The road trip and the wait.....

[flyinhigh]

Hey,

From a guy that is from northern ontario, Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Meaning, your coming form hamilton to manitoba, yet it sounds as though you are planning on jumping right through one of the hottest spots for potential jobs in Canada. Northwestern Ont. There are ALOT of operators that, right around now are going to be hiring for dock hands, rampies and quite frankly if you skip these towns(seeing as your going to be literally right there anyway), your nuts.

A few spots to consider.

Sioux Lookout,
Lockhart Air, top notch operation, with Derrick and Danielle being amazing owners to work for. They hire low time folks such as yourself for rampies quite often.(This is where I started my career 10 years ago.)

Wasaya, mind you I don't know if they have there rampie program in effect anymore.

Bamaji Air, Slate falls. They hire dock hands

Pickle Lake,
There is northstar air which is another great operation, as well as wasaya again.

Ear Falls,
You got there Kay Air Service, Red Lake Air and a couple others that I can't remember.

Than there is Red Lake,

Well, there Kabeelo, Red Lake servies, Wasaya, Green Air, and a few others.

In Kenora you got kenora sea planes.

Now I am sure I am missing a quite a few that others could list, but my point is any one of these operators would be awesome to work for. From my experience's as well I would definetly go the float plane route as the time on floats is something that when your in your 50's you'll look back and go, "those were the days".

Also with a smaller company like this, you will get flying more as there is less other rampies to compete. Also, most of these guys work by, "you did a great job, worked hard so next summer you will be flying the 180." From there you are on your way up.

Anyway, good luck with your decision.

This was just my opinion

[iamnomaverick]

Thank you guys for the advice and the support.. I have just signed up for couchsurfers and I will give it a shot !!

As for the operators in northern Ontario, I am working out the route that I should take from Hamilton whether it is to take HWY17 (Trans Canada) across to Thunder bay then Winnipeg or if I should go up HWY11 and hit places like Timmins,Hearst, Kapuskasing,Geraldton. I don't know much about the operators up that way but I am currently researching them..

Float flying has never really been my thing for some reason and I am not really looking for seasonal work rather a full time year round job. So I am looking into getting into the land plane side of the business..

Thanks a lot boys and girls!

[flyinhigh]

Thank you guys for the advice and the support.. I have just signed up for couchsurfers and I will give it a shot !!

Float flying has never really been my thing for some reason and I am not really looking for seasonal work rather a full time year round job. So I am looking into getting into the land plane side of the business..

Thanks a lot boys and girls!

I can understand that, all I was suggesting though was not to put everything into only a few companies. As you never know, the big guys maybe full up where kenora sea plane may have a position for you when you show up at the door. If this is your only offer at that point I personally wouldn't turn it down as you may walk out the door and not get anything else.

I will suggest though, as I am sure many here could. Try the float thing, even in introductory flight to it, for me it was like cra.....er uh thongs, Very addicting. It really is a amazing experience.

Also, I for got to list. On your way through tbay, Try Kelner. I am not to sure if they hire low time drivers but ya never know.

[iamnomaverick]

I don't know about spending more $ on a float rating right now, I am sort of broke after paying for all my training all by myself (No loans,no help, just hard work and lots of overtime at work)...

But I would definitely consider it in the future ... Thanks again !

[LTGICCCCG]

Mav this book helped me out a lot on my trip...Highly recommended! Good luck!

[FighterPilot]

Like everyone else says, don't put your eggs all in one basket, a jobs a job. I was born and raised in NWO and was always around float planes. I was lucky enough to get a job as a dockhand in the summers while I was in high school and started building my resume, however as much fun as float flying is, the whole seasonal part kinda turned me off. (I know there are operators that fly year round, but in this day in age they're few and far between.) Eventually I used that dockhand experience to help me get other jobs, and now I'm in CYXL doing what I wanna do to start my career.

[iamnomaverick]

LTGICCCCG, I would tell you that this bridge is for you to jump off but I am gonna be nice !


Fighterpilot, I am going to be stopping at YXL to drop off a resume with Lockheart Air Service on my way to YYG from YPL..

I am starting my road trip this coming Sunday early in the AM, first stop YPL then off to YXL and YYG from there. YRL is an option but I am not sure yet.. If I don't get anything in YWG I plan to head up to YTH and maybe wait out for an opportunity or continue on to YKF..

Wish me luck boys and girls !

Thanks for everyone that responded on here or PMed me ..

[cdnpilot77]

[quote="iamnomaverick"]If I don't get anything in YWG I plan to head up to YTH and maybe wait out for an opportunity or continue on to YKF..[quote]

Enjoy the trip and best of luck!! But make sure you continue on to YZF...YKF goes a loooong way in the wrong direction

[iamnomaverick]

If I don't get anything in YWG I plan to head up to YTH and maybe wait out for an opportunity or continue on to YKF..

Enjoy the trip and best of luck!! But make sure you continue on to YZF...YKF goes a loooong way in the wrong direction

oopss.. I stand corrected, YZF. Thanks cdnpilot77 !

[Tiny Voices]

Good luck and safe drive! Also, YYG is also very much in the opposite direction. Thinking Geraldton (YGQ) perhaps? Don't know if there's much going on there these days, but if you're heading that way, may as well continue up the road to Nakina and see what's the hap at Nakina Air Service.

[cdnpilot77]

oopss.. I stand corrected, YZF. Thanks cdnpilot77 !

No problem Lets us know how it goes, good luck and have fun!!

[iamnomaverick]

Hello there,

A little change in plans again.. It will be YHM straight to YWG with possibly a quick stop in YXL.. I am expecting to arrive in YWG sometime in the late afternoon or early evening..

So if anyone knows anyone that knows someone who has a room or crash pad that they want to rent out for few nights or possibly more if things go well please PM me.. I would like to save some money by not paying 75 bucks a night for motels..

Thanks a lot for all the support again !!

Adam

[fish4life]

try stop in Grace Lake (the pas's close to town airport) at missinippi, might be worth giving them a call as it sounds like there is a few people moving around there. http://www.missinippiair.ca/contact.php

[Les Habitants]

Maverick,

Just to save you a bit of time-don't come up to YTH if you are hoping just for Perimeter. In fact, I don't think anyone (except creeway aviation who I heard was hiring Navajo drivers) has their HQ up here. Missinnippi is in the Pas, and Perimeter's HQ is in Winnipeg. Perimeter also has a "no walk in" policy. Meaning they won't accept your resume if you walk in and deliver it to them-they will ask you to apply online. Pretty unfortunate for hopefuls, but the only way to do it now.

IF, however, you do make it up to YTH, shoot me a PM.

Make sure you try Fast Air in Winnipeg (if the CP is still Friesen, he is interested in fishing and cottage life-you can really shmooze him over with that!), drop by SkyNorth to see if they are hiring low timers to dispatch and go navajo cojo until they have 500 hours (than they move over to BE90 FO), drop by Keewatin, and I'd skip stopping in at Keystone if I were you.
In Sioux Lookout if you make it, SkyCare I believe hires rampies to later go Navajo FO-Metro FO.

Sorry for the late additions, just saw your thread now. Good luck, if you need anymore help, feel free to PM me.

[LTGICCCCG]

Gonna miss you round the house bro, got some more book recommendations for you!

[iamnomaverick]

fish4life and Les Habitants, thanks a lot for the tips....LTGICCCCG,I will miss you too buddy!I have a feeling you are gonna be coming down here too..
I arrived in YWG last night skipping both the Sioux and Red Lake due to all operators up there telling me that I am gonna be wasting my time and money (Gas was 1.35 a liter in NWO) going up there and that they are over staffed at the moment..

I have a few tips in regards to the drive and places to stay and some other money saving tips for those that will be going on their own road trip in the future.. I will post them in a separate thread when my head is clear and my thoughts are more organized..

I am going out this morning to check out the operators in YWG and hopefully come up with something..

I keep you all updated !

Adam

P.S. Still looking for a room to rent in YWG, Paying for a motel will drain my bank account very fast it seems !