Pinnacle Air Services

[JJET44]

Let's see if we can set things straight. Pinnacle bought Jetride.(NOT MERGED). He who has the gold makes the rules. Pinnacle has the gold thus gets to makes the rules. If you don't like the rules you can go somewhere else. Looks plain and simple to me. And I'll bet a weeks salary that the day you tell Nelson your not going to work will be your last day. Trust me that I'm for better working conditions for all parties but I can tell you that you are playing with a loaded gun.

The more I read this the more I get fumed
Either this is Nelson himself or his Mini-Me!!!!

 

[slickmagneto]

The more I read this the more I get fumed
Either this is Nelson himself or his Mini-Me!!!!

Your file is now in the hands of GOD himself.

 

[Flybet3]

Your file is now in the hands of GOD himself.

I've said it many times and I'll say it again...Nelson, do the world a favor and make your self disappear! You intolerable, arrogant, small d**ked bastard! The only reason you are still flying is b/c you screwed good people and got lucky. Your day will come... *******s

 

[FL410guy]

Let's see if we can set things straight. Pinnacle bought Jetride.(NOT MERGED). He who has the gold makes the rules. Pinnacle has the gold thus gets to makes the rules. If you don't like the rules you can go somewhere else. Looks plain and simple to me. And I'll bet a weeks salary that the day you tell Nelson your not going to work will be your last day. Trust me that I'm for better working conditions for all parties but I can tell you that you are playing with a loaded gun.

I just want to say that PN bought JR ideas and procedures. Why? Cause we have one of the highest reputations in the charter business. We fly our asses off and make tons of cash doing it. Airnet simply wanted to get rid of the dept JR planes had caused. So, PN know's this is a steal and buys us. So, why would PN want to change something that has produce millions in profit every year?

Oh, buy the way. Our boss is now your boss. You can decide to have better QOL or leave for some other peanut picking job.

 

[CFI4LIFE]

I sense this thread turning to "us" vs "them," and I think thats unfortunate because up till now things seemed to be going pretty smooth between both pilot groups. Fact is no one really knows what is going to unfold when the deal is done and behind us. JR guys know what we have in our management, and the kind of ethics Wynn brings to the table. I would hedge my bets that he will continue to act with integrity and make this as painless as possible for all involved. I don't know Nelson, and I'm not going to make any preconceived notions about him, I have heard he is "fair" and until proven otherwise I will give him the benefit of the doubt. I will say that all of the PN pilots I have met have been very friendly, positive, and people I look forward to working with. So, all that being said, hopefully we can keep this thread on a positive track.

 

[starcheckdriver]

I sense this thread turning to "us" vs "them," and I think thats unfortunate because up till now things seemed to be going pretty smooth between both pilot groups.

I agree with you. We don't want to head down the road of us vs. them. This is typical Flightinfo style and no good will come from it. I only met one Pinnacle crew and they were great to be around and talk to.

I said some things in earlier posts regarding working on days off and not willing to do so. If this was conceived as arrogant or being a jackass, I am sorry. It was not my intention. I think there are good things to come and that the Pinnacle pilots will see an improvement in their QOL.

Needless to say, JR and PN pilots are all in this together and it will be a bumpy road of changes. If we stick together and stand by each other, we can make this a great place to work!

 

[TennLear60]

I just want to say that PN bought JR ideas and procedures. Why? Cause we have one of the highest reputations in the charter business. We fly our asses off and make tons of cash doing it. Airnet simply wanted to get rid of the dept JR planes had caused. So, PN know's this is a steal and buys us. So, why would PN want to change something that has produce millions in profit every year?

Oh, buy the way. Our boss is now your boss. You can decide to have better QOL or leave for some other peanut picking job.

The goal of the Pinnacle Group "4" was to be the largest most successful 135 operator around. To do this they had to buy a company that was larger and had been around longer with experience and logistics to make it work and work well. Looks to me that with was not just a purchase of a company but also a purchase of know-how and logistics. This could not have been a better move on behalf of the Pinnacle Group. Especially for those of us working on the line. Our benefits have improved. Possibly OT will improve. Who knows what is to come. The way it looks to me is that is that our company is improving itself to the standards of JetRide. So, yeah, our company had the "gold" to buy JR. I look forward to the future. You guys bring a lot to the table that will make this fledgeling company improve and grow faster than it has in the past. This company has made exponential improvements since I have been here. A little rocky at times. With this new acquisition between between JR and PA we will see even more improvements. Especially for us on the PA side I hope to see a better means of communications.

 

[pushntin]

Your file is now in the hands of GOD himself.

Well G, that was well put. They obviously have not worked at PA and they can't figure out who Nelson is or Dave. So let let the ignorance continue to compile into one steaming pile.

Peace Out!

 

[JJET44]

Hey pushin Fudge
Who's They

 

[starcheckdriver]

I see that we will no longer be getting the per diem debit cards. Instead, the per diem money will be direct deposited into our personal bank account. It will still be the standard rate based on the IRS CONUS High-Low method.

I e-mailed the Pinnacle Accounting Manager regarding expense reports and how per diem will be paid with this new system. She told me that they will deposit the per diem based on the flight schedule they receive from Dispatch. She also said there will be no need for expense reports. This leads me to a few more questions that maybe some Pinnacle guys/gals can answer....

1. Without an expense report, how do we get reimbursed for tips, taxi rides, rental cars, etc?

2. Do the Pinnacle pilots get reimbursed for tips, taxis, etc. now, under the current system?

I still think we are going get hosed on this new per diem system. We are in PBI this week, which qulifies for the low rate of $141. The PIC and I looked online and talked to the FBO and the best rate we could get around here is $90 a night before taxes/fees for a hotel within 10 miles of the airport and one that had shuttle service. So, the daily bill will be about $107 after fees, which leaves me with $34 a day for food. That's a bad deal IMHO. We are getting $36 a day now.

 

[Rokit88]

starchecker-

I think that things will AVERAGE OUT in our favor. And then we are still getting daily meal allowance for out/back trips. So go get your airline miles credit card, and start rackin up the miles!

Rokit88
"you fly like an old woman, so here is your shawl"

 

[MNR]

Think it was answered before. The PA crews have "captain's cash" in each aircraft that covers tips, taxis, etc. anything that per diem does not cover. Its kinda like a petty cash box for each airplane. The reciepts need to match the cash missing, don't know where one gets reciepts for tips however. One of the Pa guys can clarify. I still do not see how this system is going to remove expense reports unless they are not going to have us send in other reciepts from trip which I just do not see happening.

When I firsted talked to Iris about the per diem it was only going to be paid on overnights. So on a 3 day trip you would get $282 ($141x2 overnights). I have been told that what they are planning is giving the meal portion for the last day or for day trips. The meal portion is actually higher than what we are getting now. I think it is $96 for the hotel and $45 for the meals according to the IRS sheet. Right now at PA however they get $10 per meal period. Walt has told me that $10 per meal period is not scaleable to the amount of pilots they want to eventually have so he would like go to a per day thing instead.

But, your right Starcheckdriver, I know some of the PA pilots say they are coming out ahead every 2 week tour. I just don't see that. It sounds like the PA crews that do come out ahead are the ones skipping lunch, and staying in hotels we usually do not stay in. If they do give us a higher day rate or the last day meal rate then it will be close to where we are at now. I have done the math on a couple of recent trips as well and it seems to be working out to being fairly close. I would definately not be pocketing any money however, just breaking even. In your example above if it was an overnight you would get $141 for the first night and then another $45 for the second day. If this is how it is going to work then you end up with $141+$45-$107=$79 under the current system you would have gotten $36+$36=$72....so its pretty close be it really depends on if they go with the meal rate for days you work but do not stay in a hotel. It also will depend on what that rate is.

 

[macpilot]

your right about captians cash, and tips are reimbersed. I guess they just take your word for it. Just dont say you tipped a line guy $100 and keep it. LOL. I am not on the 2 week schedule so I dont make as much off perdiem, but I am on a 4 day telluride trip. The Hotels is TEX where about $200-$300 so the company payed for a rental car (Hummer H3) and we drove to Ridgway. Staying in a super 8 $ 85 after taxes( free internet and breakfast). I have been eating subway for lunch and Ribs and sushi for dinner, and still ahead about 30 per day+ 50 day pay. So only on a rare occasion can you get screwed, but when it's all said and done, you will come home with a nice bonus. Remember to collect on the hotel reward points so that you can also get a free night every now and then. It also helps to have girlfriends all over the country that will let you stay with them. LOL.

I am curious to know if the 2 week on/off schedule will still be around after the merge is finalized. I do know that we are not renewing our skyjet contracts as they run out.

 

[MNR]

From what I understand the long term plan is to get all the planes on a Jetride model. Which means 3 pilots per plane, 2 weeks on call one week off, based all over the country. I think the plan is to start by moving PA planes to current Jetride bases or use capital that might be avaiable now to purchase more aircraft and position them in various cities. JR has lost a couple managed planes recently so Ontario, CA and Columbus and Lanncaster, PA are the spots that need filling first.

Honestly I am quite suprised the PA pilots aren't asking more questions about this. It is quite possible your planes are going to be moving, which means you would be too. That would be a huge deal to me. Enough to start looking for work elsewhere. They might allow some of the current PA pilots to stay on reserve, and live where you live now, at Jetride the reserve schedule is 8 days on 6 days off.

Here is the other thing you guys keep talking about the $50 day pay like its extra per diem but its not, its part of your salery structure. At least the way I understand it. We don't have day pay. So when you say you end up $30 ahead are you including that $50 in which case same scenario for a Jetride pilot you end up $20 in the hole per day. I would also like to know how much the company paid for the rental car to save the money on the hotels, not to mention the increased call out time because you were further from the airport.

I don't really consider a Super 8 free breakfast a free breakfast. Not when as a Diamond Hilton member I can get Eggs, Bacon, etc. for free vs. the Bagel, Cherrios and Apple I get at something like a Super 8. Finally, as far as getting screwed on the TEX trip I would have assumed I would be able to call the company and just have them pick up the hotel for us. That what I was told they would do for us. If I end up down in Cabo during the season its $400 per night minimum unless you want to stay somewhere reallly scary. I was told by Walt that in a case like that the company would pay for it on the credit card, that TEX trip sounds very similar.

One more thing, food for thought for the PA crews. In the TEX example under the current Jetride system a trip to TEX would have been $184 in per diem, $46 (high city) x 4, we would have stayed in one of the $200 hotels in TEX close to the airport and avaiable to make a 2 hour call out window. We also would have gotten a rental car because we were going to be there more than 36 hours. You guys at PA might bank a little more in your pocket at the end of the month but I would argue that currently the JR pilots might have a little bit better QOL on the road. We still get to keep all the hotel points etc. I just plan on useing them for a family vacation not to bank for a free night here or there so I can pocket the per diem.

 

[Downwind]

All the JR guys are right. The PA pilots have been lieing to you all. It's a big conspiracy to cover up the fact that we actually loose about a thousand dollars every two weeks out. We never get to eat either. We're lucky to grad some crackers out of the airplane. I'm already down to 125 lbs. I can't remember the last time I stayed at a hotel that had clean sheets and didn't charge by the hour. I can't remember ever golfing on the road. Or laying on a beach getting some sun. Pinnacle wouldn't even be in business if we weren't subsidizing the operation with this per diem system. Help us all. I think I'll go fly for Great Lakes. I hear they make some real money.