Mesa Pilots - Why the Bad Rap? Warranted?
12-12-2017, 10:27 AM
#51
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 27
Look at ExpressJet’s pilot base in the SkyWest annual report. XJT is dwindling away and losing money. DTW is closed. ATL is closed. Pilots are unhappy there. Much more unhappy than Mesa. For the most part, the only pilots on Mesa’s forum bellyaching are non-Mesa pilots.
I can post a link to the SkyWest annual report if you like. As far as XJT FO’s, there has to be value to 6,000+ hours right seat time. I saw that United is considering purchasing part of XJT. SkyWest would be happy to sell it back to them.
As far as 121 PIC time, we all should figure out the formula for interviews at majors. Nothing is absolutely required. However, 4 year degrees, 121 PIC time, roles like serving on a Safety Committee or being a line check airman all give an applicant an edge.
And, as far as potential pilots in Houston, I always recommend the short commute to Envoy at DFW for being a viable option. XJT is not.
I can post a link to the SkyWest annual report if you like. As far as XJT FO’s, there has to be value to 6,000+ hours right seat time. I saw that United is considering purchasing part of XJT. SkyWest would be happy to sell it back to them.
As far as 121 PIC time, we all should figure out the formula for interviews at majors. Nothing is absolutely required. However, 4 year degrees, 121 PIC time, roles like serving on a Safety Committee or being a line check airman all give an applicant an edge.
And, as far as potential pilots in Houston, I always recommend the short commute to Envoy at DFW for being a viable option. XJT is not.
SKW uses XJT as a tax write off. All Negative expenses are put on XJT's balance sheet. This sneaky tax adjustment does nothing to dispel the fact that XJT is still owned by INC that still have $500 million in liquid assets. As in cash on hand.
As far as majors... I think they have spoken. Over 600 Pilots have gone to UA, AA, DL and SWA in 2017 alone, thats compared to Mesa's what? 50ish?. The solid majority of XJT pilots (and FA's for that matter) are not leaving to make a lateral move but an upward move to the majors.
Never choose a regional airline for its bases. Regionals are historically volatile in their choices of bases since those are not controlled by them but by their mainline partners. Take Air Wisconsin for example... flying solely for UA with a IAD base, then close the IAD base and fly solely for AA, then ditch AA and fly solely for UA and reopen that IAD base all within the span of 3 years.
Choose a regional that has the best end goal for you. If your goal is to work for AA then Envoy, Piedmont and PSA are the airlines for you. If you want to work for UPS, join the military. If you love DL then check out endeavour and Compass. Want SWA or UAL? Then choose expressjet. Want to stay at a regional making sub par wages with poor benefits all because they have shiny jets that they don't own BTW, then Mesa is the place for you. Everyone should look at shopping for a regional with their end goal in mind. No one wants to stay at a regional forever. It is merely a stepping stone to the majors. The three things you want out of a regional to ensure your career progression are training, attrition and contract; Training: a good 121 base will get you hired to the majors faster than someone with a terrible training program under their belt. Attrition: The amount of pilots getting out of their regional speaks to the type of training they have received. Contract: The economy could collapse tomorrow and the current glory days for pilots would be over. Or, god forbid, another 9/11 situation could happen. Could you work your entire career under the contract at the regional you chose? If the answer is "no" or "They don't have a contract" its time to reconsider that airline
12-12-2017, 11:56 AM
#53
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2017
Posts: 2,145
ExpressJet and DL mutually decided to end their contract that was written in 2005 (significant changes in the economy since then making that contract not profitable) UAL offered a substantially better contract for 5 years and 28 more airplanes. Ending the DL contract afforded the company the ability to reallocate pilots. Yes, bases closed in the process. That's the regional industry. Bases open and close all the time.
SKW uses XJT as a tax write off. All Negative expenses are put on XJT's balance sheet. This sneaky tax adjustment does nothing to dispel the fact that XJT is still owned by INC that still have $500 million in liquid assets. As in cash on hand.
As far as majors... I think they have spoken. Over 600 Pilots have gone to UA, AA, DL and SWA in 2017 alone, thats compared to Mesa's what? 50ish?. The solid majority of XJT pilots (and FA's for that matter) are not leaving to make a lateral move but an upward move to the majors.
Never choose a regional airline for its bases. Regionals are historically volatile in their choices of bases since those are not controlled by them but by their mainline partners. Take Air Wisconsin for example... flying solely for UA with a IAD base, then close the IAD base and fly solely for AA, then ditch AA and fly solely for UA and reopen that IAD base all within the span of 3 years.
Choose a regional that has the best end goal for you. If your goal is to work for AA then Envoy, Piedmont and PSA are the airlines for you. If you want to work for UPS, join the military. If you love DL then check out endeavour and Compass. Want SWA or UAL? Then choose expressjet. Want to stay at a regional making sub par wages with poor benefits all because they have shiny jets that they don't own BTW, then Mesa is the place for you. Everyone should look at shopping for a regional with their end goal in mind. No one wants to stay at a regional forever. It is merely a stepping stone to the majors. The three things you want out of a regional to ensure your career progression are training, attrition and contract; Training: a good 121 base will get you hired to the majors faster than someone with a terrible training program under their belt. Attrition: The amount of pilots getting out of their regional speaks to the type of training they have received. Contract: The economy could collapse tomorrow and the current glory days for pilots would be over. Or, god forbid, another 9/11 situation could happen. Could you work your entire career under the contract at the regional you chose? If the answer is "no" or "They don't have a contract" its time to reconsider that airline
SKW uses XJT as a tax write off. All Negative expenses are put on XJT's balance sheet. This sneaky tax adjustment does nothing to dispel the fact that XJT is still owned by INC that still have $500 million in liquid assets. As in cash on hand.
As far as majors... I think they have spoken. Over 600 Pilots have gone to UA, AA, DL and SWA in 2017 alone, thats compared to Mesa's what? 50ish?. The solid majority of XJT pilots (and FA's for that matter) are not leaving to make a lateral move but an upward move to the majors.
Never choose a regional airline for its bases. Regionals are historically volatile in their choices of bases since those are not controlled by them but by their mainline partners. Take Air Wisconsin for example... flying solely for UA with a IAD base, then close the IAD base and fly solely for AA, then ditch AA and fly solely for UA and reopen that IAD base all within the span of 3 years.
Choose a regional that has the best end goal for you. If your goal is to work for AA then Envoy, Piedmont and PSA are the airlines for you. If you want to work for UPS, join the military. If you love DL then check out endeavour and Compass. Want SWA or UAL? Then choose expressjet. Want to stay at a regional making sub par wages with poor benefits all because they have shiny jets that they don't own BTW, then Mesa is the place for you. Everyone should look at shopping for a regional with their end goal in mind. No one wants to stay at a regional forever. It is merely a stepping stone to the majors. The three things you want out of a regional to ensure your career progression are training, attrition and contract; Training: a good 121 base will get you hired to the majors faster than someone with a terrible training program under their belt. Attrition: The amount of pilots getting out of their regional speaks to the type of training they have received. Contract: The economy could collapse tomorrow and the current glory days for pilots would be over. Or, god forbid, another 9/11 situation could happen. Could you work your entire career under the contract at the regional you chose? If the answer is "no" or "They don't have a contract" its time to reconsider that airline
I have personally flown with 2 SWA hires and 1 Delta hire in the past two months. That is out of 10 CA’s. I know tangentially of only one pilot that has gone to a different regional.
I do agree that many of our pilots (both CA and FO) are headed to Spirit. And, I always agree to go somewhere with a flow if it works personally.
For someone to say that living in base is not a factor is laughable. Commuting costs $’s. Commuting takes time away from a pilot’s family.
Why don’t you name a few Mesa pilots who have joined XJT ranks in the past 3 months? They don’t exist.
I love trolls.
Last edited by calmwinds; 12-12-2017 at 12:11 PM.
12-12-2017, 01:28 PM
#56
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2012
Position: CRJ FO
Posts: 4,601
12-12-2017, 01:52 PM
#57
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2017
Posts: 2,145
You are a troll. Period.
Last edited by calmwinds; 12-12-2017 at 02:05 PM.
12-12-2017, 02:50 PM
#58
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2017
Posts: 2,145
No irony. I am a Mesa pilot on a Mesa post. You are an XJT pilot on a Mesa post.
Personally, I think XJT with its upgrade, inability to attract pilots, loss of bases and business, and a clear strategy by SJU to eventually phase XJT out is a disaster.
I am not over on the XJT forum making these comments. Just PSA and XJT trolls over here on this forum badmouthing our regional.
Personally, I think XJT with its upgrade, inability to attract pilots, loss of bases and business, and a clear strategy by SJU to eventually phase XJT out is a disaster.
I am not over on the XJT forum making these comments. Just PSA and XJT trolls over here on this forum badmouthing our regional.
12-12-2017, 02:56 PM
#59
Works Weekends & It's OK
Joined APC: Sep 2015
Posts: 222
No irony. I am a Mesa pilot on a Mesa post. You are an XJT pilot on a Mesa post.
Personally, I think XJT with its upgrade, inability to attract pilots, loss of bases and business, and a clear strategy by SJU to eventually phase XJT out is a disaster.
I am not over on the XJT forum making these comments. Just PSA and XJT trolls over here on this forum badmouthing our regional.
Personally, I think XJT with its upgrade, inability to attract pilots, loss of bases and business, and a clear strategy by SJU to eventually phase XJT out is a disaster.
I am not over on the XJT forum making these comments. Just PSA and XJT trolls over here on this forum badmouthing our regional.
I wish this forum had "Like" buttons!
12-12-2017, 03:35 PM
#60
Banned
Joined APC: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,275
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