Chautauqua or Pinnacle?

[Bosshog1]

Here is the deal. I am in the pool with CHQ from an interview on Nov. 19th, hopefully a class date the first week of Jan. I just got a call for an interview on Dec. 11 from Stephanie Grantham at Pinnacle (NW Airlink) in Memphis. Anyone got any ideas on the pros and cons of both companies? I live one hour from MEM, but I know the junior bases are Minn and Detroit. No pay during training at Pinnacle, some pay at CHQ. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[JJJ]

Both airlines would be decent. What do you want from a regional? Neither pays Comair wages yet, but the upgrade will be quicker. Both CHQ and Pinnacle have a significant amount of growth over the next few years. What would the closest CHQ base be for you? There are 703 pilots on the list at Pinnacle now, the most junior MEM FO is 652. I guess it would be only a few months to hold MEM.

CHQ just signed a contract, Pinnacles is ammendable in May '05.

Good luck on your interview.

 

[Lou3]

Sounds like you are a winner either way. CHQ is privately owned by Wexford Mgt., they are perhaps a little more insulated job security wise as they have codeshares with US Airways, Delta, and American. Pinnacle is owned by Northwest, although they are in the process of selling the company off in stock. Pinnacle is only a NW feeder--perhaps a little less job security (ala Mesaba situation) but who knows.

Truthfully, you can't go wrong either way right now, all things being equal, I would go with CHQ simply because their pilot labor contract is now behind them and they have better crew domiciles (in my opinion). Good luck, wish either one would call me right now, lol.

 

[Bosshog1]

STL would be the closest base. I would really like to stay where I am now so my kids would not have to change schools. I'm not sure what the commuting would be like between MEM and STL. I lived in STL during an intership with American in the Summer of '02 so I would move back if I had to. I have thought about the contract issues, CHQ just getting a new one, but I wasn't sure about Pinnacle.

 

[lionflyer]

If you're in the pool at Chautauqua, why bother with Pinnicle? Pinnicle doesn't pay you squat until your checkride and that should tell you enough about the company.

 

[dondk]

If your looking long term... look at the growth.. I do not know about CHQ's growth, but we are just over the 50% mark. We will grow about another 45% before all is said and done.

I would also consider the commute, MEM does not have the best commutability of our bases. MEM also has a fairly poor education system presently for your kids.

Finally, we are a regional, maybe in a few years we will have a contract worthy of the work we do. Until then, we are no different than most of the other regionals out there...

 

[Bosshog1]

dondk,

I live and instruct in Jonesboro, AR an hour north of MEM, so I would stay where I am for now. Pinnacle would make it easy to drive to work and not have to commute and maybe have more of a home life. I have a friend that is a captain there and says its pretty easy to drive back and forth. If I go with CHQ, I would have to drive to STL or MEM and jumpseat to whereever I am based, hopefully STL. And I only have an interview with Pinnacle, not a class date, so it may not even be an issue, but I wanted some feedback so I would have a better idea when I go for the interview.

 

[Craiggy]

how long of a drive is it to STL?

 

[dondk]

From what I have been hearing.. if you have an interview you basically have the job. The sure way not to get a job is to fail the written or be a cocky SOB in the interview. I have heard they accept about 80% of those who interview. Class dates are about 6 weeks from the intial offer.

If you choose Pinncale, and choose MEM as a domicile. If you choose to drive, the expense of a crash pad will not be needed and on a FO's pay, you need all the money you can hold on to!!!

MEM generally.. many day trips and CDO's.. Not too many multi-day trips. As a junior FO, plan on 10 days off for quite a while and airport reserve for a good 4-6 months.

I cannot speak for CHQ, but I would be asking the same questions. How much reserve, how much of a need for a crash pad, and how commutable can it be whether on reserve and/or a junior FO for a year.

I Jump on CHQ quite a bit, a great buch of people, I don't think you could go wrong on working for them. SO, it really comes down to what can you afford ($$$$)


good luck

 

[cl-65link]

CDO's in MEM are a thing of the past starting next spring. That's the rumor anyway. New bank structure.

 

[Sun Devil 2000]

FYI:

Pinnacle released an Initial bid and no vacancies (FO or CA) in MEM. Everyone in the last couple of new hire classes have not been able to hold MEM as a base. So you would have several folks ahead of you waiting for the MEM base at Pinnacle. However, I agree with Donk... the growth is outstanding.

Just my .02

 

[LearLove]

Congrats on the job. Like the rest I don't think you can go wrong right now with either, but never say never in this bizz. Anyway, I don't commute to my airline and observe that my job satisfaction is alittle better than thoes to do as a result if that helps. A good thing about CHQ is they have multiple partners unlike Pin.

Good Luck