I would also strongly consider going to a regional where you do not have to commute, especially if you have a family...once you live in base, if you ever go back to commuting you realize just how much worse it is. Also, if you are considering MEM, MSP, & DTW for a regional I'm just curious why PNCL and not Mesaba? It seems they have more going for them...nothing against my PNCL brethren...just curious what goes on in the decision making process of a job seeker, provided you haven't been turned down by Mesaba, why Pinnacle?

 

Fast upgrade, and DTW base is my main reason. From what I've heard Mesaba is slowing down hiring in the Saab, particularly for quick upgrades to captain. Seems from what I've heard here a majority of hiring is now going into the CRJ, which is only based out of MSP currently. So for me at this time it seems PCL would be a better choice. Plus I got a nice thanks but no thanks from Mesaba a couple months ago, but I'm pretty sure the computer kicked my app out because I didn't have my first class med or ATP written.

 

I would advise you to go to a company that will be in business come next year. Things at Pinnacle are getting bad.

Upgrade isn't what it was 4-6 months ago and you'll be on reserve for YEARS.

 

Reserve isn't really what I'm worried about. But I was under the impression guys coming in with more than 3,500hrs TT where upgrading in the range of 6-9 months. As for the company going out of business, that can happen just about anywhere, that's just a risk you take these days. I'm just trying to get some 121 time, if the company folds, I'm fairly confident I can find work elsewhere.

 

You should be. Sorry man, but you are totally clueless when it comes to how Pinnacle treats its employees. Ask the people who left here and went to Mesaba/Compass. You can't get much worse than Pinnacle. Its along the lines of Mesa.

Why would you go to a company when its already starting to sink? Oh well, common sense isn't very common.

Compass is hiring. DTW base, quick upgrade, you get PIC TYPED in the planes as an FO.

 

Ok, explain it to me.

I haven't worked for Mesa or any other regional for that matter, so your right I am totally clueless about how Pinnacle, or any other regional treats it's employees for that matter.

 

Okay. Where do I start...

They treat you like children. Sick notes for times when you are sick. For instance, we got a memo saying we needed a sick note for calling in sick for a 4 day period around the super bowl (friday-monday). There was also a memo we got saying we can only call is sick for six days a year. So basically, they use scare tactics to prevent people from calling in sick... Ever heard of positive reinforcement?

Some new memo about not being able to take a food break during the day, or one person has to go get the food for all crew members, not to exceed 30 minutes. All because they can't build good trips. Either you get 30 minute turns or 3 hour turns.

10am show..Flight is delayed 4 hours. Does scheduling call you? hell no. You go to the airport and find out from the monitor or gate agent? Go back to the hotel? I think not, you already checked out. Pay up! (depends on the hotel)

4 day trip starting tomorrow. 8am show...get to ops..check in...flight canceled. Did scheduling call you? Nope...Want to sit ready reserve to get paid? I'm sorry, we have too many people sitting ready reserve. Your new show time is 8pm.. Thanks!

Your sleeping in your hotel room, on reduced rest...Scheduling calls you 4am...your cell is on silent. They then call your hotel room.. To inform you that when you get back to base in the morning they have a change in your schedule! Did you forget to unplug your room phone?

Call in fatigued? You have to have a meeting with you base manager.. They want to know why, yada, yada, another scare tactic.

Scheduled reduce rest, crappy hotels, 20 minute van rides, show time at 750am, van only runs on the hour, no breakfast, shower drain clogged, no hot water.

MSP base manager...Well he is a whole another story.

If you fly over trip value, you work 15 minutes for FREE!!!!!!

Company makes their own rules, they don't care about the contract we have. Examples - Vacation slides, monthly schedules out on time.

Going down the MEM for PC's - Jeopardy event - you always wonder who you'll get and if they'll be in a good mood.

You constantly have to watch your pay, if they make any change to your schedule during the month they will screw something up.

Reserve - constantly changing your schedule, even the day of. Deadhead here, sit 4 hours, deadhead there, sit. 4 day trip worth 10 hours of flying. Delayed..we can't deadhead he home tonight...we'll do it tomorrow, i know its your day off. You get 10 of those a month..9 won't hurt you. 14 hours duty days. extending you into your day off. Comp day? denied..

Need a day off for a wedding? Denied due to staffing! Want to swap a trip? denied, I need 40 reserves that day, I only have 23. They will never have 40 reserves EVER. If they aren't junior manning or extending each month, then the airline is over staffed.

Bean counters in MEM are clueless.

Morale here is at an all time low.

Did I miss anything?????

 

Yes, work rules are horrible, as is Scheduling and one of the worst reserve systems, so QOL may be only half a notch above Mesa.

That said, there ARE a fair number of happy pilots here, although it mostly seems to be pilots who live in base.

DO understand however, that much of the fast upgrade is coming from our high attrition rates (see above).

Pinnacle is what you make of it. Great pilot group. Lousy management. But the company will not be going out of business, and expansion is a strong possibility post-contract. The contract situation is a crap shoot. But when it gets settled (and it WILL get settled, even if it takes a strike), we'll have vastly improved work rules and a little better pay. Might be a chance worth taking.

PNCL types FO as well.

 

No they don't. An SIC type is a joke. Its completely worthless. Every regional SIC types their FOs, if they do any international flying.

Compass you get your ATP + PIC TYPE. Thats why you need to be 23 to apply.

 

I stand corrected.