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Mesa-Why the hate?

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Old 04-03-2008 | 10:36 PM
  #41  
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I currently work at Mesa. If you guys are talking in terms of credit hours, I will tell you right now it is entirely too easy to bill the company for at least 110 hours per bid period (and keep in mind we have 13 of them). This is happening across the board. I've flown with numerous guys billing out 130-140 credit hours a month. Granted, yes, horrible quality of life and wreckless regard for the pilot group; however, a large majority of our pilots are captializing financially on the current situation. Just my two cents.
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Old 04-04-2008 | 06:13 AM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by DsrtAV8R
I currently work at Mesa. If you guys are talking in terms of credit hours, I will tell you right now it is entirely too easy to bill the company for at least 110 hours per bid period (and keep in mind we have 13 of them). This is happening across the board. I've flown with numerous guys billing out 130-140 credit hours a month. Granted, yes, horrible quality of life and wreckless regard for the pilot group; however, a large majority of our pilots are captializing financially on the current situation. Just my two cents.
OK but think about how much more you would get paid if you had a good TA. For instance I can consistently bill the company for 120-140 hours per month will averaging 13 full days off and be home every day. If I want more days off them I can easily bid for a line that block in the mid 70’s with total credit up around 90 and 17-18 days off. Please, I'm not trying to disrespect any of you, but if you guys had:

100% deadhead pay
3:45+ daily guarantee
Trip or duty rigs
100% cancellation pay (every time)
Block or Better
Etc.

You all wouldn’t be working yourselves to death in order to get paid a little extra. I know you all are working hard on your next TA; trying to gain back what you all lost bringing Freedom back in house plus some improvements and I wish you guys the best of luck, if we ever meet on an overnight I'm buying the first round.

BTW, I know that I'm preaching to the choir.

Good Day.

Last edited by JetJock16; 04-04-2008 at 06:26 AM.
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Old 04-04-2008 | 06:40 AM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by JetJock16
BTW, I know that I'm preaching to the choir.
That's a fact! It can get tiresome going to work and beating a dead horse with this conversation everyday.

Oh yeh, I'll be taking you up on that round.
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Old 04-04-2008 | 07:32 AM
  #44  
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This reminds me of a funny thread a while back...

drinking game

The APC Drinking Game
First, obtain your booze of choice. I suggest Cabo Wabo tequila.

Next, pull up the last two days of posting in the Regional Airlines section of the forums.

Take one shot when one of the following posts appear:
(Airline) vs (Airline), Double Shot if it's a major vs regional.
Low time pilot asking minimums for an airline.
When someone asks about Mesa, go!, Colgan and the first ten replies are flames.
When someone asks for career advice and the first ten replies are that the only good pilots are instructors first and that lowtimers are ruining aviation.

Double shot when a FBO student and a aviation university grad argue over who is smarter.
When the thread gets highjacked for pro or anti-union arguements.

After finishing you bottle, call off for "fatigue" the next morning and await the call from your CP.
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Old 04-04-2008 | 10:45 AM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by SkyHigh
People hate Mesa because it is a glimpse into the future of every airline job. Mesa has learned how to squeeze their employees for every penny. Armed with low costs Mesa is then able to grow and effectively compete.

Mesa and companies like it have proved to the industry that pilots, F/A's and the rest will work for next to nothing and will put up with a lot in order to remain in aviation. Other companies are being forced into similar practices or go under.

SkyHigh
This simply isn't true. Mainline carriers still focus on numbers. A little more money for a lot better performance is definately DAL's opinion considering their attempt to stop MCO and JFK freedom flying. RP, SKYW, ASA, and XJet have their differences but are competitive in most aspects. Mesa lowers the price at the expense of employee pay and work rules and therefore employee morale. That lack of employee morale is what makes their performance numbers suck day after day. There is no debate Mesa does it cheaper - cheaper is not better here. The aircrews hate it therefore delay flights - it is inevitable - they are pulling on a rubber band that will soon break.

12 months MESA won't exist as a xpress/connection carrier. Then they'll be GO! alone....then the HI aircarriers will do exactly what Mainline carriers did to Independance. Then they won't exist at all. This is my guess.

It's unfortunate because I'm not a Mesa hater - I just feel they are pilots who have gotten in an unfortunate circumstance and in this industry U turns are hard. It still boils down to very poor management who doesn't understand employees make companies - especially front line employees.

I can honestly say I have seen the transition at ASA (where I work). Since the new CEO and the new contract there has been a rediculous shift in morale. Most people I talk to on a day to day basis mostly enjoy working there. A CEO who understands the importance of employees is what I feel is making the difference.

Just my .02c
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Old 04-04-2008 | 10:52 AM
  #46  
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blcampbell,

Pay no mind to Skyhigh. He's a bitter pilot who enjoys beating down the hopes and dreams of others. His opinions are way over the top, plus I can confidently say that he's been wrong on his predictions well over 85% of the time. He has an overly pessimist view and he feels that absolutely no one in the industry has any good in them.

Just read his postings, smile, laugh and say "Skyhigh..........you never cease to amaze me!"

JJ
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Old 04-04-2008 | 01:03 PM
  #47  
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[quote=denramp;354627]
Originally Posted by N2rotation
Everyone at Mesa is willing to do other RJ pilot's job for less. UNDERCUTTING.

And how much are you getting paid to fly that ERJ???

8000, 9000, 10000 dollars a month?

YOU are Lowering the bar by taking that regional job!!!!!!!!!

POT........MEET KETTLE
So tell me... how else are we supposed to get time for the SUPPOSEDLY awesome legacy airlines in this country WITHOUT working for the regionals??? DO NOT SAY MILITARY.
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Old 04-04-2008 | 01:08 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by chitownpilot

So tell me... how else are we supposed to get time for the SUPPOSEDLY awesome legacy airlines in this country WITHOUT working for the regionals??? DO NOT SAY MILITARY.
Yes we all know the Legacies love those Baron and Navajo 135 pilots with no Military or 121 time, don't they. Their ground schools and seniority lists are full of them.

Note sarcasm.
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Old 04-04-2008 | 01:28 PM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by denramp

And how much are you getting paid to fly that ERJ???

8000, 9000, 10000 dollars a month?

YOU are Lowering the bar by taking that regional job!!!!!!!!!

POT........MEET KETTLE
This post from a dude who works the ramp in DEN. He poses as the authority on many things and really for the most part appears clueless to the industry as a ramper usually is.
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Old 04-04-2008 | 01:37 PM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by JetJock16
Yes we all know the Legacies love those Baron and Navajo 135 pilots with no Military or 121 time, don't they. Their ground schools and seniority lists are full of them.

Note sarcasm.
I think the point was being made against the lowest of the low regionals. I compare Mesa to "decent regionals" as "decent regionals" are seen by majors.

Regional pilots fly 50-76 seat airplanes for lower wages than would've been attanted by a major pay scale.

Mesa pilots fly the same airplanes we do, but for money that is far inferior to what we make. (not to mention work rules).

The choice to fly for mesa is exactly that...a choice...the pilots who signed up, knew exactly what they were getting into.

Above all, the even more simple fact is, is that the legacy carrier pilots are just as much to blame for how the industry has turned, as the regionals. The cards were played by the legacy guys when they refused to fly the RJs, it's that simple.
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