Quote:
Originally Posted by SharkAir
Here's how I look at it.
You could flight instruct, or you could go to Mesa. To be honest, Mesa might not be a bad way to go, if you know exactly what you're getting in to, expect to be there for as short a time as possible, and expect inhumane, cruel, and abusive treatment. If you're single, money is no object, and you don't mind having 16 hour duty days during which you'll fly 2 hours and maybe get paid for less, it could be for you.
By the way, there's another thread going about how SkyWest lowered their mins to 850tt if you have 200 in a CRJ or equivalent in 121. Mesa to SkyWest wouldn't be a bad plan. You'd be in good company, too.
I have to disagree with SharkAir. If your goal is to get on with a good airline like ExpressJet, Skywest, Etc... then going to Mesa is a bad Idea. Sure you will get the multi time there. AIRLINES are not time builders. You will be basically undercutting your own future at a "good" airline. How can the pilots at ExpressJet expect to maintain that "good" contract when there are pilots willing to put up with anything, in the short term, to get on with, well, ExpressJet. Building experience as CFI is great but there are many other way to get your Multi-Engine time up. You can fly a light twin for freight, pipline patrol, NOAA, Private Corp., etc. Also you have to realize that Mesa has a training contract that will prove to be a headache.
This hiring boom that we are all seeing now will not disappear anytime soon. Well, unless another 9/11 type of event happen. In which case you will find your self looking for work anyhow. Many airlines will look at applicants with as little 500/100. Some like ASA and Comair have hired in the 250-350TT range with 75-100 Multi.
As pilots we tend to make short term decisions, this is your career and you should not sell yourself short. You have invested lots of time, money, effort, and passion into getting yourslef prepared for a career in commercial aviation.
Remember how rushing in the cockpit leads to problems, the same ironically applies outside as well.
Sorry for the rant, if it seems like one. Good Luck.
Paul