Comair goes Turbprop!
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Stratosphere Outbound
Age: 34
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Seems like a clever idea that can only be a winner for all involved.
!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: JNB
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Comair - Solenta - some news and some clarity
The aircraft are supplied and maintained by Solenta.
They'll be operated on Comair's AOC - Comair have full operational control.
Crew seconded to Comair initially, not onto Comair seniority list.
Based out of Lanseria, operating Maputo and Gaborone.
Hopefully more routes and more aircraft to follow.... makes sense, with the cost of fuel at the moment ! Also good for launching new / light routes and adds competition into the market !
BUT... as I stated before on a post here on this forum, it is up to Comair to decide how they structure their network / additional aircraft.
Solenta, as a separate entity, do, however, have more ATR 72's/42's and ERJ 145 LR's on the way, so the future looks good for more jobs for ERJ / ATR Pilots and Engineers - its a win-win.
Solenta has already started the first crew ERJ 145 LR conversion course - first 4 Captains leave for simulator at FlightSafety overseas.....
A couple of the very experienced Training Captains from Airlink have joined Solenta, as well as a few ERJ 135 Pilots.
Aircraft will operate initially with Captains in both seats, whilst more Captains and Co-Pilots do their training. Crew for the ERJ will come from our pilot pool initially ( Captains, and CoPilots, if they qualify, off the ATR's and B1900 ) and from external if we need more...
To ensure progression to ERJ Command, experience Minima for the Co-Pilot position was set at: ( all of our turbo-prop Captains have these minima, so they will qualify and will be ready for ERJ Command asap after some time in the right seat, making friends with the aircraft )
License: ATPL or Frozen ATPL
Total Hours: 2000h
Total PIC: 1000h
Total Multi-engine turbine hours: 500h
Total Multi-engine PIC on gas turbine aircraft: 250h
Engineers for the ERJ will initially be new recruits from the market initially as we don't have ERJ 135/145 rated Engineers. In time, some of the ATR/B1900 Engineers will go for ERJ training.....
They'll be operated on Comair's AOC - Comair have full operational control.
Crew seconded to Comair initially, not onto Comair seniority list.
Based out of Lanseria, operating Maputo and Gaborone.
Hopefully more routes and more aircraft to follow.... makes sense, with the cost of fuel at the moment ! Also good for launching new / light routes and adds competition into the market !
BUT... as I stated before on a post here on this forum, it is up to Comair to decide how they structure their network / additional aircraft.
Solenta, as a separate entity, do, however, have more ATR 72's/42's and ERJ 145 LR's on the way, so the future looks good for more jobs for ERJ / ATR Pilots and Engineers - its a win-win.
Solenta has already started the first crew ERJ 145 LR conversion course - first 4 Captains leave for simulator at FlightSafety overseas.....
A couple of the very experienced Training Captains from Airlink have joined Solenta, as well as a few ERJ 135 Pilots.
Aircraft will operate initially with Captains in both seats, whilst more Captains and Co-Pilots do their training. Crew for the ERJ will come from our pilot pool initially ( Captains, and CoPilots, if they qualify, off the ATR's and B1900 ) and from external if we need more...
To ensure progression to ERJ Command, experience Minima for the Co-Pilot position was set at: ( all of our turbo-prop Captains have these minima, so they will qualify and will be ready for ERJ Command asap after some time in the right seat, making friends with the aircraft )
License: ATPL or Frozen ATPL
Total Hours: 2000h
Total PIC: 1000h
Total Multi-engine turbine hours: 500h
Total Multi-engine PIC on gas turbine aircraft: 250h
Engineers for the ERJ will initially be new recruits from the market initially as we don't have ERJ 135/145 rated Engineers. In time, some of the ATR/B1900 Engineers will go for ERJ training.....
Join Date: May 2006
Location: George, South Africa
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heard they will also be flying out of CT.
Hopefully this will develop into a good regional/domestic feeder division bringing some much needed competition on thinner routes.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: turning inbound
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Solenta
Aircraft will operate initially with Captains in both seats, whilst more Captains and Co-Pilots do their training
Do the expected benefits of this arrangement outweighs the risk factors for Solenta?
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: JNB
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
?
Trainee Captain ( new on type, but experienced as a Captain ) in the left seat, with a Training Captain ( experienced on type ) in the right.
This arrangements is well known and well documented, and extremely safe.... and a practise commonly used worldwide.
This arrangements is well known and well documented, and extremely safe.... and a practise commonly used worldwide.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Gauteng
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Surely a win win for all crew employed by Solenta, a steady progression from B1900 to 145s and off course the Link guys who will surely be queuing! Don`t think Solenta will be employing out of the general aviation market as such for awhile anyway, know of few other people who have applied with lot more than 2000hrs and jet command but were not considered, maybe they will get a call later! On the flip side, all these crew will be bound to Solenta for a year or 2 to come, leaving less competition in the quest for a seat with the local airlines and at the rate some are expanding fleets like SAX, Comair they will be taking a good few pilots from the charter/contract market also bearing in mind that Emirates and other carriers are aggressively recruiting and taking crew away from our local airlines, so all in all things seem to be looking up? Now a Solenta pilot on the B1900 / ATR that have to wait in line for a 145 slot can put in a CV at Link and find a spot on the 135..? 
Now a Solenta pilot on the B1900 / ATR that have to wait in line for a 145 slot can put in a CV at Link and find a spot on the 135..?
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: turning inbound
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Solenta
Trainee Captain ( new on type, but experienced as a Captain ) in the left seat, with a Training Captain ( experienced on type ) in the right.
This arrangements is well known and well documented, and extremely safe.... and a practise commonly used worldwide.
This arrangements is well known and well documented, and extremely safe.... and a practise commonly used worldwide.
Your first post, however, stated that the aircraft will initially operate with two captains. I took this as normal, post training, revenue operation - which is a very, very bad idea.
