Any info on Transwest Air

[CRJ-705]

hey ive been offered a spot in transwests ground school next month and am wondering if anyone has any info on...

-wait times to start flying
-working conditions
-etc

would really appreciate it guys, thanks

[up_and_locked]

Same boat! Sounds like they dont hire everyone that does the groundschool though, any idea if its worth the drive/flight to go out there?

[Whiskir]

I worked on the ramp for a sort time and could give you a bit of insight.

Normally you will start on the ramp for around 1 year. However recently people have been moving up in 6-8 months.

From what I saw when it comes to first officer position they hire from within the company taking rampies from their different bases across Saskachawan and putting them into a ground school which is fairly competitive. How many people that move onto first officer positions is completly based on what they need but it was Usually only 1 or 2 people that move up. The rest go back to the ramp till the next opportunity.

But if you guys are getting calls about going straight into ground school then they must be really on short on staff... I am not really all that surprized either...

[Go Juice]

Stay away!

[CRJ-705]

^ care to explain why?

[DanWEC]

Ascertaining that your asking about ramp wait times, you aren't referring to a pilot ground school.
They're not short staffed, but they bring many additional a/c online after ice breakup, and need the ground crew for service. If you want the job, just be professional in the ground school, simple as that, It's just basic company orientation. Continue the professionalism throughout your ground position and you will get an FO position on a twin.

[clubmed87]

I was also offered a seat in the ground school for the ramp position starting in may. I was told a few of them make it straight to FO depending on your marks in the examination process after the ground school.

Anymore information or people heading there want to share information is greatly appreciated!!

I myself heading there out of Montreal.

[897]

Some people are bitter with TWA, I haven't had problems with them and I'm right seat from previous ground school. It isn't as good as some similarly sized companies but if you are willing to work for it you will be rewarded. I have heard comments that the ramp seniority has little to do with it, it's your work ethic and job performance that determine when you get an airplane.

Ramp starts at $12/hour. There are limited positions at $13 and $14 to start, you'll be lucky if you get one of those, I believe atm they are filled although you maybe able to move into one later on. Some medical benefits. Raise after a year if you are still on the ramp.

Possible based are Saskatoon, Prince Albert, La Ronge, Stony Rapids and Wollaston. There are pluses and minuses to all of them

Possible starting airplanes Navajo, Twin Otter, King Air, 1900. Guys with 250 or Float Rating will advance faster.
Declining bond for the airplane - only owe money if you leave before the bond is up.

Last year they took everyone that showed up to ramp ground school. Find out your base in the last day of GS, they look at your requests and try to match that with where they want you. Some guys started work the next morning if they were available to. They were asking us is we knew anyone else looking for a ramp job after ground school last year and I know they hired some after the fact.

What Whiskir said about airplane GS is correct. In a few instances lately though they have ended up calling a 3rd and 4th person from the GS a few weeks after. 6-8 months is earliest, yearish is typical if you work relatively hard and have your 250 or float and don't F anything up majorly while your there.

[CRJ-705]

so how many pilots are typically in these "ground schools"? And they all get a flying job in a yrs time?

also does the 250hrs make a big difference when it comes to getting a flying spot?

[897]

Are you talking about the ramp ground school? Think there was about 20 or 25 last year. And nope they don't some people leave, some go elsewhere, some drop from the industry altogether. I believe the longest wait atm is around a a little over a year and a half. Though most are under that.

If you don't have 250 or a float rating, you are looking at a Navajo with TW, you will definitely get on something faster with 250 and your IATRA. It also makes you more valuable to other companies and more options is never a bad thing.

[X-Savior]

[897]

I also forgot to mention that after 6 months you get standby passes on Westjet

[trey kule]

Help me out here...I think A's is slang or gansta for ATPL. But in this market I have to ask why anyone with thousands of hours and an ATPL would be considering a ramp entry position? I really am very curious and would like to read your response...particularily as Transwest has several ads for direct entry Captains...

[X-Savior]

Help me out here...I think A's is slang or gansta for ATPL. But in this market I have to ask why anyone with thousands of hours and an ATPL would be considering a ramp entry position? I really am very curious and would like to read your response...particularily as Transwest has several ads for direct entry Captains...

Yes, A's = ATPL.

And the reason I ask is because I wanted to make sure I was not missing something with their actual Pilot position postings (Since this topic never actually stated it was regarding a Ramp Position to start with)

[CRJ-705]

a year and a half wait scares me . is there a certain base that usually gets you flying quicker? id like to be flying within 6 months if possible

[_Virga_]

Management tries to treat each base equally. The main thing is if you work hard it will get noticed.

[Gear Jerker]

Anyone know if you're expected to start right away if you're selected from the groundschool? Also, do they run more than one groundschool each year?

[DanWEC]

It's a good place to get started if that's your bag. I'm with TWA right now, feel free to PM me.
Most of the flying is done in far northen Saskatchewan. You *might* get a ramp or terminal ground job in a city like Saskatoon or Prince Albert, but your odds are about 90% that when you move into a right seat on something you will be sent north. Likely in La Ronge, Stoney Rapids, or Wollaston. All native reserves. Expect to stay up there for a few more years. It's only the higher time guys that have put in time (years upon years) with the company that get to work in Saskatoon. Flying is fairly part time to start with, and unfortunately there is a double edged sword with all the industry movement- since there are constant line indocs for DE captains and some upgrades, a lot of the regularly scheduled FO's hardly get any flying time. Weeks can go by without a flight for the poor guys. 2-300 hours in a year has happened to several people.
All the DE captain hires are unfortunate, but too many of the FO's just don't have the hours necessary to upgrade when the left seat is suddenly vacant.
Not trying to sound negative, just giving a clear picture of what to prepare for, and all that being said, it's a job that will move you thourgh the industry, the people themselves are great, and if you don't mind living in northern SK for 4 years, you will come out with all multi time, (SIC) and possibly some multi PIC, but not likely in that timeframe.
Be careful with money. You'll have to keep your expenses down for the first few years. Unfortunately you take a pay cut to fly when moved up from the ground.

Good luck..... And on a note: I understand the need to ask questions, I've asked plenty myself, but in a ground position you will want to check the mouth a bit and focus more on just working and letting the time pass. Work ethic is focusing on the job at hand, doing it well, not what you "might" be doing in a year or more. And while we're at it, freaking forget about what Air Canada wants right now and trying to tailor your career to it, since it hasn't even started yet! You're wasting your effort, you'll learn as you go, and learn an exponential amount more in the first 6 months being in the industry then all the 4am AvCanada surfing can provide. Trust me on that. I may be guilty of it myself recalling posts from a year or two ago...but things will change likely a hundred times for you before/if you're at that career point. I'm quite green by any accounts myself, but some very wise people have helped my down my limited path, and from what I'm seeing so far, all their words which I am relaying are correct.

[CRJ-705]

I thought upgrades to captain on the Navajo happen within 1-2 yrs at TWA.

[DanWEC]

Captain mins being, oh, lets say 2000 hours, I'm actually not sure, but it sure isn't less than that. Check the Captain ads.
Most new FO's fly at MOST 500 hours a year... usually a lot less, especially the first year.
Crunch the #'s

[_Virga_]

You are correct CRJ-705. Navajo captain upgrade usually happens around 1-2 years depending on your hours and once again your performance. PM me if you'd like, i'm sure I can answer more of your questions. I know I had a ton of questions before I started here.

[loopa]

Good buddy of mine flies on their Saab, waiting for his bond to come up then he's taking off. He's got his own reasons. It is what it is. Don't arrive with expectations and walk away with the unexpected as they say.

Good luck.

[Cisbour]

What's the salary like for a navajo captain?

[897]

As they say in their ads good place to get your start. Not necessarily the best place to hang around long term.

[Tubthumper]

What's the salary like for a navajo captain?

Still less than I made flying Ho's for them 13 years ago. Sad but true.