Pinnacle or bust?

[AerroMatt]

Can anyone tell me what Pinnacle is offering for starting pay for FO's? Also, I've heard from other guys who have interviewed that there can be upgrades in as little as 6 months if you have all the TT they need (just need 500hr in type). Is there any credence to this rumor? I have yet to hear of anyone upgrading to the left seat in 6 months, and they've asked me to interview there on thursday morning.

 

[PCL_128]

Also, I've heard from other guys who have interviewed that there can be upgrades in as little as 6 months

LOL!!!! Is HR still telling people this? You've got to be kidding me. Expect upgrade in 5-7 years at best if you get hired now. Last airplane arrives this fall and Mesaba is guaranteed to get the next batch of planes. That means no growth here for years most likely. Be prepared to spend many years in the right seat if you come here.

If you still want to work for this hole, then pay in training is currently $200/wk, but you've got to find your own place to stay while in training. Good luck on the interview, but I would go elsewhere if you can.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Come on over to XJ. We'll be growing for some time to come.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

Mesaba, ExpressJet, and Chautauqua are probably your better options right now as far as growth and upgrade potential. As many have said before though, never base your decision solely on this. Wherever you choose, make sure its somewhere you want to work and don't mind sitting in the right seat for a long time.

 

[HowlinMadMurdoc]

Thread hijack

Come on over to XJ. We'll be growing for some time to come.

Would love to get hired by Mesaba. Problem is, Mesaba HR hasn't seen fit to call yet. Going on a mere two weeks since resume faxed/snail-mailed in...

C'mon, what's the hold up??? LOL

Just havin' some fun.

HMM

 

[AerroMatt]

Well, I guess I'll just go for the Interview Experience. Should be interesting for this old Freight Dawg.

 

[Steveair]

Mesaba, ExpressJet, and Chautauqua are probably your better options right now as far as growth and upgrade potential. As many have said before though, never base your decision solely on this. Wherever you choose, make sure its somewhere you want to work and don't mind sitting in the right seat for a long time.

Heard XJ is nearing their scope. Hirring for attrition only... Go to SkyWest!

 

[T-handle]

Heard XJ is nearing their scope. Hirring for attrition only... Go to SkyWest!

....nevermind

XJ meaning ExpressJet right? I thought for a second you meant XJ as in Mesaba. (XJ is our aircraft registration letters)

 

[ATRCA]

ExpressJet is "XJT" not XJ. BTW, growth is always temporary. No such thing as continuous growth (except SW) so have a few more criteria when your choosing.

Some guys love to come on here and brag about the growth their experiencing but in due time everyone gets the shaft at some point. You can bet your a$$ that every time your contract becomes ammendable the threat of a reduction in flying will be made.

Look for things like current contract, bases, upgrade, mgmnt style and other QOL things before you make your choice.

Things are good here at XJT for now but they were not so hot about 1.5 yrs ago so who knows. Good luck.

 

[Steveair]

Yep, meant to say Express Jet not Mesaba. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[meatwallet]

Would love to get hired by Mesaba. Problem is, Mesaba HR hasn't seen fit to call yet. Going on a mere two weeks since resume faxed/snail-mailed in...

C'mon, what's the hold up??? LOL

Just havin' some fun.

HMM

Don't you work at skyway? Why would you ever want to leave there?!?!?

By the way, I've sent XJ my crap for over 6 months and never heard a thing. Whats the deal? (and I'm too lazy to update my experience column on this forum)

 

[EMB170Pilot]

Certified Muff Diver???

I bet you have the t-shirt saying that too huh?

 

[Rook]

I'd go with bust.

Rook

 

[EatSleepFly]

Don't you work at skyway? Why would you ever want to leave there?!?!?

By the way, I've sent XJ my crap for over 6 months and never heard a thing. Whats the deal? (and I'm too lazy to update my experience column on this forum)

FWIW, I interviewed at Mesaba this past winter. I just faxed in a resume one day, no cover letter or anything. They called less than 3 weeks later to invite me to the interview. I didn't/don't have a stellar resume or anything, either. Might want to try faxing again or something.

 

[pitotstatic]

Hey Meatwallet,

Six months ago there wasn't any hiring going on at Mesaba. Try again, with 15 airplanes guaranteed by the end of Feb. '06 there is some major hiring going on right now. The number I heard is 400 in the next six months.

 

[flagshipper]

Well, I guess I'll just go for the Interview Experience. Should be interesting for this old Freight Dawg.

i am a 1 year fo leaving pinnacle to go back into freight and you would be wise to stay away from 9e especially being at the bottom of the list

 

[Rook]

i am a 1 year fo leaving pinnacle to go back into freight and you would be wise to stay away from 9e especially being at the bottom of the list

Good luck to you buddy. Probably not that tough of a decision to make but if you're a good guy (probably are) hate to see the good ones leave. Especially if they don't have a choice.

Rook

 

[DTWFO]

Hey Meatwallet,

Six months ago there wasn't any hiring going on at Mesaba. Try again, with 15 airplanes guaranteed by the end of Feb. '06 there is some major hiring going on right now. The number I heard is 400 in the next six months.

400 new pilots or does that include FA's as well? If that's only pilots, that would work out to almost 13 crews per airplane?? That would be great, but it seems like a high number.

 

[flap operator]

I think they're looking more like 300 pilots... many of which were already hired. They have to hire not only for the CRJ, but the vacating positions on the saab that will occur with captains transitioning. There will be lots of movment... plus I think they're counting on those next 20 as well. I can't imagine Mesaba only willing to fly a tiny fleet of CRJs.


FO

 

[dondk]

If you can deal with the NWA whipsawing, BS, and being the redheaded step child... XJ would be better than 9E... I'd but money on them getting the next 20 after the intial 15, 9E's last jet is this fall... The pay will be about the same, although over at XJ you will be an employee from day one and paid like one.

The hiring run at 9E right now is just to balance staffing then attrition, maybe another 200 pilots or so of which none will be street Captains... The catch up of our guys with the time has finally happened and the CA vacancies went back towards the senior side where you need about 2 years to get a shot at the left seat.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

I don't know about 400 in 6 months. I start class on the 30th and there are 10 of us in the class. That's not to say they won't increase the size of the class down the road but at least in my class it's not looking like your numbers are possible.

 

[SPIM]

they wont go more than 5 crews per airplane thats the best estimate so right now that would work out to 75 pilots being hired.

 

[Enterprise]

We are understaffed and we will need a significant amount of FOs to bring us up. After the fall we will be hiring just for attrition which will hopefully be a fair amount.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Check that math again. 5 crews (2 pilots per crew) = 10 pilots per plane... Someone has to be hired to replace the vacated spots the captains leave behind as well as the f/o's for the CRJ. 15 planes at 10 pilots per plane = 150 pilots. Maybe that 400 is assuming the second batch of CRJ's shows up in rapid fashion. Could happen but not in 6 months.

 

[MACH-TUCK]

No matter where you go, the grass is always greener on the other side...

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Would love to get hired by Mesaba. Problem is, Mesaba HR hasn't seen fit to call yet. Going on a mere two weeks since resume faxed/snail-mailed in...

C'mon, what's the hold up??? LOL

Just havin' some fun.

HMM

Haha... Well, from what I heard, our HR doesn't know if they're coming or goin' right now. Hang tight. They'll call ya. I just heard from a friend of mine that got a call, it took him nearly a month and half... So don't lose hope yet.

W

 

[Workin'Stiff]

I don't know about 400 in 6 months. I start class on the 30th and there are 10 of us in the class. That's not to say they won't increase the size of the class down the road but at least in my class it's not looking like your numbers are possible.

Well... The CRJ classes start up in July and then we'll still have the one Avro class a month and we're gonna be bumping up to two Saab classes a month. So lots of bodies moving through the center every month. 400 pilots is very feasible.

 

[Towelie]

I'd but money on them getting the next 20 after the intial 15

You'd get 1:1 odds on that.

As part of the deal, XJ has exclusive rights on the next 20 CRJ's. Meaning if NWA buys any more CRJ's (up to 20), they have to go to XJ.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

I'm guess that he's saying that we WILL be getting 20 more. Don't think he's contesting "who" will be getting them...