Pinnacle
 

If anyone is interested in Pinnacle but isn't sure they have the mins, I know of someone who just got an interview with 1030TT and 100ME with 100 instrument. He said Pinnacle is looking for 200 pilots like yesterday. Go to www.nwairlink.com and find the employment page. Submit your resume via email. He said just about everyone that he went with heard back within a week of sending the resume. He didn't even have someone walk it in.

I heard that they were hiring cpts off the street a few months back. Any idea if they are still hurting that bad?

Not sure, my friend didn't say. I'd say try it. Worst that could happen is they interview you and offer the F.O. seat.

My friend said he saw a Pinnacle memo that said their pilots had been flying in the 90s monthly. He also said the memo talked about how their strict interview process was being a success at lowering the washout rate for training. I guess they had a 100% class not too long ago.

I suppose that says something about the company. Why go somewhere just for a quick upgrade? Besides, all their quick movement is coming to a screaching halt because they received their last airplane. Upgrade times will go up and movement will be based off attrition which is pretty slow.

The only "quick upgrade" probably is Colgan. otherwise you're better off going to a more solid company like ExpressJet, Mesaba, SkyWest

Personally, I'm part of the proud 80% that doesn't make it through their interview. I'm glad to see that they have improved their standards, considering some of my classmates that they hired, referred to by at least one of their captains as such: "Flying as a passenger used to be fun, but now I know what kind of corn-holes are working up front..." You have to wonder, when they were hiring all of the people that you would have never thought had any business in an airline job!

I agree. I just found out that I know someone who got hired by pinnacle a while back who busted training and got lost on her CFI ride but somehow passed it. It really makes me skeptical about the old interview process. I'm glad they did make it harder, but it seems the net missed the ones who make me nervous.

I know every company has it's problem children, but Pinnacle by far stands out with problem pilots. :eek:

pinnacle run down
 

New hire at Pinnacle here. I agree that they've had many problems in the past, but some of that goes with going from saabs to all jets 5 years ago and being the fastest growing regional in the nation. They've also made over 40 million in the first 6 months of this year and were second the past 2 years in profit margin among regionals. This year Pinnacle is almost a lock for first. They are hiring great pilots now, though I agree that in the past some have been sub-standard. It is true that they have recieved their last CRJ from NW for a while, but the company will be finished with its new OPS certificate in October of 06 and are attempting to aquire either the crj 700 & 900 or the 70 & 100 seat ERJ. As far as upgrade time currently goes, once you have captain mins, you upgrade if you want to. Hope this helps!

Ps
 

The acceptance rate of interviewees stands between 20-30% according to some friends in hiring. Look for variations on the old gouge as far as the interview goes, but it's still pretty good. If you are looking for an agressive upward moving company doing a lot of things, Pinnacle is the place to be. There is some risk in agressiveness though.