Got offered a position today as a rampee with Transwest Airlines in Regina...( 1 Base anyhow), and I wanted To know if anyone can give me the low-down on this company? Any information, experiences, etc...?

I am a 260 hour pilot looking to for my first flying job and they say about a year or so on the ramp/office before getting into a seat.

I am also trying to decide between Transwest or making the move to Yellowknife in hope of work with Tindi, Sunwest, etc... I am leaving in about a week or so! I have quite a few contacts there so work I don't think would be a problem. I understand that ramp time is a must and this year or so is sort of standard, which is fine with me. I know I have to pay my dues like everyone else.

Any thoughts or comments please let me know what ya think I should do??

I knew this site would come in handy!! Thanks in advance!

I am not a transwest fan but given the option I think i would go to Transwest verses YZF. The sole reason being I keep hearing hoaror stories of guys going to YZF and finding jobs till their break happens then realize that they can't actualy afford to take their flying job. I don't know transwest philosophy but I started at Athabasca airways and they treated their rampies well.

Good luck

I'd always go for the sure thing. Go to Transwest, pay your dues. sometime later if you sill want to go to yellowknife it will still be there.

Transwest dude, Guys are spending in upwards of 2 years on the ramp in YZF, I got my start up there a few years back and while it was good then I wouldn't recomend it to any of my friends now unless you have no other choices.

Cheers and best of luck

if you had already been offered a job in both places, i'd say yzf, but since you only have 1 offer, jump on it man! I just moved from yzf, and it's not as rosy as you think. Take the job you've been offered.

I have been thinking the sure thing aswell there guys...Again, I am not 100% sure about the company considering this is the first time I have ever really heard of them...

I've been told to avoid going to YZF if I can but I see the calibre of pilots that come outta there and I am not sure on what the big concern really is....My goal is too be an effective and professional pilot and I am very willing to do whatever it takes to get me to that position, even if I must move to YZF....Bare in mind, I will not miss the -40 degree weather!

thanks again!

Bare in mind, I will not miss the -40 degree weather!

you'll get your -40 in regina

oh yeah and good luck too

Take the job at transwest. The wait time is shorter than in Yellowknife, you can actually travel in and out of Regina for a resonable price, I am certain the cost of living is cheaper, and they actually offered you a job. Like b-h said, if you still want to go to Yellowknife, wait a couple years, get some time, pay off some loans and make the jump than. You could sit in Yellowknife for two years before finding the ramp job that leads to another two years before flying.

I know a few guys at transwest that started where you are, and they are doing very well now, never heard a complaint.

As a former rampie at Transwest in P-A let me share with you my experience.

I too was offered a job there, and they wanted me there yesterday.

They offerered $7.25/hr and 40hr/wk, overtime paid QUARTERLY and with no guarantee of anything else (including raises).

I had about 330 hrs, com/multi/etc, plus previous experience as a trucker and fueler/rampie. This would have been my lowest paid job since I was doing a paper route.

After a moments hesitation, I said "Sure!"

And off I went on another chapter of my so far doomed aviation career.

I'm not all that familiar with what its like in Regina, but in P-A, not only do you ramp, you also do pax check-in, . bags, . freight (LOTS of freight sometimes, it's amazing what will fit in a Saab), marshall and fuel airplanes.

This you will do for about 6-12 hours a day depending on who else might be available, what flights are flying, the phase of the moon, etc.

After 5 1/2 weeks, I was told things were slowing for the winter, and they were laying me off. Called me at home on my day off. Total notice? 4 days.

Oh well.

I'm back to reality where I'm now making $30/hr, but not flying for a living.

Transwest does offer several advantages if you stick it out long enough. There are ID 90 fares on AC and Northwest as well as discounts with Westjet, but you have to be there 6 months to use them.

If you're still there in the spring, chances are they will require you to move to a northern base, such as Fond-du-Lac, Wollaston or Points North. If you're really lucky, you might be asked to move to Laronge and work the dock. If you're luckier still you might score a right seat in a Twotter, 99 or Navajo. It would help if you had a float rating, but dont expect to get on a 185 without 500 on floats or at least a year right seat in the twotter.

Come fall though, you'll probably be asked to either take a lay off, go back on the ramp (assuming you left the ramp) and/or move to another base for the same $7.25/hr, which, btw, will actually be a pay raise if you have been flying.

Having said all this, I would take the job, just realize that you are VERY dispensible. A second job may be a necessity to make ends meet. Most of the front-end/ramp crew are all low time pilots with varied backgrounds and all share your plight. All are great people. Pilots there will actually talk to you and respect you because most of them were in your shoes at one time as well.

Transwest (and for that matter any airline) is not in the business of making your dreams come true. They are in business to make money. And you are part of that business. What part of that business you end up being involved in may or may not be up to you. See the thread about paying your dues. You will be paying them here, probabably for up to 2 years.


How badly do you want to fly?

Good luck to you!

Cheers!

PS: PM me if you have any other questions.

Jeffry, hope you got my email. Looks like most people on the form tend to lean the same way as myself. Take the sure thing and start putting in the dues as soon as possible. Ramp time seems to fly by at 260 + Kts, after that it's all hours in the log book. Plus I would make the road trip out to Regina for a party weekend, but it would be a warm day in Resolute before I'll make the CYYC-CYZF drive again. Best of luck, let me know how it goes.
Hey Canus...who were you with in YZF, think we might know each other.

I got my start at transwest at the Lynn Lake base on the dock. It was an ok place to work, didn't pay great, but theres not much to spend money on in lynn lake.

As far as Regina goes, I've never heard of anyone from the ramp in regina moving on to flying. That said, I only really stopped in regina for the sched...

Cheers,
PP

Stay out of Wollaston and La Ronge!! Transwest is famous for screwing guys, Jr's specialty. They just keep dangling that carrot in front of ya , some guys come out ok if you stay on for the winter. If not it's the pogey ski team.

Stay out of Wollaston and La Ronge

What the hell are you talking about?!?!?! It's obvious you don't know.

Go to La Ronge or Wollaston!!! La Ronge is where the boss sees you work, why wouldn't you want that. As far as ZWL, the base manager up there is a grat guy that is relly easy to work with.

I'm not saying guys haven't been screwed by PC, but not the ones that work hard. Ususally the guys that have been screwed on the ramp are the ones that are on their way out anyway.

It's not a perfect company, but it's one where a guy can start out on the ramp and end up in a jetstream (oh boy), 1900 or Saab....not too many places like that around.

Powell, hope the job is going well in the Queen city!!

I started my career with Athabaska and carried on with Transwest, and can say that both companies were fair to work for. My vote would be for TW although I don't know much about conditions in YZF. Time on the ramp varies, with rampies taken from different bases to cover flying jobs. I believe they try to be fair when offering copilot positions, given there are ramp positions in every base. Anyway I am not there anymore, but can asure you that there are a great bunch of guys and gals over there. Also, working hard and being prepared to move within the company bases is a must. I think I moved around 6 times and covered every base with exception to Lynn Lake. My 3 Cents.
Good luck with your decision.

well for those about to read the post for the first time.....I've decided to stick it out here with Transwest. So far so good! From the little that I know about the company everything seems to be well in order. Lots of job posts keep everybody interested as always. Seems to be some good movement among employed pilots within the company with some upgrades and want not. I'm in the QR base for now and Regina is alot different then southern Ontario for sure!! A northern base would be great but I think unlikely at this point... My 3 cents:....good opportunity, good people, good times so far so good!! Ramp time is always fun by just scratchin by with Ichibans and Rice! Save the rest for a case!

jackrabbit.....PM me man......I'm curious who it is!!!

well for those about to read the post for the first time.....I've decided to stick it out here with Transwest. So far so good! From the little that I know about the company everything seems to be well in order. Lots of job posts keep everybody interested as always. Seems to be some good movement among employed pilots within the company with some upgrades and want not. I'm in the QR base for now and Regina is alot different then southern Ontario for sure!! A northern base would be great but I think unlikely at this point... My 3 cents:....good opportunity, good people, good times so far so good!! Ramp time is always fun by just scratchin by with Ichibans and Rice! Save the rest for a case!

jackrabbit.....PM me man......I'm curious who it is!!! A.D????

Glad it's working out for you,

Will save a wobbly pop or 2 for you!

Cheers and Good Luck!