Pinnacle Corp Updates
 

Thread to stay informed going forward
Facts -
Three airlines for the time being
Long Term the two airlines will be Mesaba (props) Pinnacle (Jets)
Pinnacle operates 126 CRJ 200's 16 CRJ 900's
Colgan Operates 15 Q400's (15 more coming options for 30 more) 34 Saabs
Mesaba operaes 41 Crj 900's 19 Crj 200's 28 Saabs (to be phased out if they can't be placed elsewhere)
145 CRJ 200's
57 CRJ 900's
30 Q 400's by mid 2011
62 Saab 340s
294 aircraft
All 3 groups are ALPA
Combined company operates for every major except American

Route map stretches the entire country

Questions
How will the lists be merged?
How do we protect the Furloughs at Mesaba?
How do we protect the interests at all 3 airlines?
How and when do we negotiate a contract jointly and how do we make that contract industry leading?

If its done right, I am really looking forward to this going forward

The next contract for PNCL pilots may very well be the combined contract covering all three (2?) companies...should be coming around 3 years from now, and that's being optimistic. HEY! We could be the first pilot group to go a decade into negotiations! WE CAN DO IT GUYS! All we need is just a little patience...

Could you post a list of the combined airline's bases by fleet type?

Does anyone have any idea how long the SLI will take? I'd assume they'd want to get it done quickly because of Mesaba's looming furloughs, Colgan's substantial need for pilots, and Pinnacle's moderate need.

Any idea of when frontline operations will be integrated? for example: When will a Mesaba based MEM pilot begin to be able to use Pinnacle's MEM crewroom? When will the pilots all start to wear the same uniform?

Thanks for the info, how about Colgan and Mesaba's bases?

Does Mesaba have separate or combined pilot groups for the CRJ-200 and -900?

Same pilot group, the aircraft you are in as well as what base you are at depends on:

1. How you have your preference bid (i.e. CRJ 900 CA-DTW as #1 and so on)
2. Where you stack up in the seniority list for the ability to hold your preference

(Although when I was there for 8 years it almost seemed like separate pilot groups between bases---especially MSP and DTW, and aircraft---Saab vs Avro)

DTW was termed "The Dark Side"
MSP was "Mecca" and
MEM was "The leper colony"

However, you call what where and when, these guys and gals were the best to fly with...hands down. We put up with alot of crap with the Foley years, the sham BK, the multiple furloughs--then recall-then furlough again---then recall again pendulum..And through it all, all groups still maintained a safe airline....This has alot to say about the people performing the day to day operations. Its not the battery that "takes a lickin and keeps on tickin"--its the employees of Mesaba.

Sorry, what I meant to ask is, do pilots at Mesaba fly both planes at the same time, or are they only qualified on one or the other?

the companies will be separate at first but even management has said there will be combinations going forward which is something they never said with pinnacle and colgan. I wonder if Mesaba will be 9X since pinnacle is 9E and colgan is 9L

I think the next guy misunderstood your question.
Mesaba flies the 200 and 900 as separate types. Some airlines, Skywest for example, fly them as a common type and could move between the aircraft within months/trips. Mesaba currently does operate the aircraft this way, I don't believe Pinnacle does either. To move between aircraft at Mesaba is subject to a system bid.

I Don't believe so, but don't quote me. If you are on the 900, I don't think that you can be placed on a 200 leg or trip. I believe there are contractual provisions for this....If you are on one aircraft or the other, that is what you bid and that is what you fly--not like guys that can do a 757 leg, then hop into a 767 kinda thing.