Conair Career Advice

[SkyWolfe]

Hiya!

I was just wondering...

If I really wanted to work at Conair one day, like it was my ultimate career goal... How would I build my time/apply to help become a worthy applicant one day?

Cheers,

Wolfie

[302sc]

you could check the type of airplanes they use, and get the kind of experience they look for like float time, taildragger time, multi engine ifr, etc
remember you would be in the field with no time off so as important as flight time is ,the ability to get along with your flight group out in the field .
also do not forget the pilots are unionized so until your number come up for that plump job you may have to wait and wait,... but conair is a great place to work I should know I spent 12 years there.a lot of pilots are always applying ,so keep at it ..

[Lurch]

Somebody came on here, I think they were from Conair, within the last year and posted advice on what type of experience one should try and get before applying, unfortunately I can't find it I'll keep looking.

Lurch

[chipmunk]

At least one of the pilots there had prior experience flying a heavy twin turbine on low level survey.

[North Shore]

Wolfie,

Take a drive out to YXX in the fall, once all of the birds are back from the summer, and go and talk to their chief pilot - he should be able to give you the straight goods..

BUT! IIRC, you have a littl'un running around - you might want to think long and hard about the sacrifices and difficulties that will be involved in being away for 2,3,4 months in the summer while trying to parent your child.

[sarg]

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=49558&p=476056#p476056

here's the link

[Flybabe]

North Shore has a very valid point.

[chipmunk]

BUT! IIRC, you have a littl'un running around - you might want to think long and hard about the sacrifices and difficulties that will be involved in being away for 2,3,4 months in the summer while trying to parent your child.

Sacrifices? Yes...absolutely. But as far as I know from Wolfie's past posts, she has a partner who is capable of being a parent as well. Just because they have a child doesn't mean she has to sacrifice a career goal. Conair sounds like something she has to build time towards, so it will be several years before she has a chance at a position, so the child would be older. Dads do work like this (and sometimes stay away more, for 8 out of 12 months, on and off) and I don't see why a mom couldn't...

[SkyWolfe]

Thanks everyone

Yeah, I think its a long long ways away, but any time I build now or in the future would feel better if it was going towards an end goal... I doubt Conair will go away anytime soon, or at least I hope not!

Cheers,

Wolfie

[Just Duckie]

I think that NS is speaking/typing from personal experience!

[snoopy]

Hey chipmunk....
+1!

Kirsten B.

[Rowdy]

daddy is also flying. Gonna be a tough choice but Someones gonna have to pick

I myself am steering the career in that direction. Leaving it there as an option for when I become what they're looking for, a burnt out bush pilot haha.

[CLguy]

If you want a career in firefighting why not plan to get on with an organization that will at least give you days off and allow you a family life. Man this is 2009 and the days of heading to a summer base for 4 months staight with no scheduled time off should be over!! Oh yea I forgot this is aviation and a family life should still take back seat to the job committment!!

[sarg]

If you want a career in firefighting why not plan to get on with an organization that will at least give you days off and allow you a family life. Man this is 2009 and the days of heading to a summer base for 4 months staight with no scheduled time off should be over!! Oh yea I forgot this is aviation and a family life should still take back seat to the job committment!!

Conair pilots are unionized, so I would assume they would have something worked out. But I cann't see any firefighting groups private or government giving massive amounts of time off in the summer.

Below is the CAR requirement for time off in Aerial Work, which I believe is where firefighting falls, which means the required time off for your typical 90-120 day contact would be at least 13 days. Even with 7 days in a row depending where you're based and where the family is spending time together could involve alot of time and money.

As with any career choice ,in or out of flying, research the working conditions before you committ yourself. That way you will not be disappointed and bitter once achieve your "dream job".



TIME FREE FROM DUTY

At least 24 consecutive hours 3 times within each 30 consecutive days and 13 times within each 90 consecutive days.

NOTE: Days off (i.e. at least 24 consecutive hours for weather or mechanical problems, etc.) can be applied towards the 30 and 90 day requirements.

For Air Taxi or Aerial Work operations, or with a deHavilland DHC-6 aircraft not conducting a scheduled passenger service, or with a helicopter not conducting a scheduled passenger service or logging operations, the 24 consecutive hours 3 times within each 30 consecutive days may be replaced by:

(a) following at least 5 consecutive days free from duty, a flight crew member may be assigned duty for up to 42 consecutive days;

(b) the flight crew member shall receive one period of at least 5 consecutive days free from duty following any duty assignment that exceeds 30 consecutive days; and

(c) flight time shall not exceed 120 hours within 30 consecutive days and 180 hours within 42 consecutive days.

NOTE: The air operator has three options in scheduling flight crews based on the type of operation and the flight time requirements.

1) 7 consecutive days off to zero the flight time for "seasonal" operations involving high flight time;

2) 5 consecutive days off for long contracts, especially in remote areas, involving less flight time; or

3) 3 days off within 30 days for average flight time requirements.

In all cases the flight crew members will receive a minimum of 13 days off within 90 consecutive days.

NOTE: Days off for weather or mechanical problems, etc. taken throughout the 42 consecutive days do not reduce the requirement for 5 consecutive days off. However, these days off can be applied towards the 90 day requirement.

[CLguy]

Well Sarg I wouldn't go assuming if I was you because there is ways around the CARS and Conair as well as other companies have it all figured out. You are correct they are unionized and represented by the Operating Engineers Union but it still doesn't mean you will get any time off during the summer. Trust me you won't be getting any 7 day stretches off to enjoy time with your family. Instead you will be on a 1 hour and 1 minute call during the slow periods so you are not accumulating duty time and if you don't get called that day it is considered your day off. You may also get days off before the contract even starts and days off at the end of it if necessary to satisfy the CARS.

There are firefighting operations who actually allow you time off during the fire season to enjoy time with your family but like you said, research the work conditions before committing. I know a lot of marriages and relationships that have gone south because of this business so don't assume anything!!

[sarg]

Well Sarg I wouldn't go assuming if I was you because there is ways around the CARS and Conair as well as other companies have it all figured out.

Not really but within the CARS is the following:

2) An air operator may provide a flight crew member with time free from duty other than as required by paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) if
(a) the time free from duty is authorized in the air operator certificate; and
(b) the air operator and the flight crew member comply with the Commercial Air Service Standards

They're not getting around the CARS if the let is contained within it and the requirements are met.

You are correct they are unionized and represented by the Operating Engineers Union but it still doesn't mean you will get any time off during the summer. Trust me you won't be getting any 7 day stretches off to enjoy time with your family. Instead you will be on a 1 hour and 1 minute call during the slow periods so you are not accumulating duty time and if you don't get called that day it is considered your day off. You may also get days off before the contract even starts and days off at the end of it if necessary to satisfy the CARS.

Do you or did you work for Conair? Is this something you know for a fact or just something that you heard?

From the CARS:

"flight crew member on reserve" - means a flight crew member who has been designated by an air operator to be available to report for flight duty on notice of more than one hour; (membre d'équipage de conduite en réserve)

So both the pilot and the company are breaking the CARS. A pilot on reserve is considered to have a duty day and time off requirements are based on duty days not flight times or days where flights occur. I didn't say you would get 7 days off, I said even with it you would have a tough time spending some time together.

There are firefighting operations who actually allow you time off during the fire season to enjoy time with your family but like you said, research the work conditions before committing. I know a lot of marriages and relationships that have gone south because of this business so don't assume anything!!

Again if you know some inform the group.

[CLguy]

Since I have been flying Air Tankers for over 25 years, yep I pretty much know how it works and yes it is fact. You are free from duty unless they need you!

As far as regular scheduled time off there is Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

[Flybabe]

Not that it pertains to tanker ops back home, BUT -

The company that I work for had not *UNTIL LAST YEAR* provided for ANY time off when you were on contract. The longest contracts here are 180 days with a 30 day post season. That's an awful long time. Last year was the first year we were offered a 2 week break.

Now, granted, Canadian operators typically have bases, we don't. We go where the work is, which means we check in and out of hotels every day. There's somewhat more security that way back home, and trust me, it becomes a big deal after a while.

Would I recommend this career to someone with a family? Nope. An older family, perhaps - but a young family, no. That's just my opinion, though. This comes from listening to the comments of those that have been involved in the industry for a while. Then again, everyone is different and the ability to handle the lifestyle varies. I would like a bit more permanency at this point in my life and I have NO family other than a new hubby. A base would sure be nice, at least a portion of a base.

CLGuy's signature says it right: "you can love your airplane but your airplane will never love you back".

[North Shore]

As far as regular scheduled time off there is Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

ummm, not exactly. We get 2 six day blocks off at our convenience (subject to seniority) over the duration of a ~ 5 month season...

[SeptRepair]

Hey Flybabe correct me if im wrong, but i thought the USFS mandated through their contracts 12 days on 2 off or 6 days on 1 off sched. I know the Mars crews ( pilots, mechanics etc) are being kept to that schedule.

[CLguy]

Flybabe, I didn't want this thread to become a shit show against Conair but more of a information session from someone in the know. I agree totally with you that working for some companies is not for newly weds or folks with young families because being based away from families for up to and sometimes longer than 4 or 5 months will ultimately end in a split. I am not saying that they all end but a good portion of them do and the only reason is because of all the time away. Where I work here in Ontario, we were lucky in the fact that people realized that families were more important than bush burning and we have a system where you have lots of opportunity to be with your family and friends during the summer. It wasn't always like that as I remember my first contract in Ontario on a Canso was 93 days with no time off, with the possibility of being extended which was usually the norm. The first year flying an Air Tanker I was married on March 1st left home mid April for the west, saw my wife for 2 days in June and never saw her again until September. For me that was one contract but for lots of people in this industry that is the norm.

I just want people to realize that this is still going on and Conair is one of the companies that you can expect this life style from so if you expect quality time with your family during the summer do not get into this game!!

[Flybabe]

CLGuy - Oh no, not at all!! There are up sides and down sides to every occupation, just giving my opinions on some of the things people don't think of. Effects on family was what I was getting at. Conair has always been up at the top of my list too.

SeptRepair - yes, we have 1 day off a week. I neglected to mention that in my post, thank you for correcting me on that.

[CLguy]

Flybabe another thing that people don't think about is all the down time you have while sitting at some base for the summer watching it pour rain. If you don't live at that base or your family is elsewhere it can take a real toll on people who are away from their loved ones and the last 2 summers is a real test for some. You have no work to do and depending on which company you work for that could mean a big hit to the paycheque but yet you still can't go home.

[Flybabe]

Another valid point to consider!

[North Shore]

Well, having just come home from 12 days hols with the boss and littl'uns, I'm pretty glad to sit on a couch and veg while the rain falls - I'm exhausted! (Sad when you have to go to work for a rest!)