Mesa Airlines... yea or nay?
 

What's with the negativity around Mesa? I'm about to apply with them, but I was wondering if there's a REAL Mesa pilot out there that can fill me in on all the negativity that's being spread about this company. Maybe it's my lack of experience that makes me ask this, but what could possibly be different between Skywest (which everybody seems to love) and Mesa. It's the same job, it are the same FAR's, with basically the same planes... . Please help out a broad that flies for food. Shanx!

quality of life and work rules.

Yea for a quick upgrade and pic time. Nay for a career. Lots of turnover. Make some life long friends. You will see them again.

Let me start by sayign Im NOT a Mesa pilot. But comparing Skywest and Mesa is like saying it must be the same to work for Northwest and Southwest. The operate under the same FARs doing the same job with basically the same planes (737 vs A319/320) so they must be the same right?

What makes the biggest difference is pay and work rules. You're 100% right, flying an RJ is pretty much the same no matter whos name is painted on the side. But the difference is how youre treated. I have heard from numerous Mesa pilots that management is basically there to screw over the employees. Ever wonder why you don't see very many 10 year Mesa captains? Either they won't admit to being 10 year captains at Mesa or they figured out how much working for Mesa sucks and moved on to better companies long ago.

I think rickair777 is a Mesa CRJ captain and a highly respected member of the boards (in my book). I'm sure he'll chime in on this one. Ask him about work rules and the infamous Mesa "standing overnight":D.

Bottom line: People make careers at companies like Skywest for a reason, no one wants to make Mesa a career (I hope). Mesa is what it is, a stepping stone.

One word: ORGANIZATION, J.O. (jonathan Ornstein) doesn't quite know what socks to wear with his suit, how do you think he's going to run an airline.

I just got accepted into the mesa pilot development program in farmington nm. I have 650tt and 30me time, and am currently instructing at a 141 school. Just wondering if someone could give me some advice on whether to pay to go to the program, or continue instructing. I would really appreciate and advice anyone has. Thank you.

See my reply to your same post in another thread.

HELL NO!!!
You are better off spending that money buying some multi-time from an FBO to get you to the magic 100 or getting your MEI and instructing at your 141 school

Flyhigh22
 

Flyhigh22,
Stay far away from Mesa's pay for training program! I am a former flight instructor for Mesa Pilot Development's program at Arizona State University. Their ASU program is a quality flight training program with good instruction and hard-working students. Their PFT program in Farmington, NM is crap! It's a major waste of your money, and it will hurt your career if people find out you are a PFT guy.
Just get 600TT and 50 multi, and you can start applying to companies like Scenic Airlines or King Airlines in Las Vegas. They always hire low time guys during the spring and summer. Hiring slows down a lot in the winter months. Both those companies will be hiring a lot in the upcoming months.
I used to work at Scenic, and it is a damn good company. They treat their pilots pretty well, they give you free lunch everyday, and you are home every night. Plus you make about what the average regional pays (more than instructing, but still not much). Good luck.

I would say that for a step Mesa isn't bad, as long as you keep in mind the work rules aren't the best. However, the ERJ is now becoming a very junior plane there. In fact it wouldn't suprise me too see someone upgrade to Captain on it in say a year and half. There is only about 400 people between new hires and erj captains. That said I wouldn't plan on staying there but to get what you need and move on isn't so bad.

To the other guy, DON"T GO TO MESA'S SCHOOL!!!!! Even the pilots at Mesa don't think much of those guys, so what do you think the rest of the industry would think of you. With your time, the money you would spend to get into that school could be spent on multi and you will have enough time to get a job at Great Lakes or something. I know the pay there is TERRIBLE but at least your not PAYING to be there. And of course you did it on your own while aquiring more flight experience to get there.
I feel like I've said that to almost 500 people this month already!:D

XtremeF150