Ok, I've been reading on this site for the last 7 or so years and have read tons of threads that have given me the itch to make my first post on this site, but none have caused me to......well I guess I've taken the bait!
First of all, I'd like to start by saying that I spent many years flying at Perimeter and that I maintain a good working relationship with all of PAG's key management and several line pilots, medevac pilots, maintenance personnel and training personnel. I won't say where I work now because that is irrelevant...and quite frankly, it's none of your business.
PAG has gone through quite a few growing pains since the demise of Skyward. This company has its issues, but it maintains its integrity and safety. From a pilots point of view it may seem like the maintenance has been crappy in the last year, but at least the aircraft don't go out the door broken (knowingly anyways) or with canadian tire parts like other companies who have gone down the $hitter. At a company that is unsafe, the aircraft are always serviceable. How else can other companies in the region operate a medevac aircraft in Island Lake for 6 or 7 weeks on end without a snag?? The dispatch reliability is at an all time low while the B$ is apparently at an all time high. Crews rarely do what they are scheduled to do, and often don't even have a serviceable aircraft to do it in. Oh, there is that taxing of the per diems issue we all know about. PAG sure dropped the ball on that one, although they have spent lots of time, money and energy trying to get a straight answer from the tax man. Don't forget the disasterous parking joke...but I have heard that things are better now. At least I can find a spot now when I need to drop in. I'm sure there are more bad things, but that's all I can think of at this time.
There are numerous positives at PAG. The flight managers really give a $hit about the company and they really believe in thier employees. At most companies at this level, you show up for work and are given YOUR fuel load. At PAG you take whatever the hell you want. At most companies at this level you work from day to day without a solid schedule. You might even work 27 days a month, come out for three and go back up north. At PAG you get a nice cooshy schedule and work your 15-20 days max per month. Any more is on your terms and comes with overtime. Oh yeah, you also get to pick any 6 days off you want each month!? What other company gives you time off to go to an interview on 3 days notice after the schedule has already been issued? Under the current management, shift changes are done between pilots often without interference from anyone. From all of the folks I know in this industry, PAG pays just as well or better than most. Where else can a "sewertube" driver pull in $85,000 as a 6-9 month captain with 2000 hrs total time working half of the year?? Oh yeah, I heard PAG employees got a xmas turkey this year...ha ha...don't get angry TR. Better than a kick in the A$$.
In my honest opinion, the company is not running at its full potential. Crews are clearly unhappy, and so are the managers. I don't think ALPA or Jimmy Hoffa can fix the issues at Perimeter. Why, because there aren't really any big issues that can't be resolved in house. People bash the CPA and its clout. Not too long ago, FO's at PAG made 5 cents a mile while you overpaid captains were still in highschool. After some quick math, this worked out to roughly $15,000 a year. The CPA has fought for huge wage increases, benefits and scheduling. One of the main problems at PAG is the CPA itself. There is no incentive for pilots to get in there and make a difference, and if they do it lasts for about 4 months until the next coup d'etat. If you've ever had the chance to look through a CPA contract you'd see that it is poorly written, contradicts itself and leaves way too many grey areas. IN my opinion, this is the only thing that ALPA could successfully acomplish at PAG...they could write a real contract with all the details. They could probably fix that nagging per diem issue too. Hire a lawyer instead and save yourself the $2000 per pilot cost per year. As far as I know, there has never been an official grievance filed by the CPA since its inception. If things are that bad, you'd think someone would file an official beef? Someone pointed out that the company going public has been a bad thing...totally the opposite. This arrangement only provides a means for cash to buy additional aircraft, infrastructure and business relationships. Perimeter's issues are centered around a general lack of organization and communication and a maintenance department that has struggled to keep enough aircraft serviceable to profitably operate the airline. PAG keeps half of its competitors in business with charters to service its own scheduled service. I'm sorry, but ALPA can't fix this. After all this, ALPA would probably come to PAG, look at the facts and say "why the hell are we here anyways?...but I guess we'll still take your money".
Management currently has a decent relationship with the CPA from what I have seen. A few cancerous pilots have spread the B$ throughout the pilot group. The only ones that are happy are the pilots who just started or have worked somewhere else. Perimeter's hiring policy of hiring from the ramp certainly has some drawbacks. A typical pilot comes to PAG, works on the ramp for 12-16 months and jumps into the right seat of a metro at $22,500 wth 200 hrs. A year later he/she is given a left seat PPC and upgraded shortly thereafter. It doesn't take too long for the cancer to set in. PAG has a lot of good guys and gals, but people were happier there many years ago at 5 cents a mile and 120 hrs a month. Many PAG pilots have no idea what it is like to work for a $hitty company that flies broken aircraft, breaks duty days, bust minimums and
really treats you like crap. A lot of you PAG pilots need to wake up and smell the roses. The grass isn't so green on the other side. Use your CPA to get a little more from the company. Spend some of the CPA "stash of cash" to draft up a real contract, or at least write a new one yourself that makes sense with all the new aircraft types. In many ways, many of the systems, rules and pay structures are broken now. These used to work with 30 pilots and one aircraft type. The truth is PAG is a great place to work. It will always be a stepping stone for many pilots, but at least enjoy yourself while you are there, fly safely, respect the company and appreciate the golden opportunity you have been given!
