West Wind is in National is Out !!

[flaps 10 props 85]

Heard that Westwind has moved in a couple planes 4 pilots and an engineer to Stony. Rumour has it they are building a hangar and all. Wonder how all those white shirt pretty boys from Stoon are going to like living in that shit hole.

[turbo-prop]

Spent some time up there, summers can be pretty fun. Good fishing. Put the differences aside and get to know the TWA boys. build some time and move south onto the 1900's ATR's. Working there is a hell of alot better then sitting at home looking for a job.

[bleeker]

Ya I heard May 10th is their first day up there. There has been talk about building a hanger and more airplanes up in Stony...It doesnt leave National with much...Im sure there will be lots of pilots available who want to fly up north...Its a nice place to be in summer....different story in the winter....they better hope that hanger gets built fast.

[beechesandhos]

cant see it going over very well with the mine scheds, flights getting delayed or cancelled cuz they dont want to shuttle over to zfd at 800 feet AGL. I'm sure they will be more than generous in offering jobs to everyone at national that is getting laid off. Seems like a low blow to a company that was always there to help out west wind when they needed it. Hope mr goll can handle the cold karma that will come his way. Good luck to all those hard working pilots at national!

[peeelot]

I was at National for a year and spent a lot of time up in stoney doing the mine runs the place is a hole but there are worse places. Its a great company to build your time fast and great pilots to work with. The CP is awesome. I hope they all land on their feet. Good Luck Guys!

[chancellor]

Didn't National lose the contract after a not so stellar audit from Transport. And aren't the minimums in ZFD around 600 ft on the NDB approach so 800 ft shouldn't be a problem. Are the rnav approaches coming soon?

[ever]

So are the pilots being rotated out of stoney or is it a full time base?

[Carrier]

Where are the Westwind people being accommodated? Presumably they will not be in the National Aviation crew house. If WWA are building their own accommodation then when will it be ready? When will their new hangar be ready?

Will National continue to maintain a presence in Stony Rapids? There would not seem to be much other work for them there.

Was it a routine audit/inspection failure that caused this change or did National have another crash/incident(s) like this: viewtopic.php?f=54&t=47856 CADORS 2008C4041. The TSB reported that the crew made an unintentional gear-up landing, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. Was it repaired and put back into service? Was this partly due to the high staff turnover at National, which logically might result in minimally trained and inexperienced pilots?

If it was initiated by a TC inspection/audit was it part of the same offensive that has grounded Air Mikisew and apparently involved Courtesy Air and Missionair? While on this topic, is Courtesy Air grounded?

Has National Aviation been grounded? If so, who is doing the mine runs?

Has National paid, or made any attempt to pay, the long outstanding amounts due to pilots for considerably longer hours and days than they were contracted for? Former employees of National Aviation indicate that the contracted amount of paid days off is often not given as the company is frequently short of pilots due to the revolving door. The advertised rotation between Prince Albert and Stony Rapids is often ignored and pilots can find they spend far more time than they were led to believe in Stony Rapids. Apparently no additional compensation is given for the extra days on in lieu of paid days off or for the additional time at Stony Rapids. It is rumoured that some pilots who have left have not been paid all that was due to them. Former National Aviation pilots also advise that the company does not provide any benefits.

Bearing in mind the well publicised problems at Westwind Aviation, for any current National pilots to join WWA would seem to be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire!

What an industry!

[Beaver Driver]

I've heard this all before...just different companies this time...

[Jack Klumpus]

How bush do you have to be to think that westwind pilots are all pretty boys and white shirt drivers?

Where do you think the westwind pilots flew before ww?

[flyinthebug]

Sad news for National and in particular me. We got the 1st contract for National to exist in YSF. Its sad to see its come to an end. I would think after the gear up and with the current management at National, it was just a matter of time. We bought our 1st King Air in 03 and put it up in YSF on spec for 6 months. After negotiating with Health Canada, they agreed to give us a try. Now, 7 years later, its been lost to WWA. Congrats to WWA and I wish them well up north. It will be a bit of a culture shock to some of the WWA crew, but YSF offers some of the best fishing in the country. Enjoy! To the crew still with National, I wish you all the best and im sure the new boss will find some work for those A100s.
Fly safe all.

PS.. Is DOV still in service with National?? That was our 1st ever turbine and an aircraft im very proud of.

[lost in the north]

What is wrong with the managment?

[flyinthebug]

What is wrong with the managment?

Maybe I should have stated "Ownership" rather then management. I actually have no idea who the CP or Ops Mgr are now (but im willing to bet I know who the DOM is). Im sure they are a good young crew as we enjoyed there. I just know who bought it...and he and I arent on one another Christmas card lists. Usually when you fire a person, they dont come back and buy the place!?

[lost in the north]

fly....I find R.C who is the owner a very stand up guy and seems to run good equipment

[flyinthebug]

fly....I find R.C who is the owner a very stand up guy and seems to run good equipment

*Edit* Its just not worth it. The equipment is and always was safe under his care and control. Stand up guy? If you say so. To each his own.

Fly safe all.

[Giveitago]

PS.. Is DOV still in service with National?? That was our 1st ever turbine and an aircraft im very proud of.

Here is your answer, Some stuff for sale.

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetai ... 170475.htm

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetai ... 170480.htm

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetai ... 170481.htm

[beechesandhos]

fly, you better check your facts. Health Canada has nothing to do with this whole situation. It was the northern Cameco contract.

[peeelot]

It's sad to see DOV up for sale. That was my first turbine I flew. Great airplane!

['effin hippie]

Where do you think the westwind pilots flew before ww?

'Nuff said. It'll all come back to 'em.

Must sting a bit if you thought you'd left that place for good, tho But I'll just stop here and knock on wood...

ef

[flaps 10 props 85]

How bush do you have to be to think that westwind pilots are all pretty boys and white shirt drivers?

Where do you think the westwind pilots flew before ww?

They all flew at TWA in Stony and quit so they could go south and wear White Shirts and have everything done for them, YOU DUMB F**KER. LOL !!!!

[beechesandhos]

they wear blue shirts!! hello!!!!!!

[Carrier]

Is the National Aviation/First Nations flight school still operating?

[Visual Sensations]

NO. Does anything First Nations last very long ?

[Samolin]

I know the Flight School was never operating for the past 5-10 years BUT...
Is the Charter side (National Aviation) grounded or just no longer getting the flying up north as they use to!

Also, for those who don't know, WestWind has the contract to fly for the mines... and they sub-contract some of the job to other charter companies in SK. So, really WestWind is no longer sharing the flying with National...
the question is WHY???

personally I don't think making money has anything to do with it... as we all know.. you don't make money or alot of money flying or operating planes, especially if they are planning to invest in a hanger up in Stoney. alot of overheap costs with no real payout for atleast a couple of years. unless, the mines are putting the money up for the hanger..don't know!

so back to my original question:
1) Is National Aviation grounded, if so.. does anyone know why??
2) Why is WW no longer sharing the flying out of stoney??

Just Curious

[DCNINER]

samolin you are correct. It WAS Westwinds contract all along. National is operating out of Prince Albert as normal. As for your second question, in order to take over the world you have to take out the little guy, whether it pays out initially or not...I'm sure they have bigger plans and have every right to do so. Why do they want to work out of Stony?? Ask the WW board of directors, they are the only ones with the answer. End of story.