Kenn Borek working conditions, costs and training

[StudentPilot]

Can any of the Borek pilots chime in with what the DC3Ts generally do? I know they use several in Antarctica and there is a bit of flying in the arctic and that's about it.

In Antarctica are the planes all based at one airstrip, or does each machine generally fly in a separate area from a separate? If the latter, do crews typically spend their entire tour on one plane at one base or do they get moved around? How long are the typical legs in Antarctica?

In the Arctic where are the DC3Ts generally based or do they move to wherever they're required? Is there much pavement/gravel airstrip flying or is it mostly on skis in the Arctic? Where else have the DC3Ts been recently on international contracts?

[Ref Plus 10]

Can any of the Borek pilots chime in with what the DC3Ts generally do? I know they use several in Antarctica and there is a bit of flying in the arctic and that's about it.

Sure, aside from the flights across Canada, through Europe, etc...

In Antarctica are the planes all based at one airstrip, or does each machine generally fly in a separate area from a separate? If the latter, do crews typically spend their entire tour on one plane at one base or do they get moved around? How long are the typical legs in Antarctica?

Although several planes may end up at the same place from time to time, they're generally all on their own contracts...I don't know too many foundations who could afford to have two DC3Ts on the continent for any period of time. Crews typically go down with the airplane they'll fly for the season...too expensive and no means of transporting between bases to change airplanes. It makes life a lot easier when you get in the same plane you left the night before. Tours range from 2 weeks (That's bad, means you've been fired)...well, it really depends on the contract, but could be anywhere from 1-2 months to 5 months.

In the Arctic where are the DC3Ts generally based or do they move to wherever they're required? Is there much pavement/gravel airstrip flying or is it mostly on skis in the Arctic? Where else have the DC3Ts been recently on international contracts?

I'm not sure how much flying you've done in the actual Arctic, but the snow on lakes is usually only good enough for us to land until June, so the rest of the time is spent on wheels, mostly runway to runway, fair bit of DEW line flight, occasional cargo charter. In the past couple months I've been through South and Central America, Germany, Norway, Iceland, and Greenland. We more or less just go where the contracts are....obviously there's not a huge demand for a 70 year old airplane where a jet or newer type aircraft can do the job...the demand is in the north (and south), so that's where we go. It's a tough, dirty, stressful, heavy lifting, sometimes painful job, but if you asked me how i like it, I'd say without hesitation that it's the best, most rewarding job I've ever had.

Ref

[Mr. North]

What kind of 'contracts' do the DC3T's generally fulfill? Are we talking cargo hauls to short isolated strips? surveys? seasonal passenger service perhaps? I know you can't go into specifics but in general what kind of work do these machines do that have them being moved around all over the world for brief 1-5 month contracts?

[Ref Plus 10]

All of the above. There's a lot of camp moves, scientific camp support in the winter and spring months, passenger sched runs in the summer, with lots of cargo flights, and other assorted charters, and that's just from our established bases. Other contracts I can't really tell you where we end up, but could be anywhere, like our slogan says. Anytime, Anywhere, Worldwide. One of our contracts is operating "Polar 5", a research aircraft, which goes to Germany every summer, then anywhere the Institute may be researching.

Not always glorious, but always fun