Here we gooo.....

[Changes in Latitudes]

Geeze these roadtrips are getting tough, lost blackberry coverage and having to use an IPAD. I hope your Lexus is all-wheel drive . Drive safely.

[Liquid Charlie]

I have a Blackberry on Bell and an iPad on Rogers. The Bell blackberry blew the goat just north of the Soo (Yes Lost, Bell!) Rogers has had spotty but decent reception the whole way for data and voip phone. So tips for travellers- get a rogers phone- prepaid or whatever, since Bell will not work around here.

Ah yes -- Bell has been out flanked in NWO - Rogers partnered up with TBaytel and left Bell holding their dick in their hands - There is now voice coverage and 2G (Edge) data that really only works for email if you have a lot of patience - through DrydenTel and works between YQT and YQK with coverage in Red Lake and Sioux and Dryden and likely Fort Flunk - anyone with connections with Bell (Virgin, Kudo, Solo) will work and your plans are honoured but only 2G

Rogers/TBay is all HSPA+ so good data - I was forced to leave the family and went Virgin (best deal right now) because Rogers has no coverage in YK

BTW -- Friday -- Legion - Sioux Lookout after 17:00 -- it's a tradition

[rapid602]

I've always been skeptical about how well deer whistles work, esp after they get plugged up with bugs.

Food for thought Colonel ... we just may get the car back today from the body shop after hitting a deer. My girl friend ran into a deer, last Thursday night. I have thought about it before and have driven buy a thousand deer so the confidence goes up with every passing.

So today or Monday when we go to pick up the car, we have to pay the $100 deductable.

I don't know what the deer whistles cost, but its a lot cheaper that $100 deductable for the comp claim on the car insurance. I will be the proud owner of some deer whistles, this weekend. If you have them and you never hit a deer, thats a good thing. Kinda feel stupid buying deer whistles after the accident, makes me feel like I am calling the insurance company to buy fire insurance while my house is on fire.

[flyinthebug]

My 2 cents....

This is a very dumb move:

He had 1300 hours and I had 250.

Why bring competition, that also happens to be better qualified, on your JOB HUNT? It reminds me of the day that two shirt-and-tie college guys walked in to our quasi-bush outfit, friends that were looking for a job. The ops manager spyed an opportunity and asked them: "I can only hire one of you guys, who's the lazy one?" There was no hesitation from either one, and we laughed about it for awhile!

He is a friend and we had the time to do the trip together. His was instructing time and we were both visiting all operators that may have given us a chance. What is ironic about your statement is that the last operator we visited on our trip, in Winnipeg, had only turbo-props and a jet so this was for him. We were both tired and deflated from the long road trip and just wanted to get home but I convinced him to make this one last visit. I didn't even plan on taking my resume with me when we met the Ops Manager because of the type of operation it was but my buddy convinced me to take it in. I was the one they hired 3 months later and spent six and a half years there leaving as the senior pilot before moving on to my current job.

This should tell you that when it comes to having no operational experience it's down to the person not the hours for some operations and when on the road trip all you can do is leave your resume and a good impression. For what it's worth, this particular operation wasn't fond of instructing time but we had no idea at the time.

We're both Captains at the same company on 737s now so ultimately it wasn't that dumb was it?

Very well put FICU. I also did my 1st road trip many yrs ago with a buddy. We both had 250 hours and a float rating. Ours turned out well and with a happy ending for both of us. We both got a job (him on a 185 and me on a 206) and today he works 3 hangers away from me...as a Training Capt with a great company, and im working in Senior management with an equally great company. In our instance, going together made the road trip alot more tolerable...we shared expenses and some great times along the way. I dont see anything wrong with 2 young guys (or gals) walking through my door looking for a job, vs 1? Its obviously worked out well for some of us.

I see in the employment forum that you already have an offer to work the dock in YVC. Congrats on getting a bite. Keep us up to date Dan, and dont forget to post pics along the way!
Fly safe and drive safe!
FTB

[Beefitarian]

I think most of us would like to take 2 young gals along bug. My wife would probably make a big fuss about it though. She never wants me to do fun stuff.

[flyinthebug]

I think most of us would like to take 2 young gals along bug. My wife would probably make a big fuss about it though. She never wants me to do fun stuff.

LOL Beef! Why is it that our ladies dont have a sense of humour about these things? lol Cheers!

[Beefitarian]

Good to read Dan.

So tips for travellers- get a rogers phone- prepaid or whatever, since Bell will not work around here.

Go to the 7-11 and grab a speak out prepaid phone. It will just be a plane phone but they're cheap and come with some time on them, it's on Rogers' network and they charge like 25¢ per minute and you can buy $25 cards at a time if you want. If you buy the $100 card you get extra time added and it lasts for a whole year. We've been using them as our cell phones.

Telus will be better in rural Alberta and they share their network with Bell so you'll probably do better on your Bell once you get past somewhere in Manatoba or Sask.

[Liquid Charlie]

I don't know what the deer whistles cost, but its a lot cheaper that $100 deductable

Anyone I have spoken to claims that the whistles have very little effect - seems they pass bambi and bullwinkle and they don't even look -

What I can tell you after many encounters (like about 30 moose several deer a bear and a wolf in one night between Hearst and Sioux Lookout) -- with no hits yet -- touch wood ) what you never should do is blow your horn -- there is about a 98% chance they will bolt across the road instead back towards the bush (especially with deer) - I'm not sure why but maybe because they get confused because of the echo --

Good lights and being alert - best tools -- aux lights are great but they need to be good and to do the job likely not street legal - PIA is good -- life time warranty - I invested in 2 sets -- total 600W 2 pencil and 2 fog -- reflective signs actually hurt your eyes -- lfaooo -- oh ya -- will pick up the reflective tape on a cruiser at about 2 klicks --

drive safely -----

[Beefitarian]

Just grab one of these http://chevyavalancheperformance.net/st ... m28v26s246

If you bring a BBQ and a case of sauce, every time you get one you can put it in the back for when you get to the next stop and grill up deer steaks. They won't forget you and your resume.

No reason I picked that one over the other images of Grill Gaurds that were on Google.

[kevind]

Growing up in the BC mountians, we found that deer/elk (prey animals) etc would tent to run uphill when spooked.. so if they were on low side of road they will run across the highway. Smaller animals like coyotes etc (preditors) would tend to run downhill.

[Indanao]

My luck with Bell in Lac La Biche, Alta.,at the new Tar Sands project at Sunday Creek last summer, went like this. Sent a Text to a place two blocks away. It arrived there two days later. Soooo...not really sure about the whole Telus/Bell connection thing.

[DanWEC]

Here is a map of cell coverage for Canada, every company.

http://www.comparecellular.com/coverage-maps/
It might help someone out.

The rest of the drive (only a few hours today) was great. Grey and ugly though. Did see a red fox crossing the road though.

Hey Liquid- Wish I could make it, I won't be in yxl for another few days. I'm having a beer by myself right now. The horror!

Oh, and Changes, yes all 4 wheels on the Focus do turn. However the 80hp of American muscle really only spins one wheel when on snow......

The Transwest offer is tough. It's terrific to have landed a job, but spending at least a year doing dispatch at La Ronge, (not so bad) away from my soon-to-be-wife, (bad) then flying,(good) also away from said stb-wife. (also bad)
I'm really, really, really hoping something pans out in Ontario, or if not, at least near a major city where she can move and work in her field.

[DanWEC]

Just though I'd post a bit of a truncated update. I continued on the road up to YRL, met with a few very nice operators that live there, then across Manitoba, to my current job.
Been with a regional airline in Saskatchewan for about a week, Learning the ropes on the ops side of things.
It's a ground-to-line position, and I'll just doing my bit and then some for as long as I need to.
I've always been proud that I have held most of my positions as long term jobs.
Regardless, it's an experience, with plenty of great people so far. The future is totally unpredictable, but If nothing else at least I have a entry position with what seems to be a good company, and will have made a few good friends here.

Happy flights,
Dan

[just curious]

Glad to see the trip paid off Dan, let us know how it goes!

[flyinthebug]

Glad to see the trip paid off Dan, let us know how it goes!

+1

I think you made a great choice Dan! All the best and keep us posted!!

Fly safe all.

[hst]

Hoping for a quick return to health for the drivers involved in this incident BUT....

Dan imagine if this http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... le2384120/ happened right in front of you a month earlier????


Good luck with the new job and with getting in the air ASAP.

[Magnetron]

Hoping for a quick return to health for the drivers involved in this incident BUT....

Dan imagine if this http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... le2384120/ happened right in front of you a month earlier????


Good luck with the new job and with getting in the air ASAP.

I should have gone there this morning instead of the gong show at work today...i'm sure i can pick up more than my hourly wage in that pot of gold.
and hoping the best for the drivers..


Yes Dan! Hopefully it's all good up there and we both get into a seat quick!

[DanWEC]

Hello all- bit of a thread revival here.
All has been going well at my current dispatch position, however I've been forced to make the choice to leave, due to factors that have come up back home- I will have to move back to Ontario before wintertime, and since I can't spend the few years I intended on here, any more time spent here on the ground would be in vain unfortunately. I will be instructing, and genuinely looking forward to it as I'll be living in Ottawa for quite some time, and won't just be doing it to get out as quick as possible. I'll likely move up a few classes and keep active with instructing, at least on the side, for as long as I can see.
My only option right now is to continue the road trip, and hope for a stroke up luck on a flying position becoming available. I had a near miss with a Super Cub job in Ontario last week. Unfortunately it slipped away from me as it would have taken too long to get back there. The operator was already late on starting his season and had another guy lined up to start that day. Oh well- he's promised it to me next year if I'm interested. My resume was given to him by another operator that I visited- Heck of a nice guy and a nice move. He now knows that I owe him a steak dinner for that.
With the car loaded up, at the end of this week I will be travelling west, starting here in SK, and then AB and BC. Looking forward to a some beautiful scenery as it's springtime now.... should be far more memorable than the first half of my trip 2 months ago.

It's been a great trip so far! Hell of a great learning experience. Besides visiting operators, I have friends I'm dropping in to see and stay with, and as always, if anyone would like to meet for a coffee or brew, let me know! I'll be around.

(And hoping for a 2 million dollar armored car spill BEFORE me this time.. Always a day late a mill or two short)

[1000 HP]

Have a good trip! Maybe you should stop in Fort Mac and talk to Wade at McMurray Aviation. He's a good guy to work for, and he moves his instructors up to the Caravan pretty quickly...

[xsbank]

Good to see that the aviation industry is puttering along, new pilots are still enthusiastic, old pilots are popping their clogs and the rest of us just keep muttering along in our confused but optimistic way. Good luck with your next stage in life; resist the need to go away from your loved ones as you "...advance your career..." until you realize that loved ones and 'your career' are mutually exclusive.

Best of luck to you, or should I say, "Break a leg."

[jpilot77]

Just grab one of these http://chevyavalancheperformance.net/st ... m28v26s246

Sorry Beefitarian but this is the front bumper to hit critters with: http://www.fabfours.com/products/chevy/ ... grillguard

[DanWEC]

Thanks. Fort Mac is on my list. I haven't completed the class 4 yet. Barely started. Idea is to do it in Ottawa, hopefully to work for the ftu I do it with.
Until wintertime when the unavoidable move happens... it's more pounding the pavement.

[Lost Lake]

Wings at Kostas before you leave?