F/O minimums

[Rossito]

I have just been perusing job vacancies on this site, and there are some huge discrepancies. E.g. Why does OrcasAir say F/O mins 200TT, where many others want 500TT, or even some mult PIC?
200TT is the lowest I ever seen, why is this? Do they only fly occasionally?

[JohnnyHotRocks]

Sometimes if it is a crappy/underpaid job, the employer knows he can't get an FO with lots of experience...not sure if this is true in this case...don't know any of the companies.

[Jeremy]

Often it has to do with insurance minimums. Factors such as how long a company has been in operation, accident history, complexity of aircraft, type of flying, single pilot vs two crew, etc. etc. all come into play when wrestling with the insurance broker.

Of course a company wants to minimize expense. Insurance is a big expense. So the more qualified the flight crew, insurance costs go down..but then again, wages go up with experience.

Sometimes the company contracting out the flying will often require a certain level of exp. for flight crew. ie MOH, Helifor, Interfor etc. So if you're below what they need for some contracts and thus unable to fly certain trips, then scheduling becomes a royal pain in the a**.

Hope this sheds some light.

[groundtoflightdeck]

Upgradablility to, if they want 200hrs, probably not a lot of hope to move up in the near future. If they want a 500 ME PIC FO they are going to become captains fast.

[Rossito]

Thanks guys, all replies make sense. Bottom line is low minimums basically means that prospects and wages are poor, but might be a good starting position..

[Rossito]

I just realised Orca has only been operating for one year so seems strange they have insurance premiums covering 200TT pilots. I guess the Chieftan isn't the most complicated plane.

[ditshisturber]

I just realised Orca has only been operating for one year so seems strange they have insurance premiums covering 200TT pilots. I guess the Chieftan isn't the most complicated plane.

Sadly, Orca has experienced a loss of an aircraft and a crew member in the past year. That may explain the insurance premiums covering 200TT pilots.

Chieftains or Airbuses... it doesn't matter how complicated the airplane is. The undesirable end result can still the same.

Please, be mindful of the contents of your posts.

[Hapless]

I work for Orca, here is the run down...

Insurance is based on CAPTAINS time and experience, nothing to do with F/O (other than being licenced properly)

Orca's pilots are if not the best paid Navajo drivers in B.C., pretty damn close to it.

We hire for the pilots experience, knowledge and safety foremost. The candidate must be the right "person" as well. It is not expected that a F/O will have this experience or knowledge. Therefore, if they are hardworking, willing to learn, good with people etc., there is a very good chance they could get the job over some one with 500 hours for example.

Upgrades will and have come to F/O's, once they meet the insurance and the company requirements.

Hope this helps.

[Rossito]

I certainly didn't mean to suggest anything about Orca. They appear to be doing a good job, in a competitive location. Good on em'...

Insurance premiums based on Captains experience seems pretty obvious now that you've mentioned it 'Hapless'.

[V1]

Insurance and people to upgrade are why people want higher minimums. I would never not apply for a job if they asked were asking for high time and i had low time.