Excellent message DFD, I think you and I are thinking alike. I too am beginning to look overseas. Canada is a great country to fly in, but also too shaky.

Simple comparison really: here on the outside of the Dominion I fly the world's greatest airplane, have six weeks holidays a year, and can BANK over $100,000 a year with minimal effort.

Am I interested in returning? Hahaha hee hee....

Regards to Kenn Borek Air.

Seems lots of guys slam Borek. Let me tell ya, its one of the coolest companies I have worked for. You be fair with them and they are fair with you. What type of operation is Borek? Its not a regional! You get hired knowing that its the type of company that you travel everywhere, fly lots, and have great fun doing it. The guys you work and live with are best of pals. The pay seems better than most places. If you really want to learn how to fly professionally, have an all expense adventure in life, and realize the type of operation they are, call them. But they need guys who understand all this, and not to use the company for hours and try to fit into a life that's not them. You know the momma's boys.

Hey Alberta:
I'm working on my commercial here in Calgary and thinking I'd like to work for Kenn Borek. Flying around the world is just my bag. If you can tell me, can a low timer get in, especially if I make a commitment to stay with them and not just use them for hours? Also, I'm taking my training at a flight school and not at Mount Royal College. Does this make too much of a difference. Any insight would be much appreciated. [email protected]

Starbelly - listen to what Been There is talking about before you fly for Borek - this guy got a real heads up for you - listen to him. Also go into aviator select they are slamming him there too.

Think before you leap and listen to experience.

xwardair:
I guess alot of people are slamming Borek, but what exactly is wrong with the company? Nobody's been very specific. Do they send a guy out for months on end? (This, admittedly, would be a nonplus for me as I am married--no kiddies, though). Is the pay super low?
I guess I'm attracted to the idea because they seem to hire low-time pilots, they provide multi/turbine time, which will help with AC, Canada3000, etc., and I have a serious case of wanderlust. I'm not trying to discount your warnings and I do take them seriously. But I am trying to make educated decisions about my future. If anyone out there has any horror stories, please share them.

You guys seem to know how to push a guys buttons.
If Borek is such a great company to work for how come they lose pilots in droves each year? If they don't want mamas-boys flying for them how come they are hiring college grads verses guys from up north with experience on flots that would like to fly at a warmer climate, especally the Maldives?
There are a lot of companies here in Canda but none has been as much discredited as Borek. Why is that? Especially from people that seem to know quiet a bit about them.

Starbelly - go to a site aviatorselect.com there is a good thread there - re ken borek it may give you some insight. Hopefully this will give you the opportunity to come to some decision. Male looks absolutely beautiful, as I have a friend who just got back from there. In the other forum there is a guy named Dirk Digler who just got back from there as well - you can start a new thread and ask him all about it yourself.
Good luck in your future endeavours.

Thanks for the goods on Borek. It seems there are alot of negative stories about them. The thing is too that if pilots are sent to a tropical paradise like the Maldives and still end up quitting, there would have to be something wrong with the company. I've been thinking about maybe doing the bush pilot thing. Sounds just as good, maybe better, and I can get lots of PIC time. :)

Starbelly - where are you flying now and do you have time on TWotters, do you have a float rating? AC-C3 and WJ are all hiring read Captain's Blood thread in aviatorselect.com. Not sure if you have heavy time.....so I thought I would throw that in. There is another way to go down to Male - apparently you can ferry the otter down there and work for another company that borek doesn't have in hands in. I'll try to find out more info for you.

Let me know your endorsements and time

Cheers..........

Actually, I am just working on my commercial/Multi-IFR. I can be done in a couple of months if I put my mind to it. That's why I was interested in an outfit that hires low-timers, such as Borek. I hope that I didn't leave anyone out there with the wrong impression as to my qualifications. I just like to ask questions, especially now that I'm so close to having to look for work.
Male sounds just what I'm looking for (and probably what a million other pilots are looking for as well). You know, it's funny. I was actually going to post a question of whether or not there was another (non-Borek)way of going to Male. Then I saw your post. Weird, man. If you have any info either post it or you can email me at [email protected]

Cheers, and thanks!
starbelly

Having worked for Borek in the past I fear that I must defend them to some extent. They hire people and put them in some rather demanding environments, imagine arriving in the Arctic in the dead of winter with that fresh license and a couple of hundred hours. Yep it's real dark and real cold and you won't have a clue what's going on. If you are lucky you will fly with a guy who who will teach you something if you are unlucky you won't. That is life, he reality is most of the aircraft are single pilot DHC-6, and Beech King Airs with a requirement to have a co-pilot for night/IFR or with more than 9 pax (under the Canadian CARS 704 regulations regarding commuter carriers.) Some Captains choose to run a one man show while others, myself included figure that the co-jo is there to do more than put the gear up and down. Borek expects performance and competence with very little supervision and have very little time for those who don't exhibit these traits. If you are "weak" they will eat you alive, know your stuff and be prepared to justify your actions to a non-pilot base manager occasionally and you will be fine. The reality is they run one of the best operations in the Arctic or Antarctic, they have no shortage of guys applying from other northern operators. As for Male I can't comment too much except that it is float flying in a salt water environment, things corrode, be carefull and pay attention on your pre-flight inspection!!!!!!!! As for Borek loosing guys of course they are, the north is fun and all but when the boys with the big jets call you have to go go. Let's face it, it's a Western Canada Operation so guys have left and continue to do so for CRA, Westjet, ACR, AC and other Major Charters, once again myself included. :) MOST Borek guys aren't quitting for lateral moves, so take it all with a grain of salt, if you do get a job there take it learn and move on when your time comes. Just remember though you are not along for the ride, speak up, participate, ask questions and learn because the guy in the left seat can kill you as fast as anything else up there.
http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif

Change your user name from been-dair-done-dat to been-dair-done-dick. Readers Beware! This guy is short on fact and long on fiction. He cannot even get the nickname of the CYFB hangout right.

embjockey:Air Canada is hiring 225 pilot year(18 each month)C3 is hiring crews at moment.WestJet is looking for expansion crews. The Charter Carriers are losing individuals to KAL(these carriers require a training 'bond'you have to stay a while to cover the cost of training.Bad news several 'regional 'carriers are shrinking due to the reduction of 'feeders' to the main carrier(although some have folded,their a/c end up with other expanding companies)

Question for TonkaSkippy:

Good luck with all your interviews. Hope AC comes through for you. What kind of time do you have? I myself am a -8/300 captain working overseas aswell and just trying to figure out how I fit in.

Thanks in advance

I've been drooling over those twin otters on floats for years. I sat out on the dock at Vancouver harbour and watched them land and take off while I studied for my written tests. One passenger waiting to board looked at me and concluded that I must be a pilot, because she "could see the lust" in my eyes.

For a given employer, I'm most interested in knowing:

Are the aircraft well-maintained?
Does the employer respect my judgement as a pilot?
Is the operation legal?
Are they going to pay me?
How can I get a job with them?

Answers with respect to Borek operations appreciated, here or by e-mail.

Hey luffty.....e-mail me [email protected]
I know someone who fly's DHC6's.......right where you were sitting.........

Chat with ya soon........

To Tonka Skippy
Curious, did you have the Canada 3000 int?
What are they offering, type specific, or did they say? As well do you know the starting salary, per diem, etc.
I too am a Canadian abroad, currently 747-200/300 FO, and to answer why return? well it is still the best place to live IMHO, once you have been away a while, and in some real crap places I guess you just start to miss where you are from, compared to most of the world, ( India, Africa, Greece, Asia) North America is a real treat to fly in and around, I would take a relaitively large pay cut to come back, quality of life has to come into play eventually.
Anyway, any Canada 3000 info you could give would be appreciated.

Arthurs wife here Her Indoors. He works for Canada 3000 and if you want any info email us.

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Purveyor of fine motors