Pinnacle Airlines buy out by CoEx

[labbats]

As an aspiring Regional pilot, I'd like to see some positive reasons for going that route. Please try and keep it civil boys.

 

[JohnDoe]

Quote from TCAS:

"You have no clue about what you're talking about. If it's a sixteen year contract how come the American Eagle pilots enter contract negotiations with the company every 4 years?

When you have a clue come on back and we can have an intelligent discussion about it."




The entire term of the contract IS 16 years......While it is true that every 4 years both parties can come to the table with things they want changed, there are some items that can't be touched....and I believe one of the very important items that can't be touched is PAY RATES.

 

[TCAS]

I believe one of the very important items that can't be touched is PAY RATES.

Pay rates are not negotiated since they are changed yearly by a weighted indexing of pay rate increases in other regional airline contracts.

Wage rates are calculated by November 1 of each year and become effective on January 1 of the following year.

If the resultant weighted average percent of change is greater than, or equal to one and one-half percent, they then apply the resultant weighted average increased percentage change to the Eagle pilot hourly pay scale.

If the resultant weighted average percent of change is less than one and one-half percent, the Eagle pilot pay scales for that adjustment period will be increased by one and one-half percent and any difference between the IAI and one and one-half percent will be applied against future increases.

 

[NuGuy]

Hi all,

WrightAvia is partially correct. NWA actually owns or leases ALL the aircraft that the airlinks (Mesaba and Pinnacle) operate. The Avros, Saabs and RJs are all leased by NWA, then subleased to the Airlinks.

Actually, pretty brilliant. Gets them comming and going. Nail them for the lease of the aircraft, then take a big slice of the revenue going the other way.

The deal with the AVROs is this. NWA originally got those airplanes via a sweetheart deal from BAe. BAe guaranteed NWA an operating profit with 69 seats (to fit the NWA scope) with those aircraft at a time when RJs were hard to get. It was a win/win for both sides. NWA got larger RJs, and BAe was able to place a 4 engine RJ in the US market.

Needless to say, the Avro has a hard time competing with other RJs...4 engines vs 2, and an 85 seat airframe flying with 69 seats. Not to say it isn't a nice plane, but it requires BAe to make up alot of $$$ to make it's performance guarantee.

The guarantee is reaching it's terminating date, and lets face it, BAe is financially strapped, and not interested in renewing it, and NWA isn't interested in losing more money at this point, so bye bye Avros.

I hate to say it, but Mesaba is finding itself in a power play. Cheap competition from Pinnacle, NWA senior management leaving the Mesaba board, no new RJs on the horizon, a contract that is ammendable and now this. Doesn't bode for good things in the short term.

To clear the air: There are no negotiations between the pilots and NWA management to change scope in either direction. You won't see NWA pilots flying the Avros with 85 seats, nor will you see a new order for 70 seaters anytime soon. The NWA guys are looking at doing anything over 55 seaters (the current book scope) themselves, and from what I'm told, that's a line in the sand.

JMHO,
Nu

 

[ksu_aviator]

Boy am I glad I left Mesaba for charter work.

 

[T-Gates]

Cheap competition from Pinnacle....

For christs sake.....why do people keep spewing this crap.....our contract sucks, but so does Mesaba's. We have not been approached for or accepted ANY concessions to get what we have. Our contract was signed pre-Comair and pre-9/11.

If we were in negotiations and Mesaba was still under thier current contract, they'd be getting all the RJ's.....

Please do not make it look like we cheapened ourselves to get the flying from NWA. They bought us 100% in 1997....that gives them the right to do whatever the hell they want with us.

Just my .02,

--TGates

 

[belchfire]

As an aspiring Regional pilot, I'd like to see some positive reasons for going that route. Please try and keep it civil boys.

If I hear of any, I'll let you know!!!

 

[NuGuy]

For christs sake.....why do people keep spewing this crap.....our contract sucks, but so does Mesaba's. We have not been approached for or accepted ANY concessions to get what we have. Our contract was signed pre-Comair and pre-9/11.
QUOTE]

T-gates,

Dude, relax. Where in my post did I say "they're cheap because their pilot's rolled over for a deal"?

Don't be so paranoid. Much to your amazement, the world doesn't revolve around the pilot costs. A lot of factors go into an overall CASM, not just the pilots. FAs, MX, maintenence, facilities all add their share. MN is known for being a very expensive place to do business, while TN isn't.

Its not just the pilots, but the whole operation. It doesn't matter how little you pay the pilots if the rest of the operation is overly expensive and/or more of a hassle. [not that I'm saying Mesaba is!]

Best,
Nu

 

[T-Gates]

Note to self: Never post after post-highspeed nap.....

Yeah, I was a little grumpy....

This industry tends to do that....

Peace

 

[NuGuy]

Hiya T-Gates,

No prob...I think highly of naps....along with nooners, and hearty bowel movements, you have the holy trilogy of human exsistance.


Best,
Nu