Pinnacle Interview

[undpilot]

Has anyone been gettiing MSP right out of traiining or are most doing to DTW or MEM?

 

[dondk]

I answered it above... but to clarify for MSP...

The last MSP Vacancy was for July 1, it appears 7 pilots got in on secondaries and they were not "right out of class". It was also decreased by 3 pilots

NOTICE OF VACANCY 06-03

Posting Date - March 22, 2006
Initial Closing Date - 0800 AM April 05, 2006
Effective Date of Vacancies - August 01, 2006

7 FO CRJ MEM
23 FO CRJ DTW
7 FO CRJ MSP

This is the most recent vacancy, I would be surprised it ANY new hires will get MSP. The last true new hire, right out of class to get MSP was on the Jan 31 effective date. Do the math and getting into MSP is about a 7 month wait.

I guess the UND guys are not going to be too happy with having to move east or south.

I don't see a trend to change it, MSP will open and senior people will either take it for sport bidding or they have been waiting months to get back in or just to get in. This also means that reserve in MSP will be better than 8 months. MSP has 22 reserve lines for Apr, DTW is slightly less and MEM has 30 reserve lines.

 

[undpilot]

I answered it above... but to clarify for MSP...

The last MSP Vacancy was for July 1, it appears 7 pilots got in on secondaries and they were not "right out of class". It was also decreased by 3 pilots

NOTICE OF VACANCY 06-03

Posting Date - March 22, 2006
Initial Closing Date - 0800 AM April 05, 2006
Effective Date of Vacancies - August 01, 2006

7 FO CRJ MEM
23 FO CRJ DTW
7 FO CRJ MSP

This is the most recent vacancy, I would be surprised it ANY new hires will get MSP. The last true new hire, right out of class to get MSP was on the Jan 31 effective date. Do the math and getting into MSP is about a 7 month wait.

I guess the UND guys are not going to be too happy with having to move east or south.

I don't see a trend to change it, MSP will open and senior people will either take it for sport bidding or they have been waiting months to get back in or just to get in. This also means that reserve in MSP will be better than 8 months. MSP has 22 reserve lines for Apr, DTW is slightly less and MEM has 30 reserve lines.

Thanks for the responce......Before the interview they told us that they were hiring into all bases, guess this is not true anymore.

 

[Detroitpilot22]

don't worry, you will get msp before you know it. It won't be 7 months

 

[dondk]

don't worry, you will get msp before you know it. It won't be 7 months

Back in '02, with DTW being the junior base.. it took me 8 months to get back.

A person interviewing with us needs to realize that they "may" not get thier preferred domicile. I deal with too many pilots lately thinking the deserve things and domiciles is one of them.

I've lost track of complaints about being "stuck" in a domicile they don't want. Be honest up front and save me the work later

 

[Lear70]

ROFLMAO Don, that's one thing I don't have to stomach being down in MEM, is a lot of the complaints from new-hires. As senior as I've gotten (I can't believe I just typed that), I usually only fly with pilots who have been here 2 or 3 years and are in the domicile they want and just waiting for their time to upgrade (I still get a lot of people who were initially low-timers but by now they've caught up with the airplane and have 1,500 - 2,000 hours which is nice).

I thought you lived in D.C.? And what gives with the NWA guys not supporting MSA? Heard the Avros are leaving MEM permanently.

UND... not QUITE as bad as hiring GIA and ERAU grads, at least you didn't pay $25,000 - $50,000 above your tuition for a regional job. Still hate flying with 500 hour wonder kids... you're just not ready for a jet, hate to break it to ya'. 1% of you MIGHT be, but 99% of you will be a burden to your Captains and, when paired with a newly-upgraded, marginally-proficient Captain, you'll be a detriment to safety until you get 6 months to a year in the seat and catch up with the airplane.

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame you in ANY way for taking the job; I would have too at your time when I was instructing, especially if it hadn't been PFT back in '94 (it was and I refused to do it), just don't come in thinking you're the equivalent of a 1,500 hour freight pilot new-hire or somehow the equal of the Captain you're flying with in terms of experience. Be humble, ready to learn, and OPEN to the idea that the Captain might be able to teach you something and nobody will even mention your flight time. It's the people that come in with the "I'm better than other new-hires because I went to XXX school" that cause problems - they're closed to the idea they can learn anything new after their checkride and it makes for a LONG month.

You think our company would have wised up by now to the dangers of hiring low-time pilots and increased the pay, hotel, and per diem during training to attract higher-time pilots. No, wait a second, that would make sense.

At any rate, I'm surprised more F/O's don't sport bid, there's enough vacancies to still be doing it and it nets them an extra $800 a month in per diem plus no crashpads needed. Ever. In 2004 I cleared an extra $8,000 in pay by sport bidding and $3,200 in 2005 before I stopped in MEM so other people could upgrade with the slowing CA upgrade slots. $$$

 

[redflyer65]

Well said Lear. Congrats on getting out. Where are you headed? You hinted at Asia. Plan on taking the family too?

 

[Lear70]

Nope, the Asia thing was taking forever (NCA Cargo). It's a 3-phase interview process similar to Cathay Pacific and I was waiting for stage 3 which can take 4-6 months to schedule when a major called.

Start class on April 3rd, can't WAIT!!

One more trip to do the 30th-1st (bastards I.D.'d me for one turn on the 2nd even though I told them I was driving to my new company for training on the 2nd - guess I'll be getting in late). Oh well, one last screw-job from PCL... I guess I can take it since I KNOW it'll be my last!

 

[CrownandCoke]

I was a UND flight instructor as well. I am not a seasoned pilot, nor do I claim to be. I am just happy to have gotten on with the low time that I had.

 

[Lear70]

I was a UND flight instructor as well. I am not a seasoned pilot, nor do I claim to be. I am just happy to have gotten on with the low time that I had.

Great attitude, I'm sure you'll do just fine.

Hope you enjoy Pinnacle, it's a good place to build some time!

 

[CrownandCoke]

Great attitude, I'm sure you'll do just fine.

Hope you enjoy Pinnacle, it's a good place to build some time!

thanks, I am excited to be here and have been working hard so far, as has everyone in my class thus far.

 

[blackbox]

As long as we're at it I have a few more Q's:

1) How is life for the commuters? If hired, I'd be doing 1 leg and 1 time zone.

Commuting is gonna suck whoever you work for. I dont know how commutable the lines are,but 1 leg and 1 timezone should help. 2 things that do help are, we are on CASS and we do have a commuter clause.

good luck. Like the others have said. the Crews are great, though you do fly with a lot of bitter capts. ha. Because the company hasnt been to great to its pilots. Once you get off reserve, hold a line and never really have to deal with crew scheduling, life gets a lot better.

 

[Top Gum]

Commuting: Agreed, it is really going to be painful. Try to move to your base if anyway possible.

Junior base: This changes often. Do not make the mistake of planning on “today’s junior base”. I made this mistake myself and it cost me six months of commuting.

Upgrade: I am very sure that the two-year upgrade is unrealistic. I think three to four is more likely. I keep hearing about this 40 per month attrition rate but it is just not the case. I moved up 15 numbers this month.

Average hours: My class average was 3000TT. I had 1600.

Be prepared to work your tail off for very little compensation. In return, you will learn how to fly a jet in and out of tons of airports in all types of weather conditions from some very professional captains. In my opinion, things could be a whole lot worse than this place.

Good luck,
T.G.

 

[dondk]

2 years is realistic presently... 10 CA resigned in the last 7 days, a few more are right around the corner.

The 2 years simply means that those heading to class were hired in '04 and that would be realistic right now. Once the attrition slows down, I would expect the upgrade to climb back up. I think the last awarded CA was in the 720's out of 1100 pilots. That pilot was hired in the Summer of '04

 

[Rook]

Oh well, one last screw-job from PCL...

So you're leaving the same way you came in. Nice. (Wink,wink,nudge,nudge, say no more, say no more.) Plan on getting drug tested too. Gonna miss you bro. Have fun at the next stop and don't forget about the rest of us trying like crazy to get out.

Rook

 

[CrownandCoke]

anybody have any advice on how to succeed on the systems test in ground school?

 

[Lear70]

So you're leaving the same way you came in. Nice. (Wink,wink,nudge,nudge, say no more, say no more.) Plan on getting drug tested too. Gonna miss you bro. Have fun at the next stop and don't forget about the rest of us trying like crazy to get out.

Rook

Buddy, don't you worry. You're first on my list if you want in on the Tranny action!

They're taking resumes from guys when they first show up to class and matching them with online applications and stuff then calling them for interviews. You want some of that action?

As far as "going out how I came in?" I'm not saying NUTTIN about THAT!

Good news is I already did the drug test in advance, so I'm good to go!

 

[Lear70]

anybody have any advice on how to succeed on the systems test in ground school?

Study.

Seriously, isn't there still a gouge floating out there somewhere? I have like 20 pages of notes on written and oral test gouge, I should probably mail it to someone.

 

[walshsfly]

2 years is realistic presently... 10 CA resigned in the last 7 days, a few more are right around the corner.

The 2 years simply means that those heading to class were hired in '04 and that would be realistic right now. Once the attrition slows down, I would expect the upgrade to climb back up. I think the last awarded CA was in the 720's out of 1100 pilots. That pilot was hired in the Summer of '04

Their is still only 1100 pilots there? When I was hired there a year ago that's what the list was at. Most of the attrition was from the bottom of the list, those that had time and were lied to when we were hired. The last CA on the list was in the class just before mine in Feb. 05. I am glad I got out and was able to screw them once for all the times they screwed me, it made me fell good to leave. My recommendation stay away from pinchnikle you can make more money flight instructing

 

[CrownandCoke]

Study.

Seriously, isn't there still a gouge floating out there somewhere? I have like 20 pages of notes on written and oral test gouge, I should probably mail it to someone.

oh I've been studying, but I don't want to leave anything to chance.

I have been looknig for gouges, no one is helping me out though...

 

[goin' missed]

By the time you get to class, 1/3 of the people will have the answers to the test, or at least that's the way it was in 2004.

 

[flyf15]

Lots of interviews going on in april. Anyone know what the next class date they're hiring everyone for is?

 

[Detroitpilot22]

Lots of interviews going on in april. Anyone know what the next class date they're hiring everyone for is?

Two in April, and I believe 2 in may, one on may first. I acutally think the plan is 2 classes every month for the near future.

Good luck on your interview

 

[undpilot]

May 1, May 22, and June 19.

 

[Longhorn]

Lear....tranny action? Are you making a trip to brasil? You are starting to scare me.

 

[MarineGrunt]

When do you get assigned a base - upon hire, or after the checkride? Where have people been going lately?

 

[bertengineer]

Low time

I was a UND flight instructor as well. I am not a seasoned pilot, nor do I claim to be. I am just happy to have gotten on with the low time that I had.

Only problem with the low time is that you are going to be in the right seat until 3000 hours minimum, since by that time you will have more than 500 hours in the jet.

 

[bertengineer]

base

When do you get assigned a base - upon hire, or after the checkride? Where have people been going lately?

Last class they got their initial assignent in the first week. In my class it was the middle of training. Plan on DTW for a few months...and I would recommend that. You will do a lot of flying and learn a lot. If it wasn't for my commute, I would have stayed there. Crash pad was good too...150.00 a month.


Hey Rich.....C-ya!

 

[bertengineer]

test

anybody have any advice on how to succeed on the systems test in ground school?

DRINK A LOT OF BEER!!!!

 

[finnjl]

just for your info....reserve is more like a year....I am not sure where people are getting 2 to 3 months.....I have been here seven months and I held a line in March in DTW but back on reserve for April.....the lines vary significately at this company month to month so it is hard to predict....and by the way if you want to live in DTW or MEM this company is not too bad....there are a lot of better regionals to go to....work rules are not the best...company mgt. has a fire first attitude toward pilots...for example you can screw up big time, probably almost crash an airplane and nothing will happen but refuse an extension , call in sick, no show, etc. they will find a way to fire you (I think the director of Flight ops or even the CEO did the last firings for trip refusuals...I thought that was weird for a CEO to be involved in something like that)....I guess if this is the first airline you worked for it is not that bad but when you have seen better you are just doing your time until you can get something else lined up.....the worst part the quick upgrade to captain does not exist....always hard to predict but I would say 3-4 years as an FO with substandard wages....the captain pay is on par with the rest of the industry but FO pay is lacking and the contract is far from finished....I would estimate at least 2-3 years depending on what happens....who knows NW may grow compass and get rid of Pinnacle and Mesaba....they seem to do weird things around here