Low Fuel is correct...it would not be unexpected to see mesa staff "posing" on the airline forums to attempt to identify and record the statements of unhappy employees (they are legion).

The work environment is almost unbelievably bad. It would take me an hour to tell all of the stories. Suffice to say that what you read on the internet is probably not as bad as it really is, my personal experiences led me to trade a no-commute domicile and a captain upgrade to start over elsewhere. As a military guy, you can do FAR, FAR better, and should never think of the word "mesa" again.

 

the pilot group is ready to take zero BS next year with section 6 negotiations. they WILL raise the bar.

 

I hope you're right. That would make for some serious talk on these threads. Can you imagine if the union brought the contract up to par with everyone else, then what would all the haters have to say?? Then again that would just make the criticism that much worse for GoJet's and the likes.

I think we waste too much time on here bashing the Mesa's and GoJet's. Personally i dont think they are the real problem. Places like Gulfstream where I PAY YOU to fly in the right seat **** everything up. That place is some bull ****, those kids should be sent to an island.

 

As far as airlines are concerned it comes down to pay structure, work rules and maintenance. SkyWest has a complex pay structure that ends up paying you much more than the hourly rate shows. Here's some differences between the two (SKW and Mesa).

SKW

1. Guaranteed 3:45 mins. pay regardless of what you work.
2. Get the better of Actual Block and Average Block for a flight.
3. For every minute you work over 12 hours of duty you get that minute in pay added to your block. (i.e. 13:21 hours duty and 7 hours block = 8:21 pay.
4. 100% pay for Dead Head.
5. If a flight gets cancelled or a day gets cancelled then you get paid for the entire flight/day.
6. $1.60 for every hour away from base.
7. Crew Support does a good job working with us.
8. Quarterly bonuses that can be as much as $500 for FOs and $1000 for CAs. It's not much but it adds up.
9. One of the best maintained airlines in the US

Mesa

1. No daily guarantees
2. Only paid average block. (You go over, tough luck, no pay)
3. 50% for Dead Head
4. $1.20 for every hour away from base.
5. Flight/Day gets concelled then you don't get paid. (No Fly No Pay)
6. Just ride on one of their aircraft and you can see how well maintained they are.

Unfortunately the rest should be added by a Mesa pilot. I would like for a Mesa pilot to elaborate on the rest. I have heard stories from some Mesa friends of mine that they have actually works stand-ups where they didn't get a hotel. Also, that if you get reflowed they will actually meet you at the airplane to do so. Of course SKW does neither.

If I have a month where I block 85 hours I usually get paid for 90-95 hours.

The bottom line is that we get paid much more for the same amount of work that Mesa pilots do. Plus, SKW work rules are pretty good.

 

No offence, but I'll believe it when I see it. The Farmington wonders, along with all the new guys that drink the Kool aid about trading QOL for a quick upgrade, will be the undoing...again. I can just see it J.O. brings up the Hawaiian operation loosing money, attempts some manuver to temporarily dilute the stock value, and people will just give in to "save" the company. As big of an ******* as J.O. is he's not stupid. He's got a lot in common with Castro, Chavez, and few other manipulative tools of our time.

 

I hope for the best, but have my doubts. The old MEC were clowns at best, crooks at worst. The new ones are an MAPD mafia that started out by taking a cooperative approach with management. OK, that was worth a try maybe, but they have been taken for a ride and the pilot group along with them... And the recent communications from the MEC appear WAAAAY too favorable to the company on policy interpretations. I'm not sure those guys have the motive or tenacity to lead a full confrontation with JO. Time will tell...

 

JetJock16,

thanks for the info!! wow, it DOES seem clear, from what you said, that MESA DOES suck.

i have a guy in my squadron right now that used to fly for Mesa and decided to come back into the military (he got out before his 20 and came back).

i will have to bend his ear to get some more details but THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY.!!

talk to you later!

 

thanks for the post guys some good stuff, lets start a GOJET thread next haha

 

Ah, but you seem to defend them more often than not. Especially with that ignorant pay commment, when you know as well as I (I think...) that a straight pay rate isn't the best way to compare carriers.

And I assume you also know that Gojets was established to get around the TSA pilots senority list (under the guise of scope). It's bad enough when one company is whipsawed against another, but now there is internal company whipsawing. Not good.

 

Ultimately, people will all act in their own best interests, and that includes people negotiating pilot contracts, CEOs, pilots, etc. For me, Mesa is a stepping stone, a means to an end. I'm more than happy to learn more, as long as it's based on reality.