I think the primary program is a waste of time and money, I can't believe people still go through that. The program cost like 45K and it's not even flat rate plus no CFI ratings or CFI job. Go through the PACE program. Your in-and-out and with the way MESA is hiring now, you will find a job. By the way how was interview process? I'm thinking of doing the PACE program maybe next year. How are the students and what is the genaral age group?

Another guy who just completed the Mesa PD said a few days ago on this forum that the Mesa pilots hired from the streets were very supportive of him and there is a good atmosphere between PD pilots and non PD pilots.

If I'm not mistaken.... you can apply to Cologan with 600 TT... not sure how much multi.. probably 100 TT... Scenic Air is a great idea... don't pay !!

Eagle eye you just summed up the problem with the airline industry with "a broad that flies for food."comment. You are slitting your own throat by working for nothing and Jonnie Rotten at MESA will pay you nothing and abuse the hell out of you. Don't any of you get it! The RJ's (aka.. REPLACEMENT JETS) are replacing mainline aircraft and pilots, and by doing so there will be fewer jobs flying big jets for you on down the road.You have got to look farther down the road. IOW that little RJ IS your "career". So if you want to fly little jets around for nothing and make nothing forever take the MESA job. :mad:

Do not do MAPD. Do CFI instead...it's a complicated decision, but read my other ranting posts for the details.

After you get 1000/100, Mesa is OK for quick upgrade (currently about 16 months for east coast ERJ CA). QOL is poor but hopefully that will be improved in the 2007 contract.

Despite what War Eagle said, Mesa is not the cause of mainline losing flying to RJ's. Economics were going to force that anyway, the only variable was WHO was going to fly the RJ's. The people at fault are the mainline pilots for being weak and shortsighted enough to allow their scope to erode to the point it's at now. THEY need to take their scope by the b@lls and secure all flying > 50 seats.

Much as I disaprove of low-time PFT pilots in airliners, blaming them for the RJ situation is moronic...they are young, inexperienced, clueless, and have no organization or leverage...all they know comes right out of a pilot academy glossy brochure. It's the mainline ALPA guys who should have seen this **** coming...you think I enjoy flying what is essentially a mainline jet for turboprop pay????

Thank you for all of the info on the MPD. I had my doubts about the program, but now i know that I definitly won't be attending the upcoming semester there and pulling out another loan. I appreciate all the information.

I wouldn't exactly say that...

Say what? Frankly, I don't beleive that you worked for ASU. You sound like a disgruntled Farmingtonite. If you had any first-hand knowledge of MAPD you'd know that Rich Castle, the Chief Flight Instructor, runs an efficient operation.

As a former MAPD instructor I can say that Mesa Airlines will hire almost anyone. The only ones they never hired were those that have skeletons in the closet (hell, they even hired people that shouldn't have been). PFT? It's BS to say that it will hurt your career. Recruiters don't care, they only look at your resume, not how you paid for it. The ONLY people I've ever heard anything negative about was scabs.

Alright, I guess I could take another approach on this MAPD thing. Here are some more HARD facts. Well start with the 1900 because it has the lowest mins for upgrade. By mins i mean the TT and multi you need to even hold the position, forget about your global senority. If you do get in (and you like to believe that everyone likes you) and are able to graduate the program, pass the interview, pass training, and not blunder your pc (pretty hard to do) you will be sitting in that 1900 FO seat for a long time trying to build the time to upgrade due to your hours. Note all those previous items are a big gamble for a 45k investment that WILL NOT yield another airline job. This means that the same guys your in training with will be upgrading and likely flying as your captain at least months but likely more than a year before you will.
Now that said if you are one of the dreaming 300 hour jet guys, the last time I checked you have to hit ICAO mins to hold a captain position on one of the RJ's. Remember to this is the absolute minimum time you can upgrade with regardless of your senority.
Think about this guys... Why do you think Mesa actually hires street captains on occasions. Its thanks to all those PFT's out there that have been working there long enough to upgrade but just don't qualify due to their hours. Leaving a shortage of Qualified captains.
I know its a long shot, but you guys just don't listen that well. :D

XtremeF150

Where lies the difference?????
 

Well thanks everybody for posting your replies. It's just that... nobody seems to have the answer to my question.

I'm not even interested in their training program. I'm just about ready to apply for a job with them and I was wondering what people mean by saying that the work rules and quality of life is bad. Where does that come from? Pilots working for Mesa can only fly 90 hours a month - same as pilots flying for a regional like Skywest. So in short, again, what exactly is everybody referring to when they say that Mesa is a bad place to work at and Skywest rules. Where lies the difference in working rules and quality of life at Mesa and others i.e. Skywest????????

Thx!

I repeat, ASK A MESA PILOT ABOUT THE STANDING OVERNIGHT!

Also, look at the payscale and time off for Mesa vs Skywest. That might at least start to answer your question. You're probably not getting many responses on here from Mesa pilots either because they don't want to admit they work at Mesa or because they can't afford a computer. Maybe hangout at your local welfare office and you might bump into a couple.:D

PS To all you Mesa pilots out there, Im just poking fun. I feel for you guys and hope you can fix your contract in 2007.:)