Sanders Geophysics

Mo Noney · Post by **Mo Noney** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:30 am

Hi Guys,

Does anyone have the scoop on this outfit? I have heard good things , but was wondering if any one had first hand infomation.

Where do they opperate?
Is the flying interesting/fun/challanging/boring/dangerous?
When 'in county' are you flying off a dirt strip, or airports with an approach?
Do you stay in a hotel/camp/tent/on hanger floor/under the wing?
While your at it; if you happen to know what REALLY is at Area 51, and who shot JFK.......

Cheers!

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:57 pm

Some info here:
http://www.avcanada.ca/forums2/viewtopi ... 58&start=0

I fly survey, but not for them, but I know there are several folks on this site who fly for Sander that do pop in every now and then. It would be valuable for you to chat with them about the company itself.

About survey flying in general: the actual flying is what you make of it - it can be very boring if you're over flat land, and it can also be really interesting and fun if there are hills/mountains, etc or are very busy (radio, traffic avoidance etc) if you're flying in an area with lots of little airstrips, military zones, or helicopter operations. You can be wowed by the scenery (flying over ostriches and mud huts in Africa, or magnificent mountains in the Yukon) or bored out of your tree by it (off-shore survey over the ocean or your millionth time back to Saskatchewan.) You only fly when it's VFR, so depending on where you are at what time of year, you could sit for weeks waiting for the snow to stop falling or the fog to lift - or you could sit for days waiting for the survey system to be fixed or for a mag storm to end. It is what you make of it - some people really enjoy it, and others hate it, and not just for the part about being away from home!

Cheers

Mo Noney · Post by **Mo Noney** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:46 pm

Thanks Chipmunk!

Blue Skies,

Mo

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:03 pm

ditto to everything chip said.

I haven't chatted with any Sanders guys for a while, but the last I knew, it was mostly caravan work. Aeromag surveys done with a caravan with a ferry tank installed, so long flights, 2 crew. Copilot is also survey system operator. (anyone know if this is still the case?)

They had a contract flying Gravity surveys, but I don't know if they still have that. Fugro might have taken that. If you're flying gravity, you have many more weather days than mag, since you can't fly in anything more than light trubulence with most gravity systems.

Last I knew, Sanders did long rotations. 3 months away, I believe. that may be changing, but I don't know. It used to be 3 months on, then a month to 6 weeks off, i believe.

It's a decent company, though, and you'll really get so see a lot of places and actually get to know the places as you stay there for a while. This is good and bad. On a beach in south america is good....in the middle of the tundra in Choral Harbour, NU, not so good.

If they are similar to other survey operators I have worked for, then the international ferry flights are great, and you stay in good hotels, wherever possible, rarely in camps, although the guys that were in Saudi were in camps, i believe. Generally speaking, you get the best accomodation possible, given the location. Obviously, it's not Hiltons and Hyatts very often, but it's almost always very acceptable.

hope this helps
wp

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:21 pm

wallypilot wrote:Aeromag surveys done with a caravan with a ferry tank installed, so long flights, 2 crew. Copilot is also survey system operator. (anyone know if this is still the case?)

Yup, it's still the case.

wallypilot wrote:They had a contract flying Gravity surveys, but I don't know if they still have that.

They are less at least one gravity contract, not sure if they had more besides that one.

bandit1 · Post by **bandit1** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:06 am

Stay Away

VSF · Post by **VSF** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 7:53 pm

why do you say that bandit?

vsf

Mo Noney · Post by **Mo Noney** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:25 pm

Chipmunk, Wally; thanks very much for your input. I have been offerd a position on the Caravan in Africa, and will be going to YOW to see the set up they have there, and check it out.

Bandit1; that's quite a bold statement there, if there is somthing you really feel I should know, please tell us. PM if you wish.

For those who are interested; Caravan, $47,000 start, rising to $49,000, 2 months on 1 month off.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:43 pm

Mo Noney wrote: For those who are interested; Caravan, $47,000 start, rising to $49,000, 2 months on 1 month off.

Does that include per diems/field pay etc?

Mo Noney · Post by **Mo Noney** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:45 am

I'm not sure, that's one of the questions I need to ask when I see them.

However, they did say that all food and accomodation is taken care of by the company; either a hotel, or, in some cases, a crew house or appartment block.

C-FOXY · Post by **C-FOXY** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:36 pm

Do you research on Africa....it's not as glamorous as it sounds....some of the contracts over there have very sketchy living conditions....ever kill a goat for your supper?

If they are going to send you to Mauritania I'd think twice...

Mo Noney · Post by **Mo Noney** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:34 pm

Hi FOXY,

As chance would have it....yes I have !!!! But that was in a previous life which I won't bore you with now.

I must confess, I have no idea where the hell Mauritania is, so I guess it's time to dust off the ole Atlas. But what exactly do you know about the place and it's set up? Is there famine / war / bandits /guerrllas /gorillas / disease / cannibals, bugs the size of a C150?

If they indeed intend to send me 100 NM up the assend of nowhere, they are hardly likly to tell me. So I would really like a heads up before I find myself running for my life out of the trees; hotly persued by a tribe of hungry savages, being chased like Indina Jones on steroids. All info appreciated!

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:30 pm

Mo Noney:

Mauritania is mostly desert and is hot and arrid and if you are there in late January to late Feburary you will be in the Harmatten sand storm season, something that has to be experienced to be believed.

It is also one of Africas poorest and remote countries.

There is only one " City " Nouakchott on the atlantic coast, we use it as an emergency airport during ferry flights.

If you have a chance to experience Africa accept it, you will come home with a far different outlook on life.

Make sure you get all vaccinations and be aware of some deadly diseases that can be contracted there.

Stay away from the night fighters.

Cat

Mo Noney · Post by **Mo Noney** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 10:00 am

Thanks Cat, I found it.

"3/4 desert, Islamic state with 6 major factions, presently stable with a little friction with countries next door, average life expectancy of locals 54 years, adult literacy 18% in 1985, health care is very poor to no-existant"
Ref. CIA Fact File, Workpedia, BBC Website

"Mauritania has a stunning diversity, a fantastic nature experience ,one of the last places untouched by western influance"
Ref.Tourist website for Mauritania

Ok...now I'm intreguied ! Who / What / Where are the Night Fighters?

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:16 am

Mo Noney wrote:
Ok...now I'm intreguied ! Who / What / Where are the Night Fighters?

"Ladies of the Night"

Unless you like playing Russian Roulette, don't give in to their persistance!!!!

I've only been through Noakchott for fuel once (although our crews have stayed overnight there on ferries with no complaints) with no problems. Epaulettes - i.e. Captain/FO bars - work wonders and get a lot of respect in Africa, they are a good investment - being female in an Islamic country, I thought I'd have problems with the fuellers, etc but I was treated the same as my male colleague. There are several expat oil/gas/survey companies that are always out and about there. You may get some more information from the Lonely Planet Forums: http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/index.cfm

Cheers

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:28 am

Not the greatest photo, but this is on/near the coast of Mauritania/Western Sahara. Can't remember what airport that is, it's not Noakchott though.

Babel Fish · Post by **Babel Fish** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:54 pm

Mo Noney wrote:Chipmunk, Wally; thanks very much for your input. I have been offerd a position on the Caravan in Africa, and will be going to YOW to see the set up they have there, and check it out.

Bandit1; that's quite a bold statement there, if there is somthing you really feel I should know, please tell us. PM if you wish.

For those who are interested; Caravan, $47,000 start, rising to $49,000, 2 months on 1 month off.

2 on, 1 off? you sure about that? I always heard it was 3 on and 1 off. Have they changed the rotation schedule? not a bad starting salary either.

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:20 pm

chipmunk wrote:Not the greatest photo, but this is on/near the coast of Mauritania/Western Sahara. Can't remember what airport that is, it's not Noakchott though.

that looks like Port Etienne to me. Is it up on that peninsula that extends south from western sahara?

And those salary numbers are pretty typical for Survey work. I actually haven't heard of any survey companies that pay lower. I believe 1st yr 208 capt at fugro is slightly higher, and at Aries it's about 10% higher, although month on/month off at Aries.

Good to hear that sanders has modified their rotation sked. 3 months is too long.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:18 pm

wallypilot wrote: that looks like Port Etienne to me. Is it up on that peninsula that extends south from western sahara?

I think so... We passed it not too long after leaving Noakchott for Las Palmas, so that makes sense! Thanks!

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:39 pm

Las Palmas is like landing in another world after leaving Sarahaian Africa.

After leaving Las Palmas did you guys fly airways that took you over Casablanca?

And did you see the worlds biggest mosque?

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:50 pm

No, we stayed further out over the water... I remember the radio comms being funny though because Casablanca ATC shortens their name to "Casa", and we were flying a Casa... maybe it was just funny because of the long flying days!

By the way, Cat, I didn't have time to visit Rotterdam when I was in Holland, hopefully next time I'm in that neck of the woods...

grassroots · Post by **grassroots** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 2:54 pm

If you are looking for survey work you might try calling Firefly. They have a current ad posted on the Job Forum. A friend of mine knows the owner, and from what I hear the pilots make considerably more than what you and Wallypilot have quoted for Fugro, Sander and Aries.

bob sacamano · Post by **bob sacamano** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 3:40 pm

grassroots wrote:If you are looking for survey work you might try calling Firefly. They have a current ad posted on the Job Forum. A friend of mine knows the owner, and from what I hear the pilots make considerably more than what you and Wallypilot have quoted for Fugro, Sander and Aries.

how much is considerably more?

grassroots · Post by **grassroots** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:02 am

They have guys making $75k+, depends of course on experience and ability. They are paid a per diem on top.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:17 am

At any company you make considerably more once you've been there a while. I think we're comparing the starting salaries of these various companies, not including perdiems and field pay and benefit package (both Fugro and Aries provide full medical/dental, etc.)

Cheers