KBA and Westjet

2ndtime · Post by **2ndtime** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:17 pm

just a quick question. why does westjet take so many pilots from borek? it seems like KBA is where they get most of their new hires....just wondering.
2t

... · Post by **...** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:08 pm

Because they are the best money can buy now-a-days and they (KBA) are all good people there.

LT · Post by LT » Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:37 pm

With an internal reference based system.

Person 1 from KBA, brings his buddy from KBA, his buddy brings his buddy from KBA.. etc. etc...

slowstream · Post by **slowstream** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 3:04 pm

The people they hire tend come from some companies only for a while. Citylink for a long time, Corpac for a while too and so on. They hiring a good many people and there is only so many that meet the qualifications to draw from. Good for evryone as a whole!

just curious · Post by **just curious** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 5:04 pm

We don't have far to move.

wrc · Post by **wrc** » Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:56 pm

That's quite true. The first group of WestJetters tended to be from Time Air (CRA) followed by KFC, Air Atlantic, Citylink and so on. For the past 5 years or so WestJet has tended to mix up classes pretty good. There may have been 4 or 5 in a class from C3 or Jazz but never a whole class from one source.

Pitts · Post by **Pitts** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 12:30 am

KBA are all losers like the rest of us. They're no different I'm sure. Just happened that Sean had a buddy that refrered them where as the rest of us could not get past the DRAGON LADY. BAAAHHHHHHHHHHH dragon lady.

Gixxer · Post by **Gixxer** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 6:11 am

They feel sorry for 'em

Snow Monkey · Post by **Snow Monkey** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 8:03 am

Who is the dragon lady?

Hyster · Post by **Hyster** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 2:35 pm

Yah I have heard that KBA guys have huge egos....I guess its true. From personally witnessing them in action I must say they are pretty damb good....never ever having to do a missed approach and all.....

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Wed Sep 08, 2004 10:07 pm

Hey Birddog. Is that The Kaiser?

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:54 am

Hyster, I hope your jokeing about us never doing missed approaches....

As for the damn good part, your damn right....

.....although I guess that makes you also correct about our ego's too.

Cheers.

... · Post by **...** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 6:09 am

co-joe wrote:Hey Birddog. Is that The Kaiser?

Nope Straight goods.

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 4:17 pm

Hey Bird-Dog, they are the best money can buy, they are all good people, guess I know where your nose is firmly planted.LOL

Hyster · Post by **Hyster** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 6:01 pm

Sorry KAG, I didnt mean to hurt your feelings

But I am curious about what I can do to be as good as you guys. Basically, what sets you at KBA appart from the rest of us losers flying King Airs....enlighten us.

Kind Regards

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 7:48 pm

Good question Hyster. I'd like to know what makes KBA pilots " the best money can buy", as Bird Dog put it. I think there are some very, very talented drivers at Air Inuit, Arctic Sunwest, Air tindi, etc., etc.. In fact I think the experience pool at KBA is getting thin, what with all the movement to Westjet, whereas some of the other companies mentioned have some fairly high time dudes. This post is in no way meant to disrespect the folks at KBA as I know many of them, and have flown with many of them, and yes they do have some talent there.

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 12:39 am

Hyster and Arrow.....There is nothing that sets us apart from anyone in the aviation comunity -nor do we fell such. We all fly our perspective airplanes, and we all get the job done. So please don't put words (or attitudes) into our mouths.
As for why some get into WJ- 4000 hours, a few good references, and alot of luck.

Cheers.

PS...Hyster, please learn how to take a joke or read into sarcasim.

Hyster · Post by **Hyster** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 9:24 am

King Air Guy, heed your own advice. Cheers.

Kind Rgards

oldtimer · Post by **oldtimer** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 10:13 am

I think one thing KBA has that attracts pilots is very simple. MONEY. I knew some pilots that flew there and it is quite simple. Pay decent wages and you will attract decent pilots. That is one of the big airline attractions

Donald · Post by **Donald** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:31 am

Are you saying that Westjet pays better than KBA, and is therefore attractive to KBA pilots? Or that KBA pays well to attract other pilots?

Maverick · Post by **Maverick** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:44 pm

Why fly from Calgary to Vancouver sittin pretty all the time when you can be screamin along at 125kts over the middle of no where in your TOtter.

Sounds like fun to me.

just curious · Post by **just curious** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:48 pm

Fair question Donald. It's a two-part answer though. Borek pays well... but it is to retain pilots, more than attract new ones. Depending on what they are doing, a captain makes between 60-80K at Borek, while working a rotation that basically means they are working half the year. This also reflects the fact that most of our operations are a little off the beaten path.

Pilots leave Borek for WJ. I think it's slowed to one every five or six weeks. But they don't leave for the money. For me, it would take three years and captaincy to get back to my current level of earnings. If I included the 20% matching spare plan, and profit sharing. Most of the senior captains are in the same boat.

These are however, the ones that are going over, as Oldtimer indicated. The reason is a combination of schedule lifestyle and family. ON the 700 our former peers are flying basically half the month. At the end of the day, they do not have to wash the airplane, nor sleep in a tent on the ice.

A common remark from those who have gone over is that the flying is easier, but a lot less stimulating. At the end of the day however they are still pumped about the job, and the people they work with. Flying to either pole, or ferrying an aircraft around the world in 10 days can be exciting to me still after all this time. But I have to admit, being off for the kid's birthday, wedding anniversary and mother's day would be something novel.

Arrow · Post by **Arrow** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:40 pm

Once again, well said J.C., well said.