To Pinnacle or not to Pinnacle

[Shhhh, not while im flyin]

Its job hunting time for me and Pinnacle is on my short list. There bases are just PERFECT. So now i need to know from current and future employees how the QOL and pilot treatment is. Please leave GOOD and bad comments.....and an occasional rumor

Also if anybody has gotten hired lately, id LOVE to know your times. They say "preferred mins' are 1000 and 200

Thanks

[LoadMasterC141]

http://www.atpflightschool.com/airli..._alliance.html

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by Shhhh, not while im flyin

Its job hunting time for me and Pinnacle is on my short list

Do you also enjoy shoving bamboo shoots under your finger nails? The experience of working for Pinnacle is similar.

[LoadMasterC141]

[Shhhh, not while im flyin]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

Do you also enjoy shoving bamboo shoots under your finger nails? The experience of working for Pinnacle is similar.

Do i get paid to shove the bamboo? Any details on why its similar

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by Shhhh, not while im flyin

Do i get paid to shove the bamboo?

If you call poverty wages "paid," then yes.

Any details on why its similar

Constant junior assignments and extensions into your days off (of which you barely get any, anyway), possibility of getting fired for calling in sick or fatigued while you're on probation, being fatigued all the time because of the unsafe schedules, regularly working 15+ hour days, etc.... And did I mention the poverty level wages?

Friends don't let friends work at Pinnacle.

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by Shhhh, not while im flyin

Do i get paid to shove the bamboo? Any details on why its similar

Not to mention that Pinnacle Airlines, under the guise of its larger Holdings Group, Pinnacle Holdings, is ruining TWO places that could be great to work.

Colgan Air was purchased by Pinnacle last year. In addition to making life harder and harder to work there, Pinnacle is using Colgan Air to screw over its own pilot force in order to 'whipsaw' them during contract negotiations.

It's rapidly lumping itself in with the WORST of the business to work for.

[Tram]

Pinnacle isn't the worst place to work and I'm sure it's not the best..

I've been here just shy of a year and it hasn't been THAT bad..

Depends on what your looking for.. I came to 9E because I wasn't commuting anymore..

[BobDDuck]

If Pinnacle works for you due to basing, go for it. No one place is appreciably better then all the others (no matter what people tell you). All things being equal, you could probably do better then there, but if you can live at home, it shouldn't even be a question.

[GaTechKid]

If DTW or MEM is your cup of tea, then fire away sir.

[higney85]

Been here almost a year and a half. Get my weekends and about 15-18 days off a month. Fly with a great bunch of guys. Pay is horrid. I am from MEM (unfortunately) but no commuting means alot to me. Upgrade is quick (if you have the time and/or are old enough). All jet fleet.

Negatives...
- Contract? Who knows on this one!
- MGMT.... don't get me started
- Schedulers... just trying to do their job but we are horribly understaffed to say the least so JM's and extensions are rampid. That being said if you never answer the JM calls you don't get Junior manned and you can refuse 1 extension per month. I have refused 2 and actually done 1 extension since I have been here.


I would not recommend others to come here unless you live here. Otherwise wait until we either get a contract or figure out if a DL/NWA merger takes place. Both possibilities will effect us.

1000/200 is what they want unless you do a bridge program. They cannot fill classes... things will be forced to change shortly b/c even with JM's, extensions and offering 150% for all seats to pick up all the available "open time" flights are still being cancelled left and right. Best part is we have more flying for march than we did and Feb and less pilots...



Short end of the story is if you live here it could work out great but if you are going to commute and will need to be an FO for more than 18 months or so (age or time) you should look elsewhere for the time being. All this being said negotiations are ongoing as we speak, NWA/DL are expected to say something this upcoming week, and any one of the numerous arbitrations could greatly impact us in a positive way. Whatever you choose it would not hurt to at least interview. By the time you interview and hear back I think you will have more facts on your plate. There is a lot up in the air right now- just got done polishing up the resume myself just incase!

[mtsu_av8er]

Do it, man - do it as fast as you can.

[Tram]

Originally Posted by higney85

Been here almost a year and a half. Get my weekends and about 15-18 days off a month.

Wow... I got 12 for Feb.. Maybe it's on the upswing for me.. A couple guys junior to me got 14+...

I'm going to change up my bid this month and see what happens...

[av8sean]

The grass is always greener...

Yes pay sucks. The new contract will be a reality soon. Considering most people will bid captain in their 1-3rd year, you have a high chance of making more money here (in total $$$) than most other regionals with longer waits to upgrade.

Morale is bad... but it was just as bad at Mesaba 2 years ago during their negotiations, and similarly during the Express I negotiations. This is just history repeating itself. Once the contract is signed, additional Delta CR9's arrive, things will look a lot brighter.

Scheduling... Don't answer your phone. If you do, say you've been drinking. You can refuse extensions (1 per month). Classes are not being filled to the targeted level, but this is more a function of high attrition of captains leaving for majors, as well as increased demand in flying from Delta and NW. Pinnacle is looking for 50+ new hires a month, and getting about 25-35 I'd bet.

[higney85]

They (sched) just called and spoke to my voicemail about a Junior man high speed leaving in 35 minutes... The jack and coke in my left hand and my woman to the right told me "no"... its amazing that my woman knows its scheduling before my head even picks up on the scheduling ringtone!

I love how they call to advertise a highspeed that I have not had any advance warning for and try to justify it as "only 2 hours of flying and over 4 hours of pay..."

Ok rant over. Back to my off time.

[Tram]

Originally Posted by higney85

the scheduling ringtone!

I used to hate hearing the scheduling ringtone.. Then I had a brilliant idea..

Why not make their ring tone.... SILENT?

They can call me all they want now and I don't even know it..

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by av8sean

The new contract will be a reality soon.

You really believe that, don't you? Hate to disappoint, but you'll be waiting a long time. Just think, you're only at half the time it took for ASA to get their contract. Vote pro-labor to end this sham!!!

[Tram]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

You really believe that, don't you? Hate to disappoint, but you'll be waiting a long time. Just think, you're only at half the time it took for ASA to get their contract. Vote pro-labor to end this sham!!!

I guess Obama would be the Pro-Labor vote?

I haven't heard anything out of him nor any of the candidates that are pro-labor yet..

[SmitteyB]

Every candidate will tell you what you want to hear.

When they get into the office, money talks. Don't be that naive.

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by Tram

I guess Obama would be the Pro-Labor vote?

I haven't heard anything out of him nor any of the candidates that are pro-labor yet..

Yes, Obama would certainly be the pro-labor vote. If you haven't noticed the pro-labor difference, then you haven't been paying attention. But if you'd like to know specifically how he would favor air line pilots, look at last month's issue of the ALPA magazine. He answered all of ALPA's questions. The Reps wouldn't even respond.

[SmitteyB]

Originally Posted by PCL_128

Yes, Obama would certainly be the pro-labor vote. If you haven't noticed the pro-labor difference, then you haven't been paying attention. But if you'd like to know specifically how he would favor air line pilots, look at last month's issue of the ALPA magazine. He answered all of ALPA's questions. The Reps wouldn't even respond.

I would be interested to read those responses. Anyone care to share?

[PCL_128]

Here's a link to the full article: http://alpa.org/DesktopModules/ALPA_...2555&Tabid=256

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

Every candidate will tell you what you want to hear.

When they get into the office, money talks. Don't be that naive.

You're right, money does talk, and that's why labor gives extraordinary amounts of money to certain candidates. Have you noticed the recent union endorsements of Obama from some very large unions? One of the country's largest unions, SEIU, recently endorsed him. And lots of money comes from those endorsements. ALPA-PAC hands out tons of checks every year to pilot-friendly candidates. ALPA understands how the system works. Pilots should too. Big business buys their politicians, and we buy ours. Don't vote for the ones that business has already bought and paid for.

[jynxyjoe]

Go Mesaba

[PCL_128]

Originally Posted by jynxyjoe

Go Mesaba

That would be the smart move.