What's everyone waiting for?
 

Attachment 2468
Seems as though the American regional airlines are suffering.

For the attachment to be approved....

Try imgur....

Maybe a livable salary? ;)

They gona have to up the $$$$$$$$$

Mesa is literally the bottom of the barrel.

I recently jumped from flying rescue helicopters to the regionals here in the US. I work for an American Airlines wholly owned.

I'm earning about 80k USD or more in first year pay without taking into account the first year new hire bonus. The further up the seniority list you move the easier it is to make more money with the ability to drop sequences and load up your roster with OT as well as create rostering conflicts where they have to drop flying but you still get paid for it.

I'll upgrade as soon as I get my 1000 hours part 121 time which is not far away flying max hours per month.

Once upgrading the I'll be on over 100k USD as a captain.

I'll flow to mainline in about 4-5 years if I don't get picked up by another legacy first.

Regionals aren't that terrible anymore, obviously room for improvement but just don't go to a bottom feeder company like Mesa.

Problem is that Ausi turbo prop Captains are earning quite good money so it just doesn't stack up.

The cost of living in Australia vs the US sort of negates the greater wage though.

Avo on toast and a coffee will still set you back US$15-20.

Sure living as a peasant is cheaper there but for a comparable standard of living, not really.

Persistent rumour of South West coming out to do road shows. I call BS on that one. Anyone have info to contrary.

Brgr,

Are you referring to the US airline, Southwest ? I thought there is/was a Southwest in Africa too but Google couldn't tell me for sure.

If you're talking about the US version, I join you in your opinion !! :-)))

I made the move earlier this year after waiting on the Qlink hold file too long. I'm on an E3 visa and the standard of living I enjoy with my family is no worse than we had back in Aus. The Aviation industry here has opened my eyes to a whole other world, so far I have helped 5 other Aussies make the move. If anyone's interested in joining us send me a pm and I'll be happy to help.

I've been in the US almost 9 months and now I hold a line with regular schedules (everyone starts off on 'reserve' after check to line). You can earn a decent living here when you get to this stage with overtime. The company I work for paid for my jet type rating with no bond nor minimal terms of service. I was paid from day 1 of ground school. And we're free to move on whenever we want and management infact understands this and won't hold you back. This video gives you an idea of what to expect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw76VbNJDjQ

I concur with Havick in that Mesa is probably the bottom of the barrel. When I started, there were only two US regionals that employed Australians on the E3 visa. Now there are quite a few to choose from. Ask around for which ones to choose, and which ones to avoid. Those with huge sign-on bonuses (and I mean huge) are probably those that the locals themselves are avoiding, so that will give you some indication.

Don't consider Mesa...
I'm Another Qlink hold filer who has now been in the states for about 4 months. Is the money amazing no. Is it perfectly liveable once you get established and prepared to work hard.. Yes.
Plus working for a company that doesn't seem to go out of its way to treat you like crap, all training paid for with no return of service and the chance to fly in a very different and challenging environment with generally good people. The training I have received was first class.
Would of been happy flying a dash around at home but that wasn't to be. So far, coming here has been one of best decisions I've made.
As people have done for me, I'm happy to help others that have a good attitude and don't mind working hard! Feel free to pm me as well.

The states sounds exciting in some ways but it should be said that Qlink looked after me while I was there, albeit, living in Sydney was getting a bit pricey. They played hard ball come EBA time but at the end of the day the terms where good and I loved the work.

I wold have stayed but for a better offer coming along.

You want to leave the epicentre of the universe in Sydney?
Really? You can get a run down house for a bargain of 2 million with a two hour commute.
Property never goes down in Sydney either so why go?
Jetconnect/Cobram/Qlink/Network/Qantas have such amazing pay and prospects too. We have the highest paid executives in any global airline such is the extent of our masters genius.

Been back in the US flying for United for 2 years after almost 6 years at Virgin in Syd, so a couple of personal thoughts...

Mesa is a $hithole of a company. I very much doubt you could find a job in the developed world where you'd be treated worse, by your employer.

Don't make the mistake of comparing AU$ to US$. I get paid slightly more here as a 3rd year 75/76 FO than I did at the top 73 level at VA but pay 60% less taxes and support family of 3 on one salary, very comfortably. Your pay goes far further here than it ever would in Oz. Do find myself missing the lifestyle of a DINK in Sydney though.

Southwest coming to Oz???!! Not in a million years. They have a room full of CV's from guys here, that would literally sell a testicle to work for them. That's probably just wishful thinking from some less informed VA guys that still think Southwest is the best company in the world.

I will say this, though. I've spent almost 20 years here. On and off and I've found that since a certain numpty took office in the Whitehouse, I've had far more xenophobic and bigoted comments thrown my way about being a foreigner in the US. It's all the more surprising as I've always taken the approach of being extremely respectful, keeping my head down and being as anonymous as possible.

From a website dealing with SWA applicants: They're interviewing 16 people/day with a success rate of 25-40% so they're pretty fussy (Delta's interview success rate, for comparison, is 68%) and the seat progression won't be as rapid as DL, UA or AA since SWA doesn't have the % retirement issues the others have. They have 3 classes/mo set through August with 2/mo after that with maybe more.

Somebody must've been pullin' somebody's leg with the SWA rumor. ;-)

I'm surprised you've had issues due to your lineage. Try to find some more enlightened people to associate with ! :-)))









Bafan,

Apart from the odd redneck comment, never encountered anything other than positive vibes over the years. I've always felt Americans feel a unique affinity for the Aussies and they certainly don't give us cr@p the same as they do, the Cannucks or Brits.

I think the current administration has emboldened the masses to say what they think, sometimes ignorantly, without thinking first. You get idiots no matter where you work or live but even though I have a very thick skin, I've been surprised at the blatantly personal nature of some of the comments. I should say that it's very much the exception though and working at UAL is easily the best job of my career.

Been in the US on and off for the last 6 years and wouldn't head back to Aus if you paid me. Quality of life here is fantastic and as previously stated, your dollar goes so much further. Granted things like health care and education for the kids are things that need to be researched properly to get the best set up, however the size of the aviation industry, opportunity for growth and personal progression, network potential and just general living things like entertainment both in and outdoors are second to none. I've lived in California and now Nevada (Vegas to be exact) and life is bliss. Another thing to mentioned ... GA flying is incredible. Airstrips everywhere, most have full service FBO's, rental rates are ridiculously cheap etc.

If you have the opportunity to get over here, particularly if you are young and single, do not pass it up.