Orca ad

[Diadem]

Orca is starting a base in YYC?

[V2plus10]

Perhaps taking over the Carson FedEx runs out of YYC???

[Oxi]

or the sunwest bag run?

[Tail-Chaser]

Any clue what the pay scales are for left and right seats are these days?

[Rowdy]

On which machines?

[loopa]

Friend at sunwest said some form of contract is not getting renewed come October, wonder if it's Orca taking it over. He was saying Sunwest is anticipating another batch of lay offs. Hopefully this isn't true

[Sky_Conqueror]

Orca has the reputation of being on of the lowest paying companies out there.
Along with Carson. Seems like they need people fast. I think Sunwest is loosing
that bag run for sure. I think they use the Metro and/or the Navajo. Both of the types
That Orca has. People from Sunwest could jump ship...but pay will be several thousands
Of $ less!!

[Tail-Chaser]

On which machines?

The metro and 99.

[V2plus10]

Orca has the reputation of being on of the lowest paying companies out there.
Along with Carson. Seems like they need people fast. I think Sunwest is loosing
that bag run for sure. I think they use the Metro and/or the Navajo. Both of the types
That Orca has. People from Sunwest could jump ship...but pay will be several thousands
Of $ less!!

If the Orca pay is anything like Carson (which Ive heard it is), crews jumping ship will be taking a lot more than several thousand less. A year 1 sunwest metro captain on their pay scale makes more than both crew members on a Carson metro combined. I hope for sunwest sake they aren't loosing more work, especially non-oil/gas based business.

[Big Bird Anonymous]

Good for Orca. Bag runs are where low time pilots get their start. All part of the circle of life in aviation.

[awitzke]

I have nothing bad to say about Orca. They did have a few tough years a while ago but seeing how far they've come since they started (in such a short amount of time), obviously what they are doing is working. I know a few people who work there now and they all like it. If I didn't enjoy my job in Ontario so much I would definitely be applying there in an effort to move back home.

[FL7377]

This one is directed at Orca Management;

Have you folks decided to be a longer term employer, or still a "get your time, get out" company?

[Johnny#5]

You could probably ask that of about 95% of the 703/704 companies in Canada...

[upintheair_]

From what I understand they like to see pilots commit for a year minimum, and then another year if they take the left seat. From a friend who was hired there this year, he said they told him... give us two years and you'll leave here with 2000 hours and 1000MPIC. Give or take. Last time a pilot left under a year the CP was not thrilled as he was set to be upgraded that month and kind of counting on him to take the spot. I hear they don't like to take PasCo rampies anymore because as soon as they get their 800-1000 hours they hop back over.

[FL7377]

So its still another 703 company that most people leave after they get 2000 hrs? That's a shame, flying a Beach 99 from Vancouver into places like Tofino could be a sweet gig under the right conditions.

[upintheair_]

Well that beech is a new acquisition. So perhaps things wool change. As for the way it is now, there is nothing wrong with it.. Orca has likely hundreds of applications in their pile.

[wowie_kazowie]

Anyone know the schedule for a Ho' FO?

[upintheair_]

Not exactly know for sure, I just know a friend flies a lot. 5-6 days a week... 12-14 hour duty days. Not much different than myself in Ontario. Slows down in the winter a bit from what I understand.

[esp803]

5-6 days a week... 12-14 hour duty days

So... best case scenario 60 hours of work per week.... worse case scenario 84 hours per week....

well I hope you are making at least minimum wage... that way it would be:

((40*10.25)+(20*15.38))*52= $37,315

and

((40*10.25)+(44*15.38))*52= $56,509

Respectively.

Actually... That's not a bad salary for a first gig.

E

[johngalt]

5-6 days a week... 12-14 hour duty days

So... best case scenario 60 hours of work per week.... worse case scenario 84 hours per week....

well I hope you are making at least minimum wage... that way it would be:

((40*10.25)+(20*15.38))*52= $37,315

and

((40*10.25)+(44*15.38))*52= $56,509

Respectively.

Actually... That's not a bad salary for a first gig.

E

Looks like Encore's starting wage.

[Mercator]

How many spots do they have open ?

[human garbage]

well I hope you are making at least minimum wage...

I wouldn't count on using minimum wage in your calculations. Apparently a few years ago they went to a salary based system. From what I understand second hand, it is pretty close to your low estimation on the pay for the high estimation of hours worked.

Its a shame really. Worked for them when they had just two planes (the LZ days). It was a good gig. Sure it was 6 days a week of long days, but I made a bit better than $55k/yr looking back at the T4. Really good considering I had less than 1500TT and was logging tons of MPIC. It was flat rate per duty hour then ($15-16?)

It eventually went to only getting paid for the first four hours and the last four hours of a split duty day plus a nominal day rate (three years ago or so). Then came the salary mentioned above. I still don't understand how paying salary is legal under those conditions. It is meant to only compensate for 40 hours a week not 60-80. Not really up on my labour law so perhaps there is some loophole.

I'd love to hear that my info is dated and it has changed for the better since. Maybe a current driver can confirm or deny...

Anyone know the schedule for a Ho' FO?

If you aren't doing the pax runs then it is standard bag run/courier stuff I think. Show up about 04:30 and back to base about 19:30 was the norm when I was there. Repeat Monday through Friday. The pax runs to YAZ (largely in the summer) were shorter days. In at 11:00 out by 20:00 if you weren't overnighting, which was quite often. Again, this could have changed but I can guarantee the bag runs are the same because that is client driven.

[upintheair_]

5-6 days a week... 12-14 hour duty days

So... best case scenario 60 hours of work per week.... worse case scenario 84 hours per week....

well I hope you are making at least minimum wage... that way it would be:

((40*10.25)+(20*15.38))*52= $37,315

and

((40*10.25)+(44*15.38))*52= $56,509

Respectively.

Actually... That's not a bad salary for a first gig.

E

HA!. Yeah right. Try closer to $25000/yr salary. I'd sure love to get paid per hour I work too but I know that will never happen.

[fish4life]

Take a detailed set of everything you worked then take it to the labour board and get every dollar out of them you deserve

[V2plus10]

Isn't it in the CARS you may only do 3 consecutive 14 hour days, which must be followed by 24 consecutive hours of rest? (Sorry it's been a while)