Thunder Air job

[Bede]

I would generally agree with x-savior. THU is a good place to work. The only thing I would have done differently is refuse to sign a bond. I had opportunities to go elsewhere while an FO, but remained loyal to the company. I spent 3.5 years there and ended up owing $5.5k on the bond since I was only a captain for one year. In reality it cost THU a lot less to train me than they bonded me for. Simcom sim time is bought in bulk with the CP doing the training. Aircraft upgrade training was incorporated into recurrent training training so there is no cost them. I signed a contract so they were within their right to hold me to my bond but up to that point I believed that Ken and Bob would be a bit more gracious considering the time, effort and loyalty I gave to THU. What I did learn however is the value of negotiation: I should have negotiated the bond and if they wouldn't have budged, thank them for their time and left for Georgian.

KIDS: EVERYTHING IN THIS LIFE IS A NEGOTIATION. BE AS SHREWD AS THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO EMPLOY YOU.

[Brown Bear]

Well Bede, I wouldn't be to quick to sing the praises of a company that held me to a bond after 3.5 years of employment. I have no respect for a company requiring bonds of pilots already employed by them. If that's the trust you put in your employees, you deserve it when they exit, stage left..

[Hudson]

Wow! Working at Thunder and living in Vancouver.

Can anyone tell me what the rotations look like there? I've been interested in flying for them but with the family pretty much tied down I wouldn't be able to move. I could handle a fairly good rotation though.

[X-Savior]

In the past the rotations have been typically 10 on 5 off.

[esp803]

10 on 5 off.

Working at Thunder and living in Vancouver

Oh boy that sounds like fun!

[FL767]

If the rotations are 10/5 I hope the duty days are under 10 hrs/day...

[Brown Bear]

If the rotations are 10/5 I hope the duty days are under 10 hrs/day...

You mean, you don't work there? You sounded like the chief advocate.

[FL767]

If the rotations are 10/5 I hope the duty days are under 10 hrs/day...

You mean, you don't work there? You sounded like the chief advocate.

Nope sure don't. I don't want to say where I work. This account is getting deleted soon.

I am a strong advocate for ramp-flying programs, they are really the best option for getting into flying, and they are certainly the future... if they are done right! I've heard good thing about this operator and I am writing mainly for brand new pilots who may not have the whole story about how to break into this business.

I don't know much about TA flying WAWCON. 10/5 is not a crisis by any means, but there are better 703 rotations out there.

[Paxman]

.

[esp803]

would you let a guy 200hrs on c152, fresh out of school fly a king air? What would it take for you to get him to fly it then?

As a copilot in a single pilot rated aircraft? In a heartbeat. Twin turbine with a better power to weight ratio on one engine than a Caravan, steady as can be, goes where you point it, and if operated as it was intended is a real pussy cat of an airplane. I learned more flying 206's by myself in isolated parts of the country than I ever learned flying a King Air. As for going straight into a turbine... I've got infinitely more respect for someone who has flow 985's 1340's or 1830's than someone who has only touched -42's -67's or 331's.

E

[RickPilot33]

Personally I have worked for Thunder and they were all great and dandy at first.
The Interview was a joke compared to what I have seen and done in the past.

I worked there a few years back and had enjoyed working in YTS as an FO on the King Air.

Unfortunately after 5 1/2 months I was "dismissed" over the phone by the President and his wife, the Chief Pilot.

For my entire employment I had received nothing but a pat on the back for great work and no news whatsoever on my performance...
then I get dragged into the office to be dismissed.
They had the nerve to dismiss me for being unsuitable and then demand a payment for their Bond. They held back my vacation pay and final pay and wanted me to cover the remaining part of the 6000.00$ bond.
Ironically on the same day, my colleague also was dismissed for different reasons but he had gone to the Labour board of Canada and when Thunder Air was contacted, They sent us both of our cheques along with an Invoice for the entire bond amount. (6k or 2yrs)

The President even advised me over the phone that if I don't go to the labour board he would be willing to "forget" my bond.

Long story short. Working conditions were fine. The captains were competent and most of them explained themselves in each flight giving proper coaching, but all in all the company was not as shown on paper. They had great procedures, which were NOT enforced. and like in every company, there were those whom will go behind your back and make sure you don't advance.

The thing is, They cannot come after you for the bond. He has tried and has been unsuccessful on many occasions even though he claims to have a 100% success rate.

Its fine to sign a training bond. Its a different story when the company turns around and calls you unsuitable and dismisses you with no reasoning.

Good Luck if you work for thunder and always watch your back with administration....!!!

Cheers

[RickPilot33]

Personally I have worked for Thunder and they were all great and dandy at first.
The Interview was a joke compared to what I have seen and done in the past.

I worked there a few years back and had enjoyed working in YTS as an FO on the King Air.

Unfortunately after 5 1/2 months I was "dismissed" over the phone by the President and his wife, the Chief Pilot.

For my entire employment I had received nothing but a pat on the back for great work and no news whatsoever on my performance...
then I get dragged into the office to be dismissed.
They had the nerve to dismiss me for being unsuitable and then demand a payment for their Bond. They held back my vacation pay and final pay and wanted me to cover the remaining part of the 6000.00$ bond.
Ironically on the same day, my colleague also was dismissed for different reasons but he had gone to the Labour board of Canada and when Thunder Air was contacted, They sent us both of our cheques along with an Invoice for the entire bond amount. (6k or 2yrs)

The President even advised me over the phone that if I don't go to the labour board he would be willing to "forget" my bond.

Long story short. Working conditions were fine. The captains were competent and most of them explained themselves in each flight giving proper coaching, but all in all the company was not as shown on paper. They had great procedures, which were NOT enforced. and like in every company, there were those whom will go behind your back and make sure you don't advance.

The thing is, They cannot come after you for the bond. He has tried and has been unsuccessful on many occasions even though he claims to have a 100% success rate.

Its fine to sign a training bond. Its a different story when the company turns around and calls you unsuitable and dismisses you with no reasoning.

Good Luck if you work for thunder and always watch your back with administration....!!!

Cheers

I would also like to mention that I do not hate them for what happened
I never heard from admin almost the entire time I was employed for Thunder.
I received no feedback on performance, never called in sick, was never late and always ready to work.

I enjoyed the work and the experience I received. IT is a great company to work for to gain experience, but unfortunately my experience with them was not as expected and I hope they got their act together.

[cdnpilot77]

Rick, Not at all saying that your story is untrue, but a couple of things just don't add up here:

Unfortunately after 5 1/2 months I was "dismissed" over the phone by the Ops Manager and his wife the Chief Pilot.

then I get dragged into the office to be dismissed.

but he had gone to the Labour board of Canada

if I had not gone to the labour board

Long story short. Working conditions were fine.

[RickPilot33]

Rick, Not at all saying that your story is untrue, but a couple of things just don't add up here:

Unfortunately after 5 1/2 months I was "dismissed" over the phone by the Ops Manager and his wife the Chief Pilot.

then I get dragged into the office to be dismissed.

but he had gone to the Labour board of Canada

if I had not gone to the labour board

Long story short. Working conditions were fine.

Read it again... I reread what I wrote but I don't get what you don't understand...

[RickPilot33]

I am trying to say that the actual working conditions were fine up until I was dismissed.

They should have given me some sort of warning or update if I was not performing well...

[X-Savior]

If an individual is dismissed it is for a reason and usually due to incompetency. I am not saying this was YOUR case but every single time I had seen it... it was for very good reason.

Thunder does not waste time on people that do not have a future with the company (aka: People who are not Captain material) as they just hold up people moving up and on.

[RickPilot33]

I understand what X-savior is saying...
When it's your first job in the industry and you're not told what you could improve on, then it sucks for the individual.
I was not told it was... but if it was for incompetency, I had not done anything of such and that should be underlined and explained so the individual can show means of improvement.
An employee is entitled to performance reports and follow-ups.
They are to be reviewed with candidate. There were no such reports or any safety issues.

Regardless, I did learn a lot during my employment and my career has not ceased due to that.

My case with Thunder is possibly unique but I have heard of others whom were very capable pilots that were dismissed.

MY only problem with Thunder is the way I was unfairly treated.

On another note I do appreciate having had my first job there and gaining some valuable experience.

I am sure with the upcoming change in management there will be much needed improvement which would allow cases like mine to be dealt with in a much more professional fashion.

Good Luck to current and future employees of Thunder....