Wonder Woman

I want to start a thread for PenAir pilots, present and future. Totally anonymous (up to you to not ** that up). Seems like there is discontent among the pilot ranks and it is growing fast. For the most part I like my job and I am grateful for the opportunities provided but it seems like things are getting weird in a hurry and it is not going well for both the pilot group and the company. Any takers?

-WW

Greenlantern340

Yeah I flew with an FO the other day that was helping out in Denver and it is a *** show apparently, long duty days with minimal flight time. He was also saying the FOs still haven't received their quartley bonus checks.

Akpilot208

I was thinking about applying to Pen, I guess you guys don't recommend it? Are they hiring ANC based FOs? Do they have a union?

Captain America

It seems things have gotten really bad. I know of at least 4 TDY pilots that are quiting. The FOs are upset because they haven't been paid their bonus yet. I even heard a group of pilots had a Union organization meeting last week. Hopefully they can figure out something... I think it just comes down to terrible QOL

alaskadrifter

They are hiring for ANC, but expect to TDY to DEN. Schedules should hopefully be getting better. KD knows people are getting burnt out.

Akpilot208

So I guess it sounds like Horizon or Ravn would probably be a better bet? I've heard rumors of the PenAir drama that's always going on just wanted to hear it from somebody that's there.

alaskadrifter

Hard to say, sounds like just as much drama at QX. I don't know where you'd hold ANC first. Better pay here, upgrade at Ravn is forever and they don't hire as often. So pick your poison I guess. DEN schedules are mostly 4/3 and upgrades are happening fast in DEN and PDX.

Greenlantern340

Dude... Don't drink too much of the KoolAid. The only way to get ANC based with PenAir is if your a low time freighter FO. And the first year FO pay at QX is 31, Ravn is 50, and PenAir is 30. First year PIC at QX makes 70, Ravn is 95, and it's 50 here. DEN schedules are mostly 5 and 2s and some guys have a few 6 and 1s in there too. Only the senior ANC guys are getting the 3 lines that are 4 and 3. With the attrition, the schedules just going to get worse. Next month there are only 2 lines that are 4 and 3s.

westbound

There is so much to say here. Where to start...

westbound

To the OP, yes there is something very bad going on here. We were all promised something that never happened. (You will be ANC based). This was true for about 2 months off of OE. Then it started with hey can you help us out down in PDX for a week? Hey can you help us out one more time? Then it started with hey we NEED you to go down to PDX, this time for a few weeks, then a month... we were all told that this would stop by late december, however now it's only gotten worse. Many of us ANC guys are now down here in denver with long duty days, cancelations, living out of hotel for the month and most likely next month for all of us already here. QOL is non existant down here. Sure if I lived here it wouldnt be THAT bad but it's the whole principle of the matter. I came to penair to live in alaska and do something different. A huge change for anyone in that situation. Now we are being forced down to TDY for months on end just with a small chance of hope that maybe just maybe next months bid will be better. Well Feb bid is almost out and all of us will still be TDY down in denver. It's not good here. Huge difference between the pilots and managment. Anyone in training now or thinking of it, get out while you can.