Fugro, Terraquest, and Sander

Lommer · Post by **Lommer** » Tue May 01, 2007 3:27 pm

I'm looking for feedback about these companies and any other Canadian survey companies that operate overseas. Working conditions, pay, who to talk to at the company, and tips for getting hired with them are all appreciated. PM me if you wish.

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Tue May 01, 2007 3:51 pm

Fugro - good company 2 months on/one month off-lots of work in canada and africa. C404, C208, CS212, DA42
Sanders - good company, longer rotations- lots of international work
DA42, C208, C404, Islander
Terraquest - no set rotations - Navajo
Aries Aviation - month on/month off - international and canada - Navajo, BT67, B200, Lear36A. I believe they are hiring for navajo right now.

All offer good pay, good per diems

pm me for more specific details and contact info.

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Tue May 01, 2007 7:22 pm

Fugro still have the Dash 7?

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Tue May 01, 2007 8:44 pm

yeah, they do...but operated by Voyageur and primarily crewed by pilots employed by Voyaguer....I believe the CP at Fugro flies it, and there were 2 other guys but they left...so now it's pretty much Voyaguer on behalf of Fugro Aviation.

neilaroberts · Post by **neilaroberts** » Wed May 02, 2007 4:45 am

The search function will be your buddy on this one. I feel that the majority of Canada's survey companies are a lot better than most of the straight aviation organizations (correct me, if needed). Simply for one reason: THEY ARE NOT AVIATION ORGANIZATIONS. Aircraft do a job for them, just like geologists, techs, samplers, equipment operators, whatever. So they pay you accordingly for the job that you do, not the industry you're in.

I have already given my two cents regarding Terraquest, I think they are a top notch organization. I only had a brief stint with them, but the organization left a great impression with me.

C206, Navajo. Good pay, flexible per diems. You don't have to worry about much when you're out with them.

Neil

Dust Devil · Post by **Dust Devil** » Wed May 02, 2007 7:15 am

neilaroberts wrote:The search function will be your buddy on this one. I feel that the majority of Canada's survey companies are a lot better than most of the straight aviation organizations (correct me, if needed). Simply for one reason: THEY ARE NOT AVIATION ORGANIZATIONS. Aircraft do a job for them, just like geologists, techs, samplers, equipment operators, whatever. So they pay you accordingly for the job that you do, not the industry you're in.

I have already given my two cents regarding Terraquest, I think they are a top notch organization. I only had a brief stint with them, but the organization left a great impression with me.

C206, Navajo. Good pay, flexible per diems. You don't have to worry about much when you're out with them.

Neil

what makes a per diem flexible? Do you mean they increase it if your in an expensive area?

yak driver · Post by **yak driver** » Wed May 02, 2007 8:53 am

Dust Devil wrote:[

what makes a per diem flexible? Do you mean they increase it if your in an expensive area?

There are some very complicated calculations for figuring out per diem. One of the basic ones works like this. Go to the closest bar to your hotel (preferably you picked a hotel with a bar), and buy a beer. Whatever that beer costs, mulitply it by 10.

I flew survey for 8 years, and generally had a good time. Get to see lots of parts of the world you would never go otherwise. It's kinda like the TV show survivors, but you don't get to vote people off.

DHQ · Post by **DHQ** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:30 am

wallypilot wrote: Sanders - good company, longer rotations- lots of international work
DA42, C208, C404, Islander

The rotations have recently been shortened from 3 months on 1 off, to 9 weeks on 4 weeks off. And I agree, good company.

In general, the overseas survey stuff is fun if you're looking for a bit of travel and adventure. The money works out alright too, especially with the overseas tax credit and no expenses in the field.

Cheers.

Elessar_44 · Post by **Elessar_44** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:41 am

Do these overseas surveying companies hire entry level dudes either direct or after working for the company for awhile move to pilot? (aka 250hr wonders)

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:42 am

Most don't usually hire low time pilots...Sander might...i'm not sure...they do have a caravan FO position that is basically survey system operator...you fly right seat, operate the survey system, then eventually move to captain. Fugro has in years past hired low timers for right seat in the CS212, but not sure if that is a current practice. In terms of PIC, these companies are looking for people that have experience because you are out on your own away from base for extended periods with no one but yourself to count on. sometimes you are on the other side of the world, and your CP is on vacation, etc....you need to be able to handle anything...so hence they want some experience.

and yes, exactly...one of the keys is the overseas tax credit....80% of your taxes back if you are working out of the country for more than 6 months consecutively. makes for a very nice bonus come tax filing season.

good to hear rotations have been shortened at Sander....still longer than most other large-ish survey companies, though.

The other thing about survey work, is that it doesn't follow the cyclical natural of the rest of aviation. It's much more dependent on the mining industry. A few years ago when no one was flying, survey companies were going full tilt surveying all the diamond fields that all the aviation boom is now supporting the construction of mines for.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Wed May 02, 2007 10:16 am

wallypilot wrote:Fugro has in years past hired low timers for right seat in the CS212, but not sure if that is a current practice.

No, not the current practice. Last I heard, minimums are at least 1000 TT for Casa FOs, 2000 for Caravan Captain.

p.s. hope the new job is treating you well, wp!

DHQ · Post by **DHQ** » Wed May 02, 2007 12:57 pm

wallypilot wrote:Sander might...i'm not sure....they do have a caravan FO position that is basically survey system operator...you fly right seat, operate the survey system, then eventually move to captain...

I'd disagree with that. The two pilots pretty much work as a team on all aspects. Each does half the flying, both are involved with ground logistics, and each operates the survey equipment.

Not sure exactly what the hiring minimums are, but I don't know of any 250h guys have been hired anytime recently.

harveymushman · Post by **harveymushman** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:33 am

working for Fugro was one best experiences of my life, working throughout North America, a bit in africa and europe was lots of fun, pay is pretty good and the maint. is very good.

HM