Western Atlantic fleet, bases, requirements?

[Krautwald]

Hi, I may be looking for a new challenge in 2023, and currently investigating smaller operators. Is anyone here familiar with the Western Atlantic fleets bases? Is it a base for every type, or mixed? I am ATR rated, but Scandinavian resident and it seems the Nordic bases are either ATP or 737, no? Do they expect t/r or can you get one by bond? And how is the overall hiring policy, I started later than most so "hours commensurate with age" is impossible for me, would they hire low/medium timers of middle age or is it a classic young mans game/"first job and move on" company? Anything else worth knowing? (Yes, I am aware there are no openings as of now.) Thanks :)

[Uplinker]

I flew for West Atlantic - I thought they had gone, but maybe they have renamed?

West Atlantic were/are a well run company with great office and operations staff, and who had a good attitude to hiring pilots. If you could actually fly, and could do the job, you would be considered - they were not precious about your age etc, as long as you were the right type of person. Their pilots are mostly real down to earth people rather than egomaniacs, and many older guys.

They will put pilots through type ratings and bond them for 3 years.

East Mids had ATPs and B737s, I don't know about the other bases.

The work is hard, mostly all at night, and there are no frills. Turnaround times are brief and you have to do your own load plan and load-sheets - albeit with an EFB. The F/O task in the B737 is a very busy one. The aircraft are old and basic, and you will need to provide your own headphones. The ATPs do not have a toilet on board, for example, and you are not provided with food unless you are carrying DHL cargo, in which case you can use the DHL facilities. Hotels are decent enough, but you have to sleep during the day in the hotels.

I was very grateful indeed to WA for employing me, and it was a very interesting experience !

Might all be irrelevant, if we are talking about different companies !

[Krautwald]

Ha! Got me. My bad, I misnamed them. Best way to not get hired there I guess. :D

Thanks a lot for sharing. Sounds like a place I will add to my list, I am explicitly looking for "blue collar flying" ops, if that makes sense...

[Pilotman14]

Hi all,
I have recently applied to West Atlantic. I am wondering if anyone knows what the average response time is?