses involved in that career. So, I just appreciate what I've got (or maybe don't have

That's my 2 cents at least

 

EFIS COMP MON,

The pft was awhile ago. One of the guys I used to work with was for a time a flight saftey and he was telling me about it when I had mentioned that I was thinking about mesa. With their pilot development program I think they did away with the pft but that would just be speculating.

Im sending my resume in there this week do you have any pointers or suggestions?

 

Gottcha...thanks. No more PFT here now, but I can see how the ab-initio program could be viewed as such. I'm not a big advocate of that program, but to each their own I guess.

It's been a while since I interviewed, but I doubt much has changed. Aviationinterviews.com has a really useful gouge on not only Mesa, but other airlines as well.

The Mesa interview started off with an orientation, and then a 50 question ATP written. We had two excused from the interview after not scoring the minimum 80%, so it's extremely important to score well on this (IMO, the better the score, the less brutal the interview may be) I know the written has changed since I interviewed (it used to not include any figures, charts, etc). I'm not so sure now...I think everything is fair game.

The interview consists of one or two line pilots asking the usual suspect of questions: systems (most likely, a twin you've recently flown), finger fly an approach chart, random IFR regs/situational questions, and the typical HR questions ("what would you do if...", "tell me about a time when...", etc). I believe mine lasted around an hour. If you're current on IFR charts and regs, as well as systems, you should do fine.

Prior to my interview, I hacked away at all the gouges on aviationinterviews and compiled a list of questions previously asked, and that seemed to serve me well...very useful site.

Good luck in your endeavors...wherever they may lead!

 

thanks man!

 

I believe it would be a privledge to fly with you EFIS. Yes the industry is in shams, but the ablitity to look at the positive is what helps you through. That was the info I needed. Thank you.