Ground at Wasaya or Transwest?

[DanWEC]

Hey guys, on the road trip, everything going well, really well actually. Quick question- all else being equal, which would be "better"', ground position: Wasaya in Tbay or Transwest in SK?
Hoping someone can shed some light on the companies, The people I've talked to at Transwest sound very friendly and my kind of people.
Im on the road right now and can't dig through old threads.

Thanks!

Dan

[Indanao]

From experience: Go with Transwest for the long haul. Big company, been around a long time, with LOTS of opportunity for advancement. Good luck.

[Go Juice]

Stay the fawk away from transwest. Yes it's a big company. Does it make it good? Not at all!

Every 2 weeks they put on adds for pilots with current PPC. So guess what, when it's your time for the upgrade, they might just hire from the street again and you'll be stuck in right seat again....

The crew house in one of their base is pure SHIT and moldy. This is how they respect their employees. One guy also was banned from the sched one time to come back south after he quit...


Please, you're a pilot you're worth more than that... STAY AWAY!!!

[Doc]

My thoughts about working the ramp are pretty well known. I know nothing about Transwest. I do know a wee bit about Wasaya. Good equipment. Good pilots. There have been problems in the past with management, but I'm not up to speed with their current situation.

[BLZD1]

I would go with the company where you will be able to get the best connections and meet new people. Better to be employed than not employed! Good luck!

PS Everybody's first job sucks. Pick whats best for you.

[DanWEC]

Thanks for the input thus far guys. For Transwest, I'd be in La Ronge. Full time, no overtime unless approved, recent change I suppose. No bond for training when moved to right seat. Benefits and Westjet partner passes after 6 months. I will continue the trip but its an option now. Will be in Tbay tomorrow to hound Wasaya and Thunder Air. Would love to be there as its closer to family in SWO and a direct Porter flight.

[Just another canuck]

To the best of my knowledge, hounding Wasaya in Thunder Bay will only get you so far in most cases. If you really want a job, show up in YRL or YPL. However, if you made it all the way up there, I would be more inclined to work for one of the many float ops along the way.

Between Transwest and Wasaya, I vote Transwest... The triple bond at Wasaya just plain pisses me off. And I also like the equipment way better at Transwest.

[Elessar_44]

The "triple bond" info at Wasaya is incorrect, I'll send you a PM.

The other posts are correct that working the ramp in YQT is not a base for apprentice pilots. You'll have to be in either YRL or YPL. You can drop off your resume in YQT though.

[Redneck_pilot86]

Why don't you share the information with other prospective new employees as well? Help them make the decision to stay away.

[Changes in Latitudes]

Dan, I thought the point of the road trip was to find a FLYING job. Keep in the hunt, I think you should be able to find a place that will let you manipulate the controls of an aircraft for money.

I found a flying job with your experience without the ramp gig and I am moderately retarded.

[flyinthebug]

I have a chip on my shoulder towards Wasaya and their senior management, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Wasaya will slave you to death and then MAYBE after a yr or more, you`ll sit right seat in a Caravan.

Transwest on the other hand... I worked 3 hangers down the line from them for over 4 years. They have their challenges, but overall lots of room to advance and opportunity to fly a diverse fleet of (51+) aircraft. The owner(s) are decent people and overall its not a bad place to start. You`ll love YVC in the summer...a very busy hub and you will make alot of contacts there. You wont be a yr or more getting on the flight line with TWA.

As was stated above...if N. Ont is your preferred place to be...just show up in YRL or YPL and you`ll likely start work that same day.. but be ready for a management team with their heads up their asses, and a very slow progression to the flight line. I used to run one of their bases, so I know what im talking about. When PD left in 06, things went downhill fast and I havent seen that change much since his departure. I will say that Wasaya has some really good people on the flight line...and solid equipment, well maintained etc. If your looking to fly sooner than later, take Transwest! Thats my 2 cents.

Let us know what you decide! Glad your road trip is going so well!
All the best,
Fly safe all.
FTB

[Doc]

Edited by Doc

[AUGER9]

The "triple bond" info at Wasaya is incorrect, I'll send you a PM.

The other posts are correct that working the ramp in YQT is not a base for apprentice pilots. You'll have to be in either YRL or YPL. You can drop off your resume in YQT though.

So, educate us. I know for a fact Wasaya will bond you three times. Some loyalty! There is a very good reason Wasaya uses multiple bonds. They have a full time "escape" committee.

There's no triple bond. You'll be on the van in a few months. Pilatus few months after. No bond til you're on a twin which will happen once you have 1000hrs.

[Doc]

ladeda....

[flyinthebug]

The "triple bond" info at Wasaya is incorrect, I'll send you a PM.

The other posts are correct that working the ramp in YQT is not a base for apprentice pilots. You'll have to be in either YRL or YPL. You can drop off your resume in YQT though.

So, educate us. I know for a fact Wasaya will bond you three times. Some loyalty! There is a very good reason Wasaya uses multiple bonds. They have a full time "escape" committee.

There's no triple bond. You'll be on the van in a few months. Pilatus few months after. No bond til you're on a twin which will happen once you have 1000hrs.

If your first twin is the Hawker, there's a bond, bid on the 1900 a year later, another bond, six months after that, you want a little PIC, you bid on the PC12....guess what? That's three (triple) bonds. I know pilots who are there/doing just that.[/quote]

+1 Doc speaks the truth. He and I both worked there and we know whats going on. Take his word on this one, as this is exactly how it goes at Wasaya.

[AUGER9]

So you know more about it than someone currently working there? Ok sure. But as far as the contract goes, you only pay 2 bonds, and you don't pay any after 3 years of service.

[Elessar_44]

I'm not trying to argue with you guys....but like Auger, I currently work here. In my ~5 years here I've been in 3 FO seats (208, PC12, 748) and 2 left seats (208 and 1900). I have signed exactly two bonds.

It may have been different in the past, but this is the way it is now.

[Doc]

edit

[180]

Hey DanWEC,

How far did you go? Did you make it to Yellowknife?

I know a guy who did the Transwest La Ronge thing. He kept his mouth shut, his head down, worked hard, didn't complain, and ended up in the right seat of a -6 within 6 months, and within 3 years the whole world opened up to him. Apparently it's pretty old school up there, they like to see how much BS a guy can handle before they put him in a machine, but if you can suck it up and handle the abuse, you'll be on your way.

I know nothing about Wasaya?

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Redneck_pilot86]

Also Dan, in case you don't know, right seat in a 208 is an absolutely useless position. It is a single pilot airplane, and a basic one at that.

[DanWEC]

Hey 180- posting periodic updates on the other road trip thread. Not to Yellowknife yet. The first few days were slow going, visiting with family, etc. Left Tuesday afternoon and I'm in Thunder Bay right now. Will be heading through the stops in NWO tomorrow.

As far as sticking out a ground position. I will prove my worth, and if there's a job to do I will do it and give it my all, 18 hours a day, but I'm not about to let myself be degraded in any way.
We'll see if I go the TWA way if they really want me to prove myself of if they want a cheap labour lacky... (Though it doesn't really sound like it) I'm old enough to tell the difference. I wish I was 20 again and starting on this new career.... "32 32 32" is constantly in the back of my mind.

As a note- The position is dispatch in La Ronge, leaidng to flying. They pay by the hour for this position (though its just a few bucks over min wage), not salary. They also don't want overtime, so you are worked a normal amount- 40 hrs a week. Things may have changed/gotten better recently.

[AUGER9]

Also Dan, in case you don't know, right seat in a 208 is an absolutely useless position. It is a single pilot airplane, and a basic one at that.

Who cares? It's an opportunity for a low time pilot, with upgrades right around the corner, and hours in the book. Plus, it's nice being two crew when doing 15 hour days, unloading planes, shitty wx etc

[Brown Bear]

Who cares? It's an opportunity for a low time pilot, with upgrades right around the corner, and hours in the book. Plus, it's nice being two crew when doing 15 hour days, unloading planes, shitty wx etc

It's still a waist of time. It's a single engine, one pilot airplane. NOTHING goes in your logbook. You're a PASSENGER!

[Brown Bear]

So you know more about it than someone currently working there? Ok sure. But as far as the contract goes, you only pay 2 bonds, and you don't pay any after 3 years of service.

Only TWO bonds! What an opportunity! Wow! No bonds after THREE YEARS OF SERVICE! What a deal! How stupid are you people? Really? You have the golden opportunity to pay out of your pocket......TWICE! And this is a UNION SHOP!! More like a leper colony, and should be avoided as such! Seriously. And pilots like AUGER9, think it's Okay????

[AUGER9]

So you know more about it than someone currently working there? Ok sure. But as far as the contract goes, you only pay 2 bonds, and you don't pay any after 3 years of service.

Only TWO bonds! What an opportunity! Wow! No bonds after THREE YEARS OF SERVICE! What a deal! How stupid are you people? Really? You have the golden opportunity to pay out of your pocket......TWICE! And this is a UNION SHOP!! More like a leper colony, and should be avoided as such! Seriously. And pilots like AUGER9, think it's Okay????

Can you point out where I said it was ok? I was simply correcting someone who likes to think he knows everything about Wasaya but doesn't.