Has anyone worked for Kenora Air Service?

[The Shadow]

I was just trying to find out how many of you have worked for Kenora Air Service. I was also trying to find out if all the horror stories I have heard are true or are they just stories....

[CGZMT]

Ah good ol KAS. Yes there are many stories. Personally I have never flown there, even though I tried. Know a couple pilots that have graced the doors as well as some kick @$$ AMES as well. Some things to watch out for:
1. Never lose the bacon.
2. No matter what you hear there is NO Hilton in Kenora
3. Never sit in MJ's chair
4. Its a miracle the 92 runs!
5. Red Lake Base is the land of Milk and Honey
6. Open Pilot clause on the insurance, who knows first year you might be on the otter?
7. Cranny and Benny rock the dock!
8. Do you drink? If not you soon will be driven to!
9. The coffee room is now open for rent after three years
10. Finally, You get what you get out of KAS, its all in how you make it!

[KenoraPilot]

Yup worked for them for 2 summers.......every story is true.....maybe even dumbed down a bit. It was a good learning experience for me though...taught me alot. If you want any info from me (I worked there 4 years ago though) just PM!

[The Shadow]

Interesting. I heard the manager .... is quite the lady, a bit scary actually.

[KenoraPilot]

understatement!

[The Shadow]

Well I guess this is not a good place to be negative about another company. Kenora would be a nice place to spend the season flying.

I passed through there last summer and stopped by and chatted with a few of the dock hands. They told me the guy flying the Otter was a real company kiss ass ... ratted everyone out to the owner. I also heard they have a reputation for not paying money owing if you quit. Guess I will pass on working there.

[Mr. North]

Lets get a couple things straight right away. If the Otter driver is voicing his concerns about someone it's typically because said individual has been screwing up! As an employer who would you listen to more? The Otter driver with 20 years of experience or the newly hired dock hand?

When my season was over they paid the money owing plus a healthy bonus.

Some individuals (namely ex-employees) shame me for having worked there but I found it quite rewarding. It's not secret a lot of people have nothing good to say about that place and I can see where they are coming from to a degree. If however, you can put up with the bullshit, and there is a lot, it can be a great place to learn and test your newly acquired skills. Working out of Red Lake would be your best bet with KAS... it's so much more relaxed, you have the Duck there who can teach you volumes and Mark is a great Ops manager. And the lake isn't infested with boaters who carelessly cut you off during roll out or on short final!

If you have confidence on the beaver I would highly recommend the contract in Island Lake. Few other operators in the area offer such an opportunity. While Island Lake may be a real shit hole, if your a little nostalgic like I am you'll find that it is truly one of the last bastions of old fashion bush flying. Up there your the boss. The lakes and rivers you operate out of will be as unique and challenging as the loads you'll carry (natives, moose, fish). You'll also make good money and have plenty of stories to tell the kids. Future employers will think highly of this experience on your resume and you'll gain respect among your peers (especially if your in a room full of instructors )

All that aside I also think every Canadian should spend time on an indian reserve.

Questions?

[Chuck Ellsworth]

All that aside I also think every Canadian should spend time on an indian reserve.

Why?

[Mr. North]

For a number of reasons .. First being the experience and recognition of third-world poverty in our own back yard. And to see how natives are exploited by their own band members, The Northern Store, and of course drugs and alcohol. One must witness the colossal amounts of Government money being pumped into these places with zero return. It's just unbelievable.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Then I agree with you 100%.

It has been like that forever.....what really makes me angry is so many Canadians think apartheid in South Africa was brutal, yet they are blind to the apartheid in Canada instilled and overseen by the government.

[Doc]

For a number of reasons .. First being the experience and recognition of third-world poverty in our own back yard. And to see how natives are exploited by their own band members, The Northern Store, and of course drugs and alcohol. One must witness the colossal amounts of Government money being pumped into these places with zero return. It's just unbelievable.

Who should spend time on a reserve?? THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS!!! Is who. Move their offices from the banks of the Ottawa River to PIK for a few weeks....ya want improvement? I'm betting, that would do it.....

[Green Hornet]

Kenora Air Service.

Stay away from that place.

[Doc]

Kenora Air Service.

Stay away from that place.

Why?

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Doc, before you get to far into a discussion with Green Hornet you should go and read his stuff on the thread about " first year float wages (bush)"

The guy is a real wing nut.

There are quite a few posts there today by him that ought to really entertain you.

[Doc]

I hear ya ..
Could THIS be the Green Hornet????

[Rowdy]

Mr. North, you put it so well about KAS.

I too was paid properly and with a nice bonus at the end of my time there. I was never screamed at, and we sure did have some fun flying in the island lake area together. B, the otter drive, is a hell of a nice guy and ridiculously optimistic and easy going. I'm amazed too at what he has to deal with, and you're very right, he sees whats going on and speaks the truth. If you're gonna fukk around and screw up and generally not do what you're PAID to do, then you should fear the consequences.

ETTW's signature was probably the best. "The company pays me to make them money...."

[Carrier]

Quote: “One must witness the colossal amounts of Government money being pumped into these places.....”

Are you one of the 25% or so of Canuckleheads who believe that the government has its own money? Get your facts right! It’s TAXPAYERS’ money - as in OUR money - that is being squandered.



Quote: “...so many Canadians think apartheid in South Africa was brutal, yet they are blind to the apartheid in Canada instilled and overseen by the government.”

Too true! The racist hypocrisy of federal and provincial governments and politicians is a disgrace. All Canadians should be treated the same regardless of race, language or how long their ancestors have resided here. They should ALL have the same rights and responsibilities, pay the same taxes, receive the same benefits, have the same rights to obtain crown land and have the same rules and rights to hunt. Racist government institutions such as the Department of Indian Affairs should be decommissioned. Regarding the racist treaties made between whites and Indians and Eskimos, Canada insisted that the treaties made between the whites and negroes in Africa were invalid and should be ignored so the same should apply in Canada. Practice what you preach! Let’s get racism out of the Canadian constitution and governments and treat everyone on the same basis as being just a Canadian.
Please join Mrs C and me and instruct our politicians at all levels to SAY NO TO RACISM!

[the hilton]

hey has any one herad from the brain guy the worked for kenora air

[tcraft]

hey has any one herad from the brain guy the worked for kenora air

ah, I think so..................

[helloitsme]

"hey has any one herad from the brain guy the worked for kenora air"

I personally have not herad from the brain guy the worked for kenora air....learn how to spell.

[LLLDRAM]

"hey has any one herad from the brain guy the worked for kenora air"

I personally have not herad from the brain guy the worked for kenora air....learn how to spell.

The sequel begins.....this should be entertaining , where's Cat? GH I presume?

[Green Hornet]

Sorry ... not me this time.....

[donttakeshi*]

I just heard the best news about Kenora Air. They now have a terrific guy as the chief pilot by the name of Glen. Congratulations... It's good to know that there is at least something positive going on over there. As long as you can keep MJ away from the office, it might actually be a decent place to work.

[The Shadow]

I just heard the best news about Kenora Air. They now have a terrific guy as the chief pilot by the name of Glen..... As long as you can keep MJ away from the office, ....

Your kidding right. You must be related to Cranston .... Keeping MJ away from the breakfast table would be easier ......

[donttakeshi*]

Believe it or not, MJ is supposedly rather busy looking after Kuby now that he has had a stroke so it is a rather pleasant place to be except for the rare occasion that she pops that fat head of hers in through the office door.