Islander Question

[farm_boy252]

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[xsbank]

Antinaked, not all Islanders are that well maintained! 'Ours' had a horn that blew that would knock you on your butt.

[lazyboy]

Talk about feeling silly,people watching you climb out the back door.....and telling the engineer that the door handle is u/s.Then learning that the newer models had the locking system.

[Jeremy]

Another good tip to keep the noise down for Pax comfort is using a reduced prop setting during TO and climb out while still at max MP. It's listed in the confusing Brit. AFM though I cannot remember which section as it's been a couple years since I've flown a BN2.

Oh, and if you use the pilot door frame/LH cowl area to boost yourself on top of the fuselage/wing to check the oil etc, I strongly suggest making sure the top of the fuselage isn't icy or slippery. Or at any rate, being very careful. It's a long way to fall on your back. I spent 10mins one morning flat on my back next to the aircraft after such a fall.

It was a blast to fly for sure!

[ScudRunner]

It's listed in the confusing Brit. AFM though I cannot remember which section as it's been a couple years since I've flown a BN2.

Seriously? they made an AFM for the BN2?, wow 1100 hours on the islander and never cracked a book on it once

[C-GGGQ]

WHOA!!! I did not quit. I was laid off because they totalled the islander I was going to fly. No plane = No Job. I was called into the bosses office he told me that the islander had been written off and that i was out of work. He let me stay as long as i needed (only stayed a couple of weeks since I still had a place to stay back in Toronto) He gave me money for moving back, got me the pay they still owed me. These guys were great but unfortunately due to circumstances beyond anyones control it was short lived. I harbor no ill feelings towards anyone at Gillam air.

[flyinggreasemonkey]

Does your foot taste good, farm boy? Bet ya it tastes better than the humble pie that GGGQ just served you.

[ScudRunner]

What happened to the Islander? Antinakedman you ok??

[C-GGGQ]

The nose gear was damaged doing off strip work, didn't look that serious and we patched it up and flew it out for repairs (by we i mean we flew in an engineer) Got it back only place to fix it was the Britten Norman factory in the states and the plane had an STC that was only approved in Canada so the Factory in the states wouldn't touch it. So they wrote it off, no one hurt.

[Big Pistons Forever]

It's listed in the confusing Brit. AFM though I cannot remember which section as it's been a couple years since I've flown a BN2.

Seriously? they made an AFM for the BN2?, wow 1100 hours on the islander and never cracked a book on it once :D

Ah yes the BN2 POH, I have never before seen a POH that was so thick yet had so little to say....
It has been a long time since I flew one but ya gotta like an airplane were you only have to remember one number for the PPC oral, As I recall 65 kts pretty much covers everything

[HuD 91gt]

So why are they hiring a new pilots... Looks like they are desperate, I mean 500TT, and they even recently "Stickied" it!

[C-GGGQ]

dunno, i wasn't the only pilot there. Another guy probably moved on.

[lazyboy]

Talked to the owner....said they are not desperate but are looking for the right guy

[farm_boy252]

exactly.....if they layed the guy off why are they hiring? maybe i was lied to but I applied and was told the last guy dident work out becasue he missed the big city!

[farm_boy252]

or did they buy another plane???

[lilfssister]

Is that supposed to be an apology to C-GGGQ?

[C-GGGQ]

It's ok. Don't know what to tell ya farm boy. I wrote down the conversation i had with the boss basically word for word (as much as I could remember). Its either one of the other guys left or (though i don't know why) he figured he would be doing me a favor by letting me "get back to the big city". I never voiced any opinion of the sort. Though honestly Gillam is a bit of a culture shock, and of course I would be happier closer to family (I'm sure anyone would be). I can only hope that things have picked up for them and they were mistaken about being able to do with one less pilot. Good as they were to me (and make no mistake they treated me very well) I honestly could not afford to go back there if they offered me my job back. it was a 4000km drive each way when i moved costing me 7-800 in fuel each time, plus hotels along the way. I'll have to try to get back into instructing or something closer to home for now to pay off some debt. If you can make it work for you, and you feel up to the challenge I recommend this company to anyone.

[lazyboy]

The Islander was damaged on an off airport landing,due to an approved mod(by Transport Canada)the Britton Norman factory would not approve the repair that was required.The damage was not extensive.When he last bought an Islander it took 8 months to find and import,so he had to let the newest fellow go believing this would be the case again.Pat found one in B.C coming out of a total rebuild that would be ready mid July.Give Pat a call if you are interested,just don't make the first question about pay!!!!He has numerous calls from 300 hour pilots asking that,and is not even interested in talking to them after that,ask about the flying,town,etc,and then the pay.
By the way I do drink beer with him now and then and is a fair guy.

[farm_boy252]

now i know the full story. hope he finds someone that works out for him.