Buffalo Airways

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:17 am

offered an entry level job, looking for insight. Let me know what you guys think. Company, working conditions etc.

just curious · Post by **just curious** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:56 am

You'll work hard and get checked out on heavy iron, and resolve to never have anything painted green around the house ever again.

Or you won't work hard, and have a very bad time.

We've got 8 ex buffalo drivers. I'd like to steal more.

merlin · Post by **merlin** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:12 am

we hear a lot about buffalo from a ramp side of things.... how about from a Captain's point of view? Good place to work? Pay? How do they treat you?

shower of sparks · Post by **shower of sparks** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:22 pm

how does a co pilot at buffalo ever make left seat if he starts out with minimal PIC time? i never understood this completely. it must take many years. i was offered a job as a swamper/eventually co-pilot, but a took a job in a cessna single (non instructing) instead to build my pic time.

sos

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:27 pm

thanks for the replies, from what i read after searching through the forums, i should stay away and wait for better/ instruct

Rudder Bug · Post by **Rudder Bug** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:00 pm

thanks for the replies, from what i read after searching through the forums, i should stay away and wait for better/ instruct

Smart choice!

West Coast Swell · Post by **West Coast Swell** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:55 pm

Wow... you got a job offer. That's great. You wanted comments so here goes. Ummmm.... well.... if its a decision that you have to make ASAP... and if aviation is your carrier choice .... what kind of flying job are you leaving now for this new position with "X" company? Make sure that if you are leaving an existing flying job for this new position make sure that it is a move up and not backwards for your carrier choice.

"No what I'm saaaaaaaaaaaynnnnn!"

Good luck!

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:04 am

yes aviation is my career of choice, i am leaving no job as the only aviation job i've had was ramp for AC but i was done there a year ago. However i just started my instructor rating and think i'll finish that and try my luck at a better job that route

flynfiddle · Post by **flynfiddle** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:36 am

Try Summit or North-Wright, I hear progression from ramp to right seat at both places is probably the fastest in the North.

phillyfan · Post by **phillyfan** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:16 pm

Does Buffalo have any captains working with them who started as rampies? If they do I have not run into them yet.

raven54 · Post by **raven54** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:27 pm

hey philly, there is only one that i know of flying the c46, east coast fella.

Fusion · Post by **Fusion** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:12 pm

there are 3 guys that started out at buffalo and now fly captain, if you want info on being a captain there, pm me.

Jim_12 · Post by **Jim_12** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:43 pm

I have alot of respect for kids that put there time in for Buffalo Joe and get a shot at the greasy 3. Kinda drivers we like to hire down the road when they are ready to come south.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:46 pm

If they made Captain on the 3 for Joe, they know how to fly.

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 8:54 pm

Rejected the offer, Pay was fairly good, but if i'm gonna move to the exact opposite end of the country its gonna have to be for more than a ramp position, when someone up there offers me right seat to start then i'll move 3000miles. I can find ramp jobs much closer to home.

McPhoo · Post by **McPhoo** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:26 pm

Well, I hope it all works out for you. Just one thing. Make sure you keep the big picture in mind. It isn't about the ramp job. It is really about where you want to be in 1/5/10 years and the best way to get there and how good of a time will you have getting there. If it takes moving 3000 miles and a bit of sweat but you make your goal then it ends up being the better ramp job. We all have had to make a bit of a sacrifice at one point or another. Having said that, I would agree that there may be better places to work a ramp! However, round engines are great and if you wanna fly one before they are all wrecked or in a museum somewhere, Joe has a bunch.

Good luck on your quest!

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:54 pm

thanks for the advice, and I do have my plan for the next 5 years, (have had several but shit happens) Here's hoping.

rushlimbaugh · Post by **rushlimbaugh** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:04 pm

anybody got the word on how long the wait time is for rampies? i searched the forums and the most recent postings from about a year ago say 1-2 years. anyone know how many people are in line now?

Frostbite · Post by **Frostbite** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:00 am

An opportunity to get in some vintage aircraft and log some heavy time! No other offers, I’d take it. All the airline applications I have seen ask a question about how much time in heavy aircraft you have. To get a couple of hundred hours before you even have 1000 TT, what a chance!

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:22 am

rushlimbaugh wrote:anybody got the word on how long the wait time is for rampies? i searched the forums and the most recent postings from about a year ago say 1-2 years. anyone know how many people are in line now?

was told probably 6-18 months

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:25 am

Frostbite wrote:An opportunity to get in some vintage aircraft and log some heavy time! No other offers, I’d take it. All the airline applications I have seen ask a question about how much time in heavy aircraft you have. To get a couple of hundred hours before you even have 1000 TT, what a chance!

while that was tempting, i'm 10's of thousands in the hole making that kind of move requires some serious $$, and i now have a couple of other offers i'm looking at, all a lot closer to home (almost would have to be).

raven54 · Post by **raven54** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:48 am

Don't be a pussy, I moved 7000km's and up to my eyeballs in debt, everyone who starts out in aviation is as well.

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:24 am

wow. thanks for that inspiring post.

As already stated, I didn't take the job I stated the reasons why not whether you agree or not is really irrelevant. Good for you if you made the move, I didn't think it was worth it. so I'll never fly a DC-3, I'll never get to fly a C-17 or F-18 either, didn't make it into the military. Shit happens. I'm talking to several flight schools in Ontario and here in NB. both a lot closer than Yellowknife, both get me flying as soon as i get there, no ramp work. I've worked ramp for a year already, i don't mind the work but if i have a choice of move far away to not fly or not move/ move to a closer place and fly. i'm gonna choose fly over not fly any day.

raven54 · Post by **raven54** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:05 pm

Learn to take a joke, I don't work for BA.

Ps, I understand, you would miss Mommy and Daddy too much...

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:27 pm

actually can't wait to get on my own and "mommy and daddy" live 700 miles apart and have been divorced for 8 years, but there's getting out on your own and moving to the opposite side of the country. latter seems a bit extreme for me right now, half way across the country should be sufficient