Skycare or Thunder Airlines?

[Kansla]

Which one would you pick between both?

Skycare would be either on Metro 3 or Westwind jet as FO.

Thunder Airlines would be on the KingAir 100 as FO.

Thank you!

[goingnowherefast]

Thunder without a question.

Thunder tries to follow the rules
Skyscare tries not to get caught breaking then. They're disturbingly good at it.

Skycare has a nasty bond, and a nasty game they play that forces you to stay. Call it "Hotel Skycare". Start as a Metro/WW FO. Just before your bond is up, forced onto Navajo captain with a new bond. Just before that is up, Metro captain with, you guessed it, a new bond.

Don't worry about cleaning ice off the wings before takeoff, you'll fly faster because it's slippery.

Thunder isn't perfect, it's a northern 703. At least they try to follow the rules.

[citabria8]

I try to avoid speaking negative, but I must agree with the above poster.

I don't know much about Thunder's operations but I would avoid SkyCare as much as possible.

Just my 2 cents, but ultimately please do as you want.

[digits_]

Skycare has a nasty bond, and a nasty game they play that forces you to stay. Call it "Hotel Skycare". Start as a Metro/WW FO. Just before your bond is up, forced onto Navajo captain with a new bond. Just before that is up, Metro captain with, you guessed it, a new bond.

What happens if you refuse the new bond? I doubt they could fire you for not wanting to sign another bond.

[Tbayer2021]

I'll echo the sentiment already expressed. It's been 10 years since I flew in NWO and even back then one would take Thunder over SC if they had choice. SC was known as a very sketchy operator. I think the couple of years they weren't the sketchiest guys up there were the same years Kasper was around.

[Sewer pipe driver]

Avoid Skyscare at all costs

[Daigo]

Thunder without a question.

Thunder tries to follow the rules
Skyscare tries not to get caught breaking then. They're disturbingly good at it.

Skycare has a nasty bond, and a nasty game they play that forces you to stay. Call it "Hotel Skycare". Start as a Metro/WW FO. Just before your bond is up, forced onto Navajo captain with a new bond. Just before that is up, Metro captain with, you guessed it, a new bond.

Don't worry about cleaning ice off the wings before takeoff, you'll fly faster because it's slippery.

Thunder isn't perfect, it's a northern 703. At least they try to follow the rules.

I agree overall that thunder is a better operator but the bond comparison doesnt make it better.

Thunder has a very similar game where you sign a bond on hire and will have to re-sign every time you switch seats just like SC

[Bede]

Thunder has a very similar game where you sign a bond on hire and will have to re-sign every time you switch seats just like SC

Simple solution: "I'm not in a position to sign the new bond."
Airline's need captains more than you need a job at that specific operator.

[co-joe]

Seeing that FB is still at the helm of Skycare, I feel like, I wouldn't pee on that man if he were on fire.

[ZBBYLW]

Thunder all day long.

Where there is smoke there is fire. Frankly the leadership at Skyscare is such that if it were the only job available for my kids I'd welcome them home and wait it out. I'd not go to SC even if it were the only job available.

[Sulako]

I flew the MU-2 for Thunder a little over 20 years ago. People either loved the MU-2 or hated it, and I loved it. Such a great and terrifying plane.

Thunder was hard work and long hours but the company did their best to play by the rules, such as they were in 2004.

[Heavy Rayn]

Thunder without a doubt. The planes are a bit tired but the people there are great. There is a bond but you won’t be forced to upgrade/change seats if you don’t want to. Pay is okay, better on the MU2 side of things. They’re currently incentivizing captains to stay with a decent signing bonus (2 yr commitment for a 40k pre tax cheque). I recently flew the king air in the right and left seat as well as the MU2 in the left seat with them. I loved my time there. The chief pilot is an unreal guy, definitely somebody that anybody would want to work for.

[Flying Low]

My opinion is probably outdated as I flew for Thunder back in 2004-2006 with another year in 2008-2009. When I started at Thunder I was told if I broke minimums I was gone (I hope it is still this way). This is what you want for your first IFR job. There is absolutely no risk in flying an approach to minimums and then going around if need be. The most valuable lesson you will learn in flying is when to say no.