PenAir Interview

ppragman · February 13th, 2008, 11:26

I had an interview with PenAir about a week and a half ago for either the 135 or 121 side of the operation. I was offered the job, but turned it down.

The interview was straight forward. A written test with some basic basic basic questions (if you have a commercial you should do fine) along with some algebra and psych questions. Then m ore of an informal chat between the the 135 and 121 DOs. There were some more interesting questions "where do you see yourself in 5 years?" "why PenAir" "when have you ever been scared in the airplane?" "Disagreements with the captain, wwyd?" Just be relaxed and yourself and you should be offered a sim ride. If you have any experience at all expect a tentative invite to the ground school.

Next I went over to HQ and got some paperwork, and peed in a bottle etc. met the president (who also flies the line occasionally, way cool.)

The next morn' I showed up for a sim ride at the training center. Just a PCADT. The sim is straightforward, act like the evaluator is an FO and have him do all the power settings (just say something like "set cruise power, set approach descent power etc.) and he'll look after you. They'll start you out in the middle of nowhere and give you some headings to get your bearings in the sim, then they throw you on the airway going the wrong way for your altitude, then ask you to fly to the arc for the ILS for 19R at PAEN. if you get turned arround on the arc don't worry, everybody does, just tell him your going to go direct the VOR and shoot the procedure turn. You'll go missed, go to the hold, enter the hold (its a teardrop) do it a couple of times then request the the NDB-A (its an old approach so its probably not on Airnav) shoot the NDB don't break out again, go missed, fly back to the NDB and enter the hold. Then that's it, you're done. As long as you can hold the wings level, and shoot the NDB you should be fine. Ground school is on the 25 of Feb, they still need people!

PacMan4x4 · February 13th, 2008, 12:58

PPRAG...

Thanks for the info....what are you doing these days? Weren't you going to Airnet; at least I thought I read that. Was this just a practice interview or were you actually looking at PenAir for employment? Was there any mention of pay/time off during the interview process-more so, the 121 side out of Anchorage?

ppragman · February 13th, 2008, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacMan4x4

PPRAG...

Thanks for the info....what are you doing these days? Weren't you going to Airnet; at least I thought I read that. Was this just a practice interview or were you actually looking at PenAir for employment? Was there any mention of pay/time off during the interview process-more so, the 121 side out of Anchorage?

I'm still gonna do the Airnet, just waiting on time, need another 200TT then all is good. It was kinda a practice, though I thought about going to the bush.

The pay out of Anchorage is 11 and 11 ($1100 Per month Base, then $11 per flight hour) for the first year, then 12 and 12, then if you stick around after your training contract is over (2 years) your pay will go up substantially if you don't upgrade. The schedule is 4 on 3 off, home every night, and most guys don't fly on the 4th day. Guys are flying about 100hrs/mo

If you go to the bush you'll do a short stint (not more than a month or so if you have any time at all) in the Caravan as an FO at $80/day then into the saratoga at 18 and 18. After you upgrade into the Van you'll make 20 and 20, and have some additional pay benes, also your schedule is 2 weeks on 2 weeks off, fully CASS for every bush assignment.

Town Based Aircraft:
Saab 340s
Metros (I and II I think)
Saab 2000s, or Q400s will be online in the next couple of years

Bush Based:
Piper Saratogas
Caravans
Navajos
Turbine Navajos (That looks waaaaaaaaay fun)
Grumman Gooses (or Geese i guesss) though it would take an act of god to get into that

They pay during training ($8/hr during training) and training for the Saab lasts about 6-8 weeks not including sim school, bush ground is about 2-3 weeks.

EDIT: Ohh, and I forgot, there's fairly good movement into Alaska Airlines from PenAir

cfii2007 · February 13th, 2008, 18:27

Not a bad gig, just unfotunate Alaska won't be hiring much.

ppragman · February 14th, 2008, 04:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfii2007

Not a bad gig, just unfotunate Alaska won't be hiring much.

I dunno, I make more than 11 and 11 as FO in the 1900...ouch. though the Alaska quasi flow through isn't a bad gig

WalterSobchak · February 16th, 2008, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppragman

I'm still gonna do the Airnet, just waiting on time, need another 200TT then all is good. It was kinda a practice, though I thought about going to the bush.

The pay out of Anchorage is 11 and 11 ($1100 Per month Base, then $11 per flight hour) for the first year, then 12 and 12, then if you stick around after your training contract is over (2 years) your pay will go up substantially if you don't upgrade. The schedule is 4 on 3 off, home every night, and most guys don't fly on the 4th day. Guys are flying about 100hrs/mo

If you go to the bush you'll do a short stint (not more than a month or so if you have any time at all) in the Caravan as an FO at $80/day then into the saratoga at 18 and 18. After you upgrade into the Van you'll make 20 and 20, and have some additional pay benes, also your schedule is 2 weeks on 2 weeks off, fully CASS for every bush assignment.

Town Based Aircraft:
Saab 340s
Metros (I and II I think)
Saab 2000s, or Q400s will be online in the next couple of years

Bush Based:
Piper Saratogas
Caravans
Navajos
Turbine Navajos (That looks waaaaaaaaay fun)
Grumman Gooses (or Geese i guesss) though it would take an act of god to get into that

They pay during training ($8/hr during training) and training for the Saab lasts about 6-8 weeks not including sim school, bush ground is about 2-3 weeks.

EDIT: Ohh, and I forgot, there's fairly good movement into Alaska Airlines from PenAir

1040. There is only 27 still flying(29 built).

My old freight company they have one. Nice airplane Cheyenne humped a Cheiftan.

If I ever have a crisis maybe I should work there & move to alaska. I have flown everything except a metro and a goose on there list.

ppragman · February 16th, 2008, 14:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalterSobchak

1040. There is only 27 still flying(29 built).

My old freight company they have one. Nice airplane Cheyenne humped a Cheiftan.

If I ever have a crisis maybe I should work there & move to alaska. I have flown everything except a metro and a goose on there list.

They are short on Navajo drivers

newty · February 16th, 2008, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppragman

They are short on Navajo drivers

What do they pay the ho drivers? and secondly would I have to live in Bethel. Bethel is a deal breaker for me at any cost. I would pass on a job flying the space shuttle if it required a relocation to bethel

SFCC/UND · February 16th, 2008, 20:44

My friend from work is going up there for the caravan position. Should be going up there for the ground school next week.

WalterSobchak · February 16th, 2008, 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppragman

They are short on Navajo drivers

LOL. I have 2000+ in the pa 31 dont need any more!
1/2 step backwards being a saab ca and flying nav's or 1040's again. I do miss the caravan a little. You never know they could shut this place down fire us all and my wife could leave me so I guess its good to have options.

I say take the Pen job if offered. Looks like a cool place to work. I would love to do something like that if I lived up there.

ppragman · February 17th, 2008, 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by newty

What do they pay the ho drivers? and secondly would I have to live in Bethel. Bethel is a deal breaker for me at any cost. I would pass on a job flying the space shuttle if it required a relocation to bethel

No bethel, Penair doesn't fly into bethel, as for pay, that's an interesting question. I know that caravan drivers make 20 and 20, so probably more htan that.

I'd like to work there, but its kind of a lateral move right now. I want to move up!