"Where I am now..."
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"Where I am now..."
There is plenty of company bashing and people bashing that goes on here. However one small voice that occasionally pops up in these exchanges of fire is someone who says: "Well I wouldn't be where I am now if..."
I would be interested to hear some of the positives of the 'where I am now' people... No company is perfect and we all have our faults but what company are you HAPPY in now? Not really that interested in the airline side of life and there are plenty of forums about that anyway. Lets hear about GA and the names of some of the few 'goodie' companies that are still around and the people who are enjoying a reasonable life working for them.
Maybe I'm asking about something that doesn't exist and if it does the people are probably too busy enjoying life to be on PPRUNE...
I would be interested to hear some of the positives of the 'where I am now' people... No company is perfect and we all have our faults but what company are you HAPPY in now? Not really that interested in the airline side of life and there are plenty of forums about that anyway. Lets hear about GA and the names of some of the few 'goodie' companies that are still around and the people who are enjoying a reasonable life working for them.
Maybe I'm asking about something that doesn't exist and if it does the people are probably too busy enjoying life to be on PPRUNE...
Well.. I suppose I'll put my hand up first and say that where I am now is a great place to work, excellent aircraft, extremely well maintained aircraft, excellent pay, and a great bunch of guys to work with.
Since it is a small company,I won't give a name, but we operate near a lake in the South Island of NZ, fly around our highest mountains and longest glaciers.
The guys who start here (I started with 300 hours TT) are on a starting salary (YES a salary - regardless of hours flying in a year, flying experience when starting etc etc) which is comparable to an Eagle FO. We get treated very well by the bosses, are encouraged to put up our hands if we see that things can be done a better and safer way, and if we aren't comfortable in flying in certain conditions we aren't forced too, as there are always more experienced pilots to do that for us.
We can progress from flying the C206 and C207 and GA8s through to the N24s and C208B (as vacancies permit). But for all those out there looking to work here, it can be harder than breaking into a Bank! The average length of service here is 5 - 8 years, and pilots are selected not only on flying hours, but what you do in your spare time, and what other skills you can bring to the company. When the weather is bad, and we aren't flying you are required to still come to work, as there are always things to do to keep the aircraft clean, gardening, paperwork (I hear their QA Manager is a monster and encourages all staff memebers to be involved in the QA system), and using whatever skills you have bought to the company to maintain the place.
I am keen to move into the airlines one day, but I am very happy to stay here for as long as it takes to move on, and I'm in no hurry to move on at the moment (why would I? To get into Eagle is a paycut!).
Since it is a small company,I won't give a name, but we operate near a lake in the South Island of NZ, fly around our highest mountains and longest glaciers.
The guys who start here (I started with 300 hours TT) are on a starting salary (YES a salary - regardless of hours flying in a year, flying experience when starting etc etc) which is comparable to an Eagle FO. We get treated very well by the bosses, are encouraged to put up our hands if we see that things can be done a better and safer way, and if we aren't comfortable in flying in certain conditions we aren't forced too, as there are always more experienced pilots to do that for us.
We can progress from flying the C206 and C207 and GA8s through to the N24s and C208B (as vacancies permit). But for all those out there looking to work here, it can be harder than breaking into a Bank! The average length of service here is 5 - 8 years, and pilots are selected not only on flying hours, but what you do in your spare time, and what other skills you can bring to the company. When the weather is bad, and we aren't flying you are required to still come to work, as there are always things to do to keep the aircraft clean, gardening, paperwork (I hear their QA Manager is a monster and encourages all staff memebers to be involved in the QA system), and using whatever skills you have bought to the company to maintain the place.
I am keen to move into the airlines one day, but I am very happy to stay here for as long as it takes to move on, and I'm in no hurry to move on at the moment (why would I? To get into Eagle is a paycut!).
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Empacher, that's good to hear for NZ. From my understanding of the NZ scene there doesn't seem to be very many places with contented pilots so I guess you can consider yourself one of the few! 
It always goes two ways - a good company to work for has workers who are keen to give their best back to the company.
I would have to say that the standard and 'newness' of aircraft is one of the things that puts a smile on my face at work also!
It always goes two ways - a good company to work for has workers who are keen to give their best back to the company.
I would have to say that the standard and 'newness' of aircraft is one of the things that puts a smile on my face at work also!
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Far out empacher48 ! It's not that hard to work out which "small" company you work for. Although I do work in the same area (but not the same company) I too could not be any happier in my current job. I also would like to move up to the airlines one day but I want to make the most of GA and what i'm doing now. Why ? Because I love flying, I love what and were I fly and I appreciate the fact that I even have a flying job let alone this one.
Yes, its not too hard to figure out where I work! The aircraft types and the variety we have make it very easy!
But there are a few places out there in GA where pilots can find jobs, where the pay and conditions are great! But to be able to find those jobs is extremely hard, as the staff turnover is very low, and it can be very competitive to get into those jobs.
Those of us there, aren't going to give them up in a hurry, and those employing us aren't going to be looking for just anybody when they need staff.
My father happened to own a small petrol station, and had a lot of rules for running a successful business, where margins are very tight. I've noticed the operators that seem to follow those same rules have happy staff, and happy customers. Those who don't loose out on both counts!
But there are a few places out there in GA where pilots can find jobs, where the pay and conditions are great! But to be able to find those jobs is extremely hard, as the staff turnover is very low, and it can be very competitive to get into those jobs.
Those of us there, aren't going to give them up in a hurry, and those employing us aren't going to be looking for just anybody when they need staff.
My father happened to own a small petrol station, and had a lot of rules for running a successful business, where margins are very tight. I've noticed the operators that seem to follow those same rules have happy staff, and happy customers. Those who don't loose out on both counts!
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3rd World.
Good thread. Im relatively new to this game and got my CPL end of 2004 in NZ. Nothing there so headed to Botswana and scored a job flying 206`s and Islander into the bush. Paid bugger all but had a great time, met some great people and many priceless experiences. I recently moved to the Carribean where I am paid considerably more to fly light twins with some night and IF time and after another year here will have clocked up 2500 hrs with all my night and IF boxes ticked, ready to do my ATPL`s and hopefully have a crack at the likes of VB and Jet Star at home. So all in all my aviation experience has been directly the opposite of what most told me it would be when I sold my house and canned my lucrative IT drudgery 4 yrs ago. Dont do it they said. Youre chucking it all away they said. Sure, there have been some tight times for the family and I but this has more than been compensated for by nights in 5 star lodges in the African bush. hopping over the head of Zebra that had run out in front of my 206 without enough airspeed to climb but just enough to bounce over, necking beers with the boys on the banks of the Zambesi whilst keeping a wary eye on the Crocs and Hippos a few metres away. In other words all sorts of cool **** has happened to us cos of the job and It continues to happen here in the Carribean(got my own left point break which has just been working like a machine because of the hurricanes) and when all the 3rd world fun is finished and we need to take the suburban option back in NZ cos the rugrats will be starting school at least Ill be in a nice big flying office with a comfortable salary and few days off to go surfing and snowboarding.Not tied to some godawful workstation, suffering through interminable meetings about really uninterested minutae whilst being dictated to by some spineless little ass kisser and his band of merry sycophants. As far as it goes,for me, flying is as close to freedom as I have ever been. I`ll never be rich but I`ll sure as **** be happy.
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suffering through interminable meetings about really uninterested minutae whilst being dictated to by some spineless little ass kisser and his band of merry sycophants.
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Since it is a small company,I won't give a name, but we operate near a lake in the South Island of NZ, fly around our highest mountains and longest glaciers.
Once upon a time I used to be GA-ing down the road a bit from you, also sat in Nomads for a while. However unlike you, I was busting my nuts to move into the airline world, which I did in due course. Didnt realise it at the time, but that flying was the most enjoyable and satisfying of my career. If it weren't for the golden handcuffs I reckon I'd do it again at a shot. Dont get me wrong, I'm not whinging about the airline game, but its basically just a job.
So well done old chap, you seem to have things in perspective. Continue to enjoy showing people a fantastic part of the world, and best of luck to you when you do decide to move on from there.
