~ Sky Regional 2014 ~

[PROC_HDG]

Is there a bond on the Q400 or EMB? Anyone know what it is?

No bonds.

loopa aren't you very publicly in the pool @ encore?

[loopa]

I am curious because Jazz doesn't have a bond, Sky doesn't have a bond, but EVAS and GGN do. I thought maybe there would be some form of unity on that subject between the express carriers, especially now that there's talks of PML's across the board for all of them once Jazz's is exhausted.

Your detective work is impressive PROC_HDG. And no, me being interested about the bond ends at my curiosity. I like knowing about companies in our industry. And this was a piece of the pie that I didn't know about Sky. You guys seem to have a decent set up over there contrary to the impression of us on the side lines. Wonder how much longer this no bond will last if the attrition is the way demonstrated on here.

Either way, thanks for the info gentlemen.

[PROC_HDG]

I'd be amazed if they ever had a bond. They have a difficult time finding the right applicants already, a bond wouldn't help the situation.

They do have a company policy, however, that you can't bid off a certain type for the first two years, or one year if you come type rated. For example, new hires on the Q400 who come with a DH8 rating are expected to spend 1 year on the Q before bidding the EMB.

PROC_HDG

[loopa]

I'd be amazed if they ever had a bond. They have a difficult time finding the right applicants already, a bond wouldn't help the situation.

They do have a company policy, however, that you can't bid off a certain type for the first two years, or one year if you come type rated. For example, new hires on the Q400 who come with a DH8 rating are expected to spend 1 year on the Q before bidding the EMB.

PROC_HDG

Same policy here as well. A rather fair system I think. No money up front, no bond, but your word that you'll stay.

Surprised to hear they are having issues finding the right candidates. Is it a qualifications issue atm or personality types that are showing up? I'd think if they want 1500 hours and a CPL that they'd be able to find some sharp young people who have the right attitude to do the job? Especially since the upgrade matrix seems to only be about time on type and total time (plus all the personality/performance factors) unlike many places that have mpic/pic charts in place.

Thanks for the info dude.

[NickyNick]

I'd be amazed if they ever had a bond. They have a difficult time finding the right applicants already, a bond wouldn't help the situation.

PROC_HDG

How do they know I'm not a right applicant? What percent of experienced BE20 Captains struggle with step up to dash or emb ?

[garfield]

My guess is they are looking for people with DASH or jet time first.

[Kosiw]

I'd be amazed if they ever had a bond. They have a difficult time finding the right applicants already, a bond wouldn't help the situation.

They do have a company policy, however, that you can't bid off a certain type for the first two years, or one year if you come type rated. For example, new hires on the Q400 who come with a DH8 rating are expected to spend 1 year on the Q before bidding the EMB.

PROC_HDG

Whats the better gig...EMB or Q400 ?

Thanks for the insight.

[JoeyBarton]

I'd be amazed if they ever had a bond. They have a difficult time finding the right applicants already, a bond wouldn't help the situation.

They do have a company policy, however, that you can't bid off a certain type for the first two years, or one year if you come type rated. For example, new hires on the Q400 who come with a DH8 rating are expected to spend 1 year on the Q before bidding the EMB.

PROC_HDG

Same policy here as well. A rather fair system I think. No money up front, no bond, but your word that you'll stay.

Surprised to hear they are having issues finding the right candidates. Is it a qualifications issue atm or personality types that are showing up? I'd think if they want 1500 hours and a CPL that they'd be able to find some sharp young people who have the right attitude to do the job? Especially since the upgrade matrix seems to only be about time on type and total time (plus all the personality/performance factors) unlike many places that have mpic/pic charts in place.

Thanks for the info dude.

Loopa, sky is probably after the same candidates as Encore, ie people who can upgrade rather quickly in 2-3 years on a 705 machine. Sky could be doing what Jazz is doing, and hire 1500h pilots to fill the seats, but that doesn't work in a fast paced upgrade environment, just like Encore. That's why they're mainly after pilots who have previous 705 time. People from Porter, northern Airlines and cargo Airlines are coming over to fly the jet. The level of experience is way higher in a sky GS than at at Jazz

[loopa]

That makes sense. Thanks Joey

You'd think at 80 hours a month, a 1500 hour candidate would reach qualifications for upgrade in about 3.5 years. I thought the upgrade matrix was something like 5k hours, and 1k on type.

3500 hours flown at 80/month is 43 months roughly. Just over 3.5 years given everything else is in place as well. That way you can mould people into how you want them early on.

Is it true that the company is having a hard time filling these seats compared to the rate people are leaving atm?

[PROC_HDG]

Whats the better gig...EMB or Q400 ?

Thanks for the insight.

Depends what you want. If you want to be home more nights, Q. If you want jet time, EMB. If you want variety of flying, EMB. The jet has more overnights and as such you will make more per diem (but spend more of it too). The actual pay is the same fleet wide. Lately the EMB has been extremely busy, so if you're a worker, that's the plane.

But the truth is most people have the choice made for them. The guys being hired on the Q are for the most part already type rated. Like somebody mentioned before, they are trying to find people with previous 705 who can upgrade quickly. If you have a DH8 rating it's unlikely you'll get called for anything but the Q, unless you also have a bunch of jet time or something like that. Also bear in mind that there is regular movement from the left seat of the Q to the left seat of the jet.

PROC_HDG

[dhc#]

The PCC website is saying that Sky Regional is ordering 5 more EMB's for next year....can anyone confirm?

[justwork]

Yes, 5 more embraer.

[av8ts]

I thought the aircraft were owned by AC and just staffed by Sky. So is Sky now ordering their own aircraft?

[47north]

I thought the aircraft were owned by AC and just staffed by Sky. So is Sky now ordering their own aircraft?

If you read the AC MD&A from the latest quarterly results they say:

In support of Air Canada’s international expansion strategy, Air Canada entered into lease agreements for five Embraer
175 aircraft. The aircraft are expected to be introduced into the Air Canada Express operating fleet in the second quarter
of 2016.

It would seem that those are destined to Sky Regional.

[av8ts]

Got it. AC is leasing 5 more aircraft for Sky to operate. Which is not the same as Sky ordering 5 aircraft.

[PROC_HDG]

Nor are they new airframes from what I gather, but lightly used ones sitting in Brazil at the moment.

PROC_HDG

[rudder]

Skyregional is likely not equipped financially to be either primary lessee nor purchaser of aircraft. These are long term commitments that will exceed the term of the current CPA making it the burden of AC to be the primary lessee and then sublease the aircraft to the chosen AC Express operator. Same conditions appear to exist at Georgian as well as it pertains to AC Express aircraft. This also gives AC direct control over the aircraft in question, but also places the financial burden on the AC balance sheet.

In the case of CHR, the operator either owns or is the principal lessee for the majority of the AC Express operated fleet. Therefore the term of the CPA had to be extended in order for CHR to justify securing further aircraft (Q400's) based on its own credit and balance sheet and removing that obligation from AC.

[justwork]

Regardless, 5 more Embraers will be operated by sky.

[rudder]

Regardless, 5 more Embraers will be operated by sky.

Yup.

[dom5]

Hi guys,
anyone would have some news or informations for the last posting job....date for interview...GS ?
Thank you.

[Kosiw]

Anyone from Sky care to venture a guess regarding when the hiring tap will open for the coming EMB additions to the fleet and how many will be needed ?

[PROC_HDG]

Anyone from Sky care to venture a guess regarding when the hiring tap will open for the coming EMB additions to the fleet and how many will be needed ?

Soon, probably 50+ (not including attrition)

PROC_HDG

[JoeyBarton]

Sky has been hiring 8 to 12 pilots each month since May 2015. Just to cope with the increased amount of flying for summer 2015. Now with the news fins on the way for May 2016, we might see even more hiring per month.