DC-3T Average Salary

The Flyer · Post by **The Flyer** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:54 pm

Hey guys,
What is an exceptable salary as a Captain on the DC3 Basler conversion? Not many in Canada so what is comparable maybe.

fanspeed · Post by **fanspeed** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:47 pm

depends on what's acceptable to you

Donald · Post by **Donald** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:07 pm

In my opinion it doesn't really matter that there aren't many in Canada.

You will be captain on a:

large aircraft (over 12500)
operating to unimproved strips, ice, gravel, unknown (depending on the operator)
moving lots of cargo, loadmasters/assistants?
schedule? away from home base?

Considering the variables, the "acceptable" pay range will vary pretty widely. There is also your own personal experience to evaluate as well as how low you are willing to go.

If the job was walk on/walk off with a decent schedule and minimum overnights, it would be similar to being on a saab/dash8/atr42/etc etc and the pay would be probably 70-90K. Top end for an experienced typed individual. Anything outside those boundaries and I'd be inclined to ask for more.

Just my opinion, feel free to flame away.

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:38 pm

I think that's bang on. 70-90K for an individual with decent experience.

Chuck U Farley · Post by **Chuck U Farley** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:09 pm

Companies are offering 60K for Navajo Capt. and 75K for King Air, ask for 150K stop selling ourselves short!

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:20 pm

ummmm...right. the guys that are getting 60K for navajo are the guys that have good enough experience to drive the DC3. Maybe 100K for a driver with plenty of time on type, but without time on type, a driver with good experience should be in the range 75-90K imho. Whatever, though...i agree with CUF...get as much as you can. Depends on the application, though as well. I would expect plenty of time off with that 80K.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:44 pm

Well a Turbine DC3 is a lot of work to load and unload unless they have ground crews to do it for you.

And where are you expected to fly will make a big difference to how much money it is worth.

The 3 is a very nice airplane to fly so that part is O.K.

If they are willing to pay $150,000 a year I'm betting you wont be home in Oshawa every night.

Is M.R. still the owner?

The Flyer · Post by **The Flyer** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 5:39 am

Same owner yes. There is A LOT of away time, like month on couple weeks off. To places like Antarctica and the desolate north. Does anyone know what Borek pays and there schedule?

kingeddie · Post by **kingeddie** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 5:55 am

If you leave the continent for 70-90K you need your head examined .. Raise your sights . Saabs and dash 8s dont work off unprepared strips and ice fields at minus 50

N2 · Post by N2 » Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:23 am

I hear that WC died a few weeks back. Is MR going to carry on without him now?

Donald · Post by **Donald** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:39 am

If you leave the continent for 70-90K you need your head examined .. Raise your sights . Saabs and dash 8s dont work off unprepared strips and ice fields at minus 50

Kingeddie: Re-read what I wrote, cause that's not what I was saying.

nightguy · Post by **nightguy** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 9:50 am

Haha you will never get that kind of money out old MR! I don't think he even has that much to give. Say what you will however I still think there are some major cash flow problems there. Plus that 3 is walking dangerous line. Better hope it does not go too far north onto Borek radar and end up getting spanked! I know Borek can afford to run at a loss can EAI?

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:25 pm

kingeddie wrote:If you leave the continent for 70-90K you need your head examined .. Raise your sights . Saabs and dash 8s dont work off unprepared strips and ice fields at minus 50

I guess that's why some operators are using 2300 hour capt's on the DC3T. Can't afford the experienced guys.

class4 · Post by **class4** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:31 pm

IMO

20-25% less then the CP.

So if the CP is making 150k you can demand that, but if the CP is making 80k don't see or understand why you should make more.

Secondly add 1% for every year of service.

so if CP is making 100k

take your 80k

been there for 5 years, bump it to 85k.

Works nicely on paper and in theory.

Chuck U Farley · Post by **Chuck U Farley** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 12:50 pm

People you don't understand, it’s a pilots market right now. If you have any experience then get paid for it. How many pilots have the experience to fly the 3T. They probably have a job so make it worth your while. Please remember that companies like this do not have much by way of benefits so get the cash. If you don't have any experience then don't ask what you should be getting, figure out what you are worth. It’s a trickle affect, if in this market you are willing to whore yourself out then when the market takes a downturn the operators are going to screw the next group even worse. Remember at one time pilots where regarded with esteem and where paid accordingly, now guys are accepting next to nothing to get the job, in hopes that they can make 50K to fly 70 pax jets in a few years.

Rudy · Post by **Rudy** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 1:27 pm

Amen .. Wallypilot, where are 2300 hour pilots captain on a DC3T? I guess it's possible if 2100 of those hours were right seat DC3T and the operator wanted to pay peanuts. That seems to be the new trend. Give a 200 hour guy right seat in a turbine and pay them almost nothing. A year or so later give them the left seat and pay them a little more than almost nothing. That's how they're getting around this 'pilot shortage'. Hopefully they'll screw off to Jazz before someone gets hurt...

Donald · Post by **Donald** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:37 pm

20-25% less then the CP.

Honestly I don't really care what the CP makes, unless it's way way way more than I make.

As others have said, and I attempted to, figure out what you are worth and ask for that.

Who knows, maybe you'll make MORE than the CP....

And if the "poor old owner" can't afford to pay the going rate, then park 'em!

just curious · Post by **just curious** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:53 pm

Our guys are at 100-110 per year, with about 5 months a year off.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:24 pm

If I were going to fly the 3 for MR, I would ask for a short term contract and paid by the job.

Use Boreks pay and figure out what the difference is in the other extras Borek pays.

That seems to be a fair way of doing it.

nightguy · Post by **nightguy** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:24 pm

Yeah well the point is MR is not going to be able to pay anything close to what Borek does. Further he has a habit of being a bullspiter! There are a few guys at Borek now that were at Enterprise version 1 and the fact is that MR was too busy having parties and buys stupid toys to play with in his white elephant of a hangar than trying to get some work for the planes. Also its worth a not that he more than likely still in some kind of trouble with the bank so I would do my best to get out of there. It was a good place when Wally was around but the good staff is gone now. Plus the fact that MR was too busy with his buds at the flight school to give a DC3T job to the charter pilots that earned it. I am not saying its the pilots faults because if it were me I would have taken the job, however MR was a idiot and lost a lot of good guys.

For those of us that left EAI and went to Borek and other places we are all better off. ANd hey Enterprise was left with some guys with great 150 time! Good luck sticking around there and I hope the pay works out just be careful. Also if you see another Basler around with red and white paint... I would make good friends with the crew you might need there help to move over to Borek one day!

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 7:16 pm

It was a good place when Wally was around but the good staff is gone now.

Wally was a great guy, I'm sorry I didn't get to see him before he passed away.

Wally hired me and both of us left around the same time.

I spent almost all my time in Africa, Europe and South America flying the PBY so did not really get to experience Enterprise Air version one in Oshawa.

The DC3T would be a nice airplane to fly though....for the right pay.....

The Flyer · Post by **The Flyer** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:59 am

Sounds like night guy has some issues. A vandetta maybe. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the question. Thanks for stickin to the topic. As for the rest thanks for the input.

nightguy · Post by **nightguy** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:54 am

Sounds like the flyer is some no nothing instructor who got lucky. For the record I was quite on topic MR can't pay anything to what Borek is paying their guys. And check around, Borek has a habit of running people into the ground (or close to it) that mess around in areas that they should not be in. Think about it, and by all means come and visit Calgary its a great city!

mantogasrsrwy · Post by **mantogasrsrwy** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 11:20 am

Yeah I would say nightguy is a bit bitter. MR treated me good and I wasn't an instructor.

golden hawk · Post by **golden hawk** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:13 pm

Just curious, what is the max t/o weight of the DHC-3T?