Air Sprint Questions - Need Info

Bill Lumberg · Post by **Bill Lumberg** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:34 pm

I have already conducted a search and read many posts about Air Sprint but I am looking for some updated information. I meet the minimums with some additional hours for buffer. I have heard a lot of mixed messages about Air Sprint. It sounds like the pilots on both the Pilatus and the Excel fly quite a bit. I am fine either way - I am in no rush to get to the airlines or a cherry corporate position. Instead, I am interested in getting some good experience and traveling to some interesting destinations - I could use some variety instead of the same routes over and over again (I am used to that given my cargo background).

So, I qualify for a Pilatus FO position and I have some questions for those who would know. I am familiar with the financial terms offered at Air Sprint - I am more interested in hearing about life on the line and details about Pilatus flying. I am not interested in debating the value of SIC time in the Pilatus - I have heard that all before... Questions:

1. I know that destinations can vary substantially day-to-day, but what sorts of routes are "typical" for Pilatus crews? Mainly intra-Canada? Florida or California in the winter? Are some destinations more typical than others depending on the season?

2. Do Air Sprint crews stay in nice hotels? What is the minimum rest in terms of hours? Any particularly nice layovers?

3. I have heard the PC12 is fun to fly. How do you withstand the 4-6 hour flights in the PC12? Any tricks of the trade on the longer legs?

4. What is the normal progression at Air Sprint - PC12 FO to PIC to Excel FO to Excel PIC? What is the estimated time between positions?

I am looking to apply soon and I would appreciate any information or opinions. Thanks

spaz · Post by **spaz** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:14 pm

Spiral Dive, Spiral Dive, Bueler, Spruce Monkey, Spiral Dive.......

Bill Lumberg · Post by **Bill Lumberg** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:18 pm

spaz wrote:Spiral Dive, Spiral Dive, Bueler, Spruce Monkey, Spiral Dive.......

Ha Ha. Thanks for nothing you jacka$$.

Can anyone add anything and not waste other peoples' time? I am seriously looking into Air Sprint and the PC12 and I would appreciate any good information or opinions per my questions.

Thanks again (for not wasting our time). PMs are welcome too.

shimmydampner · Post by **shimmydampner** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:38 pm

I'm gonna have to ask you to go ahead and come back another time Lumberg, I'm kinda busy...I've got a meeting with the Bobs in about five minutes.

Bill Lumberg · Post by **Bill Lumberg** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:56 pm

Love those pictures. I wish I could use that as my avatar.

Anyone got any Air Sprint and PC12 info? Thanks

NAYA · Post by **NAYA** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:37 pm

Sprucemonkey has had a very strange change in views of Sprint. Wasn't he just quoted as say "JM runs a dan good show"? Now that is interesting.

arctic navigator · Post by **arctic navigator** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:02 am

Wouldnt it make more sense to apply and see if they'll even look at you first of all, then go for the interview and ask these questions in person to the people that can truely answer them rather than asking on here??? Not that I'm being much help at the moment myself, but I can be certain that you shouldn't use the opinion of everyone else to guide your career... All I do know forsure is that with a fleet of 21 now and 27 more on order they're going to be a formidable force in canadian aviation, and considering the type of work they do they're somewhat impervious to the whims of the economy and the more terrorism crap bush comes up with they busier theyre gonna get...

my 2 cents

Bill Lumberg · Post by **Bill Lumberg** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:28 pm

arctic navigator,

Thanks for your reply. Well, this is an informational forum and I would appreciate any additional information I can get. Yes, I will be applying regardless but I would hope to have more information and good examples to help me in my evaluation. This would not be the only opportunity I have - but it is one that I would be leaning toward given my interest in this type of flying. I am a big believer in the fractional concept/model.

Again, any info about life on the Pilatus at Air Sprint (see questions above) would be very much appreciated.

TopperHarley · Post by **TopperHarley** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:46 pm

This is all second hand info...

I know a few guys that used to work there. They enjoyed it. The pay is good, per diems seem good, and the type of flying sounds like a lot of fun. They probably have the nicest PC12s in north america too, all decked out with corporate interiors.

The only down-side that people seem to find is that they get tired of the overnites. Personally, I think the overnites would be a lot of fun, especially on trips to NYC, Florida or California. But some people can't stand being away from home 2-3 nights at a time.

Overall, the company seems to have improved a lot over the years. They are growing and pilots there seem to really enjoy it. People used to say nasty things about Sprint, but not so much anymore.

If you're single, I think this would be one of the best flying jobs in the country. You might not fly as much as other companies, but who cares, you'll at least be living in a nice city and flying to cool destinations. Opportunities to upgrade to the excel and Piaggio make the job even more attractive.

Good luck.

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 10:30 pm

An overnight in Florida, New York, or LA is the same as an overnight in Forskin John, Ft Mac, or Bonnyville. You're sitting in a hotel watching garbage on TV, eating garbage, and sleeping alone at the cheapest hotel management can get away with.

You can't really afford to go anywhere or do anything on your $40 pre-diem, and really are you going to go exploring hell's kitchen NY by yourself 12 hours before you have to be at the airport to fly somewhere else at midnight on a tuesday?

You'd think KLAS would be fun being the "city that never sleeps" but unless you have a few hundred quid burning a hole in your pocket are you really gonna go hit the slots or black black jack tables and get married drive through elvis impersonator style sunday night?

What was the question again?

No offense Macgyver. I'm sure it's a great job. You talk about the Piaggios like they're already there. As far as I know that hasn't happened yet?

shimmydampner · Post by **shimmydampner** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:57 pm

shimmydampner · Post by **shimmydampner** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:59 pm

bob sacamano · Post by **bob sacamano** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:45 am

All you need to worry about is cleaning the damn hangar and washing the planes. Rest is peanuts, I mean really, what does it take to selecte gear up?

Now on a related note, thanks to my training captain, I been driving around for 3 months with "O Face" writing on the side of my car.

Thanks dude.

TopperHarley · Post by **TopperHarley** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:59 am

co-joe wrote:An overnight in Florida, New York, or LA is the same as an overnight in Forskin John, Ft Mac, or Bonnyville. You're sitting in a hotel watching garbage on TV, eating garbage, and sleeping alone at the cheapest hotel management can get away with.

You can't really afford to go anywhere or do anything on your $40 pre-diem, and really are you going to go exploring hell's kitchen NY by yourself 12 hours before you have to be at the airport to fly somewhere else at midnight on a tuesday?

You'd think KLAS would be fun being the "city that never sleeps" but unless you have a few hundred quid burning a hole in your pocket are you really gonna go hit the slots or black black jack tables and get married drive through elvis impersonator style sunday night?

What was the question again?

No offense Macgyver. I'm sure it's a great job. You talk about the Piaggios like they're already there. As far as I know that hasn't happened yet?

You could be right, as I said, I was passing along second-hand info.

If I had a few nights to kill in NYC, Boston, Florida, etc, I would certainly like to take advantage of it without blowing holes in my pockets. Who says you need to spend a lot of money to enjoy the town? Walk around time square, take a tour of Harvard's campus, get a lawn chair and sit on the beach all day in Florida, etc etc.

Again, I have no experience with this company first-hand. From the outside, it sounds like a fun place to work. And they seem to be growing quite rapidly, which I guess could always change.

douche · Post by **douche** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:35 am

Air Diddles......scabber? Care to add something? Change something perhaps? You change handles like you change your last name!

frontside_air · Post by **frontside_air** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:53 am

co-joe wrote:An overnight in Florida, New York, or LA is the same as an overnight in Forskin John, Ft Mac, or Bonnyville....

weeeell...like a lot of things, layovers are what you make of them. i flew similar 703 ops from the arctic to mexico and for me the variety was the best part about it. if you do a little research before hand you came come up with a reasonable gameplan for your destination and hit the ground running so to speak. nyc, chicago, boston, floridas, etc are fantastic destinations for overnights. TEB, MDW, HPN, etc are all within a 20-30min bus/train ride from downtown so there's no excuse to not see the sights if you're there for a couple of hrs. if you're a slam-clicker and don't make the effort to have a good time where you are then this lifestyl becomes unbearable very fast. it's all about enjoying where you are as opposed to constantly mulling over where you're not (home). it's bad enough when you're buying gitch on the road because you only packed enough for one overnight and you've been gone for four, you might as well spend some coin and have some fun so you can say you've actually been somewhere as opposed to just sitting in a hotel room somewhere watching VH1 and getting fat.

if you're a perdiems bandit and trying to save as much cash as you can then get those ramen noodles cooking in the coffee maker and sign up for a correspondence course to keep yourself from going crazy.

xsbank · Post by **xsbank** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:08 pm

I know nothing about Airsprint, but unless there is a fast-track to the left seat, what's the point? Is there one?

I really am interested. It sounds like a lot of work for very little money (how much do they pay for baggage smashing and plane-washing?)

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:15 pm

I flew to the US a few times last year and I enjoyed going somewhere new, I enjoyed the high density IFR. The food was great, the service outstanding, the views were great. One night in Vegas was about all I could stand, but hey different strokes.

My point is that a job is only as good as the time off it affords (to me). AS doesn't have a stellar reputation for schedule, but otherwise I think they are a reasonably reputable outfit.

Personally I work to live...not the other way around.

Bill Lumberg · Post by **Bill Lumberg** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 8:23 pm

Thanks for the pointers related to overnights. I agree that you need time to really enjoy an overnight - more than 12 hours. Perhaps that's unlikely in most aviation jobs unless you find a great corporate gig where you can stay at nice resorts for a decent amount of time.

In my case, I have accumulated many hours flying to the same old destinations over and over and over again. I have flown crappy airplanes (don't expect much flying freight) and it would be nice to fly relatively new and advanced aircraft to varying destinations every once and awhile. The fractional concept makes a lot of sense to me and Air Sprint sounds like a reasonably successful company thusfar.

Who knows what the future will bring. I would like to consider an opportunity at Air Sprint on the Pilatus if it were offered to me but I will have to wait my turn for an interview. In the meantime, I am hopeful that Air Sprint pilots can provide a better glimpse into life on the line for Pilatus drivers. I have sent my stuff in but I would appreciate more information before I go further in the process... Anyone flying the PC12 for Air Sprint out there?

Cheers

frontside_air · Post by **frontside_air** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:30 pm

co-joe wrote: My point is that a job is only as good as the time off it affords (to me). AS doesn't have a stellar reputation for schedule, but otherwise I think they are a reasonably reputable outfit.

Personally I work to live...not the other way around.

indeed, at the end of the day sprint isn't a dream job but it's also not a bad spot to hang your hat for a while and see the continent...then go on to the kind of gig you want when you're number's up.

helinas · Post by **helinas** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:30 am

Hi guys,

What type of a schedule do Air sprint pilots have? Are they always on call 24/7? Do they give you a day notice, etc? Any info would be appreciated. What is the average working month for sprint pilots?

thanks guys and looking forward to some replies.

helinas

teacher · Post by **teacher** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:30 am

They're on a 12 and 4 schedule and get usually a minimum 24 hours notice of flights. There is the rare last minute call in if a last minute trip comes up or a pilot gets sick but it's not that common at all. I think they fly or are away about 14-16 days a month give or take on the month, busier some months, slower others.

helinas · Post by **helinas** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:36 am

thanks teacher for the info. Do they do alot of overnighters? How many per month? Again thanks for the info and looking for some more if you have any on the above question.

thanks again

helinas

teacher · Post by **teacher** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 8:42 am

As fo overnights as far as I've seen and heard again it varies, some times all the trips are overnights, sometimes all day trips. Best way to put it is say 50/50, some months being more others less. I think it can depend on what base too whether it's Calgary or Kitchener. From those I've spoken to at Air Sprint that seems to be the case.

helinas · Post by **helinas** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:03 am

thanks again teacher for the info.

I guess my question one more time, If the flight begins in the afternoon and it is an overnighter the guys would be back sometime in the late morning.

thanks