"but my point is that the short performance field of the Dash would open up more destinations and allow for better fleet commonality given that all four variants fall under the same type."[/QUOTE]

Ok, The Saab 340A, 340B, 340B+, and 2000 are under the same type. Each being a big improvment from the last. They also swap alot of the same parts. So what was your point?

How many "types" of dash do you have?

 

What it boils down to is that we run the airframes that the bank and supply/demand lets us. One company is filling the seats and one is flying empty. One company is paying the bills, and the other one is not. It could all change tomorrow, with PenAir being underneath. Were both brothers at L1 and L2. And we all realize that 99% of pilots end up at "there" company because it was the only company hireing at the time. Management knows that pilots are a dime a dozen. I saw on a nother board someone mention that even for the first plane ever to fly, there was twice as many pilots as there were pilot seats. The Wrights had to flip a coin to see who got the job. In the end it is us pilots aginst management. Managements job is to line their pockets, and ours is to pay off thoes student loans. It is by luck of the draw that you got a shorter stick then me.

 

personally I think management at PenAir is great.
all the management I have had the opportunity to talk with makes me feel part of the team
There is no us or them here at PenAir just us

 

Ofcourse PenAir is a close enviorment where employees feel it is all for one and one for all. Part of this comes from the fact that it is still family founded, owned and ran. The reason that you get that close family feeling is because half of us are family. It is also a very good company for folks that are family orieanted...ie, wife and kids. It is one of the only place that I have seen where flight attendants and pilots can work other jobs inside the company for some extra paycheck... and I am not talking about flying a desk in management or checkairman types. That being said, when a pilot job is gone like the caravan f/o program, its just gone. PenAir did allow some of the fo's to take other nonflying positions inside the company, but they didnot just make new flying spots for them. Always have somthing in your back pocket incase your flying career ends. And I not just talking about downsizeing. Now that Doc Green is gone, were all one medical away from a new career!

 

We actually fly almost 100K people to ENA in a year.
Our current crewing levels are just under 4 pilots per seat. Our issue is that we have longer duty due to short leg lengths.
I would hardly consider ENA short-field at 7500 feet, unless you are talking about the gravel strip. When taxiway 'B' was closed this summer, we were able to enjoy ourselves and land 19R and make 'C', approx. 1700 feet. Granted an empty 727, with max reverse and full braking can do that, but our pax were comfortable with light discing and no braking. We make bravo on 1L (1300 feet) with a little wind. (And just so there is no question, this is in the Dash at max landing weight)
Your "short-field" niche aircraft, couldn't hold the Otter's jock-strap. There's at least one of you over there that migrated from us. Talk to 'Hammer' about the otter. It'll make any land strip your fleet can make, in and out. Admittantly, it costs more to operate, because it falls under those pesky 121 rules. However, inside moves are afoot to increase the gross weight or return it to its true calling under 135. Uncle Ted's final bypass mail rules are being scrutinized before a final decision is made.
Hopefully one day we will all be able to laugh at our thread here. PenAir isn't going out of business anytime soon, Era isn't going anywhere either. WE can have our jabs and fun and at the end of the day meet up for a pint and a game of cards (blackjack at Vegas, Texas Hold-em here!) and talk about the way things were and the way things should be. Me, I just want to fly an airplane for a living and enjoy my family and friends.
Good luck to you (Mordi, n185flier, akpilot7 especially), I've enjoyed our jousting. I'm out of energy and the kid is crying, plus I have an early show.

 

Tuff,

That was exactly my point. 7500 ft at ENA and you want to land in the first 500ft. Wanting to do that kind of "short field" is just a waste of money. Land on the numbers and let her roll out abit. Airlines dont have extra money to be waisting on showing off. Save the airplane anytime you can to help keep the maintiance cost down.

Since your Otter has a jock-strap, I should have said let HIM roll out abit.

And there is nothing wrong with haveing pride in your company. But when was the last time that your company put up a fight for you as a pilot. We are all a dime a dozen. There is always another pilot waiteing to take your job for a few dollars less.

There is more then one x ERA guy over at Pen. I can count four off the top of my head.

I understand the kid thing, and would have a beer with you anytime.

 

ok the next hearing is on thursday at 10 am
apparently the bank has asked the judge to foreclose
also seacorp want 1.5 million
and ERA filed a brief that says the financing they were going to get has fallen through and they have no financing

you guys ready??

 

When did you hear this?

 

today at traffic
danny was there and said he was going to the hearing

 

tuff
what do you hear??