Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

Compass or Pinncale

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web
Register   Log in
Pilot recruiter for NWA said compass will have NWA flow through. I'd go there if I had only those choices.
 
Speedbird34 said:
Again I repeat do not buy into the hype. Pinnacle is a good Airline with an awesome pilot group. Highly desired by major airlines.
We have a huge attrition rate amoung our captains who get hired by the best majors out there. Southwest, fedex, UPS, Delta, United, Cathay, continental just full of Pinnacle Pilots. I do not even want to mention how many of our pilots are in Jetblue, Airtran and JAL.
Our First officers are excellently trained, Great captains and we fly in the toughest parts of North America very successfully.
I was a street captain and I have never failed a training event here. You want to command a Pinnacle jet you must know your stuff and bust your ass. We will work with you and provide you good training.
we have only PC checks here. No PT's and if you keep in the books and prep for your checks you will do fine.
Our captains have left here and gone straight to the left seat on JAL B767 successfully.
Come here and work hard, Learned from some of the best and you will have a great future.
SouthWest chief pilot says when they find a good pilot group they hire as many of their pilots as they can. Southwest is swimming with our pilots. one single month they hired 17 guys.
A united recruiter told me they prefer 2500 RJ PIC 121. Cathay wants 2000 Jet minimum, Emirates wants Jet time espercially for street captain. With prop time you may not even be able to apply to some airlines. The contract international operators want jet time period.
UPS flies heavy jets and RJ barely meet their requirements. Prop guys swim in their pool forever.
No disrespect for props. I have at least 3500 of prop time but it is a brutal market out there and when you start job hunting with the big boys you will see i know what I am talking about.
We can do better at Pinnacle, we have a strike vote coming up and I just walked the picket line with our union a few weeks ago. We shall get a good contract. I really enjoyed being a jet captain better for my ears. Mesaba is a good company but I make more money than a saab captain, a lot more money.
Some of this critics may be haters, Guys who have an axe to grind with Pinnacle. Do not let them stop you from making a great future for yourself.
Management can be challenging but you get a line pretty quick as an FO. keep a low profile and work hard and you will do just great.
I have being on reserve almost three years and I still love my job. I love flying and I love my fellow pilots. What a privilege to be part of something so awesome.
A positive attitude will keep you in good health and remember when the going gets hard a little prayer never hurt anyone. life is not a bag of roses. It has challenges and the ability to overcome this obstacles is what spices up life
Click to expand...


I agree with Speedbird34. I very much enjoyed working at Pinnacle. Great people and for the most part good attitudes. There is a vocal minority of Pinnacle haters that constantly bash Pinnacle on this board. Many are the type of individuals that are not going to be happy anywhere they work and are the constant complainers. There is also the silent majority that goes to work and enjoys what they do, and you don't hear from them.

The training was adequate and fair at Pinnacle. The standards are high, which is the way it should be. If you work hard and apply yourself, you will do fine.

The upgrade was fast and I quickly acquired the qualifications that allowed me to land my dream job. And yes, many many of my friends were also landing their dream jobs after a happy stint at Pinnacle. No regrets and Thank you Pinnacle.

.
 
Speedbird34 said:
I was a street captain and I have never failed a training event here. You want to command a Pinnacle jet you must know your stuff and bust your ass. We will work with you and provide you good training.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you have never failed a training event here, but the fact is, you went through training almost 3 years ago. Since then, we have had street captains go through training with a success rate of less than 50% (one class with only 20%). So the REALITY is, if you come to PCL NOW as a street captain, you are gambling your career. No matter how valuable you may think jet PIC is over prop PIC, I will guarantee you that a clean training record takes the cake. Major airlines don't like taking chances on pilots who can't pass type rides.

AND NO, pinnacle does NOT provide good training. Anyone who thinks that this is not a self study course is severely mistaken.
 
Why colgan? Why Pineapple? Have you read the threads on flight info? Go to a carrier that will support pilots and our way of life.
 
It's amazing how people want the "Insta-PIC" (street captain) but then complain about QOL. If QOL is important stay where you are at and upgrade in a few years.

Otherwise take the PIC and STFU.
 
Speedbird34 said:
What I resent is people bashing me and my co workers. saying we are crap pilots or a terrible pilot group.
Click to expand...

Nobody is saying that. Up until earlier this year, I was a part of that pilot group. Hell, I was one of your union leaders! I think everyone here supports the Pinnacle pilot group's fight for a new contract. But your posts that encourage people to come to work at that hellhole are working against your own goals. You goal should be to convince people to avoid Pinnacle. The less pilots that Pinnacle can hire, the bigger their staffing crisis gets, and the more pressure they have to give you a new contract. Don't work against your own best interests.
 
I'm curious Speedbird, who the heck are you?! I know most of the Street CA's from your era and I don't know one that thinks that PCL is such a great place.
 
Don't kid yourself. Pinnacle training is crap. I'm not blaming it on the check airmen. The problem is that the absolute cheep-a**, understaffed, Pinnacle way of doing things. The training dept is stuck with it just like everyone else. The crap manuals don't help either.

I never said the pilots were the problem.

It's dark outside, you guys with the rose colored glasses might want to consider taking them off.

Pinnacle is a crappy employer.

Turbo
 
Speedbird34 said:
Hey Boys and gals! go easy on me.. I am hundred percent behind the pilots fight for a new contract.
Our contract needs lots of work, no duty rigs etc but so do a lot of regionals.
What I resent is people bashing me and my co workers. saying we are crap pilots or a terrible pilot group. We are fighting very hard for a new contract, we have not accepted a bad contract and we are ready to shut down the operation.
when you talk about us show some respect for our checkairmen, pilots etc and anyone who comes here must join our fight for better work rules.
The other day some guy from another airline tells me he had a 9E jumpseater. He had a low opinion of our pilot. I thought to myself who does he think he is to make conclusions about a Pinnacle Pilot. What does he know about my Pilot group. This is in support of our Pilot group and not in support of management.
WE NEED A NEW CONTRACT AND INSTEADF BASHING US WHY NOT COME WORK THE PICKET LINE WITH US AND CHAMPION.
Click to expand...

Hey, that's all cool, and I truly hope you guys get a very very good contract, ASAP. However, to imply that PCL pilots are more competitive on the job market than Mesaba pilots, just 'cause XJ guys fly Saab's is just plain incorrect. It's simply not true.

Good companies hire PCL pilots. Good companies hire Mesaba pilots. Good companies are also going to hire Compass pilots.

Go to PCL, go to XJ, go to Compass, who cares. However, don't think being at any one of the three by itself will make you more attractive to the legacies / freighters / whoevers. Pick the company that fits what you desire re: pay, QOL, domiciles, upgrade time, possible flow-through, whatever. Competitiveness vs. the other two companies is not one of the variables.
 
Last edited:
FOR THE RECORD I SUPPORT MY MEC 100%. I SUPPORT MY PILOT GROUP.
I WOULD VOTE IN SUPPORT OF A STRIKE.
THE PINNACLE MANAGEMENT RUNS A VERY HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT TOWARDS PILOTS. SCHEDULING IS VERY HARSH AND DISRESPECTFUL TOWARDS THE PILOTS AS THEY CRACK THE WHIP ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY.
WE HAVE EXTREMELY POOR WORK RULES AND IT IS HARD TO FEEL WELL TREATED BY THE COMPANY.
THE PINNACLE PILOTS ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL, WELL TRAINED AND DESERVE A GOOD CONTRACT.
WE MUST FIGHT FOR A GOOD CONTRACT AND IF DISCOURAGING OUR FREINDS FROM COMING HERE IS PART OF THE PLAN I WAS NOT INFORMED BY MY UNION.
I JUST PERSONALLY DO NOT FEEL A REGIONAL PILOT FROM ANY OTHER CARRIER IS BETTER THAN US OR THAT WE DO NOT PRODUCE GOOD PILOTS. I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY TIME HERE WHILE NOT SUPPORTING THE PINNACLE MANAGEMENT OR HOW IT MANAGES ITS EMPLOYEES.

NO MORE CORPORATE GREED.

THE CORPORATE RAT IS GETTING FATTER KICK IT IN THE TEETH.

lONG LIVE PINNACLE MEC!

ALSO THE AIRLINES HIRE GOOD PEOPLE. YOUR TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IS NOT REALLY SUCH A BIG ISSUE WITH MOST AIRLINES.

I MUST ALSO COMMEND THE LITTLE MINORITY OF GOOD PEOPLE IN SCHEDLING AND OUR BASE MANAGEMENT WHO SUPPORT OUR PILOT GROUP AND WISH US A GOOD CONTRACT. THEY HAVE BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE OUR STAY HERE PLEASANT. WITH A LITTLE POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE I AM STILL ALIVE.
 
Last edited:
DeucesWild said:
The training was adequate and fair at Pinnacle. The standards are high, which is the way it should be. If you work hard and apply yourself, you will do fine.
Click to expand...


If the failure rate is over 50% the training is not "adequate and fair". There are a lot of companies who fly the exact same aircraft in the exact same airspace as Pinnacle whose failure rates doesn't approach 50%. A training program who fails that many people is suspect at best. I don't know who is in charge over there, but they should be fired. It's inexcusable to send pilots to the line without adequate training.
 
Speedbird34 said:
FOR THE RECORD I SUPPORT MY MEC 100%. I SUPPORT MY PILOT GROUP.
I WOULD VOTE IN SUPPORT OF A STRIKE.
THE PINNACLE MANAGEMENT RUNS A VERY HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT TOWARDS PILOTS. SCHEDULING IS VERY HARSH AND DISRESPECTFUL TOWARDS THE PILOTS AS THEY CRACK THE WHIP ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY.
WE HAVE EXTREMELY POOR WORK RULES AND IT IS HARD TO FEEL WELL TREATED BY THE COMPANY.
THE PINNACLE PILOTS ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL, WELL TRAINED AND DESERVE A GOOD CONTRACT.
WE MUST FIGHT FOR A GOOD CONTRACT AND IF DISCOURAGING OUR FREINDS FROM COMING HERE IS PART OF THE PLAN I WAS NOT INFORMED BY MY UNION.
I JUST PERSONALLY DO NOT FEEL A REGIONAL PILOT FROM ANY OTHER CARRIER IS BETTER THAN US OR THAT WE DO NOT PRODUCE GOOD PILOTS. I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY TIME HERE WHILE NOT SUPPORTING THE PINNACLE MANAGEMENT OR HOW IT MANAGES ITS EMPLOYEES.

NO MORE CORPORATE GREED.

THE CORPORATE RAT IS GETTING FATTER KICK IT IN THE TEETH.

lONG LIVE PINNACLE MEC!

ALSO THE AIRLINES HIRE GOOD PEOPLE. YOUR TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IS NOT REALLY SUCH A BIG ISSUE WITH MOST AIRLINES.

I MUST ALSO COMMEND THE LITTLE MINORITY OF GOOD PEOPLE IN SCHEDLING AND OUR BASE MANAGEMENT WHO SUPPORT OUR PILOT GROUP AND WISH US A GOOD CONTRACT. THEY HAVE BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE OUR STAY HERE PLEASANT. WITH A LITTLE POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE I AM STILL ALIVE.
Click to expand...

If you really are a Pinnacle pilot tell me this?

Did you receive a DVD in the mail this last week.

What does the DVD have printed on the cover, and have you watched it?

I find you very suspect. Where are you supposedly based?
 
Speedbird34 said:
FOR THE RECORD I SUPPORT MY MEC 100%. I SUPPORT MY PILOT GROUP.
I WOULD VOTE IN SUPPORT OF A STRIKE.
THE PINNACLE MANAGEMENT RUNS A VERY HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT TOWARDS PILOTS. SCHEDULING IS VERY HARSH AND DISRESPECTFUL TOWARDS THE PILOTS AS THEY CRACK THE WHIP ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY.
WE HAVE EXTREMELY POOR WORK RULES AND IT IS HARD TO FEEL WELL TREATED BY THE COMPANY.
THE PINNACLE PILOTS ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL, WELL TRAINED AND DESERVE A GOOD CONTRACT.
WE MUST FIGHT FOR A GOOD CONTRACT AND IF DISCOURAGING OUR FREINDS FROM COMING HERE IS PART OF THE PLAN I WAS NOT INFORMED BY MY UNION.
I JUST PERSONALLY DO NOT FEEL A REGIONAL PILOT FROM ANY OTHER CARRIER IS BETTER THAN US OR THAT WE DO NOT PRODUCE GOOD PILOTS. I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY TIME HERE WHILE NOT SUPPORTING THE PINNACLE MANAGEMENT OR HOW IT MANAGES ITS EMPLOYEES.

NO MORE CORPORATE GREED.

THE CORPORATE RAT IS GETTING FATTER KICK IT IN THE TEETH.

lONG LIVE PINNACLE MEC!

ALSO THE AIRLINES HIRE GOOD PEOPLE. YOUR TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IS NOT REALLY SUCH A BIG ISSUE WITH MOST AIRLINES.

I MUST ALSO COMMEND THE LITTLE MINORITY OF GOOD PEOPLE IN SCHEDLING AND OUR BASE MANAGEMENT WHO SUPPORT OUR PILOT GROUP AND WISH US A GOOD CONTRACT. THEY HAVE BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE OUR STAY HERE PLEASANT. WITH A LITTLE POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE I AM STILL ALIVE.
Click to expand...

This post has a very different tone then your other posts. It is closer to reality and shows that you see that there are MANY significant problems here.

It is clear that you have a great attitude and you don't let things get you down. However, this company is the worst run company I have ever worked for aviation or not. This place sucks. That does not mean that we don't have great pilots. We do, but this company is AWFUL and the average person will feel that every day. That is why our FO attrition is astronomical.

Like others have said, our only leverage for a new contract is this companies inability to hire pilots. So don't paint this place out to be any better than the hostile, low paying, slave labor place that it is.

Also, you would not be ready to strike if this place was any good. But you are.
 
My apology for misleading Pilots. I have given this post lots of thought. I must say I have being lucky in training here and not that the training has being any good. training should not be just about personal hardwork and luck. But a proper training environment is a must.

I AGREE THAT THE TRAINING AT PINNACLE SUCKS. MANY GOOD PILOTS HAVE WASHED OUT. THIS PILOTS END UP BEING A SUCCESS ELSEWHERE. SO OUR TRAINING DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED THE INDUSTRY.

50% FAILURE RATE AT UPGRADE IS TERRIBLE. I DID NOT REALISE IT WAS THAT HIGH. I HAVE BEING TOO BUSY DOING REDUCE REST OVER NIGHTS. I AM LOSING TOUCH WITH WHAT GOES ON IN MEMPHIS.

I THINK ABOUT ALL THE HORRIBLE CARPET DANCES I HAVE HAD TO DO FOR NO REASON APART FOR SOME MONSTER IN SCHEDULING HUNTING ME AND TRYING TO RUIN MY CAREER. PILOTS FIRED FOR NO REASON. FOR STANDING UP TO RUDE SCHEDULARS. NO DUTY RIGS FOR HIGHSPEEDS. ALWAYS WORKING ON THE VERY EDGE OF LEGALITY AND RISKING YOUR LICENSE.
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH EVERYONE WHO SAYS THIS IS A HORRIBLE PLACE TO WORK.
DO NOT COME HERE TILL WE HAVE A GOOD CONTRACT. WE NEED TO SHUT THIS HELL HOLE DOWN.
IT KILLS PILOTS CAREERS AND FORCES US TO WORK A TIGHT ROPE AND PUSHES OUR STRESS LEVEL THROUGH THE ROOF. ACCORDING TO MY PERSONAL PHYSICIAN I AM AT RISK OF A HEART ATTACK HERE BECOS OF NOT GETTING ENOUGH REST DURING THOSE 4 HR LAYOVERS IN HOTELS COMBINED WITH 15 HR DUTY PERIOODS DUE TO MAINTENANCE DELAYS AND JUST PLAIN POOR PLANNING, AT ASA OR SKYWEST SUCH A TRIP WOULD PAY 9 HRS AND AT PINNACLE IT COULD PAY 2 HRS IF THEY MAKE IT A REDUCED REST OVER NIGHT.

THIS PLACE SUCKS. I APOLOISE IF I HAVE MISLEAD ANYONE TO COME HERE.

NO CONTRACT. NO NEW HIRES.
 
Last edited:
Glad you've come to your senses. I hope you guys get the contract that you deserve.
 
That has to be the biggest change of heart I have ever witnessed on FI. Hell, it may even be the first time someone has changed their mind.
 

Share this page

Latest posts

Latest resources

Latest media

Carbon Cub FX-3 Shenandoah Valley
Carbon Cub at Kittyhawk
FX-3 in the backcountry
IFR Panel in a Carbon Cub FX-3
Cub-Provo-UT-c.jpg
Back
Top