Mesa Career, Bad or indifferent
01-21-2006, 03:26 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: M88B
Posts: 1,179
Mesa Career, Bad or indifferent
Hey guys, I know there has been several threads on the mesa bit lately and I have been reading them as I have time, but I wanted some more information. I wanted to know if any guys on the forum here handle interviews for other airlines, and if so What do you think of people that work for mesa.
After reading several of those early threads on this I came to the conlcusion that mesa does have low pay, but it isn't the lowest in the industry (I think Pinnacle has the lowest for CRJ's). However I know they do charge a $50 application fee which I think is Cr@p but it really doesn't qulify as PFT in my eyes. So in conclusion, if one had the chance to fly for mesa for a couple of years before hopefully moving on, would they likely regret the decision to work for the company in the earlier years or not. Thanks for the help guys your experience is always valued.
XtremeF150
After reading several of those early threads on this I came to the conlcusion that mesa does have low pay, but it isn't the lowest in the industry (I think Pinnacle has the lowest for CRJ's). However I know they do charge a $50 application fee which I think is Cr@p but it really doesn't qulify as PFT in my eyes. So in conclusion, if one had the chance to fly for mesa for a couple of years before hopefully moving on, would they likely regret the decision to work for the company in the earlier years or not. Thanks for the help guys your experience is always valued.
XtremeF150
01-21-2006, 05:05 PM
#2
New boss = Old boss
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: Ca B737
Posts: 2,762
Well obviously you are not going to make a career there I hope. Mesa sucks. Their management/labor relations suck. Because it sucks there is a high turnover. That means a short time to upgrade. Therefore if Mesa is a means to an end, by all means, go for it. If you want to fly small jets and live near home, chose a regional like Horizon to make a career.
01-21-2006, 05:12 PM
#3
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2005
Position: E190 FO
Posts: 66
I interviewed there, and on the way to the interview, I was enlightened by a fellow pilot going to interview. She directed me to mesalounge.com and my only regret was that I hadn't found it sooner. It is a great place to see and hear what the people who work there think about it.
One of the many reasons I didn't take the job was that you basically had to sign a blank check so to speak, by agreeing to take the job before they told you where in the country you were going to have to relocate to, or what kind of plane you were going to be flying. That reminds me a little bit of joining the military, but at least there you have a chance on a signing bonus.
I could go on, but rather, I'll tell you another story. Back when I was in high school, I told an admired older friend about my choice to pursue a career in aviation. He was an eye doctor and a flight instructor. His exact words were "I find that it is a hard industry to make a living in." When I heard that, I thought (without even realizing it at the time) "Sure, that is for everybody else. For me, that won't apply." If only I had really listened to him; instead, my penalty for that oversight is the lifestyle that I have today. I relay that long story just to point out that if you dismiss the advice of the people who have been there, whether you mean to or not, you will ultimately be the one that has to pay the price.
Before you spend your $50, think about a few things. First, think about $1000 per month; let it sink in, and think about what that really is. Second, are you really willing to go anywhere? Really anywhere, as in across the country, away from any family, where the people are strange, where it may well be cold and expensive? It doesn't take long for $1200 rent to eat up a $1000 month paycheck.
If after thinking about those things, think about one more; in my interview group of 25, 20 were offered the job. Many of them had less than 500 hours and most of them had less than 1000. Those are the folks that mesa wants to hire, in my opinion; the ones that think they don't have any other doors open for them. For my previously mentioned fellow interviewer, the job was a great deal since she had 400 something hours. For me, it wasn't what I was looking for. My advice is for you to thing very carefuly, as truthfully as you can, and decide if the lifestyle is really what you want. Only you can decide.
One of the many reasons I didn't take the job was that you basically had to sign a blank check so to speak, by agreeing to take the job before they told you where in the country you were going to have to relocate to, or what kind of plane you were going to be flying. That reminds me a little bit of joining the military, but at least there you have a chance on a signing bonus.
I could go on, but rather, I'll tell you another story. Back when I was in high school, I told an admired older friend about my choice to pursue a career in aviation. He was an eye doctor and a flight instructor. His exact words were "I find that it is a hard industry to make a living in." When I heard that, I thought (without even realizing it at the time) "Sure, that is for everybody else. For me, that won't apply." If only I had really listened to him; instead, my penalty for that oversight is the lifestyle that I have today. I relay that long story just to point out that if you dismiss the advice of the people who have been there, whether you mean to or not, you will ultimately be the one that has to pay the price.
Before you spend your $50, think about a few things. First, think about $1000 per month; let it sink in, and think about what that really is. Second, are you really willing to go anywhere? Really anywhere, as in across the country, away from any family, where the people are strange, where it may well be cold and expensive? It doesn't take long for $1200 rent to eat up a $1000 month paycheck.
If after thinking about those things, think about one more; in my interview group of 25, 20 were offered the job. Many of them had less than 500 hours and most of them had less than 1000. Those are the folks that mesa wants to hire, in my opinion; the ones that think they don't have any other doors open for them. For my previously mentioned fellow interviewer, the job was a great deal since she had 400 something hours. For me, it wasn't what I was looking for. My advice is for you to thing very carefuly, as truthfully as you can, and decide if the lifestyle is really what you want. Only you can decide.
01-22-2006, 02:45 AM
#4
Underboob King
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Guppy Commander
Posts: 4,412
Originally Posted by Jared
I interviewed there, and on the way to the interview, I was enlightened by a fellow pilot going to interview. She directed me to mesalounge.com and my only regret was that I hadn't found it sooner. It is a great place to see and hear what the people who work there think about it.
One of the many reasons I didn't take the job was that you basically had to sign a blank check so to speak, by agreeing to take the job before they told you where in the country you were going to have to relocate to, or what kind of plane you were going to be flying. That reminds me a little bit of joining the military, but at least there you have a chance on a signing bonus.
I could go on, but rather, I'll tell you another story. Back when I was in high school, I told an admired older friend about my choice to pursue a career in aviation. He was an eye doctor and a flight instructor. His exact words were "I find that it is a hard industry to make a living in." When I heard that, I thought (without even realizing it at the time) "Sure, that is for everybody else. For me, that won't apply." If only I had really listened to him; instead, my penalty for that oversight is the lifestyle that I have today. I relay that long story just to point out that if you dismiss the advice of the people who have been there, whether you mean to or not, you will ultimately be the one that has to pay the price.
Before you spend your $50, think about a few things. First, think about $1000 per month; let it sink in, and think about what that really is. Second, are you really willing to go anywhere? Really anywhere, as in across the country, away from any family, where the people are strange, where it may well be cold and expensive? It doesn't take long for $1200 rent to eat up a $1000 month paycheck.
If after thinking about those things, think about one more; in my interview group of 25, 20 were offered the job. Many of them had less than 500 hours and most of them had less than 1000. Those are the folks that mesa wants to hire, in my opinion; the ones that think they don't have any other doors open for them. For my previously mentioned fellow interviewer, the job was a great deal since she had 400 something hours. For me, it wasn't what I was looking for. My advice is for you to thing very carefuly, as truthfully as you can, and decide if the lifestyle is really what you want. Only you can decide.
One of the many reasons I didn't take the job was that you basically had to sign a blank check so to speak, by agreeing to take the job before they told you where in the country you were going to have to relocate to, or what kind of plane you were going to be flying. That reminds me a little bit of joining the military, but at least there you have a chance on a signing bonus.
I could go on, but rather, I'll tell you another story. Back when I was in high school, I told an admired older friend about my choice to pursue a career in aviation. He was an eye doctor and a flight instructor. His exact words were "I find that it is a hard industry to make a living in." When I heard that, I thought (without even realizing it at the time) "Sure, that is for everybody else. For me, that won't apply." If only I had really listened to him; instead, my penalty for that oversight is the lifestyle that I have today. I relay that long story just to point out that if you dismiss the advice of the people who have been there, whether you mean to or not, you will ultimately be the one that has to pay the price.
Before you spend your $50, think about a few things. First, think about $1000 per month; let it sink in, and think about what that really is. Second, are you really willing to go anywhere? Really anywhere, as in across the country, away from any family, where the people are strange, where it may well be cold and expensive? It doesn't take long for $1200 rent to eat up a $1000 month paycheck.
If after thinking about those things, think about one more; in my interview group of 25, 20 were offered the job. Many of them had less than 500 hours and most of them had less than 1000. Those are the folks that mesa wants to hire, in my opinion; the ones that think they don't have any other doors open for them. For my previously mentioned fellow interviewer, the job was a great deal since she had 400 something hours. For me, it wasn't what I was looking for. My advice is for you to thing very carefuly, as truthfully as you can, and decide if the lifestyle is really what you want. Only you can decide.
01-26-2006, 07:53 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yeah, Mesa is hiring people with less than 500 hours total. Most likely these would be the people from MAPD that receive preferential hiring. As a former MAPD instructor and Mesa Airlines FO I can say that the above post is correct to a point.
When I was hired by the airline in '04 we had the choice between the CRJ and the EMB-145. I fully expected to get the CRJ out of PHL but was assigned to the EMB-145 out of CLT. I will say that I've heard many, many Mesa pilots complain about the aircraft they were assigned. Once Mesa makes their decision there's nothing you can do to change it.
Other airlines 'may' give you more leverage when it comes to choosing aircraft and domiciles. But, due to seniority in the +20 class I was like 2nd or 3rd from the bottom so I really had no power. Also, most airlines you'll find that 50-75% of the flight crews commute. I knew a FO that was commuting all the way from San Diego to CLT.
When I was hired by the airline in '04 we had the choice between the CRJ and the EMB-145. I fully expected to get the CRJ out of PHL but was assigned to the EMB-145 out of CLT. I will say that I've heard many, many Mesa pilots complain about the aircraft they were assigned. Once Mesa makes their decision there's nothing you can do to change it.
Other airlines 'may' give you more leverage when it comes to choosing aircraft and domiciles. But, due to seniority in the +20 class I was like 2nd or 3rd from the bottom so I really had no power. Also, most airlines you'll find that 50-75% of the flight crews commute. I knew a FO that was commuting all the way from San Diego to CLT.
01-30-2006, 05:48 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Posts: 345
Does anyone know anything about the aviation program at ASU. I was reading about it, it is run by Mesa. And that they hire FO's right out of school. Sounds like a preety good opritunity. Im trying to see if that would be worth it. I got football scholarship offers to smaller schools which also have aviation programs. If I where to go to ASU I would be a walk on for football. If anyone knows anything or has advice, i would apreciate that.
01-30-2006, 06:17 PM
#9
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,293
Originally Posted by Linebacker35
Does anyone know anything about the aviation program at ASU. I was reading about it, it is run by Mesa. And that they hire FO's right out of school.
There are many other similar programs out there, some of which will actually get you an interview with a regional/commuter airline, but MAPD does have a very high success rate for getting people hired at Mesa, like 80%.
My usual recomendation is to get your instructor ratings and teach, then you will be competetive for more than one airline. If you chose MAPD, I will say that it is a good program that does what it claims (rare in the flight training industry!). HOWEVER, be aware that is costs a lot of $$$ and if you are in the wrong 20% or Mesa stops hiring, then you've blown that money. That training WILL NOT get you a job at any other airline. You would then need to go get your instructor ratings anyway. Basically it's a calculated risk...do you feel lucky?
Also, there is some sentiment in the industry that 300 hour airline pilots "didn't pay their dues" or "bought a job" and aren't real pilots. This could haunt you in the long run when you apply to a larger airline. I don't care about dues paying myself, but a FEW MAPD grads are just kids with no judgement or backbone who would have benefited from a few life experiences. Shouldn't apply in your case if you play college ball...
www.mesa-air.com has more info.
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