Orca Airways

Gear Jerker · Post by **Gear Jerker** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:02 pm

I did a quick search and didn't find anything; my apologies if this is redundant.

Does anybody work at Orca or know how hiring works? What the pay/sched is like?

From their website:

Requirements:
Captain
1000 Total hours PIC / 500 hours multi.
First Officer
Commercial license and current multi engine IFR rating

loopa · Post by **loopa** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:13 pm

They have a lot of resumes on their desk. If you don't walk it in I see a slim chance getting a call for an interview. I hear the pay works out to be around 2000/month ? This is second hand information so I could be wrong.

I have heard more negatives than positives about orca. Apparently there's a lot of politics involved in the company, guys with thousands of hours in the right seat not being upgraded because the 600 hour pilot who started at the company 1 year later has an in with management. Like a lot of companies, employment is based on the passing of the PPC, but I have heard of this girl who failed 4 times and was still offered consecutive PPC's until she got on?

This is all second hand information - I could be completely wrong but thought I would inform you.

If you don't mind me asking, what's your experience and what's your reason for choosing Orca? Are you local to the lower mainland or moving from another province for a job in BC?

Gear Jerker · Post by **Gear Jerker** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 4:24 pm

Thanks loopa.

See pm for info about my situation.

dieselbro · Post by **dieselbro** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:35 pm

Hey everyone,

Instead of making a new thread I figured I would just add this here. Does anyone on the inside/in-the-know know anything more about their latest job posting for an Operations Manager? Is DC moving on somewhere else? Feel free to post or PM as you see necessary.

Related ad
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=79062

Cheers.

ohno · Post by **ohno** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 12:40 am

I just heard that the operations manager and chief pilot resigned and four captains quit on the spot.
Is the industry really good right now or is there something "else" going on there?

Sky_Conqueror · Post by **Sky_Conqueror** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:27 pm

Apparently its a combination of both.

pilotwannabe · Post by **pilotwannabe** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 3:45 pm

I thought a company looses its OC if both Chief Pilot and Ops Manager quit at the same time since they need one or the other to fill in the others role on his/her absense?

loopa · Post by **loopa** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:56 pm

Pasco recently hired a bunch of Orca guys... Apparently the highest flight time was 800 hours as the were looking for long term Saab 340 F/Os.

takamasa · Post by **takamasa** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:18 pm

mind asking what is Pasco stand for? where is it base in?

so meaning walk-in with resume will be the best way to go for a job with orca?

thanks guys for asnwering.

angry inch · Post by **angry inch** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:33 pm

"Pasco" is the call sign for Pacific Coastal Airlines, a Vancouver based 703/704/705 operator.

bruce! · Post by **bruce!** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:22 am

pilotwannabe wrote:I thought a company looses its OC if both Chief Pilot and Ops Manager quit at the same time since they need one or the other to fill in the others role on his/her absense?

I believe they staggered their leaving over a couple of weeks for logistical reasons. Also from what I hear it was 4 captains that quit 2 weeks ago bringing the 6 week total to around 11 or 12 departures, some due to natural attrition but more than a couple were apparently just fed up with the company and safety/ working conditions.

takamasa · Post by **takamasa** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:50 am

loopa wrote:Pasco recently hired a bunch of Orca guys... Apparently the highest flight time was 800 hours as the were looking for long term Saab 340 F/Os.

so Pasco hires people with 800hrs only??that's pretty impressive.

i am seriously interested in orca airways however i am currently under a contract job overseas, cant make it back to canada until later of the month , should i submit my application through email or in person

thanks a lot for everyone's comment.

thank you.

human garbage · Post by **human garbage** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:41 pm

bruce! wrote:
pilotwannabe wrote:I thought a company looses its OC if both Chief Pilot and Ops Manager quit at the same time since they need one or the other to fill in the others role on his/her absense?
I believe they staggered their leaving over a couple of weeks for logistical reasons. Also from what I hear it was 4 captains that quit 2 weeks ago bringing the 6 week total to around 11 or 12 departures, some due to natural attrition but more than a couple were apparently just fed up with the company and safety/ working conditions.

I'm sorry but no way. Too many of the same faces working there to have lost 11 or 12. Hell, that is half the crew roster FFS. In six weeks too? Tell your info source to lay off the pipe, cause they are obviously smoking crack...

As far as the AOC getting pulled, there is a grace period involved. Usually sixty days to find someone qualified to fill the role. This prevents key personnel from holding owners hostage by giving them a chance to replace employees.

Both the former OM and CP deserved to move on with all the time they spent in 703. I wouldn't read anything more into than that per se. DC has been running 'Ho's out of YVR for a decade or more... About time for a change in my opinion. I wish him the best because he was great to work for.

Takamasa: Do go in and drop off a resume in person. I haven't been there for a while, but I never saw someone get hired that didn't walk in. Too many resumes to count come in by mail- you got to stand out from the crowd. One month they received over 70 unsolicited (read: no current ads) resumes. Why so many people want to work 14 hour duty days always confused me.

I want to fly a little and get paid alot- the inverse of the Orca experience.

Orca is not a bad place to work compared to the 703 ops that used to be in YVR. Exponentially better. That is not to say there isn't room for improvement, but it is what it is, 703. Not too many lifers in that end of the game because the hours will kill you. There will always be turnover as people move on to bigger and better, like the ones going to Pasco. I do wonder why you would make the move at 800 hours though- I guess the don't mind being an F/O for life...

Rowdy · Post by **Rowdy** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 4:46 pm

Pretty sure they already have a new ops. mgr in place.. as he is an old friend

bruce! · Post by **bruce!** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:37 pm

it is for sure 11 pilots since the end of jan.

loopa · Post by **loopa** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:51 pm

I do wonder why you would make the move at 800 hours though- I guess the don't mind being an F/O for life..

Considering that they were hiring long term F/O's for the Saab 340, this statement would be accurate. I also believe the upgrade times at Pasco are a little over 3 years (except for the few exceptions).

human garbage · Post by **human garbage** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:09 am

bruce! wrote:it is for sure 11 pilots since the end of jan.

Your statement made me do some checking: 4 to Pasco, and 4 others = 8 by my count. I suppose that is close enough to what you are claiming not to argue about it. Lets forget the numbers and just say they lost a metric shitload of pilots by Orca standards.

Too bad for them. Having flown with all but one of those people in the past, it is an immense loss of talent...

loompa wrote:Considering that they were hiring long term F/O's for the Saab 340, this statement would be accurate. I also believe the upgrade times at Pasco are a little over 3 years (except for the few exceptions).

Fair enough. To each their own I guess. I would have toughed it out at ORK for some PIC myself... Otherwise the upgrade will have to wait for the ATPL regardless of time at the company with nothing but F/O hours. Then again, maybe those folks that moved just wanted a life again. I can understand the feeling... Been there.

Orca is lucky they still have some real solid Captains left. Without those people they would be totally screwed. If they leave all bets are off though. Best of luck to the company, and hopefully a bit of a wakeup call to management. Happy employees don't bail in droves... Might be time to look for some root cause remediation before it gets worse.

takamasa · Post by **takamasa** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:25 am

human garbage wrote:
bruce! wrote:
pilotwannabe wrote:I thought a company looses its OC if both Chief Pilot and Ops Manager quit at the same time since they need one or the other to fill in the others role on his/her absense?
I believe they staggered their leaving over a couple of weeks for logistical reasons. Also from what I hear it was 4 captains that quit 2 weeks ago bringing the 6 week total to around 11 or 12 departures, some due to natural attrition but more than a couple were apparently just fed up with the company and safety/ working conditions.
I'm sorry but no way. Too many of the same faces working there to have lost 11 or 12. Hell, that is half the crew roster FFS. In six weeks too? Tell your info source to lay off the pipe, cause they are obviously smoking crack...

As far as the AOC getting pulled, there is a grace period involved. Usually sixty days to find someone qualified to fill the role. This prevents key personnel from holding owners hostage by giving them a chance to replace employees.

Both the former OM and CP deserved to move on with all the time they spent in 703. I wouldn't read anything more into than that per se. DC has been running 'Ho's out of YVR for a decade or more... About time for a change in my opinion. I wish him the best because he was great to work for.

Takamasa: Do go in and drop off a resume in person. I haven't been there for a while, but I never saw someone get hired that didn't walk in. Too many resumes to count come in by mail- you got to stand out from the crowd. One month they received over 70 unsolicited (read: no current ads) resumes. Why so many people want to work 14 hour duty days always confused me. I want to fly a little and get paid alot- the inverse of the Orca experience.

Orca is not a bad place to work compared to the 703 ops that used to be in YVR. Exponentially better. That is not to say there isn't room for improvement, but it is what it is, 703. Not too many lifers in that end of the game because the hours will kill you. There will always be turnover as people move on to bigger and better, like the ones going to Pasco. I do wonder why you would make the move at 800 hours though- I guess the don't mind being an F/O for life...

thanks for your reply.
so i am guessing i have to make a way to canada very soon. Hopefully they will still be hiring by the time when i get there.

any other companies that you would suggest to drop off my resume as well?

thanks a lot

HORUNNER · Post by **HORUNNER** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:37 am

Hey
I may be wrong but my thought is they are a full duty day due to layovers and the flying is mostly bag run m-f
if I am wrong please confirm

My question is how many hrs are you flying weekly or monthly or yearly?????????

ohno · Post by **ohno** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:21 am

From my info they fly 50-60 hours a month and more in summer. Mostly cargo but some passenger and charter stuff too.
I guess management didn't get the wake up call as HG suggested as they are now not paying pilots if they work more than
4 hours???? If they work less they get paid for 4 but nothing for over 4??? Strange.

pilotwannabe · Post by **pilotwannabe** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 3:35 pm

ohno what are you taking about... Get your facts straignt 4hrs pay for a days work... dont think so..

bruce! · Post by **bruce!** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:39 am

Those facts are correct. I guess they got the word yesterday about it. They also didn't pay their pilots for a pilot meeting last weekend. As well they are going to incentive based pay. Not to sure how that can work. My guess is if you pick your phone up on your day off you will get raises and if not your SOL. As far as hours go the average is between 10-20 a week. 20 in the summer usually. They are also implementing a bond for the navajos to go with your $9/hr and no per diems.

bruce! · Post by **bruce!** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:51 am

I should have clarified about the pay. On a typical day you get 4 hrs pay in the morning then spend alllll day somewhere then get 4 hours in the evening. As well you get a "day rate" for your time spent somewhere which is garbage because your not really free from duty at all. Generally fo pay is 750-900 every 2 weeks and good luck holding another job because your gone all day 4-5 days a week on 14-15 hr duty days. No argument that its a good time builder but its really gone to crap there in the last 2 months and the pilots need to stop letting managment push them around. Lots of good people there that deserve better.

square · Post by **square** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:47 am

LOL that's the 2 week paycheque as Carson, CMA and NT in YVR isn't it?

bruce! · Post by **bruce!** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:55 am

unfortunately not too far off I think but at least your not gone 5 days a week 15 hrs a day at cma and nt.

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