Buffalo airways

[itaynarzis]

Hello everyone, does anyone here work for Buffalo Airways? I'm interested in learning more about the working conditions, specifically regarding the transition from ground roles to flight roles. Is it guaranteed that after a certain period of time, I'll be able to fly?

[Me262]

Looking forward to paint some fences? Get smacked on your head by joe himself?

Did the market really turned that dire to go work for red necks? I'd take instructing any day over playing stupid games. On the flip side I guess you can get to be a TV star!

[TeePeeCreeper]

Looking forward to paint some fences? Get smacked on your head by joe himself?

Did the market really turned that dire to go work for red necks? I'd take instructing any day over playing stupid games. On the flip side I guess you can get to be a TV star!

For an individual who is still very green in this industry I would suggest refraining from making comments when you have little to no operational experience.

I’ve flown along side several Buffalo crews and they were professional, fun to hang around the fire base with and all spoke highly of their employer.

TPC

PS: It’s made for tv by the way…

[‘Bob’]

All fiction is rooted in truth.

Yes the show is scripted.

Yes Buffalo pays poverty wages for slave labour that nobody would do if it weren’t for the carrot of a flying job.

In an industry that is seeing a huge demographic shift as well as a shift to better safety culture and higher wages and better working conditions, Buffalo is an anachronism of a bygone era.

Caveat emptor. There’s far better options out there.

[WrightR2600]

I’ve never understood the hatred towards Buffalo . Do they have a bad safety record ?
Have they had a fatal accident ? I think you stack up fatalities of Northern Operators I think Buffalos record speaks for itself .
I don’t know what safety means to the modern pilot but the preservation of life and limb was what I thought safety was about .

[goingnowherefast]

Simply not killing or hurting people is a pretty low standard.

[mmm...bacon]

262, you’re going to be a joy to work with in 20 years! The best flight deck stories I’ve ever heard in aviation aren’t about layovers in Saskatoon, Toronto, or even Tokyo; they all start with 4 BFIs as pax, a cargo hold full of dirty (fire) hose, and pop n’chips…

[WrightR2600]

Simply not killing or hurting people is a pretty low standard.

Well that generally means they aren’t crashing airplanes. I know people think safety is sitting around talking and using acronyms. I think all in all Buffalo has a pretty good safety record and good way for kids to actually learn some skills .
Am I wrong ?

[Donald]

Simply not killing or hurting people is a pretty low standard.

Well that generally means they aren’t crashing airplanes. I know people think safety is sitting around talking and using acronyms. I think all in all Buffalo has a pretty good safety record and good way for kids to actually learn some skills .
Am I wrong ?

Yes, you are wrong.

[goingnowherefast]

Yes, a perfectly safe airline. All within the past 10 years:

https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-repo ... c0037.html

https://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports- ... W0052.html

https://avherald.com/h?article=48dd6de2&opt=0

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/bu ... -1.3401130

[‘Bob’]

I think not killing people is more a matter of luck than inherent safety culture. How many hours do they fly vs other 705s.

262, you’re going to be a joy to work with in 20 years! The best flight deck stories I’ve ever heard in aviation aren’t about layovers in Saskatoon, Toronto, or even Tokyo; they all start with 4 BFIs as pax, a cargo hold full of dirty (fire) hose, and pop n’chips…

Remember kids, it’s not your job to provide entertainment in the cockpit. That’s more of that old school thinking where they wear suffering as a badge of honour.

[WrightR2600]

I’m not here to defend Buffalo but not having a fatal accident since 1970 is more than just luck…
I never worked there but I wouldn’t trade my big piston time for anything but I know I am just an old man now shaking my fist at the clouds … I am irrelevant .
Thanks for setting me straight .

[‘Bob’]

I’m not here to defend Buffalo but not having a fatal accident since 1970 is more than just luck…
I never worked there but I wouldn’t trade my big piston time for anything but I know I am just an old man now shaking my fist at the clouds … I am irrelevant .
Thanks for setting me straight .

Not understanding proactive safety culture or how odds work.

Appeal to emotion.

Emotionally immature resignation or extremely poor sarcasm.

More things in aviation that are rapidly becoming extinct.. thank god.

[WrightR2600]

I’m not here to defend Buffalo but not having a fatal accident since 1970 is more than just luck…
I never worked there but I wouldn’t trade my big piston time for anything but I know I am just an old man now shaking my fist at the clouds … I am irrelevant .
Thanks for setting me straight .

Not understanding proactive safety culture or how odds work.

Appeal to emotion.

Emotionally immature resignation or extremely poor sarcasm.

More things in aviation that are rapidly becoming extinct.. thank god.

The odds ? Yeah 54 years of playing the odds … rolling the dice and seeing what happens . I think there is just a little more to it than that …

[Me262]

262, you’re going to be a joy to work with in 20 years! The best flight deck stories I’ve ever heard in aviation aren’t about layovers in Saskatoon, Toronto, or even Tokyo; they all start with 4 BFIs as pax, a cargo hold full of dirty (fire) hose, and pop n’chips…

Yes I prefer talking about stocks and boring weather than how awesome it was getting smacked physically while working with rednecks. True story of some of my buddies building their hours. Luckily I avoid all that by signing up for the Air Canada plan via the military and doing some really cool shit with all its downsides, which did not included getting physically or verbally assaulted while in the cockpit, because that is real safe .

[just clearing the trees]

How much does a soy latte cost these days?

[Checkspeed]

As someone who actually worked there, my recommendation is only take that job if you're obsessed with getting some time in on those old birds before their extinct. There is no other reason. Yes, flying big radial tail draggers will teach you immensely and make you a better pilot but there are other ways to gain that experience.

If you do take the job, your skin needs to be thicker than 3/8" tanned bull hide. Everything thrown your way needs to be water off a ducks back. If this doesn't sound like you, don't apply. If that is you, and you're still obsessed with big radials, you will learn a lot and meet some great people. You'll work your butt off and find out where your limits are. You won't make much money on the ramp but the pay isn't terrible once you start flying. It's been a minute since I worked there, and this is simply my experience, but I still know a couple people there and from what I hear it's mostly unchanged besides a few more turbines on the ramp.

[Eric Janson]

My perspective for what it's worth:-


Things I learned working at Buffalo have kept me out of trouble when flying large jets all over the world.

I spent last Winter flying to Antarctica - my previous experience was extremely useful in operating these flights.

[IJNShiroyuki]

As someone who actually worked there, my recommendation is only take that job if you're obsessed with getting some time in on those old birds before their extinct. There is no other reason. Yes, flying big radial tail draggers will teach you immensely and make you a better pilot but there are other ways to gain that experience.

If you do take the job, your skin needs to be thicker than 3/8" tanned bull hide. Everything thrown your way needs to be water off a ducks back. If this doesn't sound like you, don't apply. If that is you, and you're still obsessed with big radials, you will learn a lot and meet some great people. You'll work your butt off and find out where your limits are. You won't make much money on the ramp but the pay isn't terrible once you start flying. It's been a minute since I worked there, and this is simply my experience, but I still know a couple people there and from what I hear it's mostly unchanged besides a few more turbines on the ramp.

Sounds like an delight place to work for!

[Me262]

As someone who actually worked there, my recommendation is only take that job if you're obsessed with getting some time in on those old birds before their extinct. There is no other reason. Yes, flying big radial tail draggers will teach you immensely and make you a better pilot but there are other ways to gain that experience.

If you do take the job, your skin needs to be thicker than 3/8" tanned bull hide. Everything thrown your way needs to be water off a ducks back. If this doesn't sound like you, don't apply. If that is you, and you're still obsessed with big radials, you will learn a lot and meet some great people. You'll work your butt off and find out where your limits are. You won't make much money on the ramp but the pay isn't terrible once you start flying. It's been a minute since I worked there, and this is simply my experience, but I still know a couple people there and from what I hear it's mostly unchanged besides a few more turbines on the ramp.

Sounds like an delight place to work for!

But you get to fly radials!

[Donald]

My perspective for what it's worth:-


Things I learned working at Buffalo have kept me out of trouble when flying large jets all over the world.

I spent last Winter flying to Antarctica - my previous experience was extremely useful in operating these flights.

Eric,

If Buffalo opened a base in your hometown, and operated with the same conditions, management, and mindset as now, would you work for them?

[Eric Janson]

Eric,

If Buffalo opened a base in your hometown, and operated with the same conditions, management, and mindset as now, would you work for them?

I am not familiar with the current situation or conditions there - I don't do hypothetical questions.

But you get to fly radials!

One thing I've learned from operating radials is to watch and listen to what is going on - too many people these days don't look further than "green indications = good" which isn't always the case.

[C-FDPB]

Couldn't agree more. I did a group 1 test a few years back and had a real engine failure. Kept bringing up all. The warning signs to the examiner (left engine is low on oil, left engine is showing a lower pressure than the left, throughout the flight same indications.) Examiners response was, they are in the green, so we're good. On final on an rnav approach engine decided to shake itself to bits. My response to the question is it can happen and the engine usually will give you signs it's not happy. So keep an eye out.

[goingnowherefast]

Sounds and trends. Still in the green, but unexplained changing is often a sign something isn't right.

[TeePeeCreeper]

Sounds and trends. Still in the green, but unexplained changing is often a sign something isn't right.

Agreed.

But it’s basic airmanship right? Let’s not attempt to re invent the wheel here.

TPC