Tank Commander
Jim "Tank Daddy" Bizzell
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Pinnacle Pilots - FLY SAFE
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It's an intimidation tactic. They know that lots of people don't want to go through all of the trouble in getting the FMLA paperwork handled, and lots of pilots are scared of discipline from the sick leave policy without using FMLA, so lots of pilots will simply come to work even though they're really sick. The truth is, no one has ever been really disciplined for calling in sick, even though they've far exceeded the number of sick calls that the policy allows. It's all just intimidation tactics that are designed to force people to come to work sick so they don't have to staff the airline properly and pay out sick time.
I believe the information that GE uses to determine Pinnacle's power-by-hour cost is based off of data downloaded from the airplane. I think they use the actual N1 and ITT numbers. You can view all of that data that is downloaded by using the MFD Menu functions. I wouldn't stop FLEXing, though, even if it does increase their costs. Chances of an engine failure almost double by using full rated thrust rather than reduced thrust on takeoff. "Work to rule" efforts should focus on increased safety, not decreased safety.
dustrpilot
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Flyprdu
You Want This, Don't You.
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Looks like someone failed English a couple times.
phishn@daves
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Perhaps he'd fell on his head.
CrownandCoke
RIP Lynx :-(
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The other day/night, we started our day at 8:25 am cst. In MEM (Finally) at 10:35. So 14:10 minutes on duty. Still had a Knoxville turn that wasn't supposed to get in now until after 1:30 am est. Scheduling had the nerve to tell us to go to 16 hours and take the flt. We told them to fax the paperwork to the hotel.
The wheels are coming off the train. And it's entertaining to watch.
The wheels are coming off the train. And it's entertaining to watch.
dustrpilot
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Um, no I passed. It was a joke for PCL128. I meant it like I wrote it.
Thought this would be a good time to bring back page one.
Quote.
Fellow Pinnacle pilots,
At this time of great frustration, let us focus our energy on something positive. I suggest that we all recommit ourselves to being the safest pilots we can be. I believe that if we can demonstrate to our management that we can be the safest airline in the country, that they will reward us with the contract we deserve. Below are some examples that I believe will serve our passengers and company with maximum safety.
Do not fly sick. Our FOM says that you can not accept a flight assignment if you would be a detriment to the safety of flight. The company DOES NOT want you to fly sick. That is why they give you sick time. If you are sick, they want you use your sick time and get well. That is also why pinnacle does not pay out your sick bank when you leave the company. They expect you to use it up when you are sick and avoid taking any chances of getting your fellow crew members sick. It is right there in the FOM. That is why they have reserve pilots.
Taxi at a very safe speed. Remember, the speed of a brisk walk. This is especially important right now because of the ice and snow that can be on taxiways. Also, with the start up of Delta operations, the company would not want any embarrassing taxi mishaps that put our new contract in jeopardy. So taxi at a very safe speed. Don't allow yourself to become distracted in the busy terminal environment. If you have to do something that will distract you from your primary taxi duties, such as a complicated checklist, maintenance issue or numbers problem, SET THE BRAKE. You owe it to your paying passengers that expect your full attention when moving the aircraft.
Dropping the parking brake before the cargo door is closed or a push crew is in place is a safety hazard. That is why the FOM says not to. If the cargo door is open and they are still loading bags, someone could get injured if the chocks were not perfectly installed. The airplane could roll. Also, if you don't have a push crew in place, don't drop the brake. They need to be their to supervise the aircraft if the brake is released, just in case a chock popped out. Personal injury or aircraft damage could result. Follow the FOM. The company places more value on being SAFE, then being on time. They would rather you send a delay report than an injury/damage report. Remember our guiding principle, "Never compromise Safety".
Right up any maintenance issues regardless of where and when they are discovered. You are not doing your fellow pilot or your paying passengers any favors by putting up with a broken airplane. Plus, the FOM says you MUST document all maintenance problems. The company wants you to do this. It is in the book. That is why they have Maintenance technicians. Also, avoid the temptation to just reset a circuit breaker. This is not what pinnacle wants you to do. It is in the CFM/FOM. Stop, put the brake on, and call maintenance. Just like the companies has trained us. They want to document these problems so they fix reoccurring issues. But they won't know if you just reset the circuit breaker. Follow the CFM/FOM.
Do not allow yourself to be distracted from your primary duties of passenger safety and comfort. Your responsibility is to move the aircraft per the CFM/FOM, ensure that it is always in the proper configuration, that all the appropriate check lists have been completed correctly and that no limitations are exceeded. This takes all your concentration and professionalism. Your job is hard enough. Don't be distracted and allow your focus to be derailed be doing someone Else's job. Calling for numbers, calling for a push crew or a park crew distracts you from YOUR job. Operations, dispatch and load control have not forgotten about you. They have a job to do, and calling them just distracts them from their job. They are working on it. Do not bother them. Your focus should remain on your tasks and duties. Your passengers do not want you to be distracted.
I believe that if can demonstrate that we can be the safest airline in the country, that our management will see how valuable we are and reward us with a fair contract.
I hope you will all join me in my re-commitment to safety. Quote.
Quote.
Fellow Pinnacle pilots,
At this time of great frustration, let us focus our energy on something positive. I suggest that we all recommit ourselves to being the safest pilots we can be. I believe that if we can demonstrate to our management that we can be the safest airline in the country, that they will reward us with the contract we deserve. Below are some examples that I believe will serve our passengers and company with maximum safety.
Do not fly sick. Our FOM says that you can not accept a flight assignment if you would be a detriment to the safety of flight. The company DOES NOT want you to fly sick. That is why they give you sick time. If you are sick, they want you use your sick time and get well. That is also why pinnacle does not pay out your sick bank when you leave the company. They expect you to use it up when you are sick and avoid taking any chances of getting your fellow crew members sick. It is right there in the FOM. That is why they have reserve pilots.
Taxi at a very safe speed. Remember, the speed of a brisk walk. This is especially important right now because of the ice and snow that can be on taxiways. Also, with the start up of Delta operations, the company would not want any embarrassing taxi mishaps that put our new contract in jeopardy. So taxi at a very safe speed. Don't allow yourself to become distracted in the busy terminal environment. If you have to do something that will distract you from your primary taxi duties, such as a complicated checklist, maintenance issue or numbers problem, SET THE BRAKE. You owe it to your paying passengers that expect your full attention when moving the aircraft.
Dropping the parking brake before the cargo door is closed or a push crew is in place is a safety hazard. That is why the FOM says not to. If the cargo door is open and they are still loading bags, someone could get injured if the chocks were not perfectly installed. The airplane could roll. Also, if you don't have a push crew in place, don't drop the brake. They need to be their to supervise the aircraft if the brake is released, just in case a chock popped out. Personal injury or aircraft damage could result. Follow the FOM. The company places more value on being SAFE, then being on time. They would rather you send a delay report than an injury/damage report. Remember our guiding principle, "Never compromise Safety".
Right up any maintenance issues regardless of where and when they are discovered. You are not doing your fellow pilot or your paying passengers any favors by putting up with a broken airplane. Plus, the FOM says you MUST document all maintenance problems. The company wants you to do this. It is in the book. That is why they have Maintenance technicians. Also, avoid the temptation to just reset a circuit breaker. This is not what pinnacle wants you to do. It is in the CFM/FOM. Stop, put the brake on, and call maintenance. Just like the companies has trained us. They want to document these problems so they fix reoccurring issues. But they won't know if you just reset the circuit breaker. Follow the CFM/FOM.
Do not allow yourself to be distracted from your primary duties of passenger safety and comfort. Your responsibility is to move the aircraft per the CFM/FOM, ensure that it is always in the proper configuration, that all the appropriate check lists have been completed correctly and that no limitations are exceeded. This takes all your concentration and professionalism. Your job is hard enough. Don't be distracted and allow your focus to be derailed be doing someone Else's job. Calling for numbers, calling for a push crew or a park crew distracts you from YOUR job. Operations, dispatch and load control have not forgotten about you. They have a job to do, and calling them just distracts them from their job. They are working on it. Do not bother them. Your focus should remain on your tasks and duties. Your passengers do not want you to be distracted.
I believe that if can demonstrate that we can be the safest airline in the country, that our management will see how valuable we are and reward us with a fair contract.
I hope you will all join me in my re-commitment to safety. Quote.
This is why. I am getting really sick of these aholes
Mediated negotiations resumed today at the National Mediation Board offices in Washington, D.C.
The two parties met with NMB Mediator Jack Kane.
Present for the Association were your full Negotiating Committee, MEC Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Scheduling Committee Chairman, Communications Committee Chairman, ALPA attorneys and an ALPA Economic & Financial Analyst.
Present for the Company were Clive Seal, Frank Fato, David White, corporate counsel Joe Manson and corporate staff.
As previously reported, the Preferential Bidding System (PBS) dominated yesterday’s negotiations, which adjourned late yesterday evening with little to no progress. Over the past four weeks, the Association had met with the Company “away from the table” on multiple occasions to discuss PBS in an effort to achieve mutually agreeable terms while improving the quality of life of the pilot group. While these meetings were not mediated, they were conducted with the approval of Mediator Jack Kane. Your Association was lead to believe that significant progress was made on PBS and received verbal assurances that only minor issues remained in order to reach a mutually acceptable agreement on PBS. Your association came to Washington D.C. ready to close PBS and discuss the remaining open items: scope and certain economic items. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
Yesterday, the Association was presented with a PBS document that did not in any way represent the spirit of the talks conducted over the past weeks. In many respects, the PBS proposal submitted by the company could be characterized as regressive. As a consequence of the company’s position, a substantial part of time set aside for negotiations today was consumed by reviewing the latest company proposal and formulating a response that served the best interests of the pilot group.
This afternoon, the Association presented its response to the Company’s PBS proposal. At the conclusion of the presentation, corporate counsel Joe Manson indicated that the company would respond to the Association at a later date. Excluding PBS, open items include scope and certain economic items.
At the conclusion of today’s negotiations sessions, National Mediation Board Mediator Jack Kane informed both parties that mediated negotiations were recessed until further notice. Mediator Kane reiterated NMB Member Hoglander’s stance that the duration of the negotiations combined with the existing open items were the driving force behind the decision to recess further negotiations.
Throughout the negotiations process, your association has conducted negotiations with the utmost integrity and good faith with the best interests of the pilot group as its objective. We are deeply disappointed that it proved impossible to reach a mutually beneficial agreement during the last round of negotiations however, we can not and will not enter into an agreement that achieves anything other than a contract that serves the best interests of this pilot group. Your association appreciates your support and remains committed to obtaining the fair contract that we all deserve.
PCL MEC & NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE
Mediated negotiations resumed today at the National Mediation Board offices in Washington, D.C.
The two parties met with NMB Mediator Jack Kane.
Present for the Association were your full Negotiating Committee, MEC Chairman and Vice-Chairman, Scheduling Committee Chairman, Communications Committee Chairman, ALPA attorneys and an ALPA Economic & Financial Analyst.
Present for the Company were Clive Seal, Frank Fato, David White, corporate counsel Joe Manson and corporate staff.
As previously reported, the Preferential Bidding System (PBS) dominated yesterday’s negotiations, which adjourned late yesterday evening with little to no progress. Over the past four weeks, the Association had met with the Company “away from the table” on multiple occasions to discuss PBS in an effort to achieve mutually agreeable terms while improving the quality of life of the pilot group. While these meetings were not mediated, they were conducted with the approval of Mediator Jack Kane. Your Association was lead to believe that significant progress was made on PBS and received verbal assurances that only minor issues remained in order to reach a mutually acceptable agreement on PBS. Your association came to Washington D.C. ready to close PBS and discuss the remaining open items: scope and certain economic items. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
Yesterday, the Association was presented with a PBS document that did not in any way represent the spirit of the talks conducted over the past weeks. In many respects, the PBS proposal submitted by the company could be characterized as regressive. As a consequence of the company’s position, a substantial part of time set aside for negotiations today was consumed by reviewing the latest company proposal and formulating a response that served the best interests of the pilot group.
This afternoon, the Association presented its response to the Company’s PBS proposal. At the conclusion of the presentation, corporate counsel Joe Manson indicated that the company would respond to the Association at a later date. Excluding PBS, open items include scope and certain economic items.
At the conclusion of today’s negotiations sessions, National Mediation Board Mediator Jack Kane informed both parties that mediated negotiations were recessed until further notice. Mediator Kane reiterated NMB Member Hoglander’s stance that the duration of the negotiations combined with the existing open items were the driving force behind the decision to recess further negotiations.
Throughout the negotiations process, your association has conducted negotiations with the utmost integrity and good faith with the best interests of the pilot group as its objective. We are deeply disappointed that it proved impossible to reach a mutually beneficial agreement during the last round of negotiations however, we can not and will not enter into an agreement that achieves anything other than a contract that serves the best interests of this pilot group. Your association appreciates your support and remains committed to obtaining the fair contract that we all deserve.
PCL MEC & NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE
Flyprdu
You Want This, Don't You.
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sweptback
Guess that wasn't solid
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Sigh. This is why you don't meet with the company outside of mediated discussions. They agree to things verbally, then when it comes time to put it in writing, they conveniently forget that it happened.
Same thing that happened at ASA. We fell for it once, then got burned, and our CNC never met with the company outside of mediation after. The company tried to raise hell that the union was unwilling to meet with them, but most of the pilots saw through their games.
i fly boxes
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MACH-TUCK
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Hey PCL_128 there was a Captain in MSP that got disciplined for calling in sick too many times. So it has happend, but the FAA hasn't been informed yet. My next carpet dance im going to bring a tape recorder...
Fellow 9E pilots, its time to FLY SAFE every flight.
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altimaklr
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The idea of "fly safe" doesn't resonate as well here at Pinnacle compared to ASA because SO many of our trips are either highspeeds or reduced rests. I have never met a captain willing to taxi at 2mph or wait 30 minutes on the ramp for numbers at the expense of missing the early employee parking bus/commute or 30 minutes less sleep at the hotel. ASA has many more long overnights, as well as high pay on highspeeds, so the similarities are not so similar.
As for calling sick, a large chunk of the FO's and many street captains are still on probation and not willing to risk getting cut for calling in sick multiple times. Fair or not, that's the way it is. The senior guys with nothing to lose (Mississippi flying club and the Minneapolis grandpas) often think life is fine and have no intention of rocking the boat.
As for calling sick, a large chunk of the FO's and many street captains are still on probation and not willing to risk getting cut for calling in sick multiple times. Fair or not, that's the way it is. The senior guys with nothing to lose (Mississippi flying club and the Minneapolis grandpas) often think life is fine and have no intention of rocking the boat.
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If you're referring to a verbal warning, then that's not really what I mean by discipline. My employee file from Pinnacle is filled with probably a dozen verbal warning letters. I laughed each time they issued one. They don't mean jack, and they can't be forwarded in a PRIA check. Not a big deal. If you're talking about a suspension or other real discipline, then I highly doubt that.
captainv
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- Oct 16, 2002
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- 572
Intimidation on sick calls is completely bogus. CMR did the same thing a while back. A few guys got sent to see an FAA doc after what the company felt were "suspicious" sick calls. Of course they got sent to the doc the next time they showed up to work, which by itself means you've already self-certified that you're well and ready to fly.
The guys that got tagged got pulled off their trips and pay-protected. What, like the doc can prove you weren't sick last week? Maybe you had a bad headache or intestinal problems that day.
Sure, there were a few guys that called in an awful lot. Don't want us to call in? Let me cash out my sick bank when I leave.
For those with recurring health problems, (bad back from swinging that heavy flight case perhaps) FMLA might be worth the trouble. Once the paperwork is done, you can call in whenever you want and they can't touch you...
Be safe!
The guys that got tagged got pulled off their trips and pay-protected. What, like the doc can prove you weren't sick last week? Maybe you had a bad headache or intestinal problems that day.
Sure, there were a few guys that called in an awful lot. Don't want us to call in? Let me cash out my sick bank when I leave.
For those with recurring health problems, (bad back from swinging that heavy flight case perhaps) FMLA might be worth the trouble. Once the paperwork is done, you can call in whenever you want and they can't touch you...
Be safe!
ex j-41
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I think we all have been pressured to fly with an empty stomach. When you get 46 min break at an outstation the company has done what they needed to do contract wise with regard to a meal break.
You put fuel in the airplane and now it is time to fuel the pilots.
No more flying hungry! Simple
MACH-TUCK
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Yeah I hear ya about the "letters of verbal warning" that show up via FedEx, those are all over in my file too. But this Captain im refering to was suspended for a couple of days for too many sick "days" in a revolving 12 months. So management has crossed the line and actually disciplined someone over sick calls. Which tells me they want pilots to fly sick and violate the FAR'S.
Long Time Gone
Never Did The Atkins
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What kind of ACARS crap system are y'all using?
BTW, welcome to ATL. If you don't understand "y'all", you might want to move.
Did he have union representation at his meeting, and did he grieve it? Let me guess: the letter was issued by Copilot Gary Beeks? That guy needs a lobotomy.
Pathetic.... Pinnacle pilots were just issued a memo regarding the holiday weekend, and that anyone calling in sick will need to bring a doctors note.
You gotta love it, management treats us like 2nd graders. Anyone who is forced to bring in a doctors note should write the expense for the doctor visit and get the company to reimburse it! The company is forcing you to see a doctor (to get a doctor sick note), so THEY should pay for it.
Pinnacle managmeent (Phildo, CS, Doug 'the Barney' , etc) are all pathetic-worthless-scumbags.
You gotta love it, management treats us like 2nd graders. Anyone who is forced to bring in a doctors note should write the expense for the doctor visit and get the company to reimburse it! The company is forcing you to see a doctor (to get a doctor sick note), so THEY should pay for it.
Pinnacle managmeent (Phildo, CS, Doug 'the Barney' , etc) are all pathetic-worthless-scumbags.
i fly boxes
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- Jan 12, 2006
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Today we had a light on the overhead panel burn out at an outstation. I didnt think it was safe to fly with that light burned out, so I wrote it up and unfortunately we were late by an hour. It also delayed the next 2 flights as well. I felt much safer with that 1 light working though and I am sure my passengers and company appreciated what i did because safety is the number one guiding principle
Rook
And shepherds we shall be
- Joined
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- 1,225
What kind of ACARS crap system are y'all using?
BTW, welcome to ATL. If you don't understand "y'all", you might want to move.
You do remember that Express I was/is a MEM based company right?
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