Ah, that's a bit overstated about PSA's reserve. I can't speak to Mesa and it's reserve, but the ability to "tweak" your monthly schedule is solely based on the reserve grid being green, and for most bases there are only about 5 or 6 days being green. So you better hope that day you need off is green, and likely since there are so few of those days you'll be competing with other guys that want "tweak" their schedule as well.

There are PSA folks leaving for Mesa...blows your mind! Why? They aren’t flying enough. Pick your evil, regionals are all the same. Get your time and get out. Unless there’s some reason you can’t get a job at a legacy without flow, then go wholly owned and wait your 5-8 yrs. If you want to sit at home on reserve and not fly nor built time, PSA is a great choice. If you want to fly your butt off, be on reserve for month & commute, go anywhere else. But if your choice is Mesa for IAD...consider Commutair...?

There are a couple reasons I'm thinking of this. Every year spent on reserve in the regionals is costing about $300k+. Where does that number come from? Every check you spend on regional time is time you're missing in the legacy world. The checks on the end are the ones that you don't get by delaying your start at a legacy. The checks in the beginning are always going to be there.

I'm a former Navy H-60 guy with about 1600TT and all of the wickets met for my ATP. I've got every military box checked as far as stan/instrument/instructor and all of that stuff. I've got a clean record with no skeletons buried in a closet somewhere.

I haven't taken a look at commutair, but will be doing so.

Can anyone tell me if Mesa's IAD base is junior? Someone seemed to mention a month of reserve time there, can anyone confirm?

Thanks

If you’re a helo guy you’re looking at 3-5 years before you’re competitive for a major if current trends remain the same (depending on how frontiers Helo hiring program goes). That’s a long time to commute.

I've worked at both so can provide more insight then most. I'm currently at Mesa and while I have nothing negative to say about MESA, the choice in your situation is a given. PSA hands down. If nothing else the ability to not commute is huge and is the deciding factor. PSA has a better contract and a flow should you need it(6-8 years). Once you do put in that reserve time and hold a line, the SAP is amazing. It does not exist anywhere else in the regionals. Not at that level anyway. Since daddy American has deep pockets and is not cheap like Mesa, you also have much better tools in the cockpit. Ie PDC, D-Atis, georef on taxi charts, etc. As others mentioned you have much better priority when you are non revving. The only benefit I would say at Mesa is that management is more laid back. The guys at PSA have sticks up their as** and think their ****** doesn't stink. Note I said management, the pilots and crew are great to work with. As far as IAD you will get it right out of training if that's what you want. It is the most junior for CRJ's. You may be on reserve for a month or two(which is nothing) but if you are, they will use the crap out of you. I hear what you are saying regarding the 300K but there is also a lot to be said about quality of life. I was prior Navy as well and didn't think I would mind the commute but it wears on you. If you ignore my advice we can at least split the referral bonus for Mesa. PM me if you have other questions. Happy to help.

If you get any reserve in IAD, it's because you finished training after PBS bidding or you messed up your bid. Winter is almost over, there is way more flying than there are FOs to do the flying.

Don't be short sighted, going to Mesa because you'll fly more is a terrible reason. Chillax, you'll get your time and a job offer in due time. Mesa is where guys go after they've been fired or failed out of training from everywhere else.

I wouldn’t recommend Mesa for IAD until the expiring CPA with United and the Dulles CRJs is renewed.

At this point, I wouldn’t recommend IAH for the EJET either. They are nearing expiration as well.

This might be the case for some, not the majority. Plenty of top notch pilots at Mesa.