Skylink Planes

[AirportCoffee]

How many times have I heard skylink going missed off the NDB 06 @ YHM because of the ILS being down, or doing the arc into YSB and holding everyone else up.

Probably not as many times as I’ve heard Jazz or Encore going missed at 300 OVC on the ILS, or going all the way to the RNAV on other side of the airport at 5000 OVC 9+ at 150 knots because of a ten knot tailwind.

One is due to a lack of equipment and the other is a lack of airmanship. Two completely different scenarios.

[TomC]

With the exception of one, all the airplanes had KLN90 gps units. Two had Garmin 400s. The KLNs are not very intuitive but once you have it figured out, perfectly adequate. There was plenty more to complain about than the gps when I was there, but whatever feels important to you.

[goldeneagle]

For all of you folks that seem to think one cant fly without a GPS, you better not apply at Air Canada....

[pelmet]

Center pedestal right beside your butt!! Imagine using it in IMC to track accurately to a VOR or NDB, without autopilot, and having to LIFT YOUR ARM AND LOOK DOWN AT YOUR RIGHT/LEFT HIP EVERY MINUTE OR TWO TO CHECK YOUR TRACK all without becoming disoriented, and keeping your scan moving. Let me tell you, it's not easy.

CRM. Have the PNF look down every minute or two and make the corrective call.

[MrAviator19]

With 800 hrs you can get on with Encore, Jazz, etc. Why would you go somewhere that pays worse, has a worse schedule + has a bond?

I get it why some guys stick around flying for decent 703 operators, but why go somewhere that's crap these days?

With 800 hrs, Encore & Jazz will ask you to reach back out to them once you hit their minimum 1000 hr standards for obvious insurance reasons (and 150 PIC in case of Encore) unless you're selected from an affiliated college program. So don't believe everything you see here because there's a lot of "I know guys" references which should be taken with a pinch of salt.

MrA

[MrAviator19]

Who told you they don’t have GPS? Of course they have. A fancy trimble!
Now, if you ask about tents, covers, heaters or uniform allowance, then the answer is no.

FreeFlight - the predecessor to ForeFlight

MrA

[pild04]

Correct, some aircraft do not have GPS capability and fly using traditional NAV aids. None of skylink's planes are certified for RNAV approaches.

If you are considering working there, take into account the following:

F/O pay is 33k/yr

1yr bond, approx $16k

Upgrades also bonded

No benefits

Pay your own medicals

YVR and YWG fly mostly at night, including weekends and holidays

Load and unload your own plane the majority of trips

Schedule is unpredictable and changes often, plan on being called on reserve frequently, and it's rare to have 2 days off in a row.

Planes are old, tired, poorly equipped and have no autopilot

Training is condensed to 3 days of groundschool and then on wing training, 5-10hrs.

If you can put up with the above, it will tick alot of boxes for your A's. But so will every other place. The requirements are +/-800hrs, and at that experience level these days you've got options. Explore them.

Thanks for the info!

I would like to know kind of a bond is it - a pro-rated bond that has to be paid if one leaves during the term or to be paid upfront or deducted from paycheck. How long does it take to upgrade? Is it the same type of bond after upgrade too?

Thank you!

[ayseven]

Really?

[mbav8r]

Really?

Yes, really. Of course because any decent job is already taken or 100s of resumes already. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a supply of pilots all of the sudden.

[smooth]

+1

Oh boy. You dinosaurs are so set in your ways it's not even funny. Is it possible to do NDB approaches and navigate your entire 14 hour day via VORs? The answer should be yes to anyone that holds a current IFR ticket. Being able to do so proficiently is another story.

How many times have I heard skylink going missed off the NDB 06 @ YHM because of the ILS being down, or doing the arc into YSB and holding everyone else up.

It's 2020, the least a commercial operator could do for their 1900 fleet is install a couple KLN90's.

Give your heads a shake

[smooth]

Jazz requirement is 750hrs(they do need more multi engine time), Encore is 1000hrs, Porter is 1000hrs

With 800 hrs you can get on with Encore, Jazz, etc. Why would you go somewhere that pays worse, has a worse schedule + has a bond?

I get it why some guys stick around flying for decent 703 operators, but why go somewhere that's crap these days?

With 800 hrs, Encore & Jazz will ask you to reach back out to them once you hit their minimum 1000 hr standards for obvious insurance reasons (and 150 PIC in case of Encore) unless you're selected from an affiliated college program. So don't believe everything you see here because there's a lot of "I know guys" references which should be taken with a pinch of salt.

MrA

[jpilot77]

Jazz requirement is 750hrs(they do need more multi engine time), Encore is 1000hrs, Porter is 1000hrs

With 800 hrs you can get on with Encore, Jazz, etc. Why would you go somewhere that pays worse, has a worse schedule + has a bond?

I get it why some guys stick around flying for decent 703 operators, but why go somewhere that's crap these days?

With 800 hrs, Encore & Jazz will ask you to reach back out to them once you hit their minimum 1000 hr standards for obvious insurance reasons (and 150 PIC in case of Encore) unless you're selected from an affiliated college program. So don't believe everything you see here because there's a lot of "I know guys" references which should be taken with a pinch of salt.

MrA

Was!

[MrAviator19]

Jazz requirement is 750hrs(they do need more multi engine time), Encore is 1000hrs, Porter is 1000hrs

With 800 hrs, Encore & Jazz will ask you to reach back out to them once you hit their minimum 1000 hr standards for obvious insurance reasons (and 150 PIC in case of Encore) unless you're selected from an affiliated college program. So don't believe everything you see here because there's a lot of "I know guys" references which should be taken with a pinch of salt.

MrA

Was!

The good ol' days!

MrA

[Don Cherry]

Correct, some aircraft do not have GPS capability and fly using traditional NAV aids. None of skylink's planes are certified for RNAV approaches.

If you are considering working there, take into account the following:

F/O pay is 33k/yr

1yr bond, approx $16k

Upgrades also bonded

No benefits

Pay your own medicals

YVR and YWG fly mostly at night, including weekends and holidays

Load and unload your own plane the majority of trips

Schedule is unpredictable and changes often, plan on being called on reserve frequently, and it's rare to have 2 days off in a row.

Planes are old, tired, poorly equipped and have no autopilot

Training is condensed to 3 days of groundschool and then on wing training, 5-10hrs.

If you can put up with the above, it will tick alot of boxes for your A's. But so will every other place. The requirements are +/-800hrs, and at that experience level these days you've got options. Explore them.

Thanks for the info!

I would like to know kind of a bond is it - a pro-rated bond that has to be paid if one leaves during the term or to be paid upfront or deducted from paycheck. How long does it take to upgrade? Is it the same type of bond after upgrade too?

Thank you!

Pro-rated bond, about 10k for an upgrade. Before covid Skylink was struggling to keep pilots, so very fast upgrades. After covid, tons of 1900 pilots available so they're getting guys on contract with valid PPC on type.
Zero upgrades until 705 start hiring again.

[pild04]

Correct, some aircraft do not have GPS capability and fly using traditional NAV aids. None of skylink's planes are certified for RNAV approaches.

If you are considering working there, take into account the following:

F/O pay is 33k/yr

1yr bond, approx $16k

Upgrades also bonded

No benefits

Pay your own medicals

YVR and YWG fly mostly at night, including weekends and holidays

Load and unload your own plane the majority of trips

Schedule is unpredictable and changes often, plan on being called on reserve frequently, and it's rare to have 2 days off in a row.

Planes are old, tired, poorly equipped and have no autopilot

Training is condensed to 3 days of groundschool and then on wing training, 5-10hrs.

If you can put up with the above, it will tick alot of boxes for your A's. But so will every other place. The requirements are +/-800hrs, and at that experience level these days you've got options. Explore them.

Thanks for the info!

I would like to know kind of a bond is it - a pro-rated bond that has to be paid if one leaves during the term or to be paid upfront or deducted from paycheck. How long does it take to upgrade? Is it the same type of bond after upgrade too?

Thank you!

Pro-rated bond, about 10k for an upgrade. Before covid Skylink was struggling to keep pilots, so very fast upgrades. After covid, tons of 1900 pilots available so they're getting guys on contract with valid PPC on type.
Zero upgrades until 705 start hiring again.

Thanks!

Before COVID-19, would Skylink hire pilots from within the company with experience lesser than 800 hours?

[Don Cherry]

Thanks for the info!

I would like to know kind of a bond is it - a pro-rated bond that has to be paid if one leaves during the term or to be paid upfront or deducted from paycheck. How long does it take to upgrade? Is it the same type of bond after upgrade too?

Thank you!

Pro-rated bond, about 10k for an upgrade. Before covid Skylink was struggling to keep pilots, so very fast upgrades. After covid, tons of 1900 pilots available so they're getting guys on contract with valid PPC on type.
Zero upgrades until 705 start hiring again.

Thanks!

Before COVID-19, would Skylink hire pilots from within the company with experience lesser than 800 hours?

Not sure. It's a small company, a few employees. Don't know any pilot here that worked on a ground position before. As far as I know, the 800 hrs is an insurance requirement and also to make sure the FO's will be able to fly a fast turboprop to the minimums on an ILS without autopilot, flight director or a proper GPS.

[pild04]

Pro-rated bond, about 10k for an upgrade. Before covid Skylink was struggling to keep pilots, so very fast upgrades. After covid, tons of 1900 pilots available so they're getting guys on contract with valid PPC on type.
Zero upgrades until 705 start hiring again.

Thanks!

Before COVID-19, would Skylink hire pilots from within the company with experience lesser than 800 hours?

Not sure. It's a small company, a few employees. Don't know any pilot here that worked on a ground position before. As far as I know, the 800 hrs is an insurance requirement and also to make sure the FO's will be able to fly a fast turboprop to the minimums on an ILS without autopilot, flight director or a proper GPS.

I see. Thanks!

[Don Cherry]

Hello all, heard Skylink is getting an union. I'd love to hear the inside thoughts about it. It's about time, they're probably paying the same peanuts they're paying 10 years ago!
During my time there I often heard rumours about it but was never a reality... I bet management is crapping theirs pants right now!

[fly24/7]

The rumours of union are true.Was passed by the Union Board and now Bargaining team is being voted on now.

Several stories of pilots being there for over 10years and being paid a measly $600 extra per year over that time period.

Management was not happy and fought it. Chief Pilot talks to every new hire about not being involved in the Union.

Skylink does not seem to understand that is only asset is its pilots. Every Base rundown, terrible working environment and even worse maintenance. Surprise contracts with no heads up. Anyone considering run for the hills!

[FICU]

Yeah I remember bombing around the arctic NDB to NDB trying to correct your track in a 20 knot gusty crosswind in a King Air. Some of the most fun I’ve ever had in an airplane!

Good times for sure and don't forget those NDB circling approaches in oh so fun arctic conditions.

I went from doing those kinds of approaches in a Merlin 2A and a King Air 200 to doing them all over again in a 737-200.

Wouldn't change a thing... those were some good times!