Originally Posted by nw320driver
Thanks for your well written post. But, there are several things that got my attention:
1. First, are you on the line flying now (started last DEC) or do you start your training at Pinnacle on the 12th?
2. If you are still waiting to start training, I think you have been listening to the Pinnacle Management Propaganda.
3. My friends who are still at Pinnacle are not happy, they don't know if the company is going to be around if NW pulls the plug or dies. I had dinner with a EX-Pinnacle Capt (who is now at Polar) last week and he is so happy to be out of there. He says Pinnacle is just as bad as NW, only with less pay. NW management is always whipsawing Pinnacle, Mesaba & the mainline pilots to get the lowest cost. Not that this is any different from the other carriers.
4. The idea of 1.7 year upgrade, is just not going to happen, you are going to be stuck in the right-seat for a long time. Why do you think the F/Os are leaving? The majors are not growing, only the LLCs and they have lots of highly qualified candidates.
5. The New Co thingy (scope), is ALPA's line in the sand, the NWA mainline pilots are not going to give away jobs they already have. They will strike over scope, even if it brings down the company. There is already 39% of the pilots who were against the pay-cut, if scope is added to the list, more than half will walk.
If I were you, I would get checked out and keep applying to the others. If a better job comes along take it. The first down sizing at Pinnacle and you will be on the street. I hope to sound so negative, but this is just how things are for NWA, Mesaba & Pinnacle right now. Good Luck in your training, but keep your options open.
A disgruntled NWA Pilot.
Very well written.....I've been at Mesaba about a year now and am on the Furlough list for Feb 27th.....I left an "ok" job flying left seat in King airs and C-421s and took a 50% pay cut to come to Mesaba.... At the time Mesaba was one of those companies that you wanted to work for. They were in the middle of some growth and all signs were looking good. I soon found out that NWA management are one of the worst cut-throats in the business. They don't care about the employees or their families. It doesn't matter if you're a lav change guy or a pilot. All of their employees are just another expense...including the pilots. Pinnacle is no different. I have several buddies who are still F.O.s after 2 years...and most of them hate it there.
All that to say, be careful about choosing a regional to work for if they operate as Norhtwest Airlink. It would be a big gamble right now. Maybe in the end when everthing pans out, it might ok. But for now, especially if you're going to commute, there are much better choices out there.
Good Luck though in any decision you make.