Thanks, Rick....

 

Does Mesa put you where you request to be based...or where they want you - So basically, do they even take into concideration where you live or don't they care? Is MCO an easy base to obtain?

Thanks

 

First off, like any other airline, they can only put you somewhere where an opening exists...the union would not allow them to move another morer senior pilot to accomodate you. In that regard airlines are absolutely fair, unlike most any other organization. There's no favoritism, @ss-kissing, or preferential treatment.

When a new hire class starts, the company will determine what aircraft and bases are available. They will assign aircraft type by the needs of the company. They will take into account your desires and experience level. If you have ATP+ times you are somewhat more likely to be assigned a turboprop, because they can upgrade you to Captain when needed.

Then seniority is assigned to the class, almost always by date of birth, although I think a very few airlines do a random lottery. BTW, do NOT show up one day late for class...they will usually let you start, but you will be last in seniority behind everyone who started the day before

Once seniority is assigned, everyone can bid for their desired bases. Usually two junior bases will have openings, so the most senior person will likely get his/her choice. The lowest/youngest (or the late dude) gets whatever is left over.

At Mesa, MCO is very easy to obtain if you are assigned the ERJ, since 90% of them are based there. If you assigned a different aircraft you have zero chance of getting MCO. If you are offered a job, you could at that time politely express an interest in the ERJ, and they might arrange to put you in a class which has ERJ's available. But don't push it...

 

LAX since they just ran a very large erj class, I don't know if they will run another right away. I have heard rumors of a dash 8 class 2nd week of april. I have also heard they are running another captains class on the 1900 on April 25th. This may or may not include street captains. If it does include the street capt's you must have 2500 TT and 350 multi as well as all ATP mins for the position. If you haven't flown 121 before though it can be VERY difficult to be up to speed to fly PIC in 121 in 6 weeks while also readying yourself for the Type ride.

 

rickair7777,

Thank you very much. I am not sure what I REALLY want to do. I am moving to FL so I would like to be based there or in the state somewhere for an easy commute. I understand that Mesa is more of a "stepping stone" for people, which is ok for right now. I have some corporate opportunities where I am going to be living, but you know those fancy companies require oogles and googles of flight time (preferably turbine) before they will look at you...

 

There is a high probability that CLT will open as a CRJ 900 base later this year. That would probably be commutable from FL.

 

Intheair10,
What are you talking about? I'm not going to bother insulting you, because it's a waste of time.
I did instruct at Mesa's ASU program in 2004. Pete Hayes was my boss and he is a good man. It was a really good program. The Farmington Pilot Development program was good too, but their PACE program in Farminton is a waste of money in my opinion.
A common misconception is that most people associate the university program with the PACE program. They're two completely different programs within the same company. The univeristy program is simply a flight school that takes ASU bachelor's students or San Juan college associate's students from private thru commercial multi and when they graduate, they get an interview with Mesa Airlines with about 300TT. Its similar to Embry Riddle and Perdue's university programs, but cheaper.
Not a bad deal! If you're going into a university aviation program, why not go to one where you can fly a regional jet with only 300 hours?
If you don't think the PACE program will hurt your career, then go ahead and do it. Just wait till you get to the majors where everybody is trying to get in. Why would they take a PFT guy when there are many other's to choose from? Those pilot interviewers are smart guys; they know that PFT programs are one reason their pay is being cut. And even if you do get a job, your fellow pilot's are going to resent you if you pay for training.

 

Well Rick,we did see it comming and had a great scope clause to keep MANAGEMENT from replacing us with YOU, but with a weak union in ALPO and threats of liquidation our ***** union leadership caved.As far as mainline being replaced by RJ's and I quote"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????" You said it, YOU fly what is a mainline jet for nothing. I hope you really like it cause it's all you'll be flying for a really long time,and since at U our fleet has gone from over 400 planes and 6600 pilots down to 225 planes and 2700 pilots....wait haven't the RJ's been comming online at an exceedingly fast rate, oh but you said it,RJ's aren't replacing mainline. Enjoy your career..uh I mean job!

 

I'm one of the guys who is willing to hold out for better pay and benefits at the 50 seat level, I'm willing to walk and risk killing my company for it. I also declined the opportunity to fly 737s for lower-than-mainline rates. I will not however simply refuse to fly and quit aviation; I'd only be replaced by a 200 hour PFT wonderboy...

You need to watch your attitude, cuz there are plenty of RJ drivers who are willing to accept Buses and 737s on property for these reasons:
1) Immediate pay and prestige boost.
2) Their only other opportunity to fly narrow bodies is to quit and start over somewhere else with zero seniority for $30K a year...why do that when they can stay at their company, keep their seniority and longevity on the payscale, and not have to do probabation?

The ONLY reason for us to hold out is for the good of the industry...and the possibility of moving up some day. But when we get an attitude from a guy like you, well our brotherly love starts to stretch pretty thin...and it gets hard to make immediate sacrifices that will benefit everybody but us in the near-term.

You sir sound like a f*cking poster-child for management's grand plan: Divide & Conquer! You're leading the charge brother! Are you secretly working for JO, Neeleman, Steenland, etc? Come out to the forum to stir up some hate & discontent?

 

Im a mesa fo ive been here for 15 bid periods and have only held a line for 4 bids. I'm on the emb145 and have been screwed by managments moves 3 times and it sucks here 8 days off a bid and 20 working days at 16hrs a day love to enjoy that sh!t. If you do get hired here in the next coming months your going to the dash in the jfk area @ 18 bucks an hour good luck.