Skylink

[itaserb]

Heard Skylink yesterday getting cleared to VOR by joining airway.

Is it that hard to get GPS installed? Obviously it will take time to add it into AOC, submit a new COM, edit SOP and etc. However by adding at least 530/430 it will save time, money and reduce pilot stress.

Maybe I’m wrong and they’re already working with TC about that issue. Just curious that’s all.

Thanks.

[RoAF-Mig21]

It could have been an issue with the GPS. I flew GPS equipped airplanes that malfunctioned and had to fly "the old school way". I know two 1900s that I used to fly at Keewatin were sold to Skylink. They were both GPS equipped.

[Flight94]

There are a couple aircraft in the fleet that are not GPS equipped. It's not really a big deal, it's scheduled cargo, same destination, same route, day after day.

[Don Cherry]

Skylink management is stuck 25 years ago. Buffalo Joe probably has better equipment on his DC3 than Skylink has on its 1900’. The word there is “the controller is there to work for you so ask for vectors”.
Is it dangerous? No. Is it annoying? Yes.
Part of the problem is UPS, they deliver a poor service in Canada and that reflects on their major feeder. Cannot land because the winds are not favourable for the ILS? No problem, go home and the customers can get their stuff 2 or 3 days later than promised.
I don’t work there but my roommate does. He whines everyday about it.

[Blackdog0301]

The lack of GPS isn’t the complaint these days. It’s the scheduling and working conditions. Schedules get posted on the weekend for Monday. Captains are leaving every month, and it takes them forever to fill those empty seats, so everyone has to take the extra load as a result. What used to be 2-3 day weeks has turned into 5 straight excluding reserve. Some guys have been working there for over 5 years, and they make not a cent more than day one.

And they wonder why the pilot group voted to unionize.

[heed]

And they wonder why the pilot group voted to unionize.

Someone in management will "remain disappointed"