Making the road trip to float country

floatgoat · Post by **floatgoat** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:04 pm

Just had a few questions about making the trip up to north western ontario in hopes of getting my first float job. A little background first; I've already made loads of phone calls and sent both emails and hard copy resume package's. Nothing definite yet as I'm certainly in the low time catagory, 270 total, 25 on floats all PIC aside from the rating. Was planing on going the first week in April cause it seems most operators aren't around until then, is this true? Should I be going out next week? Another question, aside from the obvious online resources (this site, pilotinterviews.com, tc operators site) are there any other listings of float operators in this area? Just trying really hard to get that first job and any tips or suggestions would be great.

Highsea · Post by **Highsea** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:47 pm

I never had to do a road trip to find work. But I have friends that have and only one worked out. that because he was in the right place at the right time. your float time is very low so don't be scared to work the dock this summer to build more time...... it's free time

180 · Post by **180** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:47 pm

pilotcareercentre.com, air carrier directory, float operators.

Also try Tourism Ontario (google it) and search "fly-in" lodges, camps, resorts, etc.

Good luck.

Tui · Post by **Tui** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:50 pm

Get a JP Fleets CD. It has everyone and you can search by types, locations, whatever you want. Very handy.

zero · Post by **zero** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:19 pm

Check yer PM's.

North Shore · Post by **North Shore** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:16 pm

I did the drive....twice. The first year, everyone said (in the middle/end of March) "Oh, you should have been here in February - and get more time!"
A year and 50 float hours later, the story in February was "Come back in April!"

North of You · Post by **North of You** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:56 am

Ahh yes the road trip. Did it back in the day and it worked out just fine. You must understand that these folks you are applying to get hundreds of resumes from every Tom Dick and Harry every year looking for the same thing: a start. Most of these resumes are very quickly discarded or end up in a large pile never to be looked at again.

I would suggest you hit the car and make your way up to the Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake, Dryden area and show your face. A lot of your success is dependent on your look, personality and showing you will do what it takes to get that first job. Everyone can send a resume from down south, but showing up at the door will give you instand points. Guys with earrings, nose rings or tattoos covering every part of your body will not allow you to fit in, and they won’t want you. (Hint: Get a plaid jacket from Canadian tire.) Give them a call first to find out what time they might be looking for someone and then plan you trip accordingly.

And don’t be afraid to work the ramp. No one wants to hear that all you want to do is to fly, and working the ramp is not something you are interested in or worse. Most of these guys had to do the same thing and don’t like hearing you say that that this is beneath you. You show the wrong attitude to one guy, and your reputation may precede you at the next place. It’s a very small industry up there. If they like you, before you know it you will be flying. The fact is they are running out of float drivers up north, and they need someone that has what it takes. Good luck and enjoy the trip. You will look back fondly on it in years to come.

floatgoat · Post by **floatgoat** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:37 pm

Thanks for all the help everyone. This has answered some questions and it's nice to see people willing to lend a hand. Any more advice would be appreciated, keep it coming.

zero · Post by **zero** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:13 pm

IMHO, a road trip is a waste of time. Everyone I know in the float world got hired over the phone or at least called for an interview, myself included. I did two road trips and neither one produced a thing...I had over 100hrs on floats at the time!!! Use your phone and save your money, just like the ING guy says.

180 · Post by **180** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:26 pm

I disagree with Zero. I got my 'in' by showing up on the doorstep and selling myself...

And the majority of guys I know got their starts the very same way....don't discount the road trip.

Of course, don't just blindly go driving...do your homework, target the possibilities, call them or email them, send them your resume, call or email again to let them know you'll be in the neighbourhood in a week or two, make sure they'll be around and then follow up with a visit.

Good luck.

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:14 am

180's right - it worked for me. I had good luck in Saskatchewan - try LaRonge (I don't know what's there, now) phone Pelican, Buffalo, Sandy and drive to Flin Flon (I know where it is). Uranium was good too, but phone only.

1000 HP · Post by **1000 HP** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 7:07 am

I spent over $600 in fuel and lodging to drive to an interveiw for an overseas job and still didn't get it. I won't do it again. Hire me over the phone or internet, or pay for me to fly to the interveiw. Money is hard to come by, so don't give it to the oil companies.

P.S. Try Bob at Norse Lodge in Manitoba. He's tough to work for but you will get a couple of hundred hours on floats. Or Sandy Lake...

Rowdy · Post by **Rowdy** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:26 am

Two seperate road trips.. Both cost in the neighbourhood of 1200 bucks in fuel/food/cheap hotels and campsites (I had a tent with me) Mind you I was driving from southern BC.. I stopped in every freakin backwater spot imagineable. First trip got offered two different jobs on my way back home.

The second trip didn't net a damned thing, cept some memories and a jaw infection.

a $258 phone bill for all the long distance calls and faxes is what got me my first actual float job. Call everyone you can find or think of.. I spent 4 weeks doing nothing but hunting on the internet, the phone books and all the other sources I could possibly think of. If the boss/cp/owner/ops man even remotely hints that you have a shot. Call em again in a week and again and again. Persistence (without bordering on annoyance) pays off.

There are quite a few ops that'll put you on a supercub/180/185 whilst working the dock the first season.

Best of luck to you!

Cheers,
Rowdy

R985 · Post by **R985** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:11 pm

There's a small float/wheel operator in the narrows of Lake Winnipeg that a lot of people miss. You'll start on the C206 on wheels and work your way up from there. (C185, DHC-2, PA-31-310&350, C208B, C208Amphib) The days are long, the days off are few but the pay is decent and the experience gained is top notch. The Company is Wamair and I'm pretty sure they'll have a few spots in the spring. Good Luck! This brings back so many memories! Good and Bad!

Don't let fear and common sense get in your way!

Tui · Post by **Tui** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:47 am

Do your homework first. Call everyone and tell them that you're coming up in March (or whenever) and ask if there will be anyone you can talk to when you show up. If everyone says don't come until April or that a bunch of the people you want to talk to are going to be out of town on the show circuit, you can plan your trip accordingly. I still advise getting a JP Fleets to help with the homework. You can search for companies with float operations, see which ones have entry level planes and create your own database with ideal companies listed by location. Then you just hop in your auto and connect the dots.

Worked for me.

floatpiperdriver · Post by **floatpiperdriver** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:27 pm

Best advice I ever got: Just don't bullsh.t anyone, they'll see right through it.

Boss Hawg · Post by **Boss Hawg** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:10 pm

Tui wrote:If everyone says don't come until April or that a bunch of the people you want to talk to are going to be out of town on the show circuit, you can plan your trip accordingly.

Or why not just go to the show if all the people you want to talk to will be there, all lined up in one place instead of scattered across all of NWO. Sure not all operators will be there (ie charter ops won't be there and not everyone goes to all the shows - some lodges don't go to any) but even if there are 2 or 3 people you want to talk to I would say it would be worth it. But talk to everyone you can while you are there of course cuz something else may come up, just be smart about it and make sure you're not blowing a sale. Go when it's slow (most people will be bored out of their minds anyway) and keep an eye out for customers.

I know there's mixed opinions on this but it's what worked for me getting my first job.

CARS 602.03 · Post by **CARS 602.03** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:12 pm

Well I think a road trip is a good idea. I did a trip last year during April, probably during the 1st or 2nd week of it and I ended up getting a job. Here are the circumstances; I knew the company was looking for a dock worker, I knew that people had graduated from the dock to the 180 in previous years and I talked to them before the trip.

All I did was drive up there on a day I knew they'd be there and talked to the chief pilot and dropped the resume off to him. He hired me on the spot and I learned later on that had I not made the drive up, I wouldn't have picked up the job.

So it was worth it for me... I'd just talk to them first and make sure they ARE looking to hire.

QKclown · Post by **QKclown** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:35 am

i did a road trip up to red lake. talked to mr. riddel @ chimo air. very approachable gentleman.

he was the only one there as all the others were away down south on a fishing expedition that they do every year. wait til at least mid april. i went too early. mr. riddel gave me the advice to move up and get a job anywhere i could, and be sure to make my name known by all the operators, even if that meant pumping gas at the local gas bar. forget about the money for now. you are already in debt and will be for a couple more years.

short term pain, long term gain
good luck

Making the road trip to float country

Making the road trip to float country

...

roady to float country