Winair recently? Also opinions on -6 cert from Flightsafety

[DanWEC]

Does anyone know how Winair in the Carribean is doing recently? The few posts I've seen here go back several years.
I'm just finishing up my CPL in the next few months, with a Group 1 and float rating. 220 hrs.
I was talking with a pilot there that said he's seen people with low time like myself get into right seat, with the appropriate ratings.
Of course, there is the issue of getting a -6 certificate from Flightsafety for Winair.

I know this is a touchy subject among some- in some ways it's like "buying a job" however I respectfully disagree, at least in my position.
There are some spoiled people with oodles of money can afford just to buy themselves as many credentials as possible, that sucks. Makes life difficult for the rest of us.
My position differs somewhat though. I'd either have to pay approx. the same amount for a CFI rating anyways (to get a job), or spend 6 months/a year working a ramp or dock. It'll take that same amount of time saving up in order to pay for the -6 certificate anyways (I'm just a lowly bartender), so in my mind, since I'd stilll be busting my butt in a non-flying capacity anyways for months to be able to pay for the certifcate, I'm still putting in my dues.

Anyhow, that's my rationale- just so I'm not treading on a touchy subject and sounding like I can just buy anything I want. I can really only afford ONE of the following: CFI, -6 Certificate, or a 50 hour bush/float course.

So I'll be taking a trip down there in about 4 months to knock on doors.... any tip or opinions? I've been told there are lots of operators down there. Of course buying that FS course is a huge gamble... but it's still education. It is always a good thing to get more, no matter what!

[Big Pistons Forever]

DanWEC I have six words of advice for you...There are no shortcuts in aviation..


my 02 cents .........

Do the 50hr float course with a recognized instructor and then personally visit all the operators you can and be prepared to work the dock for a season.

[DanWEC]

Thanks for the response Big. I suppose just to clarify though; I'm not looking to take any shortcuts. Expedience is good of course, and there is no sense taking the long road if there isn't a need.
The -6 cert would take me just as long to save up for and pay for, I guess I'm just looking for opinions as to whether it makes sense to take, compared to taking one of the other endorsements instead.

[LegoMan]

A friend of mine got into Winair a few years ago with 360 hours. He went to flight safety and they only charged him 7000-7500. It is not a PPC! So if you get it done and then go down to Winair and they dont want you, and you cant find work on a twin otter you're out quite a bit of money. You need to do the flight safety program before you can apply to Winair. If they are not hiring or invite you down or you dont pass the training to their liking you've wasted money.

[Beach 200]

I agree with Legoman. There is no guarantee that Winnair will hire you and you would be out all that cash. Lots of hard work for nothing. The flightsafery program doesn't give you a PPC, nor does it give you a type rating. All you get is second hand experience in a DHC6 simulator and a small certificate that you paid $7k for. Personally get something like a rating that will go onto your license. If you really want to get on the Dash 6 than go to Borek, or another operator and get the training with them and work yourself up the ranks that way to the big leagues, or wherever your ambitions take you.
Secondly, Winnair pays crappy, you gotta pay to move yourself down there. Not worth it.

[scopiton]

+1 with Lego and BPF.
I personally know a guy who did the -6 certification with Flightsafety in TO and didn't get hired by winnair, and this -6 ppc or whatever didn't help him find a job in Canada either.
I think the total money he wasted was 10K$, no job, and not able to keep it valid. over hall, a very good operation for flighsafety

[HavaJava]

Winair is an excellent first job (although it wasn't a first job for me). Also, when I left a few years ago, the pay had been increased significantly.

Having said that, as the previous posters have stated, the FlightSafety DHC-6 course is basically useless unless you get hired at Winair. In order for the local island government to issue a work permit to an expat, that person must have "specialized training". Apparently a CPL isn't specialized enough. It's sometimes a struggle for Winair to convince the government that a DHC-6 PPC on a licence is specialized training...the government officials prefer the fancy certificate with the official looking flightsafety seal. Island bureaucracy is definitely not efficient or logical!

Hiring at Winair is very cyclical and from what I understand they are currently going through a stage where they are not hiring expats. I am definitely not in the know though, and the only way to truly find out is to try to make contacts with pilots who are down there (and don't PM me because I don't have any current contacts). This is most easily done by taking a holiday and going down to visit the island (try hanging around the sunset beach bar and ambushing anyone driving by in a pilot uniform!). Ideally you will also get to meet with the Chief Pilot, however don't expect much from that. The Chief Pilot is notorious for not giving out any sort of promises or making any deals of interviews for pilots until they have completed the DHC-6 course. So basically, I'm saying unless you have friends that work there who can pass you hiring rumours and also have schmoozed the CP, you have not done enough to mitigate the risk of wasting $8000 on the FlightSafety course.

And to those that frown on spending the money...as the original poster stated, he'd have to drop an additional $8000 in training (flight instructor, 50 hour floats, or lost income from working on the ramp) and Winair is an excellent choice as long as you manage to get hired!

[pilotbc69]

Pretty accurate what everyone said. I stopped by there when I was doing the job tour. They offered me a job on their Islander a few times but said no matter what I couldn't touch their twin otters without the type rating. (had 3000 hrs at the time and 1000 on the islander). If your daddy's rich it'd be an interesting place to work and St Maarten would be a really fun place to live for a little while with good parties and really good european chicks.

[Turbofan]

You could also go to the casino and see if you can make that 7 grand into a future!
...but seriously...
Why not build time, quality time, PIC time, with the cash. 50 hr bush course is a waste of time (IMHO). Go rent something, build night time...you will wish you had when you are short a few night time x-country hrs for your ATPL. Build some extra float time if that is the route you want.

my 2 cents...
thank you and good night.

[overthetop]

Winair laid-off most of their expats last year. I am not sure if they are looking to hire any this year. Might be a good idea to give the CP a call before doing the course. His name is Jeff Oliver.

[luisenna]

Hi do you have any idea how to get the Capt contact?

Kind regards

Luis

[LegoMan]

They have only hired people who have shown up there. If you don't go down there you have 0% chance of getting a job.

[outsider]

Winair will not be hiring in the near future , possibly next season around Oct-Nov , right now even that is a long shot , they have gone from 4 down to 3 twin otters as of this week. Closing routes and and going through major management restructuring. As pilot contracts come due , they will not be renewed. However , if they do hire next year and you have DHC6 experience , its a great place to work for a season or two. You will have a great time flying and enjoying yourself.