Pinnacle Air Services

[Texanflyboy]

Wondering if Pinnacle is a good first corporate job and if Pinnacle is currently hiring. Wanting to get into corporate (maybe stay freight), build some time of course, and 4-5 years later something better. To read this whole thread will take time, and i'm on a short layover in MDW.

I did cover for a route in ASG and we used Pinnacles FBO. But, I was new to my company and wasn't really looking. I'm actively looking at places like USA Jet, Ameristar (maybe), IFL Group and a Beechjet corporate outfit in DTW (but they start at 30k not 35k and I'd have to fly their C421 at times). Sent out some resumes in the Dallas aera also. Really just want to know if Pinnacle is worth sending a resume to.

Thanks for the insights!

 

[AviateYou]

Interesting blog, enumeration is always the most popular topic.

 

[JJET44]

Wondering if Pinnacle is a good first corporate job and if Pinnacle is currently hiring. Wanting to get into corporate (maybe stay freight), build some time of course, and 4-5 years later something better. To read this whole thread will take time, and i'm on a short layover in MDW.

I did cover for a route in ASG and we used Pinnacles FBO. But, I was new to my company and wasn't really looking. I'm actively looking at places like USA Jet, Ameristar (maybe), IFL Group and a Beechjet corporate outfit in DTW (but they start at 30k not 35k and I'd have to fly their C421 at times). Sent out some resumes in the Dallas aera also. Really just want to know if Pinnacle is worth sending a resume to.

Thanks for the insights!

I think that you need 2500tt to get hired. This is to meet Wyvren and ARG/US mins.

 

[Frozen Ronin]

Talked to Richard several times, I'm right at 2500TT and live in Vegas. I keep getting "call me in a week or two, we'll be bringing on more pilots any time". I say this as I sit in groundschool for a regional gig. Too bad, I wasn't a bad wrench on the Lears, either.

 

[JJET44]

You're better off at a regional anyway!
I'll take you forever to upgrade to capt. at 2500tt.

 

[Ritz Carlton]

You're better off at a regional anyway!
I'll take you forever to upgrade to capt. at 2500tt.

You're better off applying at Citation Shares or Netjets, in fact much better off. The scenario or culture if you prefer at Pinnacle is a bunch of good pilots working for for a couple of individuals who really lack interpersonal skills and are in middle management who don't have anything in place for a progressive future at Pinnacle and constantly contradict themselves.

 

[LJPilot]

I was hired on with around 2500 TT and I upgraded in 13 months. Depends on the type and movement in the company.

 

[JJET44]

I was hired on with around 2500 TT and I upgraded in 13 months. Depends on the type and movement in the company.

How did you get 1000 hrs of flying in 13 months?
QStar mins require that you have 3500 hrs to upgrade to capt!!



Turbojet

Turboprop

Helicopter (RW)*
Total Time
3,500

2,500

2,500 (1,500 RW)
PIC
2,000

500

1,000 RW
PIC Multi-engine
500

250

NA

Multi-engine ​

1,500

1,000

NA
Instrument
300

200

100 (50 RW)
Turbine
500

250

500
Time in type

100

100
(type and model)
100​

* Total aircraft time (rotor-wing time)​

​

 

[LJPilot]

It does take some extra work, but its there if you want it (contract flying, overtime). On a normal schedule I would guess upgrade time is well over 18 months.

 

[JJET44]

Rumors abound about the 45's. Story is that they are too MX heavy. Looking at selling. Same with our new 55 that I don't think has flown yet.

Any update on this? I heard that they might be doin' away with the 35's and 31's in exchange for mid size jets. The 45 would seem to be a good fit but not acoarding to this!

 

[JJET44]

Hey if you want a good laugh, go back to the beginning of this post and start reading.
You'll get a good laugh at all the chowder heads that made predictions on how this was going to play out. Compare it with how it's really playing out.

Got to love the term "this comes from a ceditable source"!!!

 

[starcheckdriver]

What did the JR guys/gals think of the Answers from Arkansas section in the memo today? Looked good to me. I am a little confused on the per diem card. It sounds like a ridiculous hassle to me with only being able to use certain ATM machines. Can we pay hotel bills with this card? Can we just transfer money from our per diem account to our personal bank account? I guess my question is how do I pay for meals and hotel with the money in the per diem account? Is it a process of withdrawing money from the per diem account and taking that cash to deposit in my bank after a trip?

This whole thing sounds okay, but if they can direct deposit paychecks into our checking account, why don't they just deposit per diem in there as well?

 

[Rake]

Are we switching to an all inclusive per-diem travel card (like BOA gov’t travel card)?

What I do:

• I put the initial per-diem issued into an account and collect interest off of it
• I have a credit card that I use only for travel
• Pay off the card after I return from rotation from per-diem checks issued every Friday
• Money left over I either invest, save, or spend

This method seems to work for me. I never touch the initial per-diem amount. When it is time to move on, all I have to do is return the initial amount.

Just one way to do it.

 

[Dave J]

What did the JR guys/gals think of the Answers from Arkansas section in the memo today? Looked good to me. I am a little confused on the per diem card. It sounds like a ridiculous hassle to me with only being able to use certain ATM machines. Can we pay hotel bills with this card? Can we just transfer money from our per diem account to our personal bank account? I guess my question is how do I pay for meals and hotel with the money in the per diem account? Is it a process of withdrawing money from the per diem account and taking that cash to deposit in my bank after a trip?

This whole thing sounds okay, but if they can direct deposit paychecks into our checking account, why don't they just deposit per diem in there as well?

I can answer the part about why the per diem doesn't get direct deposit. The pay check and per diem are from two seperate banks so the accounts are not the same. As far as the ATM card goes I have only heard that it is something we are going to, so you all have gotten more info then us. I am sure though it will work just like any check cashing card and you will be able to use it like a credit card to pay for your hotel food etc.

 

[TigerDriver]

The issue I had with it is if we go to a hotel and we use these debit cards for our rooms, alot of hotels put a "hold" on the total anticipated amount for the stay, lets say we are somewhere two or three days, that could wipe out any and all funds on the card for the rest of the time we are in a city.
just a thought