North Shore wrote:Well, having just come home from 12 days hols with the boss and littl'uns, I'm pretty glad to sit on a couch and veg while the rain falls - I'm exhausted! (Sad when you have to go to work for a rest!)

I hope your wife doesn't read AvCanada

^ Nope, but she did ask if I was glad to be going back to get some rest - part of her strategy to make me see how much work she puts in with the kids while I'm gone. (Sorry about the coffee, BTW - completely ran out of time - had to paint the house. Just Duckie helped.)

Northshore I am aware you folks come up a bit short on time off! You guys definately need to work on that!

Most people don't understand the concept of getting back to work for a rest but many in this game can relate to that, especially this summer!! Lots more rain in the forecast for all next week!

There are probably a lot of people on here laughing about how someone could complain about having to work 4 months a year. Doing it far away and all in one stretch certainly wouldn't be easy with a family however. CLGuy, what are some of the other tanker companies in those other provinces you listed that give blocks of time off (other than the OMNR)?

Thing is, CL, that cuts two ways - more time off = longer season. Personally, I live in BC, so I can't afford to commute back and forth for days off. The situation we have right now minimizes my days away, strange as it might seem.

Well there is Saskatchewan Gov't, Manitoba Gov't, Ontario Gov't, Quebec Gov't and Newfoundland Gov't.

I've seen CLguy, stretched out on his lawn chair, hard a work. I don't think Conair will hire you if you don't like the banjo?

Maybe that'll work in my favour???

You are mandated time off in the summer at Conair - this is flexible if you get 'green' alerts, but all crews get a week off even if it is busy. Mangagement mans your a/c while you get r&r.

That became an annoyance - you could sit around and not fly, it would get hot and you start to fly but you get sent home for a week.

Crop dusting, survey, tail dragger, multi-pic, floats, turbine and an ATPL minimum used to be the requirements and for some, radial engine experience, bigger the better. Buffalo doesn't look so bad now, eh?

They have a website - haven't looked for a long time, but maybe you should?

Yeah I did, and read the other post as well. I have heard a few things...

Although I would like to work there, I was asking:

A. For my own curiosity
B. For some one else closer to obtaining this goal.

I am not a 250 hour wonder with unrealistic or stupid expectations. I do however believe in future planning... Isn't goal setting supposed to be a good thing?

Cheers,

Wolfie

Damn straight it is a good thing (goal setting and asking questions) - good on you for doing your research, which I am willing to bet is not limited to the rumour and hearsay often found on these forums.


Kirsten B.

Xsbank...your comment on buffalo could be misinterpreted, even with open mind it is a very subjective matter personally I would not wish my worst drinking buddy a stint there but then again we have been known to do foolish things .. all in jest!!

You needed to have flown Buffalo-type aircraft in my day to get on with Conair. That was all.

Northshore wrote:

Thing is, CL, that cuts two ways - more time off = longer season. Personally, I live in BC, so I can't afford to commute back and forth for days off. The situation we have right now minimizes my days away, strange as it might seem.

Northshore that is where the problem lies for lots of pilots as well as the companies. Guys like Sarg quoting the CARS, talking about being unionized etc. while not understanding the problem which is, who the hell wants time off in some town you have no interest in being in. It is all about the paycheque and putting in the time to get out so companies and crews have invented ways to minimize the time away while also minimizing the number of pilots needed. You certainly don't want to spend any extra time away than is absolutely necessary especially when not getting paid. Unless you live where you are based this problem will continue to exist. We used to have more than 80% of our crews living where they are based and today that has dropped to less than 50%. Not real sure why other than individual preference! We get lots of time off so it is easier for guys to travel and spend time at home compared to what it used to be so maybe that is also part of the reason.

You guys need to get that 2080 hour committment shortened to a more reasonable number like most other operations already have!!

Hey Doc, that is not just being stretched out in a lawn chair, that is actually prepping for the next dispatch which may actually come within a couple of weeks!!

You needed to have flown Buffalo-type aircraft in my day to get on with Conair. That was all.

as I worked at both places I can relate to the different cultures ,and I 'll drink to your statement !! and how far back (in my days) were you flying green?

CLguy wrote:Northshore wrote:

Thing is, CL, that cuts two ways - more time off = longer season. Personally, I live in BC, so I can't afford to commute back and forth for days off. The situation we have right now minimizes my days away, strange as it might seem.

Northshore that is where the problem lies for lots of pilots as well as the companies. Guys like Sarg quoting the CARS, talking about being unionized etc. while not understanding the problem which is, who the hell wants time off in some town you have no interest in being in. It is all about the paycheque and putting in the time to get out so companies and crews have invented ways to minimize the time away while also minimizing the number of pilots needed. You certainly don't want to spend any extra time away than is absolutely necessary especially when not getting paid. Unless you live where you are based this problem will continue to exist. We used to have more than 80% of our crews living where they are based and today that has dropped to less than 50%. Not real sure why other than individual preference! We get lots of time off so it is easier for guys to travel and spend time at home compared to what it used to be so maybe that is also part of the reason.

You guys need to get that 2080 hour committment shortened to a more reasonable number like most other operations already have!!

Actually CL it sounds like I have a better understanding of things than you do. I've spend lots of time away from my home and family, and will continue to do so. Regardless of where you are, if you're away from home and family the place is less enjoyable.

When the original question was asked you told the poster to get a job that with an organization that gives you time off. I supplied information stating that some time off is likely, but it might not be enough to connect with your family. You informed that I was wrong, because you know the facts due to "25 years flying air tanker", yet it seems according to xsbank that Conair mandates a week off, sounds close to what I posted.

You ever consider the reason that you have less crews living at their bases is because places like Red Lake, Dryden, Nakina et al might be one of those less than desirable places, to be let alone raise a family.

There is no schedulled time off during the operating season for CONAIR pilots. The only time off is CARS days (3 in 30) and a blue alert (1.1 hour call) with no call counts as a CARS free from duty day.

^ With the current situation in BC, I'd be surprised if y'all are getting any time off this summer!

So, Big, when did that stop?

xsbank wrote:So, Big, when did that stop?

CONAIR has never had scheduled days off for the pilot group, however the engineers get 2 weeks off during the operating season.

Ok, I stand corrected - I'll just have to go and sluice out my brain cells with some Guinness...

Well Sarg, I guess you do know it all since we don't even have a base in Nakina or Red Lake let alone expect crews to live there. We have a secondary tanker base in Red Lake that we get based at occasionally during periods of high hazards in that area. I don't think a tanker has ever even landed in Nakina. We have tankers crews based in Kenora, Dryden, Thunder Bay and Sudbury and that will eventually become only Dryden and Sudbury.

To give some more useful advice to the OP, try not to think about the job prep in terms of hours or types flown. Yes, a minimum number of hours on floats, taildraggers, multi-IFR, PIC etc will get you in the door for an interview. The first thing you'll notice once inside are the hundred other equally-qualified applicants vying for the same job as you. Radial time is a non-starter these days. Once the DC-6 and Firecats disappear (soon sadly), there will be no requirement for that.
What really helps is your attitude. Are you the type of pilot that the others in your group would want to sit and have a beer with? How do you fare when flying long hot hours on many fires for weeks at a time? More importantly, how do you fare when sitting idle on alert for weeks at a time? As has been mentioned, it's not a life for everybody (nor is airline flying for that matter) and is takes a certain predisposition.
Ignore the comments of pilots from other jurisdictions that quote "they get around a CARS day by setting one hour + one minute alert time". That doesn't happen in the agencies that contract the two major players in the landbased airtanker game. TC issues an exemption for duty days - giving credit for a CARS day if there is a 1-hour alert with no flying and no call-out. It's not the same thing as deliberately manipulating the alerts to keep pilots on a short leash. Depending on the weather and activity, you may get one or two blocks of time off (rarely if ever scheduled) during a four-month contract, or you may get several opportunities for 2-5 days off on a 24-hour leash. And the same applies for unionized pilots at Conair vs. non-unionized pilots from their major counterpart.

Talk to a pilot who flies for Conair or Air Spray. They'll give you the straight goods.

Conair does have some positions based in Alberta that provide 10 days free from duty, including transit to YXX provided by the company. As for requirements for attaining a position, it appears float experience is becoming a concern in flight operations, as the Fireboss is a growing fleet. Saying that, like anything in aviation, timing is everything.