There's no free lunch...sacrificing some QOL now for TPIC as opposed to SIC for at least another 2 years is the choice I would have made. Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

 

Slice,
What a load of crap! Of course there is a free lunch somewhere, he is an airline pilot and clearly has been a Capt in training. If he can't find it, by golly he's not a real airline pilot!!!!! Paxhauler85, check around, a free lunch is bound to pop up. TIC

 

The best I've done is a free 20oz drink at the ASC a few weeks ago and it wasn't lunchtime.

 

Theres usually a free breakfast though! Maybe thats why I gained 12 lbs my first year.....

 

If you don't mind sacrificing your quality of life then stay.
If it is too much to handle - bail.

The choice is pretty simple to me but then I'm not you.

As much as it sucks, if it were me, I'd stay at Mesa for the following reasons.

You have some seniority there. If industry consolidation impacts the regionals in a negative way, you will have some insulation from furlough. Of course, if Mesa keeps stepping on their appendage, you may not have a job anyway but that is really to hard to judge (pun intended). With the passing of Age 65 and industry consolidation, the majors are going to slow down their hiring once they get properly staffed. Until they get properly staffed, this will create a small window of opportunity for upgrades. Once properly staffed, the majors will slow down their hiring and then the upward movement is going to slow down dramatically. The industry, as a whole, could again stagnate like it did after 9/11. It may not stagnate as severely as it did in 2001, but it will definitely slow down your upward progression. If industry consolidation begins to slow the growth of the regionals, one of two things could happen. You could be stuck at Mesa for a long time and we all know that would suck. But the good part of being stuck at Mesa is that you'd be logging PIC TURB the entire time. If you jump ship to RAH, you might get stuck in the FO position for many years - not just two. Frankly, that would be worse for your career than staying at Mesa and here is why. Let's assume you were to stay at Mesa. You could become qualified for a major airline at a minimum of two years earlier than you would if you jumped ship to RAH. Let's also assume a major has an opening for you. Let's assume this major hauls pretty purple and orange boxes. FDX has a nice contract right now. Let's assume the company stays in good health all the way to the end of your career. Those two years you saved by NOT going to RAH are going to pay out over $460,000 on the tail end of your career. If you factor in the loss of salary that you are NOT going to endure by jumping ship and that figure is squarely $500,000 or HALF-A-MILLION!!! If you later discover that it would have taken you four years to upgrade at RAH, then that figure is now over ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!! Personally, sucking it up at Mesa for another two years might be worth it. I know it would be to me. However, when you get trapped by a tracker at the jetbridge, you might have to remind yourself that this trip is helping you get to that MILLION dollars faster. It may make it easier to stomach the abuse.

Send me a PM - I'd be interested in seeing what you do and how it works out for you.

For the record, I stayed at Mesa when it looked like it was going to tank. It worked out for me. I had a rough ride at Mesa for way too many years but I was logging PIC TURB the entire time. I left Mesa with just under 10 years and 8.5 of those were as Captain. I would have moved upward in 2001/2002 but the events of 9/11 stagnated the upward movement and I was stuck for an additional five years at Mesa.....logging PIC TURB. Now I'm riding sideways - I guess it seems I can't do anything the easy way in my career.

 

tough decision.... if your gut says MESA survives the next 2-3 years... then you stay... if not.... maybe better to bail.... either way this business is so freaking fickle what seems right may turn to crap and what seemed like a crap decision may turn up roses..... throw the dice.... its life.....

 

I totally agree.