Mesa Pilot Development
05-17-2005, 01:59 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mesa Pilot Development
I'm new to the forum, and for that matter, reasonably new to the decision to pursue aviation as a career long term (just finishing my PPL as we speak after having wanted to do so for many a year). I have been employed in the tech sector for more than 10 years and hold a senior mgmt. position. I am fully aware of the radical lifestyle change I'll be faced with, but can't get my head out of the proverbial clouds... 
I know without a doubt that I need to try to make this work or forever wonder whether I should have...
so...I'm trying to understand all of the options before me from a training perspective. One of the options I'm considering, the Mesa Pilot development program, is intriguing for a couple reasons, but I'd like to hear commentary from anyone who has completed the program and subsequently been hired on or from those who have worked alongside graduates of the program. MANY thanks in advance...really appreciate the help.
I know without a doubt that I need to try to make this work or forever wonder whether I should have...so...I'm trying to understand all of the options before me from a training perspective. One of the options I'm considering, the Mesa Pilot development program, is intriguing for a couple reasons, but I'd like to hear commentary from anyone who has completed the program and subsequently been hired on or from those who have worked alongside graduates of the program. MANY thanks in advance...really appreciate the help.
05-18-2005, 09:11 AM
#2
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: ERJ-145
Posts: 28
Since this board is relatively serene, you won't get the scathing sarcastic remarks the MESA name elicits from pilots. It is imperative you do your homework on MESA. I will give you a link to something I read earlier today at flightinfo.com
http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthr...t=54466&page=5
It the last page of another thread, but someone like you asked almost the same question. If you want to read more, sign up over ther then run a search for mesa. You'll be reading for days...no joke.
http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthr...t=54466&page=5
It the last page of another thread, but someone like you asked almost the same question. If you want to read more, sign up over ther then run a search for mesa. You'll be reading for days...no joke.
05-18-2005, 10:24 AM
#3
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Posts: n/a
thanks jetlink1175...really appreciate the reply
wow...well that certainly gives perspective doesn't it? What's sometimes a bit difficult for me to reconcile I suppose is the fine line between what appears to happen at one regional (i.e. one person's bad experience) versus what generally happens (to some degree) at all or most of them...this is a tough business to get my hands around (I know...preaching to the proverbial choir...)
thanks again...will continue searching for more info... And if anyone else has similar data points, greatly appreciated!
wow...well that certainly gives perspective doesn't it? What's sometimes a bit difficult for me to reconcile I suppose is the fine line between what appears to happen at one regional (i.e. one person's bad experience) versus what generally happens (to some degree) at all or most of them...this is a tough business to get my hands around (I know...preaching to the proverbial choir...
)thanks again...will continue searching for more info...
And if anyone else has similar data points, greatly appreciated!
05-18-2005, 04:56 PM
#4
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Posts: n/a
Mpd
Hello Shinysideup,
If you've just started doing research for CAREER TRAINING OPTIONS, please don't pay too much attention to the very extravagant posts in some of these forums.
I am in a very similar situation as you : hi tech career, high management, trying to start a career in aviation before its too late.
After many months researching different airlines and pay schedules, I finally am beginning to get over the depressing wages these guys (all of them) pay FOs. It is appalling really. ANY regional will pay you up to half of what you pay your cleaning lady per hour, most of them a third of it.
But I know I'll have to take that abuse during my first 1000 hrs of airline flying, I guess it's a fact in this stupid career we can't get our heads off, so just get over it as soon as you can.
Back to your question now, I believe you wanted to know about the MESA SCHOOL, not the regional airline.
If that is the case, I believe you will get very different oppinions.
First of all, you may or may not have realized that even the big name academies have bad reviews every now and then, but they are points outside of the curve, like you said. Someone that had a bad experience. That's all.
MPD is probably one of the few pilot schools that have generally good reviews, and very few bad experiences have been reported in these on-line forums.
I have a very good friend that started their Ab-initio program in Aug 2004 (even though he already was a PPL) and have been tracking his progress.
Really serious training, military style (management formerly with the USAF).
I was very impressed with the amount of stuff he has to work on and how serious it has been. He did solo cross-countries with their Bonanzas all over the western states, including at night, usually called me from some of these locations. He is really happy.
What comes after that ?
MPD doesn't garantee interviews with anybody other than MESA AIRLINES, but their graduates have been hired by other companies on a regular basis.
I would give them serious consideration at your stage.
One detail : You don't get any discounts or "breaks" for previous experience (unless you already have a Commercial/IFR). Even if you're already a PPL, you'll still have to go through THEIR PPL curriculum. The only advantage if you're already a PPL is you get to log PIC time on most of these early flights.
In the end it's all a matter of budget, location and where you want to fly later. Do more homework, find out which relationships have been established between these academies and some regionals and you'll have a better idea.
One last thing : 2 CFIs from my local Flying Club have been hired by American Eagle (one in 2004 the other earlier this year), even though they never went to any of these big name academies. They did all of their licenses right here "at home" and then flight instructed locally for 2 years or so.
Which means, the old-fashioned way of building time as a CFI is still very much valued by the airlines.
If you've just started doing research for CAREER TRAINING OPTIONS, please don't pay too much attention to the very extravagant posts in some of these forums.
I am in a very similar situation as you : hi tech career, high management, trying to start a career in aviation before its too late.
After many months researching different airlines and pay schedules, I finally am beginning to get over the depressing wages these guys (all of them) pay FOs. It is appalling really. ANY regional will pay you up to half of what you pay your cleaning lady per hour, most of them a third of it.
But I know I'll have to take that abuse during my first 1000 hrs of airline flying, I guess it's a fact in this stupid career we can't get our heads off, so just get over it as soon as you can.
Back to your question now, I believe you wanted to know about the MESA SCHOOL, not the regional airline.
If that is the case, I believe you will get very different oppinions.
First of all, you may or may not have realized that even the big name academies have bad reviews every now and then, but they are points outside of the curve, like you said. Someone that had a bad experience. That's all.
MPD is probably one of the few pilot schools that have generally good reviews, and very few bad experiences have been reported in these on-line forums.
I have a very good friend that started their Ab-initio program in Aug 2004 (even though he already was a PPL) and have been tracking his progress.
Really serious training, military style (management formerly with the USAF).
I was very impressed with the amount of stuff he has to work on and how serious it has been. He did solo cross-countries with their Bonanzas all over the western states, including at night, usually called me from some of these locations. He is really happy.
What comes after that ?
MPD doesn't garantee interviews with anybody other than MESA AIRLINES, but their graduates have been hired by other companies on a regular basis.
I would give them serious consideration at your stage.
One detail : You don't get any discounts or "breaks" for previous experience (unless you already have a Commercial/IFR). Even if you're already a PPL, you'll still have to go through THEIR PPL curriculum. The only advantage if you're already a PPL is you get to log PIC time on most of these early flights.
In the end it's all a matter of budget, location and where you want to fly later. Do more homework, find out which relationships have been established between these academies and some regionals and you'll have a better idea.
One last thing : 2 CFIs from my local Flying Club have been hired by American Eagle (one in 2004 the other earlier this year), even though they never went to any of these big name academies. They did all of their licenses right here "at home" and then flight instructed locally for 2 years or so.
Which means, the old-fashioned way of building time as a CFI is still very much valued by the airlines.
05-18-2005, 06:17 PM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Wow...thanks CubGrad...really appreciate you taking the time to write that up. Were I to decide MAPD was the right path for me, I'd probably do a hybrid approach, and continue through commercial, MEL at the local FBO where I have been training currently through 1H of next year, then looking at their PACE 19 week jet systems, etc. program. I have the luxury (and believe me, I do know it's a luxury) of being able to fly when I want right now, so building hours and experience (however miniscule it may be) isn't as much a financial chore as it will be when I have little or no disposable income. Best of luck to you!
05-19-2005, 08:42 AM
#6
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: ERJ-145
Posts: 28
I wasn't trying to shift focus to MESA airlines, but to put it into perspective. Sure the ab initio program is focused and goal oriented, like most academies. The difference is once you've invested your money and time what do you come away with? The few hundred hours expreience you have and your new ratings won't go very far. You will get to interview with Mesa, and there's a real good chance you'll get a job with them. What's the alternative at that point? Will you really turn down the job? Chances are you'll be jumping at the chance to get your career going. So now I digress, one MUST look at Mesa airlines and ask the question "is this really where I want to spend 4-6 years?" I get that number based upon the average number of hours regional airline pilots fly (700-800 per year).
You've got some tough choices to make. Good luck with that. Have fun with your training!
You've got some tough choices to make. Good luck with that. Have fun with your training!
05-19-2005, 10:50 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
No worries on my behalf...I understood your intentions right away. It's good for me to get a bit of insight from both perspectives...I've got a slew of tough decisions to make in thenext year or so and in the interim, I'll take whatever info I can get. I have plenty of time to sort through it and comprehend which makes the most sense to me.
thanks again!
thanks again!
11-30-2005, 06:50 PM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mesa program
Just wanted to give you my 2 cents, Shinyside, on the Mesa program after listening to the myriad of babies apparently crying the blues about my type "lowering their pay scales". I went through the Mesa program, got hired in the right seat of a CRJ with very low hours and have experienced first hand these elitist complainers. Its obviously a case of sour grapes for these guys and gals. If they could have gone this route, don't think they wouldn't have. As far as the pay, its been no secret for decades that pilot pay scales have been on the decline, especially after 9/11. Further more, who convinced these guys that a starting pilot should be making great money? Do doctors, lawyers, etc. come right out of the gate making high tax bracket salaries? No, most are right there with an F/O salary possibly having to mix martinis on the side to pay the rent. The unfortunates that they label the "buy a job" types are just an easy scapegoat for their frustrations.
The program was excellent and I would recommend it. If your young, yes, pay your dues and go the military route or become an instructor. For us older guys the options had narrowed.
The program was excellent and I would recommend it. If your young, yes, pay your dues and go the military route or become an instructor. For us older guys the options had narrowed.
12-01-2005, 03:58 AM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
oooh, yeah, baby! that's what i want flying my family around! some 250 hour i-bought-my-job-so-suck-on-this-i'm-so-happy-i-can-make-$20-an-hour pilot wannabe!
i just get goosebumps thinking about the professionalism and experience.
have you ever wondered why insurance companies penalize drivers under 25?
i just get goosebumps thinking about the professionalism and experience.
have you ever wondered why insurance companies penalize drivers under 25?
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