Buffalo again

[flyinhigh]

Hiring First Officers,

Fly DC-3, C-46 and/or L-188 aircraft
- Marshals aircraft in ramp area; tows aircraft on the ground
- Performs on-board duties as required, including strict enforcement of emergency and safety procedures
- Assists with aircraft grooming and washing
- Performs additional tasks as assigned by the Ground Operations Manager
- Flight watch and following of all Buffalo Airways flights
- Maintain effective communication between all Operation departments; out-base staff/managers and other departments to minimize flight delays and day-of-flight schedule integrity.
- Keep up to date with changing weather and operating conditions and provide weather briefings to flight crews.
- Aircraft prep, fueling

Of the entire list, there is 2 items that reference flying. In fact to list the ground operations manager just shows this is a ground crew position with the carrot to fly.

[Diadem]

It's pretty much exactly the same as the rampie job ads they were pumping out, but they added those two lines. I have no doubt that anyone who gets hired as a "pilot" is going to spend 90% of their time performing non-flying duties, with the odd flight tossed in if Joe is happy with them.

[C.W.E.]

Has anyone ever worked for Buffalo that was happy they went to work there?

[Zaibatsu]

I hope they're hearing crickets in this current job market... or losing people within weeks with better offers. It would be poetic justice.

[BE20 Driver]

Has anyone ever worked for Buffalo that was happy they went to work there?

I used to work with an ex-Buffalo employee. He was immensely happy with Buffalo and said he was considering going back. He said that Joe fired him twice but when joe was more mellow, he was a good guy. Paid well, flying was interesting. Worth going back he said. IIRC, he skipped the rampie thing and was direct into a plane as he had 5000 hours or so back then.

[phillyfan]

Those all seem like reasonable tasks for a right seat meat bag. Unless of course they are a whiny millennial? Perhaps the addition of a line saying. "Stand around breathing threw mouth while looking at phone, or stand with hands in pockets with dorky backpack on around coffee machine, telling glory day stories about Flying College/University days."
Like I said. Not a pilot shortage, just a shortage of useful ones. My condolences to Joe.

[Zaibatsu]

Or maybe resentment that millennials get to jump straight into a flying position without doing what you full well know are bullshit jobs with a carrot at the end and would have skipped in a heartbeat if you could.

What device are you reading this on and typing a response?

[C.W.E.]

What is wrong with working on the ground and gradually getting experience in a transport category airplane?

[atphat]

What is wrong with working on the ground and gradually getting experience in a transport category airplane?

Nothing. But why would you do it if you don’t have to?

[Pratt X 3]

What is wrong with working on the ground and gradually getting experience in a transport category airplane?

[digits_]

2013:

"Give pilots a pilot job! Refuse to take jobs if the pay is bad and conditions are terrible! You are a pilot for f*** sake! Don't participate in the race to the bottom!"

2018:

"Bloody millenials, too lazy to take a ground job! You get to fly a DC3! Back in my day..... What's wrong with some honest work? Straight to 705 ops? Unsafe! They need to freeze some winters on the ground before jumping in the plane!"

[C.W.E.]

Nothing. But why would you do it if you don’t have to?

Would it not be better to have that aviation job rather than have no aviation job?

[atphat]

Nothing. But why would you do it if you don’t have to?

Would it not be better to have that aviation job rather than have no aviation job?

You’re missing the point.

[C.W.E.]

You’re missing the point.

Obviously I am, so please explain what is wrong with working for Buffalo.

[flyinhigh]

Obviously I am, so please explain what is wrong with working for Buffalo.

http://www.history.ca/ice-pilots-nwt/

That should answer your question.

[C.W.E.]

Interesting link.

They must have killed a lot of people over the years with that unsafe flying culture, any idea of how many fatalities they have racked up since they started in business?

[Diadem]

Interesting link.

They must have killed a lot of people over the years with that unsafe flying culture, any idea of how many fatalities they have racked up since they started in business?

Apparently none, but they've had nine accidents over the last twenty years. In 2013, they barely avoided killing their passengers when they took off overweight to tanker fuel out of Yellowknife, where it was cheaper, and had an engine failure. That was an intentional act that put two dozen lives in danger, and speaks to a company culture that's stuck in the last century.

[C.W.E.]

For sure there seems to be a lack of compliance to the rules and regulations judging from their past history.

Have they changed their thinking and improved their safety management now?

[propfeather]

I know a few people who currently work there seasonally and work with a few ex buffalo guys. They all have good things to say about the company and Joe in particular.

[lownslow]

I know a few people who currently work there seasonally and work with a few ex buffalo guys. They all have good things to say about the company and Joe in particular.

You mean they might have put a dramatic bias on a TV show?

[C.W.E.]

Would learning to fly a DC3 proficiently be of any value to you if you got a job flying a big jet?

Or is that kind of airplane stone age as far as flying is concerned and being able to fly one would be of no value to a jet pilot?

[lownslow]

Would learning to fly a DC3 proficiently be of any value to you if you got a job flying a big jet?

Or is that kind of airplane stone age as far as flying is concerned and being able to fly one would be of no value to a jet pilot?

Proficiency on any type will be valuable experience on any other type. Variety makes a good pilot.

[Donald]

Would learning to fly a DC3 proficiently be of any value to you if you got a job flying a big jet?

Or is that kind of airplane stone age as far as flying is concerned and being able to fly one would be of no value to a jet pilot?

Hey ., what does the W stand for?

[godsrcrazy]

No one is holding a gun to anyones head. If you don't like it then don't apply and quit complaining.

[Piston_Pounder]

Those all seem like reasonable tasks for a right seat meat bag. Unless of course they are a whiny millennial? Perhaps the addition of a line saying. "Stand around breathing threw mouth while looking at phone, or stand with hands in pockets with dorky backpack on around coffee machine, telling glory day stories about Flying College/University days."
Like I said. Not a pilot shortage, just a shortage of useful ones. My condolences to Joe.

I worked at Buffalo for three years. It definitely was work but I agree with this statement completely. I decided to go to Buffalo to work hard and have an awesome experience in extreme conditions. There were lots of "whiny millenials" that came through and would only last a few weeks because it was hard work and long hours when they expected they'd only come to work to fly.
Looking back, it was the most fun three years I've had flying. I was given the opportunity to do the kinds of flying I'll never be given again. From here on out its all IFR and auto-pilot. Buffalo has a the bad stigma of treating their pilots like crap but those days are long over. I was there during the transition and it was a big difference. You won't work more hours than any other airline in Canada, Joe doesn't do favorites anymore, and they have hired non-pilot ground personnel so the pilots don't hold all the responsibility of the grunt work. After their OC was pulled, they really improved the operation. No more cutting corners.
All this being said, it's a young man's game and you do need to have a bit of a backbone to work there. The work is still hard, the hours are still long but the flying makes it worth it. The pay isn't bad either. Plus, Yellowknife is a nice place to live.
I definitely think there are less pilots willing to do this kind of work anymore which is too bad since it is such a valuable life experience.