Headed to Pinnacle

[Mtnjam]

Headed to Pinnacle on Wednesday for an interview. Anyone have any kind words of wisdom or advice to help me get a good phone call instead of the Bad letter??

 

[PCL_128]

My advice to you is to look for a job elsewhere. With Northwest now able to get a third Airlink carrier, I highly doubt we will see anymore airplanes at Pinnacle. That would mean you will be waiting for upgrade for many years. I would suggest looking for work at an airline that can get you a quicker upgrade. FO pay is too bad here to stay on it for years and years.

 

[cosmotheassman]

Why would you go work somewhere that doesn't pay you during training? I don't like these companies that do this.

 

[Mtnjam]

Tree's

Pilot jobs don't grow on tree's is all I can say. Pinnacle seems like a good company to work for because they are owned by Northwest. It seems as if upgrade to Captain is relatively quick from what I can tell.
As far as F/O pay goes, you tell me one place that pays more. I'd like to see it, that's for sure. American Eagle maybe if you're an F/O on the jet, but then you're stuck there for 4 to 5 years. The No pay training thing isn't too cool in my book, but the problem is that they are hiring alot of the Gulfstream "boys" so Dad finances them through training too. Pinnacle knows this and they know they can get away with not paying guys while they train. It's unfortunate.......... Myself well if I do get the job I'll be calling all my creditor's and saying too bad so sad, there is no money in my pockets for the next few months so you're not getting paid. Companies will continue to take advantage of pilots until the industry completely turns around again. It is picking up but it is still not the "ideal" career to have quite yet. There was posting about "why do I still fly?" Alot of good points made there. I guess flying is a drug.

 

[John_W_Thompson]

Rumors

Rumor at Pinnacle is growth. Don't know who with, but likely someone other than NWA. Third simulator to come online this month, new training facilities (paid for by "Pinchnickel"), hiring like no tomorrow, financing in place for additional airplanes. The rumor is additional codeshare.

 

[Markm1811]

A little extra reading

Know a little about the company. Ask about the core values (in every room and office). See you Weds...

 

[flap operator]

Yup, know a little about the company before you interview Like, THEY'RE NOT OWNED BY NORTHWEST! Also, there are plenty of airlines that pay their new hire pilots more than Pinnacle... and they pay for your hotel and pay you etc... whilst in training. You need to do better research...

As for the growth with another partner... who needs another partner? There isn't anyone to fly for. Financing may not be as easy as it seems. Especially when NWA controls everything that PNCL does.


FO

 

[dondk]

Growth...

Looking at the latest vacancy.. I am floored, did not see it coming...
24 CA and 60 FO's for 03/05.

Most of us who have been around a few years have stated the music was coming to an end. Latest BS on the company line "alludes" to unlimited 44 seaters and most of our 44's will be converted to 50's... All remaining a/c will also be 50 seat a/c for the current order.

The NWA scope while it does open the door for another airlink, it still requires all point to point service to be done by 44 seat a/c, and we (PNCL) are the only ones with that equipment.

With LAN, MKE, IND and some others that are rumored in the very near future.. I can see some additional jet's in the future and with the latest vacancy it "may" make sense.

As for upgrades.. we have about 480 CA (either on the line or in some form of upgrade). I would estimate we are stil short about 50-100. Although, I doubt it will go back to the 800's or higher in seniority unless a sizeable amount of 44 seats head our way. Sizeable=at least 30 or more.

Regardless, we have about 1000 out of an expected 1300 pilots.. those hired this year or early next year will more than likely hold a line, but not more than 11-12 days off and unless more jets appear I would guess a 4+ year upgrade.

As for no pay for training.. when section 6 starts again, that is one topic that is on the agenda to be changed. Does not help anyone now, but we know it is wrong....

 

[Mel Sharples]

This is not a personal slam against anyone, but listening to people argue about which Airlink will grow first or more is like listening to Beavis and Butthead argue about who is going to score first and with whom. It probably ain't going to happen for a loooooong time. . .

At Mesaba, we heard all the rumors, too. "After the contract" and "Once Pinnacle is in negotations" and "They have to grow now because of all the money we spent on the training center and new G.O." And yet, we wait.

It sucks because we are all just pawns in a game of chess we can't even see. If there really is a "master plan" at NWA no one here or Pinnacle knows it. Mesaba is hiring a lot, Pinnacle is hiring a lot, but does it meant anything? Probably not.

I fully expect Airline X to get more Northwest flying before Pinnacle or Mesaba. Until then, the rumors are just rumors.



.

 

[dondk]

I fully expect Airline X to get more Northwest flying before Pinnacle or Mesaba. Until then, the rumors are just rumors..

Mel.. I actually agree with you.. Airline "X" is what worries me too...

Who knows what NWA has up their sleeve's.. too many strange things are happening though and you can't argue that. More hiring, more expenditures towards training facilities and the such. We both know those captial expenditures are coming out of our managements bonus's.

My comments are based on sudden increase in a vacancy, could it be a fluke? sure, but if it is the same in April then there is something brewing that we don't know about. Pinnacle mgmt does everything reactionary, so.. if we are suddenly increasing the ranks with large numbers there is something coming that they can't cover. 60 FO's in one month is the largest I have seen in 3+ years, the largest I have seen this year (50 was the last record for June or July). 24 Captain's are odd too.. we were doing close to that over the summer then it dropped down to 16, then to handful's for the holiday's.

Once again.. a fluke? sure.. very possible if not probable.. or it is our mgmt commiting to something and doing the 11th hour shuffle to cover since we don't have the crews.

I am not trying to offend any XJ brother, we are at the mercy of NWA and our brothers of the NWA MEC. I know that all to well, and so should anyone considering to come fly for any of the airlinks.

 

[Mel Sharples]

Pinnacle mgmt does everything reactionary

Dang... and I thought our "brain trust" had the patent on being reactionary.

They just announced that they are cancelling Saab captain vacations for the holidays due to "unforeseen attrition." It's called "extras," boys. Never hurts to have a few laying around.

I am not trying to offend any XJ brother, we are at the mercy of NWA and our brothers of the NWA MEC. I know that all to well, and so should anyone considering to come fly for any of the airlinks.

No offense taken in the least. You and I were are on the same page. I hope you weren't offended by my "rumor" comment. I was just saying that I have seen and/or heard before from management that it is just around the corner only to never hear another word. Our managements are the same way... install smoke detectors after the roof is on fire. "Plan? We don't need no steeekin' plan!"

And I definitely agree that we (Airlinks) are in this together and we are at the mercy of NWA ALPA. We agree that we must work together. It's too bad the boys at NWA ALPA seem to have let that one slip.

Fly safe, Airlink brother!

 

[asarjfo]

Pilot jobs don't grow on tree's is all I can say. Pinnacle seems like a good company to work for because they are owned by Northwest. It seems as if upgrade to Captain is relatively quick from what I can tell.
As far as F/O pay goes, you tell me one place that pays more. I'd like to see it, that's for sure. American Eagle maybe if you're an F/O on the jet, but then you're stuck there for 4 to 5 years. The No pay training thing isn't too cool in my book, but the problem is that they are hiring alot of the Gulfstream "boys" so Dad finances them through training too. Pinnacle knows this and they know they can get away with not paying guys while they train. It's unfortunate.......... Myself well if I do get the job I'll be calling all my creditor's and saying too bad so sad, there is no money in my pockets for the next few months so you're not getting paid. Companies will continue to take advantage of pilots until the industry completely turns around again. It is picking up but it is still not the "ideal" career to have quite yet. There was posting about "why do I still fly?" Alot of good points made there. I guess flying is a drug.

The FO pay at ASA is not "that bad" ($33 hr 2nd year) and rumor has it they are having problems filling the new hire classes.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

My advice to you is to look for a job elsewhere. With Northwest now able to get a third Airlink carrier, I highly doubt we will see anymore airplanes at Pinnacle. That would mean you will be waiting for upgrade for many years. I would suggest looking for work at an airline that can get you a quicker upgrade. FO pay is too bad here to stay on it for years and years.

Go to Mesa, there you can upgrade in six months. Is that your recommendation? Whatever man. Are you really that ignorant of your surroundings to think you would have been at NWA by now if you could only have upgraded. Guys like you would sell your soul for a few more airplanes and the chance to wear four stripes.

 

[PCL_128]

Go to Mesa, there you can upgrade in six months. Is that your recommendation? Whatever man. Are you really that ignorant of your surroundings to think you would have been at NWA by now if you could only have upgraded. Guys like you would sell your soul for a few more airplanes and the chance to wear four stripes.

Wow, are you off base here! I despise Mesa and everything it stands for. I'm not promoting the kind of people that take growth above everything else. My point is that you won't only have no growth (and no upgrade), but you also have terrible pay and work rules at Pinnacle. If you go to Comair, Skywest, ASA, Mesaba, etc... you can at least have pay in training, higher salary, and much better work rules than you would get at Pinnacle. If guys would stop coming to places like Pinnacle, then maybe they would start paying during training to attract more candidates.

As far as selling my soul for more airplanes, nothing could be further from the truth. I don't care if it takes ten years for me to upgrade, I'm voting no on any contract that is less than Comair's current book. I won't settle for less just on the promise of growth and a quick upgrade. My point is that there are much better airlines to go to that have quicker upgrades AND better pay and work rules. Make more sense to you now?

 

[KingAirer]

This all coming from a Gulfstreamer.

 

[BoilerUP]

Wow, doesn't this sound familiar, does it?

I don't care if it takes ten years for me to upgrade, I'm voting no on any contract that is less than Comair's current book. I won't settle for less just on the promise of growth and a quick upgrade.

100% honestly, I wish you the best of luck in achieving what you want, and what you deserve. But we (being every other pilot on here) has heard this chest-thumping before, from multiple pilot groups. Forgive us if we are skeptical.

 

[John_W_Thompson]

What?

Another case of bad SA

 

[PCL_128]

100% honestly, I wish you the best of luck in achieving what you want, and what you deserve. But we (being every other pilot on here) has heard this chest-thumping before, from multiple pilot groups. Forgive us if we are skeptical.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that we will achieve this. I don't know how the rest of the pilot group will vote, I can only say how I will. It's quite possible (even likely) that we won't achieve what I want from our next contract, but you won't see me voting yes on it. I may end up being in the minority in the end, but the "chest-thumping" is not insincere from me.

 

[Sir Humpalot]

"This all coming from a Gulfstreamer."

Ouch!

 

[blade230]

"This all coming from a Gulfstreamer."

Ouch!

Call it a guess, but I would venture to say this guy could care less what any "people" on flightinfo think. And rightly so.

Do you think the Mesa guys care that they get trashed here?nope. And same goes for Gulfstreamers. Why, beacuse nobody other than the flightinfo world really cares about 75 percent of the crap on this board. It is here for pure entertainment for internet junkies like us. Nothing else. The proof lies in the fact that there are Mesa guys/gals, and Gulfstream guy/gals at every single major airline and non major, in this country. And there will countinue to be. And if memory serves, the senior Comair PFTers are the ones with the industry leading regional contract.