Pinnacle is Going Bye Bye!

[USCtrojan]

Several thoughts here:

1) Isn't there a paragraph in the ASA (pilot) contract that stipulates that the 70 and the 90 will pay the same?

2) The first (and hopefully last) ASA punk that wears his/her epaulets backwards because they drive 'The 9' should get a solid a$$ whoooopin.

3) Waaay to early to say where this flying will go. If it gets replaced, at all.

4) Most importantly, it's extremely poor form to gloat over another pilot's misfortune. This can, and probably will, be a sandwich that we will all take a bite out of at some point.

1) The payrates in the Contract set forth are for Aircraft up to 76 seats. So yes, if ASA were to operate 900's then the rates for the 700/900 remain the same.

Trojan

 

[Redan]

What routes did PNCL fly the -900 on?

As far as the whole "Pinnacle own's the -900's" thing goes....sure, but I bet they could sell and transfer those suckers to whoever gets that flying in a heartbeat. All ya gotta change is the "operated by:" decal on the nose.

Look for this flying to go to SkyWest or maybe, just maybe, ASA...

I have to agree. Those aircraft could have their leases transferred so fast it would make you dizzy. Very much like someone assuming someone else's auto lease.

 

[sweptback]

As an ASA MEC insider....you are starting to show your true colors.....To bad that DAL interview didn't work out too well for you.....

It cracks me up that you think you know who I am, but you really have no clue.

 

[PCL_128]

Because they were IMPOSED by PCL management.

Under the terms of the contract, the rate was REQUIRED to be negotiated BEFORE the aircraft could be flown. PCL wanted existing 50-seat rates, the MEC refused, so PCL management just deliberately violated the contract and put them on anyway.

There was a grievance over it, the pilots won and then, just like the Colgan grievance (which the PCL MEC also won), the company just ignored it and is appealing the ruling while continuing to do what they want.

PCL management has always pretty much done whatever they want, regardless of who it affects or how, and will only do the right thing when forced by the legal system.

You're a little off on this one. Yes, Pinnacle management originally imposed rates (only for Captains) on the -900s, but that ended two months ago when the arbitrator issued his ruling on new payrates. The company hasn't violated that ruling. They've been paying the arbitrated rates.

As for why they're so low, they actually aren't. They're industry average.

 

[PCL_128]

Hopefully these 900s are replaced by mainline planes.

Thank God somebody said it.

 

[atlcrjdriver]

Thank God somebody said it.

It would be ideal to have those CR9s be replaced by mainline a/c but they will more than likely be swapped out for someones CR2s.

 

[JumpersAway]

There are several issues here that everyone seems to be missing........

Yes, the 900's were bought and purchased by Pinnacle. However, the days of majors buying airplanes and giving them to regionals is over; they are simply too strapped for cash to be buying RJ's. SkyWest Inc. has more money, on hand, than any other airline in the COUNTRY. SkyWest Inc/ASA/SkyWest Airlines has the resources to procure aircraft.

It's doesn't matter if Pinnacle sells the airplanes to another operator or not. The point is it has freed up scope to allocate more 70/76 seat aircraft. Pinnacle can hold onto those airplanes all they want, but there are 16 slots open for another operator to step up to the plate and fill with factory fresh CRJ-900's.

Brad Holt just said a week and a half ago that you have to be in a possition to pounce on growth NOW, not when the opportunity passes. That is why the training department is finishing up a CRJ-900 program, as we speak.

SkyWest Inc. is wanting to streamline their operation for maxim utilization. Ultimately, that leaves SkyWest to cover everything west of the Mississippi, and ASA to cover everything to the east. This is illustrated by the bulk shift in SkyWest flying from ATL back to SLC following the completion of our contract.

In short, ASA has the pilots, has the team, the money, and the numbers to make 900's work out of Atlanta.

If the program isn't comletely in place now, it will be soon, and sooner now. I expect an injunction, the court case, Delta will win, and by the end of 2008, we will be operating the CRJ-900's; Pinnacles' former airframes or new Bombardiers.........

I truly hate this for the Pinnacle pilots- you need and deserve a break. My sincerest hope is that it is a wakeup call for management to treat you with the dignity and respect you deserve. I'm wishing you luck and competant leadership.

 

[wmuflyguy]

Great point. And add to that ASA is operating over 900 flights/day. The highest volume of any other Regional Carrier. I think Comair is next, but I don't have the exact number. RP and SkyW have significantly lower volumes and at least SkyW operates out of an airport for DL (SLC) with I'd guess half or less of the volume ATL has.

Trojan

Comair I thikn is just shy of 700

 

[Poahi]

One thing is for certain: Regional airlines aren't going to sign agreements they don't understand anymore.

They are going to demand tighter language and take a pass when necessary.

 

[DoinTime]

It would be ideal to have those CR9s be replaced by mainline a/c but they will more than likely be swapped out for someones CR2s.

They will probably be used to replace 50-seaters in the PCL NW contract.

 

[snap145]

I'm pretty sure these planes are owned by 9E. They're not coming to ASA or SKYW.

Finnally!...someone who does research before they open theyre mouth and make dramatic Flightinfo comments! Congrats SIU your not an ignorant moron!...9E owns the 900's so you will NEVER see them at SKYW or ASA...NWA scope allows us to fly aircraft up to 76 seats....we just havent had the airframes until now.....dont be surprised to see some of these airframes in red tails as the 9's...(The real 9...the DC-9) go away and as guys flow back to Compass....even with a schedule reduction, the 50 seaters are not profitable....and why not we can fly more people and still pay them 50 seat payrates while ALPA and Uncle Phil continue the redundant negotiations.....nothing is going to happen by July anyways...this is going to be another Freedom story....injunction will be filed....only 9 airframes in ATL = 90 displacements max.....still extremely short staffed here....classes every other week....time will tell........

 

[Lear70]

You're a little off on this one. Yes, Pinnacle management originally imposed rates (only for Captains) on the -900s, but that ended two months ago when the arbitrator issued his ruling on new payrates. The company hasn't violated that ruling. They've been paying the arbitrated rates.

As for why they're so low, they actually aren't. They're industry average.

I hadn't heard that the arbitrator had ruled... I stand corrected.

Last I heard, they were still paying 50 seat rates which IS ridiculously low... for any jet flying... much less the 90-seaters.

What are the new payscales for them? Hadn't seen them posted anywhere but, then again, I don't usually watch the Regionals board. Heard about this through my trigger point for PCL stock (below $4.50 a share).

 

[spudskier]

Several thoughts here:

1) Isn't there a paragraph in the ASA (pilot) contract that stipulates that the 70 and the 90 will pay the same?

2) The first (and hopefully last) ASA punk that wears his/her epaulets backwards because they drive 'The 9' should get a solid a$$ whoooopin.

3) Waaay to early to say where this flying will go. If it gets replaced, at all.

4) Most importantly, it's extremely poor form to gloat over another pilot's misfortune. This can, and probably will, be a sandwich that we will all take a bite out of at some point.

1) Correct
2) I really hope no one at ASA is like that but I'm sure there will be a few 250-hour wonders who get to write home to mommy and brag to their counterparts at other airlines.
3) Delta said they'd be replacing the flying, see previous post and DLnet. Who will replace it remains to be seen although SkyW and ASA are in the best position to do it.
4) Completely agree with you. Do I want to see my airline succeed and my job/QOL get better? You betcha, but I would never hope for a fellow pilot to suffer misfortune. It's a shame that PNCL's mgt wasn't able to manage things correctly if that's the case. I may be secure right now, but g-d knows when that will change rapidly, I hope that a previous post is correct and that PNCL was understaffed to the point that all their pilots will keep their jobs as long as they want.

 

[No.W.]

. SkyWest Inc. has more money, on hand, than any other airline in the COUNTRY. SkyWest Inc/ASA/SkyWest Airlines has the resources to procure aircraft.

Negative.

Southwest airlines has a cash reserve of 2.21 billion or so + the loan for 600 million they took out.(not really sure how that counts as 'cash' but I guess it does).

Either way, SkyWest Inc. has about 600 million in cash on hand the last I heard(and I work here).

Southwest is in WAY better shape then we are.

 

[PCL_128]

I hadn't heard that the arbitrator had ruled... I stand corrected.

Last I heard, they were still paying 50 seat rates which IS ridiculously low... for any jet flying... much less the 90-seaters.

What are the new payscales for them? Hadn't seen them posted anywhere but, then again, I don't usually watch the Regionals board. Heard about this through my trigger point for PCL stock (below $4.50 a share).

The new payscale is on the APC website. It's basically the Skywest scale, only it's a real payscale instead of just a block-hour override.