I'm suprised nobody mentioned Mesaba, they are in minny and things are moving really fast, also the CRJ900 is going more junior than anybody thought for FOs and CAs. In PNCL there have been no vacancies for CA of FOs in minny and I know there's a fairly long list. Also Mesaba is hiring street CA, PNCL is not, you can upgrade after 100hrs in the right seat but with the last vacancy I didn't see many junior FOs upgrading, seems like attrition is slowing down in PNCL. I would seriously consider Mesaba if NW mainline is not an option for you. I have a friend with about 4K turboprop time getting a call from NW mainline and he doesn't have any contacts there, just threw in an application and gave them a call. Have you applied at all?

 

Thank you for all the replies and the information. I appreciate it very much.

I do have my applications in with Sun Country, NWA and Net Jets. I will look at Mesaba as well. For some reason I was thinking they were only prop and I am ready for some jet flying. I have been flying props long enough. With that said, I would fly anything that paid half way decent to get back home though. I believe beggars can't be choosers (spelling?).

I have a family and need to make some money in order to be able to support them. My military income can be a supplement but upgrading to captain quickly would really help.

I am not very familiar with how the reserve works. Are you paid wether you fly or not on reserve? I am thinking that is what that schedule is for, am I wrong? I guess I could easily live on reserve as long as it was with MSP as my base. I would buy a place close to Bloomington to make it livable.

Thank you for all the replies. I want to get home before my kids get old enough to leave the house. I want them to get a piece of Minny before that happens.

 

Looks like Mesaba hires right into the Saab. Anyone able to forecast a estimated upgrade time in the CRJ for a candidate like me?

Here is a quick breakdown of my current MEL turbine time. It is all unfactored military time. Thanks

King Air 200 Time
Hours: 3043 Total
1307 PIC
400 Instructor Pilot
790 Instrument
193 Night
353 Day
141 Simulator

 

You're golden after a year of captain time in a 121 operation. Pinnacle would be a fast way to do it, however, there is a possibility of a strike, which could possibly delay you building your hours (either your 357 hours required to get up to 3500, or your captain time to get to a major).

Mesaba would be a safer bet, however, you also have to consider that you're pretty close to being competitive at NWA mainline. If you go to Mesaba, I'd imagine you'd have to stay in line if they finalize their flowthrough...otherwise the company would probably be reluctant to hire you because it might be in violation of their flowthrough agreement since you stepped over the guys ahead of you.

If you went to Pinnacle, upgraded quicly to Capt, and had your 121 PIC time up, you could go to NWA whenever they gave you a look...

That's the backside of flowthrough agreements that no one ever talks about--the fact that it turns getting hired at the major/parent company into an issue of seniority vs. qualifications. You're close enough to an NWA mainline job anyways, that I wouldn't risk having to wait in line at Mesaba if I were you.

 

Thanks. I will have to do some more research and see what is the best way to proceed. Those times I posted are all unfactored times. That means it is military time which starts from wheels in the well to engine shutdown. Alot of carriers will give you .2 (NetJets) to .3 (Southwest) for every hour. This is supposed to get you in the ball park to what you would have logged on the civilian side.

Thanks again for your comments and information. I appreciate them.

BTW, I don't remember NWA giving a factor for military time. Does anyone know if they do or not? I am pretty certain the flight hours I input to NWA were not factored.

 

Hey I just want to make sure everyone here knows that PNCL will upgrade you at 2500TT if you meet ATP requirements and have considerable turbine experience. I am in line for upgrade - says everyone here. I'm still in training and they are telling me to expect to get it if I bid it. It is very true though that you must have 100 in the right seat before you can attend training for CA.

However, if you come here you run the risk of a strike while on probation which can get ugly. Yeah no one will return to work until you are hired back, but how long could it take? And what if they fire you for "something else"? If I had known the strike was THIS close to the horizon, I would have chosen Mesaba.

My $0.02

 

look into Compass as well. I don't know much about them but I know everyone is expected to upgrade quickly as the jets show up. I think their main base is MSP. Its worth looking into.

 

I wouldn't come to Pinnacle if you want to go to NWA. Very few Pinnacle pilots are even getting an interview. I personally know many Pinnacle pilots who are more than qualified for NWA and have their apps in. Of those, I only know of one who has even gotten an interview. I don't know if he got the job. I know some guys have left Pinnacle, gone somewhere else and then applied to NWA. They got an interview...

In any case, as others have mentioned why would you put yourself in the position of coming to Pinnacle now and possibly facing a strike during training/probation??? If you want MSP, I'd try Mesaba or Compass. You might want to talk to some Mesaba guys though. I understand MSP is pretty senior and you might have a tough time holding it especially if you're going to be a junior Captain.

Good luck.

 

Although MSP is currently senior for Mesaba, that may change as Pinnacle continues to transfer the 15 MSP-based -200s to Mesaba.

 

[quote=cruiseclimb;299260] The opportunity at Pinnicle is there, but I hear it's run by a bunch of clowns...quote]

It is run by clowns.

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