I'm gone.

 

I see your point LOW FUEL (and by the way, congrats on getting out of here!). It's tough to be so close to upgrade and go back to the bottom of the seniority list elsewhere. I guess that's the crux I'm in right now. Some people say that "all regionals are the same...suck it up, get your PIC time, and get out". But we both know that's not true...at least so far as regionals being the same anyhow.

Mesa makes me feel that I'm sacrificing my values and personal dignity in sticking it out here solely for the sakes of upgrade. I've always held my beliefs in high esteem in regards to treating others the way that you would expect/want to be treated. In my opinion, an employer simply should be more respectful and understanding of its employees...and not breed such hatred that exists amongst this company. From scheduling, planning, payroll, and especially management, I've never encountered such hostility and animosity before. It's truly pathetic.

Anyhow, I guess I've got some thinking to do...

 

It was a personal dignity type event that put me over the edge (I was leaning that way anyway). The people that run that company are the worst sort of filth imaginable. We actually had a couple of West Point grads come in on the management team, but they left in disgust in short order...I wonder why.

 

I think the overarching reason I won't work for Mesa, after reading these boards, doing research, and watching that employee video, is this: you never know when the industry will take a downturn, so I want to make sure I start out my career at a place where I would be happy if I ended up getting stuck there for 10 years. I think if someone can't say they would spend 10-15 years there if worst came to worst, they shouldn't take a job with Mesa.

A town in my state recently switched over to Mesa as their Essential Air service carrier...TSA dropped their J41 service there...all these local businessmen were all smiling and elated at their wonderful new B1900 contract with Mesa...I wonder if that town realizes their pilots might have slept in the aisle of the plane the night before. Maybe I should call the FBO down there and see if they can't hook em up with a couch or something. The chairs in the terminal aren't very comfortable.

 

I agree with nicholasblonde. I could easily go to Mesa or TSA with my times right now. However, having read this and knowing what friends of mine have gone through leads me to stick with instructing a little longer (which I enjoy doing, just wish it paid better) and aim high in the first place. I don't want to be on first year pay for two straight years. Is there something wrong with me for saying that? How about this one: "I deserve better than what they have to offer"?

I guess I dumped enough lavs in college to rid myself of SJS...

But, I hope you guys keep working to educate the starry-eyed newbies around here. Jets are cool and all, but we all deserve to be treated like the highly skilled professionals we are. We should also make sure that people understand that by taking that low-ball job they aren't only hurting their career and long-term earnings but they're hurting every other pilot who's stadards were just lowered.

 

I've read enough.

You're thinking of CRJ camping trips. If your day starts at 10 pm why the hell do you need a hotel for a 3-4 hour lay over, its done during daylight hours all of the time. Not that I am defending it, but seriously, would you like a back rub while you wait Mr. Hughes?

I am starting to think it should be mandatory for new hire to have had a real job in the real word before they come work as an airline pilot. Dig a ditch for 6 bucks an hour, stand a post, wait a table.

Fly for a ****ty cargo hauler, that will keep your money when you resign and sends releases out with crap like, "This should be enough fuel to make the flight". Room with your captain in a $35 a night hotel with double beds because they won't get you separate rooms. "That was the last straw by the way." Then get an airline job. You'll appreciate it more. As bad as this place screws with you, they've got nothing on Skyway.

Why isn't anyone up in arms about Great Lakes. These poor guys are working on the same rates as the late 1990's but no one is flaming them, nor should they.

To set the record straight as a B1900 FO, their is no sleeping on the aircraft. I will say this, I am twice the pilot for having flown it. There are no buttons to push, no FA's to bring you a coffee or open the doors for pax but its a great bird to fly. Its kind of funny when you’re in an interview with 30 other guys and the recruiter comes in saying they’re hiring for the 1900 and all of the young guys with bright shinny jets in their eyes groan. They can tell who not to hire right then. Saves a lot of time.

Everyone makes their own decisions for their own reasons. The pilots here during the last negotiations took a huge hit to get the freedom flying under the MESA seniority list and everyone should be grateful for it.

TSA is doing the same crap to their pilots and if your a GoJetter and get stuck renting a car because you can't get a ride, you have that coming.

The pay is not that different, a first year FO can make 25-30 if they cover a TDY or two. Outstation basing for the 1900s blows but that is the nature of EAS. Cost of living is a lot cheaper in the little towns though. Crash pads are a couple hundred bucks at most.

I am not promoting Mesa to up and comers by any means, in fact stay away. The interviews are sparse, we will benefit in the next round of contract talks. All I am saying is get the facts not BS from somebody throwing gas on the nearest flame.

As a final note you will not find a finer bunch of people then the pilots at Mesa, maybe its because we are all in this mess together but when a guy flying the same equipment for Colgan has the audacity to look down on you for flying at Mesa you just want to drop him on the moving walk, someday maybe…


Flame On!

 

Regarding the camping trips...

Most regionals require a minimum rest and a hotel on a stand-up, ie no camping trips. The reason for this is that true redeye operations are totally incompatible with the regional lifestyle...you normally end up back in domicile, which means you go home every day to try and sleep. Try doing five redeyes in a row, then two days off...when you attempt to switch cycles to enjoy your family you destroy yourself.

Major airline redeyes frequently layover somewhere else, and they work fewer days and get more days off. It's a lot easier to stay on cycle in a nice dark hotel room than to go home to your family and attempt to sleep.

I did both good (east coast w/ hotel) and bad (LAS camping trips) standups...there is no way that you can possibly have a life doing camping trips...I was walking zombie and by the time I got re-adjusted and started to feel good, it was time to go back to work...

Only a true night-shift person could thrive in that environment...I have never met one of those in the airline business. Most pilots have families, friends, and lives...most night-shift types do not.

 

STILL GROUNDED-- If you really want to have that "put some hair on your chest" attitude you should leave Mesa and go fly Part 135 freight, or go to Alaska and fly shorts down to mins with a full cargo bay and ice on the wings. Those guys are real men/women...anyone can sleep in the back of a 1900 for 3 to 4 hours after flying 12-14 hours--that's not the issue here--that issue was brought up on here as a reminder to people who might have other options to think twice. The more people are informed about stuff like that, the fewer resumes get sent to Mesa, the more leverage YOU will have when you renegotiate your contract....so you should actually THANK people on here who say bad stuff about your company...because they are truly on your side.

 

nicholasblonde,

Not playing both sides of the card, but if he flew for the Skyway I'm thinking of, he was flying a shorts for a 135 on-demand op.

I'm not trying to sound like I deserve a six-figure income and a personal attendant for coffee and "other" items. I've dug ditches (worked for a contractor), dumped lavs at an FBO, etc. I've worked hard for what I have, and most others in this profession have as well. They deserve not just better pay, but better treatment from their respective companies and should realize and demand this from not only their employers, but also from each other. Dozens of people are putting their lives in your hands every day to be delivered safely to their destination and you should be given an appropriate compensation and work rules.

 

Can I find this video anywhere? Also some have said PHX is a death trap why is that?? The PHX base is one of the only reasons for my why MESA is attractive.