Is there any future for nordic aviation?

[Margarita]

Is there anything interesting going on in scandinavia except how to get a jobs from Netjets or from UK or Irish airlines? Such threads could be better placed on other forums.

[captaink]

Instead of being

[Ramsey]

We not try wideroe. It is probably the most interesting flying you are gonna find. Not just in scandinavia but anywhere. And t&c`s there and pretty good. I believe they are still hiring

[Wannagohome]

We not try wideroe. It is probably the most interesting flying you are gonna find. Not just in scandinavia but anywhere. And t&c`s there and pretty good. I believe they are still hiring

Could you please define "interesting flying"
Not trying to pick on you. I would really like to know.

Thanks,

[captaink]

Instead of being

[joerkaaff]

From the -100 operations.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0183860/M/

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1036436/M/

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0345011/M/


Good T&C, competitive salary.

"The smallest large airline in the world."

[Betaranger]

Try Finland, seems to be some action going on over there.

I agree on the T&C's but...

....... It is probably the most interesting flying you are gonna find. Not just in scandinavia but anywhere......

...c'mon Ramsey!!:= := :=

Br.

[Ramsey]

Can not find they quote. But read somewhere that their operation is the 2nd most challenging in the world. Can not remember who was number 1. Jumpseat with them for 7 seven days in jan or feb and you will see why. If you could..

[Crossunder]

Wideroe is really crap at giving potential applicants any info about their operation. But here's what I can say about the company;
WF is one of VERY few companies where you're still required to use your piloting skills and airmanship. In terms of interesting flying, you operate a lot in un-controlled airspace, down in narrow valleys on short, slippery runways during the winter storms. A lot of "action", so to speak. Sure, you could move to Africa or Alaska to do some bush flying, but why the hell would you want to move there? And the T&Cs would suck big-time anyway :cool:
In the summertime, the flying in Northern Norway is an absolute delight (if you can handle the early check-in times... :zzz: ) But you'll also have the opportunity to do some mindless, braindead "airline" flying; just bid your way to the TRF base and into the Q400 cokcpit. Easy-peasy and very relaxed.
The T&Cs are very good, even when compared to the larger airlines. You will not find another turboprop/regional airline with anything resembling WFs T&Cs!!! Excellent staff travel deal on Star Alliance and a myriad of other airlines, nice pension, solid insurance, and let's not forget the 7 on - 7 off roster :D ...or, if you prefer, you can also bid for another schedule which guarantees every week-end off (often accompanied by days off on thu/fri and/or mon/tue), whichever suits your needs. Now where else can you do that? :ok:
Granted, I'd like to fly the big jets just to try it a couple of years, but I'd never want to move abroad and spend my life in an endless jet lag, away from my family, just to fly a heavy aircraft...
New pilot course started last week, and another starting in September.

[TuckUnder77]

Do you know for sure that there is another course coming up in September? Have the candidates been selected yet?

[Crossunder]

Yes. But they have probably already selected the candidates, as this is a rather time-consuming process... Give them a call! :)

[TuckUnder77]

Gee.

I wish I had the same knowledge of the candidate selection process as you. Anything to share? :rolleyes:

[Crossunder]

Well, I know they keep updating and "refining" the tests, and it's been over 7 years since I took them... But it's essentially the same as the SAS tests, only variations on a theme. Long-/short term memory, scanning, multi-tasking etc etc etc. IQ tests++, I guess. I really don't recall much of it anymore (bad long term memory I suspect). First day is aptitude testing, second day is interviews. In-between, you'll receive a personality questionnaire to complete and return. Basically the same as any other personality test out there. Dunno if it's the 16PF, or some custom design by WFs own psychologist. No sim assessment.
The most important thing about these kinds of tests is probably not the aptitude testing. You've probably been through a few already? Pass one - pass all (well - almost), but you have to have the right personality. You have to fit in. Different airlines look for different personalities. Virgin/Cathay needs long haul pilots, WF needs very-short-haul pilots. Two different jobs requiring two different kinds of pilots. Or it could just be a matter of different cultures. "Yeah, I passed the tests, but the a**hole at the interview gave me a hard time...". Heard it before? ;) Very few of us can manage to fit in everywhere. I sure as hell don't.
Anyway - the guy claiming to "know" how to pass all the tests is usually the one being kicked out, only to return again and again and again, to tell the other candidates how to pass the tests...
I wouldn't mind telling you about the tests, if only I remembered, but you wouldn't necessarily be better off that way. Just apply, show up and do the tests. Either you pass, or you don't. If you don't, you'll probably pass another set of tests for another company, and still work as a pilot the rest of your miserable pilot life :ok:
...but I'm sure someone on this forum can tell you a bit more? Something not out of date? :)

[TuckUnder77]

Just called and checked checked with an insider/training captain, no more courses coming up this year. I take that information as quite certain, as he works closely with the training manager.

He didn´t know whether there were any tests/interviews coming up this year, though.

Anyone who knows how long time it normally takes from "acceptance" (after interview/test) until one gets employment in WIF?

[BestGlide]

Just called and checked checked with an insider/training captain, no more courses coming up this year. I take that information as quite certain, as he works closely with the training manager.

Other training captains says it will be a new course in September. Who to believe? :)

He didn´t know whether there were any tests/interviews coming up this year, though.

They never know until 3-4 weeks before testing. In May they talked about next testing in August. Now nobody knows, but roumers says Oct/Nov.

Anyone who knows how long time it normally takes from "acceptance" (after interview/test) until one gets employment in WIF?
Nothing is "normally" :) I had to wait 3 months, others have been waiting 2-3 years. 11 pilot from last autumn testing/interview have been employed so far, and approx 30 was accepted. Please hold in line! And be prepared to be available on very short notice when they decide to start a new course. I started on 14 days notice! :ok:

[TuckUnder77]

Golden opportunity for those new F/Os to be kicked out at an early stage then... that is, if your information is correct. ;)

[chandlers dad]

Can not find they quote. But read somewhere that their operation is the 2nd most challenging in the world. Can not remember who was number 1. Jumpseat with them for 7 seven days in jan or feb and you will see why. If you could..

Had a good friend who flew for Crossair in CH for a long time. Flying Saab's and Jumbolina's down to Cat 3 in the mountains, with snow, ice and lots of wind would be very exciting.

I used to fly with Exec Air out of Roskilde and when they tried to get me to do a V1 cut in a Learjet, on a runway with a bit of snow AND then cover the windshield for takeoff, I told them that this is too much excitement for me and that we do this type of thing in the simulator.

Other friend flew a lot in PNG, down in the Pacific and he loved it. Problem was if you went down in the jungles, the snakes got you. That would be exciting for a while.

Angola used to be exciting, but then parts of Africa are still that way.

Go to Alaska and be a bush pilot. Do that for a couple of years and you will either stay or long for a more quiet job!

[Betaranger]

Well said chandlers dad, the list could be a few pages longer.....:D
I think Ramsey meant 2nd challenging ops in Norway ;)

Br.

[Ramsey]

Chandles Dad

Not sure what you mean by what you are writing. Does ANY of what you are writing make it as challenging. So IF you crash in the jungle beware of the snakes...YEp that what be my first concern dont think about serviving the crash it self..No beware of the SNAKES:{

[Nardi Riviera]

What makes Wideroe Dash-80 flying so "interesting" today, is that the approaches they use were designed for Twotter (could turn on a dime) at airfields built in the 60'ies (terrain)... VERY challenging.

Those who haven't tried our winter storms, better head for somewhere else. Winter in North-Norway is no kindergarten.

Crossunder:
If you/anybody require INFO about Wideroe's operations, you/they are obviously not "the right stuff".

Ramsay:
Your advice about riding jumpseat on WF in Jan/Feb up North is VERY GOOD.

Applicants with a B737 rating MAY not pass, no matter how good they are, because Wideroe have learned that training pilots whose only objective is to use them as a stepping-stone to build time, is pure waste of money.

And - please, all - don't go further OT on this thread.

I myself interpreted Margarita's topic as to "why post job info re airlines OUTSIDE Scandinavia on the Scandinavian Forum"?

Regards, Nardi

[Crossunder]

...using the Dash-80 (http://www.aviationexplorer.com/707_roll_video.htm) would make for some interesting flying indeed, Nardi R! :p :)
And I actually don't require any info on WF, as I've flown there for some years now. And let's not kid ourselves too much here: The operation is special and can be challenging, but "the right stuff"? Gimme a break. Any ol' pilot from SAS Braathens, Lufttransport etc. could do it as well. It's not THAT difficult. Just interesting and kinda fun...:cool:
And as for the stepping stone part, WF might have to work real hard at keeping it's pilots in the future if the pilot shortage profecy comes true. It's not as if WF has vener lost pilots to other companies. A large chunk of pilots went to SAS COmmuter not that long ago, and a similar deal from, say SAS Braathens in the future would probably spur another wave of resignations.
What keeps me hanging on for now, is the 7-7 roster, comp-day system and the fact that I have a nice solid buffer of pilots behind me on the seniority list. Other than that, it's just a job like any other. The prospect og waiting up to 8-10 years for a command position on a turboprop is almost painful. And when you fially get it, they ship you off to work in some godforesaken remote corner of Norway and make you start commuting away from your family (again), and the southbound bidding journey starts all over again. Not good at all. I know a lot of pilots out there who are not willing to switch EasyJet, Atlanta, FlyMe, Ryanair, Thomson, MyTravel etc for Widerøe. Several of WFs pilots are considering jumping ship and joining the Dark Side (DY, and some have already done so), so we're can't be THAT attractive a company to work for, apparently...
If we could get rid of the compulsory transfer system for newly upgraded commanders, and maybe finally get a regional jet, things would look a lot different I think.
But - back to topic; from what I heard yesterday,the September t/r course is still on. :ok:

[joerkaaff]

they ship you off to work in some godforesaken remote corner of Norway

WTF? :}

... the approaches they use were designed for Twotter (could turn on a dime) at airfields built in the 60'ies (terrain)... VERY challenging.


Don't quite see the connection, frankly. The CAA published approaches into "korbaner" are designed for category B aircraft (Vref up to 121kts), while the "custom" approaches flown by WF differ only where the Vref speed of the DHC-8 allows a smaller turning radius or lower sink during initial missed approach, hence lower minima or later MAPt. The approaches flown have no direct relevance to the Twotter.

Under-dimensioned airfields... sure. But what's the (operational) difference between a DHC-8 on a 824m runway and a B737 on a 1,600m runway? Or putting a BA146 into london city airport versus a DHC-8 on a 4.5 degree PLASI?

[Crossunder]

Godforesaken: not the bases (e.g. TOS is a nice place, no doubt), but night-stop at VDS, ANX, BNN, KKN or HFT isn't exactly exiting destinations, Beef Jerky-off! :}
..and if you are who I think you are: get your sorry butt down here, man! :ok:

[Kapt]

Joda, flere flyselskaper ansetter i bøtter og spann. Færre og færre velger å dra til UK og andre steder.:)
You Don t Know English

[Crossunder]

Who'd have guessed that somebody might actually use a nordic language in the NORDIC forum? Never saw it coming myself...:ugh: