kenn borek pilots out there?

Avro87 · Post by **Avro87** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:50 pm

Hey everyone. I was just wondering if there are any Borek pilots on here? If so, can you tell us a bit about working for KBA? What kind of flying you mostly do, and where you've been able to fly? If any of you have been to the Maldives...tell us about that! Looks like a lot of fun! Also just curious what the "situation" is a Borek? Are they starting to look for more pilots? Will they likely be more welcoming to low-timers now? Thanks a lot!

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 9:17 am

I used to work for Borek, best job I've had yet.
There arn't many companies that can offer you the type of flying Borek does, everything from off strip thrill a minute to laid back lifestyle of the medevac bases. Lets not forget the over seas work they do. Honestly it was the highlight of my career.
It's not all roses (no job is), but as far as bush companies go, it's a first class opperator.

Mad Flying Ace · Post by **Mad Flying Ace** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:46 am

Hey KAG,
I'm still here, and not going anywhere soon either - It's still a good gig and I've been here 6 years.

Avro87

This company can take you far, if you want to go far. Good work ethic and good attitude will get you anywhere you want to go. As for employment, they have just finished hiring a bunch of low-timers and have now announced they require minimum 1500hrs for F/O's, and Captains prefer over 3000hrs for contract requirements. Good luck!

MFA

ei ei owe · Post by **ei ei owe** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:07 pm

What about the brutally low pay scale for an FO that doesn't fly much? Don't you guys pay for your own plates? Does the company pay 100% of uniforms? Getting based at the north pole for medevacs that fly 20 hrs a month.....sweeeeeet! Doesn't make it "the best gig" out there in my books. I'll agree that the planes and flying are good but there's alot more out available with better benefits.

185_guy · Post by **185_guy** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 12:28 pm

ei ei owe, sometimes the benefit is a challanging job, and the satisfaction that comes with completing it. Seeing northern lights, polar bears, meeting some of the great people up there is the thing that makes the job great. Money means a lot in life, maybe there is better out there, but not all people are in a race to be better than the 'Jones's" across the street. If we wanted to make lots of money and have good job perks, we'd all be Wall Street stock traders, Gigalows or Pimps.
Im not saying to work for free or any of that crap, maybe some of these guys are getting ripped, ( i dont know) but no job or company is perfect ( the pimp probally has crabs or a crack addiction), this is aviation, it is not the romantic storybook job people seem to think it is or want it to be, and it never will be.
Sorry for hi-jacking the thread.

ei ei owe · Post by **ei ei owe** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:05 pm

Alright, I can see what you're saying. I was mostly replying to KAG's post about it beeing the "best job ever." I'm not into wearing suits everyday, shaving everyday and beeing holed in an office. Sure the money's better trading stocks but I'm into aviation and flying. When one states that the best job ever includes low pay, having to fork out your own cash for equipment then that takes away from it. I'm not saying I have the best job ever but so far, it's the best company I've worked for. No paying for anything, no bonds, good pay and schedule, paid vacation, good benefits, lots of planes and alot of movement right now all make a good work environment.

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:13 pm

I know a couple of folks at Borek. They love the place. The flying would be a hoot. A guy could do a lot worse....and many do.

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:12 pm

ei ei owe wrote:Alright, I can see what you're saying. I was mostly replying to KAG's post about it beeing the "best job ever."

Yes I said it was the best job I'VE HAD YET, argue that one all ya like...I was hired as a direct entry captain, and must admit that Borek is a better place to work for as a CPT then a copilot. Although if your northern based the money is the same if you fly or not. And making 26K ish for a low timer is not bad. I've had some copilots making in the mid 30's for over seas stuff (plus perdiums) - not bad. CPTS get paid great, no getting around that.
Flying around 500 hour s a year is average, so if your hell bent on building the most amount of hours in the least amount of time, Borek is the wrong place to go.
Like I said it's not all roses.

jet a1 · Post by **jet a1** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 4:38 pm

hey. i've been with borek since september and i bet i'm about the lowest paid guy in the company at this point. but there is one thing that everone always forgets when they talk about borek pay. YOU ONLY WORK HALF OF THE TIME. so if you wanted to really see what borek guys get paid....double it! the schedule here allows me also to have a part time job when i'm out and it's nice to be able to unplug from aviation for a few weeks. anyways just my two cents....or is that four?
take care all.
jet.

Avro87 · Post by **Avro87** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 7:09 pm

Thanx for the comments guys...keep em coming!

As for employment, they have just finished hiring a bunch of low-timers and have now announced they require minimum 1500hrs for F/O's, and Captains prefer over 3000hrs for contract requirements

Just curious how low the "low-timers" were...roughly?

Also curious as to how ppl get thrown around in the company (location wise). Do you have any say...or is it just where the company needs you? Do only the really experienced guys get to go to the Maldives (I would think its a popular destination to fly..no?). Anyways thx again!

Avro87 · Post by **Avro87** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 7:09 pm

Thanx for the comments guys...keep em coming!

As for employment, they have just finished hiring a bunch of low-timers and have now announced they require minimum 1500hrs for F/O's, and Captains prefer over 3000hrs for contract requirements

Just curious how low the "low-timers" were...roughly?

Also curious as to how ppl get thrown around in the company (location wise). Do you have any say...or is it just where the company needs you? Do only the really experienced guys get to go to the Maldives (I would think its a popular destination to fly..no?). Anyways thx again!

Zy · Post by Zy » Sun Jan 14, 2007 9:00 pm

KAG, how many hours did you have when you were hired as direct entry captain if you don't mind my asking? I'm interested in going with around 2500 and just wondering what the chances of a captain position would be.

Thanks

Zapp Brannigan · Post by **Zapp Brannigan** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:00 am

Definitely a dream job for me some day, sooner rather than later I hope.

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:06 am

Borek has hired pilots right out of flight school.

As for me I was hired with 2800 TT and 1000 PIC on the King Airs, with northern experience.

ei ei owe · Post by **ei ei owe** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:40 am

KAG wrote:I was hired as a direct entry captain, and must admit that Borek is a better place to work for as a CPT then a copilot.

That's mostly what I was getting at. Direct hiring into a good payscale is great but to start at the bottom rung of that scale and not making mileage makes for a less than desireable income. Combined with the fact that some of your KingAirGuys (sorry....) fly 15 hours a month, it would drive alot of crews insane.

Yes the international, northern and bush flying ops are great and I'm sure the lifestyle of working 500 hours a year is very relaxed.

Is it ever "all roses?"

sarg · Post by **sarg** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:13 pm

The employment contract states that they can post you anywhere in the world for up to 2 months on 5 days notice. That being said they try to give you your preference but it is a business and if there are not enough volunters someone gets selected. All the FO's I worked with were more than happy with their pay high 20's to mid 30's depending on experience, no mileage needed. You get a base pay and daily rate from the minute you leave home to travel your base till you return home. The pay while working is the same if you fly 12 hrs a day or 0 hrs. The only people I've heard complain about pay are the YEG and YYC based pilots who are on base and mileage because they fly their butts off in the winter and are slow in the summer, like every one else in the oil patch.

ettw · Post by **ettw** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:54 pm

Been with Borek as a captain for 2 1/2 years on the Otter. Its a great gig. If Borek ends up being the last line on my resume, I'll retire a happy old man.

As was mentioned by JET A-1, generally you're only working 6 months of the year making money that most other operators pay their pilots for 362 days of work. And I get paid the same whether I'm on the couch or in the cockpit, but of course I'd rather be in the cockpit everytime.

Don't you guys pay for your own plates? Does the company pay 100% of uniforms?

Give your head a shake. That cost to me is about $150/yr and I'm sorry but its not even on my radar screen as far as a bitching point.

Cheers,

ETTW

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:14 pm

EI EI OWE...15 hours in a month...perfect rotation!!!

av8tor_assrope · Post by **av8tor_assrope** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 9:25 pm

great thread…….keep the info coming. makes me want to start applying 3 times a week instead of the usual 2!!!!!!!!

masterdab8ter · Post by **masterdab8ter** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:25 am

YYC and YEG crews are now paid a daily rate and a salary....

the professional · Post by **the professional** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:05 pm

Been with Borek since June - GREAT PEOPLE - GREAT EXPERIENCE - GREAT JOB! -- I could see myself here for a long time.

Good luck Avro87

Bushav8er · Post by **Bushav8er** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:55 pm

This may seem a dumb question but they have more than DHC6's there...how is it determined on which type you'll end up?

Howitzer · Post by **Howitzer** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:32 pm

Luck of the draw my friend. Unless of course you show up with a PPC on a plane that they fly, then you most likely will be on that bird.

I read on here somewhere a while back about going to Male, and how someone was wondering if it was hard to get picked to go over there. I don't think this is the case, if you really want to go over there, I don't think it's too much of a problem to get yourself signed up, if you're on the otter that is.

Avro87 · Post by **Avro87** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:22 pm

This looks like a lot of fun. This company seems to be very diverse. Flying on the coast, flying up north, flying in the Maldives...On Wheels, on floats, on skiis!!! These are all places I would LOVE to fly!!! The aircraft look like pretty sweet too (like the paint-job). This is definitely the kind of flying I would like to experience before flying in the airlines. I'd love to hear more about how you Borek pilots like the flying (and the people you fly with). I hear its work 3 weeks on and 3 weeks off? Is that true? If so, how do you like it?

Avro87 · Post by **Avro87** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:23 pm

woops, couldnt get the image to work

kenn borek pilots out there?

kenn borek pilots out there?

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