Pinnacle Questions
 

I am from the Minneapolis area and am preparing to retire from the military. I have just over 6000 hours and over half of that is multi engine fixed wing turbine time.

I was looking at Pinnacle and saw they were doing some very fast upgrades with their captains. According to APC here, July 07 is when their most junior captain was hired. What would the qualifications be in order to upgrade that quickly for a guy like that?

I exceed their present requirements for FO and if I could get a quck upgrade like that, I would be interested in learning more about them. I WANT to be back home in Minny and ideally, Minneapolis. I have been flying for 21 years throughout this great world of ours. The flying would be easy for me.

I am not seeing alot of opportunity in the Minnesota area for people like me at the present. I want my kids to live there while they are still at home.

BTW, I have had an application in with NWA and Sun Country for several months now and haven't heard a thing. I do exceed both of their requirements as well.

Thanks in advance to all who reply.

if you are truly as competitive as you are, i would hold out for NWA. maybe get on with Pinnacle just to pass training and get some current 121 time, but i think you'll get the call sooner or later from NWA. i've had several friends get a call from NWA with lower time and half decent connections.

I have the hours I say I do. I have no inside connections though. Thanks for your reply.

what were you flying in the military if you don't mind me asking?

what about netjets??

One of my Navy buddys went to Pinnicle for the same reasons.. retired, lots of hours, from that area etc.. hated the training and the mgmt so bad he quit before his sim check and went for Net Jets. The opportunity at Pinnicle is there, but I hear it's run by a bunch of clowns... if you don't mind putting up with the BS for a period to reach your end goal it will work.

King Air 200's


I have an application into NetJets as well. NWA, Sun Country, NetJets, and Pinnacle would all allow me to get back home. I have alot of applications out there at the moment.

Thanks for the replys.

With Pinnacle, you have to come as an FO, and maybe put in for the CAPT upgrade while in FO training when the bid comes out. Be advised, you WILL HAVE TO fly as an FO for 100 hours before starting Capt upgrade training. Since you will be coming in as a street Capt, that is a new requirement. You need 3500 total, 2000 multi for the upgrade bid. Also, if you do get through training, you will be the low man on the pole and will sit reserve in Minni for at least 1 to 1.5 years...no kidding. The most junior base is DTW, it took 8 months just to hold a high speed line. Mem is also a senior base. 10 days off...6 day reserve, 2 days off, 6 dasy reserve, 2 days off, and thenn it is mixed...this is what you need to expect.

I would not go to Pinnacle. You will never hold MSP captain. MSP base is shrinking. There hasn't been a MSP Captain vacancy in a while, and there will not be one for a while. There hasn't been a MSP FO opening in a while as well. I would guess it would be over a year before you could hold MSP.

As other have said... NETJETS!

PNCL will get better after we get a contract, until then I would not encourage people to come here. With your time and the 1000TPIC column filled I would look elsewhere. This place is great if you need 1000TJPIC otherwise its just a war zone with the current contract and mgmt in place. Good luck to you- it is a pilot's market right now!