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Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:06 pm
by Justwannafly
Just saw a job posting & was wondering what the job would entail....probable location, type of flying, & likelyhood of advancment
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 7:21 am
by Rudy
Goodluck. At Southwest only the senior 737 capts get offered the caravans.
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:09 pm
by privateer
Ya I hear there using the caravan for lost baggage transfer. Good job southwest for choosing the caravan!
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:02 pm
by Rowdy
Don't pay attention to the other two clownies! hahaha Thats right you heard me privateer!
It's SUNwest. Main base here in lovely calgary. The FO spot is basically due to the fact that the machines don't have an autopilot I'm guessing. Also to help load and unload all that crap day in and day out.
Not sure what the advancements are like. Good slot for a 250hr wonder.. not so much for anyone with actual time.
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:39 pm
by Doc
Still, better than working a ramp.
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:47 pm
by husky
Can't they find some poor sucker working there ramp right now to fill this position? Oh right, then they'd have to hire a non-pilot to replace them and pay them a wage they might be able to live on in Calgary....
When a company hires outside the company to fill FO spots, when there are poor souls toiling away on the ramp, talk about a kick in the nuts.
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:44 am
by avmg
I hope your cover letter wasn't addressed to Southwest!! Ooops.. Hahaha! Either way, good luck with the process and don't stop trying!
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:10 am
by Justwannafly
avmg wrote:I hope your cover letter wasn't addressed to Southwest!! Ooops.. Hahaha! Either way, good luck with the process and don't stop trying!
well their job is not quite what I'm looking for, I would prefer a King air or a 1900 BUT still currious all the same
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:42 pm
by bigcanuck
Last I checked everyone on the ramp with a license is going on the PA31?
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:27 pm
by Wacko
bigcanuck wrote:Last I checked everyone on the ramp with a license is going on the PA31?
where did you hear this?
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:56 pm
by C206Pilot
so, let me get this straight....sunwest DOES have people on the ground waiting to get upgraded.....and they're hiring a Caravan FO with 300 hours from outside, direct entry?
i fucking hate canada and this industry.....im so glad companies are getting screwd over now with all of this movement....and you still see shit like this....its one thing when there AREN'T any jobs out there, so you work the ramp to wait for something...but when you see a company hiring a 300 hour pilot for right seat on a caravan and not promote someone, that company deserves what they get....and for me, its a bad reputation now.
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:16 pm
by xsbank
Like I said before, ramp guys and dispatchers make a company; pilots are a dime a dozen. Where else are you going to get a plane-savvy, eager worker who you can pay McDonald's wages to and he won't leave??? I'm with you, C206pilot.
Shake your heads, rampies. If that happened to me I might just lose it.
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:14 am
by Freddy_Francis
xsbank and 206 i 3rd that motion....disgusting....you spend $40,000 plus, you spend 2-4 years studying and training and then you decide to sit on a ramp for "6months" waiting for a spot in the right seat? give me a fucking break so sad.....
now it was said that sunwest was doing this half ramp half right seat deal....thats one thing....but being a "rampie" for 6+months and then job ads going up for outside fo's? HOLY HELL!!!!!!
(blood pressure to high....im stopping here)
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:58 pm
by privateer
Well actually the rampies have already done the ground school for the hoe so why go on the caravan? I think Sunwest's new ramp/fo program should be an example for all charter companies. It won't hurt a 200hr wonder to get their hands dirty and learn a few things about running a company before they start flying.
2 cents
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:47 pm
by RatherBeFlyingInCanada
privateer wrote:Well actually the rampies have already done the ground school for the hoe so why go on the caravan? I think Sunwest's new ramp/fo program should be an example for all charter companies. It won't hurt a 200hr wonder to get their hands dirty and learn a few things about running a company before they start flying.
2 cents
Not a bad idea, sunwest is a great company. Lots of room for advancement.
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:02 am
by SQ
so have they choosen the lucky 208 F/O yet ?
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:29 am
by privateer
why don't you phone KM and find out. Besides the reason there is a caravan opening is becuase one of the 208's dosen't have Autopilot. I would be going for something better if I were u

Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 10:52 am
by Wacko
Just called, they are still going threw the internal guys. No decision made.
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:14 am
by Rowdy
Freddy_Francis wrote:xsbank and 206 i 3rd that motion....disgusting....you spend $40,000 plus, you spend 2-4 years studying and training and then you decide to sit on a ramp for "6months" waiting for a spot in the right seat? give me a fucking break so sad.....
now it was said that sunwest was doing this half ramp half right seat deal....thats one thing....but being a "rampie" for 6+months and then job ads going up for outside fo's? HOLY HELL!!!!!!
(blood pressure to high....im stopping here)
Okay.. 40k and 2 maybe 3 years of pretty simple and easy work. Flying and the flight training is a lot of fun. Grow up.
You're entitled to NOTHING in this life.. Work for it.. or choose something else.
I'm sorry guys.. I'm usualy captain positivity.. but this attitude that "I have 40 or 50k in my licence and 2-3 years and I should HAVE a job in a turbine right now and make 50k a year" is bullshit. We've all been there.
At least sunwest is puttin ramp guys onto machines.. That kicks ass for 250hr guys. Wasn't happening 5-6 years ago.
I Love you all
Rowdy
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:38 pm
by Dojoroboto
Hey;
Just got the call for the Caravan Job interview. Anyone who might have some tips, or common questions, please PM me or post them.
Thank you
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:00 pm
by xsbank
Where's the key to the commissary cupboard?
Break a leg!
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:25 pm
by Wacko
Dojoroboto: what kind of qualifications do you have if you don't mind my asking.
Cheers

Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:14 pm
by Justwannafly
Rowdy wrote:Freddy_Francis wrote:xsbank and 206 i 3rd that motion....disgusting....you spend $40,000 plus, you spend 2-4 years studying and training and then you decide to sit on a ramp for "6months" waiting for a spot in the right seat? give me a fucking break so sad.....
now it was said that sunwest was doing this half ramp half right seat deal....thats one thing....but being a "rampie" for 6+months and then job ads going up for outside fo's? HOLY HELL!!!!!!
(blood pressure to high....im stopping here)
Okay.. 40k and 2 maybe 3 years of pretty simple and easy work. Flying and the flight training is a lot of fun. Grow up.
You're entitled to NOTHING in this life.. Work for it.. or choose something else.
I'm sorry guys.. I'm usualy captain positivity.. but this attitude that "I have 40 or 50k in my licence and 2-3 years and I should HAVE a job in a turbine right now and make 50k a year" is bullshit. We've all been there.
At least sunwest is puttin ramp guys onto machines.. That kicks ass for 250hr guys. Wasn't happening 5-6 years ago.
I Love you all
Rowdy
Rowdy I have NO PROBLEM with them hiring outside guys...BUT if they hire guys & gals with those qualifications & tell them that they have to work the ramp & then they will get the job. THEN it IS owed to the rampies....It was part of their contract...Break yoru back with us & when a seat comes available you will be given the oportunity to warm it up.
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:15 pm
by Justwannafly
I might add that if they were hired on the ramp but NOT promised the seat then sucks to be you....it's not fair but then again it's not owed to you either
Re: Southwest Caravan Drivers
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:13 am
by privateer
justwannafly, I think you should work the ramp
Rowdy loves king air's
