AURIGNY AIR working conditions as FO ?
Pablo,
I was at Aurigny until flung out in the great ethnic cleansing of 2005 when the non ATR rated Saab Pilots were booted for rated contract ATR Pilots when the Saabs were retired after being put on uneconomic routes. Thats how the management look after the workforce
. But on line it is a good company to work for. Good roster as described, quite demanding flying with London zone and gale force fog at Guernsey. Not much flying in the fog and drizzle of winter, can be depressing. Good people with some very experienced Captains who tend not to move on as they want to stay in Guernsey, hence not that many commands come up. Most of the FOs tend to have high time compared to most on Turboprops and then move on rather than up. Command authority is not well recognised by management/ground staff/cabin crew in alot of cases hence the fustration by a previous poster, never had that problem from the FOs though.
Guernsey is expensive especially housing, quite crowded and just not a big place, FO salary is just enough to live on in your own flat there. The locals are not very outgoing and tend to sit about counting their money, not interested in outsiders. But there is usually a good social scene from the company crowd who come from all over and plenty of fun to be had. In all well worth a go in spite of a few faults and expect to move on on a couple of years. The interview used to be a chat with the Chief Pilot and Fleet Manager and they expect you to have a look around Guernsey to make sure you want to live there. A fairy low stress affair but this may have changed.
I was at Aurigny until flung out in the great ethnic cleansing of 2005 when the non ATR rated Saab Pilots were booted for rated contract ATR Pilots when the Saabs were retired after being put on uneconomic routes. Thats how the management look after the workforce
. But on line it is a good company to work for. Good roster as described, quite demanding flying with London zone and gale force fog at Guernsey. Not much flying in the fog and drizzle of winter, can be depressing. Good people with some very experienced Captains who tend not to move on as they want to stay in Guernsey, hence not that many commands come up. Most of the FOs tend to have high time compared to most on Turboprops and then move on rather than up. Command authority is not well recognised by management/ground staff/cabin crew in alot of cases hence the fustration by a previous poster, never had that problem from the FOs though.Guernsey is expensive especially housing, quite crowded and just not a big place, FO salary is just enough to live on in your own flat there. The locals are not very outgoing and tend to sit about counting their money, not interested in outsiders. But there is usually a good social scene from the company crowd who come from all over and plenty of fun to be had. In all well worth a go in spite of a few faults and expect to move on on a couple of years. The interview used to be a chat with the Chief Pilot and Fleet Manager and they expect you to have a look around Guernsey to make sure you want to live there. A fairy low stress affair but this may have changed.
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Stuff the original post;-), this one has taken a much more interesting turn!
I for one have full sympathy for the views aired regarding FOs. Until the recent tightening of security measures I used to carry a loaded pistol to work. At the first hint of dissent from the right I would dispatch the fellow (refused to fly with skirts of course!) with a single shot to the head. Found I could manage quite well on my own and without the distractions of inane claptrap I could concentrate on the crossword.
I'm a bit easier on the dollies, just keep them fetching cups of tea and the day goes by nice and smoothly.
Can anyone tell me why there are two of us up front anyway? After all I can fly perfectly well on my own and never make mistakes!
KT
I for one have full sympathy for the views aired regarding FOs. Until the recent tightening of security measures I used to carry a loaded pistol to work. At the first hint of dissent from the right I would dispatch the fellow (refused to fly with skirts of course!) with a single shot to the head. Found I could manage quite well on my own and without the distractions of inane claptrap I could concentrate on the crossword.
I'm a bit easier on the dollies, just keep them fetching cups of tea and the day goes by nice and smoothly.
Can anyone tell me why there are two of us up front anyway? After all I can fly perfectly well on my own and never make mistakes!
KT
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hi Liftman,
lifestyle is getting better, we have/are recruiting lots of new FO's, to take the pressure of us. We have been working 3 weeks a month. There are also upgrades happening at the moment. Salary is good, especially when the per diems are added in at the end of the month. Its night freight so you either like it or not. We do nice routes, stay in nice hotels and majority of the guys are good guys. There are new routes coming up and we just got delivery of another 72, with more on the way....
2 ATR pilots have been lucky enough to transfer to the Herc (one captain and one FO) both will be left hand seat.
HC
lifestyle is getting better, we have/are recruiting lots of new FO's, to take the pressure of us. We have been working 3 weeks a month. There are also upgrades happening at the moment. Salary is good, especially when the per diems are added in at the end of the month. Its night freight so you either like it or not. We do nice routes, stay in nice hotels and majority of the guys are good guys. There are new routes coming up and we just got delivery of another 72, with more on the way....
2 ATR pilots have been lucky enough to transfer to the Herc (one captain and one FO) both will be left hand seat.
HC
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Aurigny
Hi Pablo
I've been at aurigny for a while now and have pretty much enjoyed every minute of it. A few ups and downs here and there but that is the same as any company you will work for.
It's true that flying is a bit limited for FO's right now but you should still be able to rack up between 4 to 5 hundred hours a year.
Guernsey is a nice place to live. It has (usually) good summers and mild winters, the flying is challenging at times (30kts crosswinds in 550 meters vis coming into guernsey at times) but the roster is more or less stable (5 on 2 off, 4 on 2 off) so you can usually predict your days off with just the occasional change to the pattern.
As for GR600, I think someone is trying to stitch up one of our captains for the 2nd time on this website.
I've been at aurigny for a while now and have pretty much enjoyed every minute of it. A few ups and downs here and there but that is the same as any company you will work for.
It's true that flying is a bit limited for FO's right now but you should still be able to rack up between 4 to 5 hundred hours a year.
Guernsey is a nice place to live. It has (usually) good summers and mild winters, the flying is challenging at times (30kts crosswinds in 550 meters vis coming into guernsey at times) but the roster is more or less stable (5 on 2 off, 4 on 2 off) so you can usually predict your days off with just the occasional change to the pattern.
As for GR600, I think someone is trying to stitch up one of our captains for the 2nd time on this website.
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Don't bother
Hi Pablo,
Sorry to see your post has been hi-jacked by GR600 and turned into a window into his psyche. (Very entertaining).
Don't bother working for GR unless you can't get anything else.
As a company they are going nowhere fast and are deep in debt even after their small profit this year. Job security is an oxymoron in GR. (See 2004/2005 debacle).
Guernsey is a beautiful place but very isolated not just literally. It is VERY expensive to live there, the tax thing helps but they're in the process of introducing a kind of VAT that'll go on everything making things even more expensive.
If you want to build up your hours you'll regret making the effort of moving there etc.
I did work for them and saw the place deteriorate it was time for me to leave and the job market was right too.
If you do end up going to live in Guernsey you will enjoy some things there, it is quite unique, unfortunately GR is not one of those things IMHO.
There are alot of other options out there.
Oh and another thing, Aurigny does not MEAN Alderney in French. It is Alderney's original Norman-French name.
GR 600 you cringemeister...
Sorry to see your post has been hi-jacked by GR600 and turned into a window into his psyche. (Very entertaining).
Don't bother working for GR unless you can't get anything else.
As a company they are going nowhere fast and are deep in debt even after their small profit this year. Job security is an oxymoron in GR. (See 2004/2005 debacle).
Guernsey is a beautiful place but very isolated not just literally. It is VERY expensive to live there, the tax thing helps but they're in the process of introducing a kind of VAT that'll go on everything making things even more expensive.
If you want to build up your hours you'll regret making the effort of moving there etc.
I did work for them and saw the place deteriorate it was time for me to leave and the job market was right too.
If you do end up going to live in Guernsey you will enjoy some things there, it is quite unique, unfortunately GR is not one of those things IMHO.
There are alot of other options out there.
Oh and another thing, Aurigny does not MEAN Alderney in French. It is Alderney's original Norman-French name.
GR 600 you cringemeister...
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Guernsey is a nice place to live. It has (usually) good summers and mild winters, the flying is challenging at times (30kts crosswinds in 550 meters vis coming into guernsey at times)
May I ask you something? : Is the ATR really difficult to land, or is it the F/O the one that just cannot land it ?
lightheart, sorry, we do not operate Shorts anymore.
Cheerio
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As a company they are going nowhere fast and are deep in debt even after their small profit this year. Job security is an oxymoron in GR. (See 2004/2005 debacle).
We are the proudness of the channel Islands.
So long.
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Hi Pablo,
Quazz is absolutely right in what he says. He's a very experienced FO and knows what he's talking about.
I have been with Aurigny (GR) now since last November and barring the odd hicup and disappointment I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy the job and find it very challenging.
I don't think thus far that anyone has told you how to apply to the company. The best way is to put a letter together with your c.v. and email it to DavidRice at Aurigny.com and GunCarlsson at Aurigny.com.
I guarantee that you will get a reply from both. Gun sends standard replies but David Rice who is the Chief Pilot is a thoroughly decent chap, approachable chap who always replies out of politeness whether in the positive OR negative regardless.
If you are successful then I can guarantee you a challenging first few months going through your training but ALL the Training Captains are top blokes and very good at their jobs.
As for the comments of GR600 I understand the sentiments but think that airing them is less than diplomatic and unbecoming of an airline Captain. I'm pretty sure as Quazz says that they don't come from the Captain that they are made to like they do. In fact I had a go around with this Captain not too long ago an found him to be an absolute brick. He was calm and encouraging and it was only when I asked him to take the landing did he take control.
As for the sentiments then I always end my brief by saying. "You are the Captain. If there's any aspect of my flying that you are unhappy with then you can call 'I have control!' and you can call for any further actions that may be required." Some may find it condescending but I think that it lays down the command structure in the cockpit but where do you end? It goes without saying that if for some strange reason the Captain decides that he is going to endanger the aircraft or do something illegal then it's my aircraft once again and we'll talk about it on the ground over a coffee and tapes.
Incidentally do you have an ATR72 type rating Pablo? You'll need one for the job and you'll have to pay for it. If you are a UK resident then try SKYBLUE aviation in Exeter.
Quazz is absolutely right in what he says. He's a very experienced FO and knows what he's talking about.
I have been with Aurigny (GR) now since last November and barring the odd hicup and disappointment I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy the job and find it very challenging.
I don't think thus far that anyone has told you how to apply to the company. The best way is to put a letter together with your c.v. and email it to DavidRice at Aurigny.com and GunCarlsson at Aurigny.com.
I guarantee that you will get a reply from both. Gun sends standard replies but David Rice who is the Chief Pilot is a thoroughly decent chap, approachable chap who always replies out of politeness whether in the positive OR negative regardless.
If you are successful then I can guarantee you a challenging first few months going through your training but ALL the Training Captains are top blokes and very good at their jobs.
As for the comments of GR600 I understand the sentiments but think that airing them is less than diplomatic and unbecoming of an airline Captain. I'm pretty sure as Quazz says that they don't come from the Captain that they are made to like they do. In fact I had a go around with this Captain not too long ago an found him to be an absolute brick. He was calm and encouraging and it was only when I asked him to take the landing did he take control.
As for the sentiments then I always end my brief by saying. "You are the Captain. If there's any aspect of my flying that you are unhappy with then you can call 'I have control!' and you can call for any further actions that may be required." Some may find it condescending but I think that it lays down the command structure in the cockpit but where do you end? It goes without saying that if for some strange reason the Captain decides that he is going to endanger the aircraft or do something illegal then it's my aircraft once again and we'll talk about it on the ground over a coffee and tapes.
Incidentally do you have an ATR72 type rating Pablo? You'll need one for the job and you'll have to pay for it. If you are a UK resident then try SKYBLUE aviation in Exeter.
Last edited by Carl Rawson; 12th Sep 2007 at 16:11.
