Syncrude

[leftoftrack]

Any current WAWCON on syncrude flight dept

[ClevelandSteamer]

Must be a good gig, there's nothing on AvCanada about them!

[loopa]

I'm going based on pure memory here but if I recall correctly, 90k start and 50k sign up bonus given in hopes of you buying a place in ymm and stick around?

Very little attrition so probably a bit of a wait before going left.

[co-joe]

The only real detractors are living in YMM and that you'll land at yc eg and mm and mildred lake and virtually nothing else. everything else is good. pay sched metal etc.

[C208]

It’s human nature to focus on the negative. It makes for a better story. I just wish people would realize that there is an actual community here in Fort McMurray with good things happening. People come here and they are surprised to see that we have a hospital and a library and a YMCA. It’s like all they expect are a few run down shacks, a bar and general store. Every place has it's good bad and ugly.

I can't comment on Syncrude flying to only a few locations, but I know some pilots based out of Calgary brag about how great it is to fly only to Wabasaca at the wee hours of the morning for well over a year. Or the bag run...

Doing Medivacs I can really only recall flying to a half a dozen different places a year myself.

I will agree that the, "People of Walmart" seems the spread outside of Walmart and into many of our establishments, streets and family restaurants.......but I'm in the same boat with many others that want that outlook of this city to change.

[Beefitarian]

C208 is right, part of the reason for so much fort MacMurry miss information is so many people who have gone up once tell their tales. Obviously they did not enjoy their trip or they would have at least returned.

Stayed in camp during a down swing in the kitchen, found a dirty shower and on their trip to town they walked into the Oil Can just after someone threw up.

There have been some trying to make a life for their family amongst the guys up to fill bags with money and in some cases work from fairly early on.

I tried to move my wife up once. She never returned. Some times you have to bring your own good mood to a get together. Two people might have very different ideas about the same party.

Now as for Syncrude. My first trip up to the region was to work on a substation for them in 1998. It was with one of my least favourite contractors but the camp was run by Syncrude, it was fine with me. I have been in two camps that were significantly better but many that were worse. The consensus was Syncrude was the better place to work in both wages and treatment. I don't know how Albion fits in or the newer one but while I was at muskeg for construction, many people still liked Syncrude best.

I would suggest you give it a try. Even if it does not end up being your choice for the rest of your career you could easily do far worse. It should also reflect well on your résumé for the next phase.

[Shiny Side Up]

[AJV]

It’s human nature to focus on the negative. It makes for a better story. I just wish people would realize that there is an actual community here in Fort McMurray with good things happening. People come here and they are surprised to see that we have a hospital and a library and a YMCA. It’s like all they expect are a few run down shacks, a bar and general store. Every place has it's good bad and ugly.

I can't comment on Syncrude flying to only a few locations, but I know some pilots based out of Calgary brag about how great it is to fly only to Wabasaca at the wee hours of the morning for well over a year. Or the bag run...

Doing Medivacs I can really only recall flying to a half a dozen different places a year myself.

I will agree that the, "People of Walmart" seems the spread outside of Walmart and into many of our establishments, streets and family restaurants.......but I'm in the same boat with many others that want that outlook of this city to change.

I think one of the biggest issues with YMM is the cost of living, even at 90g salary I would think it would be difficult to buy a house ( a decent one).

[c560]

90 grand is not enough to make it in ymm. Not to have a house and family..i heard that the guy that's leaving is going to drive a dump truck for syncrude out at site. He'll make twice as much with more time off. That flight department had about 5 people leave in 5 years. Pretty good turn over for a small dep.

[dhc#]

When you gotta put food on the table, you do what you have to do, and having the balls to bail on aviation for the oil patch is admirable.

Anyone know what kinds of oil patch gigs pay good, without having to put in 80 hrs/week....am considering a career change too if the pay is worth it...cause aviation going forward is a dead end