Winair
... who was the first track by?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: canada
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi all...
Hadn't been on pprune for ever...so what's going on at winair?
Jeff Oliver still there? Any expansion? News?
Met with him couple years ago but I never did the DHC6 in Toronto...no $$$
He wouldn't guarantee a job after spending 10k for the typer rating...
So is it still hapening down the for lowtimers applying with the type rating?
Or is business going to slow down because of the economic situation??!!
Cheers
Hadn't been on pprune for ever...so what's going on at winair?
Jeff Oliver still there? Any expansion? News?
Met with him couple years ago but I never did the DHC6 in Toronto...no $$$
He wouldn't guarantee a job after spending 10k for the typer rating...
So is it still hapening down the for lowtimers applying with the type rating?
Or is business going to slow down because of the economic situation??!!
Cheers
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: EGTK
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi people,
resuming this post cause I'm very interested in Winair.
How is the current situation for pilots with the "rating" in Toronto?
Are they hiring people with the course or not...?
Looking forward for replies...
resuming this post cause I'm very interested in Winair.
How is the current situation for pilots with the "rating" in Toronto?
Are they hiring people with the course or not...?
Looking forward for replies...
Join Date: Jan 1998
Location: Where the job is!
Posts: 451
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is no “rating” for a DHC6. It is below 12,500 lbs. All you will do in Toronto is a course that does not give you a Type Rating or a PPC. This course costs at least $12,000 and will not guarantee you a job, either at Winair or anywhere else. Several years ago some Canadian pilots were encouraged to do this course by someone who apparently was at Winair. Then they were not hired. Adding in the costs of visiting the Caribbean they were each probably out about $20,000 total.
Companies of integrity who treat their employees properly budget for and pay for job specific training and after training rely for employee retention on paying employees the market rate and treating them decently! If the company is cheap or dubious when it comes to training and employee retention then it is a fair and reasonable assumption that it is cheap and dubious in other areas, such as maintenance, safety, operating procedures, overloading, pushing serious weather, etc. That's the perception, like it or not!
Most new employees make a considerable investment in a new job. They usually give up a secure income at their previous employer and incur the costs of moving to the new employer. If they are married this increases the moving costs and the spouse may also have to change jobs. New employees are usually on probation for several months and can be dismissed without notice or compensation. That they are prepared to incur such risks and costs shows that they are serious in wanting it to work out with their new employer. Very few want to move elsewhere shortly after completing their training. That is usually due to something unforeseen by both parties. Companies of integrity recognise that it happens very rarely and realise it is better to part amicably than forcefully retain an unhappy employee.
Companies of integrity with decent HR policies recognise the risks and costs that new employees incur and do not go out of their way to add to them! These companies are grateful that somebody is ready to take on such costs and risks and move to them. For an employer to try to force new employees to also take on the cost of job specific training tells you volumes about the ethics of the employer and its attitude towards employees. People are well advised to steer clear of companies that want to have their cake and eat it as well.
Companies of integrity who treat their employees properly budget for and pay for job specific training and after training rely for employee retention on paying employees the market rate and treating them decently! If the company is cheap or dubious when it comes to training and employee retention then it is a fair and reasonable assumption that it is cheap and dubious in other areas, such as maintenance, safety, operating procedures, overloading, pushing serious weather, etc. That's the perception, like it or not!
Most new employees make a considerable investment in a new job. They usually give up a secure income at their previous employer and incur the costs of moving to the new employer. If they are married this increases the moving costs and the spouse may also have to change jobs. New employees are usually on probation for several months and can be dismissed without notice or compensation. That they are prepared to incur such risks and costs shows that they are serious in wanting it to work out with their new employer. Very few want to move elsewhere shortly after completing their training. That is usually due to something unforeseen by both parties. Companies of integrity recognise that it happens very rarely and realise it is better to part amicably than forcefully retain an unhappy employee.
Companies of integrity with decent HR policies recognise the risks and costs that new employees incur and do not go out of their way to add to them! These companies are grateful that somebody is ready to take on such costs and risks and move to them. For an employer to try to force new employees to also take on the cost of job specific training tells you volumes about the ethics of the employer and its attitude towards employees. People are well advised to steer clear of companies that want to have their cake and eat it as well.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: EGTK
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am well aware that it's not a rating (that's why I wrote "rating") and I fully agree with the stuff you wrote.
But...the question remains: what is the current situation in Winair?
But...the question remains: what is the current situation in Winair?
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: All over
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Currently working for Winair
First of all, some of you, especially "Carrier" are way off on the cost of the FlightSafety course - its 7k, and although does not give you a type rating, it is a requirement for employment if you are not local. "Carrier" wrong again, a twin otter does require a type rating in many parts of the world, including europe and here in the Netherlands Antilles with the B3 license. It is paid for by Winair, and if you factor in that they have to take you on your first ride in the real plane, train you, while taking one of their planes out of revenue service, complete a ground school with you and pay for all your immigration paperwork, 7k to get a job on a turbo-prop with 200 hrs fresh out of flight school is not that bad. Until recently, turnover was high due to bigger and better jobs elsewhere, some financial commitment from the employee is not unreasonable, and you will certainly hear no-one complaining here about the initial cost. They certainly never promise you a job if you get the course done, but if you speak to the right people beforehand, you can get an idea of whether you will get an interview if you do the course.
High season has been tough for Winair though, a mixture of bad economy and a shortage of planes. Lay-offs for low season are a real possibility and with the local governments pressuring businesses to hire islanders instead of expats, its not looking good for new hires from overseas.
High season has been tough for Winair though, a mixture of bad economy and a shortage of planes. Lay-offs for low season are a real possibility and with the local governments pressuring businesses to hire islanders instead of expats, its not looking good for new hires from overseas.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: on earth
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Skydreams, sorry to hear things are getting slow down there.
I'm currently out of work as a DHC-6 captain and was considering sending WinAir an email. I flew in the Caribbean a few years back and ended up in St. Maarten a couple of times, it's one of my favorite places in the Caribbean.
Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait until my company calls me back.
And yes, the DHC-6 can be a type rating. I have it on my JAR license.
Heading up to FSI Toronto myself next week for recurrent.
I'm currently out of work as a DHC-6 captain and was considering sending WinAir an email. I flew in the Caribbean a few years back and ended up in St. Maarten a couple of times, it's one of my favorite places in the Caribbean.
Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait until my company calls me back.
And yes, the DHC-6 can be a type rating. I have it on my JAR license.
Heading up to FSI Toronto myself next week for recurrent.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: All over
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
True - all 3 islanders are out of here (probably in a box!) by mid-April and lay-offs were announced a few days ago starting in April too, cutting the pilots down by a third. Winair is also cutting out some destinations that they have serviced for years, things are not looking good...
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Tortola
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As SLF i have used Winair many times over the years and until about 18months ago they provided a good service. However, since that time their customer service has deteriorated to a point below that of LIAT and that is saying something. With the odd exception the staff in SXM have become rude and unwilling to help especially in case of disruption. I was issued a number of travel vouchers due to the amount of disruption i experienced last year, i will use the last of these next week, since making the reservation less than 3 weeks ago my flights continue to be cancelled and changed, not by hours but by days. I hear now many people are reluctant to book with Winair, it is a terrible shame but unless they change they will not survive for much longer.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Singapore
Age: 78
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the change in passenger service came about as a result of Winair contracting out the passenger handling to another company(been out of the Winair loop for about 2 yrs so forgive me if that info is not totally correct)not making excuses ( I have had my share of the Winair bad experiences with the handeling of passengers(viewed and received as a traveling employee).
X
(x winair, x dc9 , ..soon to be x singapore with the way the economy is going,... hahah no x wife yet tho ..lol)
Miss the beaches most of all.
X
(x winair, x dc9 , ..soon to be x singapore with the way the economy is going,... hahah no x wife yet tho ..lol)
Miss the beaches most of all.