KiloAlpha

These questions are directed at Mesa pilots.

1. What hotels (name) do you typically lodge in while on a trip?

2. I have heard that the "work rules" are poor; what are people referring to when they make that statement?

3. How long is training before one enters the sim portion. I ask because I know that the new hire has to pay for his/her hotel up until that point.

4. It looks like PIT is a domicile. What A/C is flown there and is it a junior base?

4word

1. Holiday Inn, Radison, Clarion, Hilton, Laquinta, Ramada inn, Doubletree, Mainstay suites- just to name a few.

2. I'll let someone else get this one.

3. The jet is 4 weeks ground training followed by the sim then IOE. If you are junior in your class you most likely to go later in the sim. It could be anywhere from 1 day to about 2 weeks. When your done with sim it could be another 1-3 weeks of waiting for IOE.

4. PIT is a 1900 base. I do believe it's junior.

KiloAlpha

** bump **

rickair7777

1) Hotels vary, Hilton, Marriot, Days Inn, Red Lion, occasionally holiday inn or a motel (in really small towns). Usually have a gym/pool/hot tub, internet, often have breakfast.

2) Work rules means when do you get paid, and how long/often can they keep you on duty. Mesa has almost no rules, and they only pay you for the average flight time of a leg. So you could be on duty 13 hours, get a couple legs canx for wx or maint, then spend 2 hours taxiing and waiting for deice, gates, etc, then fly a leg that normally averages 25 minutes, and only get paid 25 minutes for 13 hours. Other airlines usually pay you the actual (not average) block time, and will pay you a "duty rig" such as one hour of flight pay for every two or three (or maybe four) hours on duty. The good news at Mesa is you get a minimum of 75 hours/month regardless of how much pay credit you earn flying. Also, the contract is up in 2007, and there should be some significant improvements after that.

3) Ground school length depends on aircraft, usually three weeks for turboprops, 4 for jets. After that you often have to wait a week or two (or more) for your oral and sim schedule, but you can go home while you wait and get paid. Or go to Amsterdam if you want...

4) PIT is a small 1900 base. It is almost a waste of time to speculate on new hire basing until you know what aircraft you'll be assigned to, they all have different bases.

BURflyer

What is the chance of assignment to an aircraft you want? Do other regionals give you a choice?

KiloAlpha

More Questions:

6. Is it possible to commute as a Mesa pilot (from PIT to wherever)

rickair7777

No airline that I have ever heard of will give you a choice of aircraft. Your entire class may be assigned one aircraft, or they may split the class between aircraft. In the later case, they will usually ask you for your preference, but will satisfy their own needs first, then go by seniority. For example, high-time folks will be assigned to aircraft which are expected to have rapid upgrade, to ensure that they have enough captains available down the road. Also, I know SKW has a tendancy to hire CRJ drivers from other airlines, and obviously assign them to the CRJ. Other new-hires tend to go to the EMB.

rickair7777

Mesa is very commutable in that all the pilots have US Air/America West travel benefits, plus you can get either United or Delta benies if you happen to work in those systems. And you can jumpseat on any US airline.

JumpCaptain

How does your vacation work?

rickair7777

You bid vacation in the fall for the following year, it is awarded in seniority order. If you don't bid you can grab empty slots that are left over at any time. First week has to be a full week (Sun-Sat), then you can take vacation in less than full-week increments.

They can cancel your vacation for operational needs and either roll it to next year or you can take cash instead. They can also junior assign you vacation if you have too much on the books...

Less than 1 Year: No vacation
After 1 Year: 1 week
After 2 years: 2 weeks
After 5 years: Hopefully this will not apply to you...