Any West Air pilots on here??

[chperplt]

I'm looking for any info on West Air. Their site says they are hiring for a caravan pilot.

Any tips on getting a call back from a faxed resume?

Thanks

 

[Joker997]

I talked with a pilot from West Air on the radio one day. He said they just hired two, and he thought that their web site was slow to take the notice off. If it is still there, then they are REAL slow or they are needing one more.

I emailed my resume in. No word yet from them either.

Just hang tough, you might think of emailing the Chief Pilot and check if they received it, or ask if they have hired. Maybe that will get your name recognized.

 

[FearlessFreep]

I am ex - West Air. Great company, great people. Excellent choice.

As it goes in most companies an internal recommendation would be helpful. Make sure it is from someone who is in good standing.

Knowing the people as I do I would say that their are a few things that might help you stand out from the milieu of resumes that they have, this is of course is not a guarantee:

Internal Recommendation
Caravan Experience
2000 hours PIC (Required)
Previous 135 Experience
Resident of California or live close to one of the hubs (Ontario, Oakland, Sacramento, Las Vegas)

Once the aviation market improves these attributes would possibly change but as it sits right now hiring is VERY selective.

There is a one year training agreement, pro-rated after 6 months.

They like people that will stay for a while. Most of the people there have been with the company for an extended period of time. It is a great place to work. I enjoyed my time with the West Air family and still feel like a member.

Take Care, Good Luck & Fly Safe!

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

Knowing the people as I do I would say that their are a few things that might help you stand out from the milieu of resumes that they have, this is of course is not a guarantee:

...Caravan Experience...

I have some C152 experience, thats pretty much the same as Caravan time isnt it?

 

[FearlessFreep]

Well just don't jaw jack about it, put in your resume in and go get the job there amigo!

Like Tuco said, "If your going to shoot, shoot. Don't talk about it!"

I will be looking forward to your stories of handling icing conditions in the winter over the Sierras enroute to Reno in a single engine, single pilot night IFR flight in an aircraft that has killed people because of it's very poor icing characteristics. Oh yeah, you'll probably say "I wouldn't do it". Then don't. There are others out there that would be ecstatic that they would have a good job in a well maintained aircraft and work for a good company.

I don't make the rules, so don't whine to me pal!

Adios!

 

[WrightAvia]

I have some C152 experience, thats pretty much the same as Caravan time isnt it?

You don't know much about flying, do you?

 

[English]

WrightAvia,

It was a joke, lighten up! You've never heard a Caravan compared to a 152 before????

 

[WrightAvia]

O.K. I'll lighten up.

But you do have to give me this one. The Antonov-225 can carry one 737 fuselage inside and one on it's roof. A caravan could in theory, carry two 152 fuselage assemblies inside and at least one on the roof...we never get any respect, I tells ya.

 

[Hose A. Jiminez]

Yeah it was pretty much a joke.

Im sure they're fine aircraft...

Unless you're stuck behind one on a long arrival, or position and hold awaiting take-off clearance waiting for one to get proper spacing.

 

[wingnutt]

Unless you're stuck behind one on a long arrival...

oh yea...160 to the marker, 120 over the fence and still make the first available taxiway sure slows things down, dosent it

 

[chperplt]

oh yea...160 to the marker, 120 over the fence and still make the first available taxiway sure slows things down, dosent it

Well......actually..... Yea, it does slow things down a bit. Have you ever had to wait for departure clearance for 15-20 minutes while you wait for it to land?

How about 245 to the marker, 140 over the fence, and still make the first available taxiway... Nothing beats a Beech 1900!!

 

[FearlessFreep]

Actually I would have to disagree in one area. Enroute, yes the Caravan is a slug. Though during descent on approach it is pretty typical to fly everything at Vmo which is 175 kts. and take that down to the beginning of the approach lights (some guys take it to short final).

West Air operates into KOAK and they typically utilize runway 29 as it is closer to the Fedex facility. 29 is the runway that all the larger jet traffic operates on. The North Field is relegated to mostly general aviation traffic. In any case we have to integrate with all the jet traffic on 29. Once the jets come up on the marker they have to be at target and at that point it is pretty easy to catch them in the Caravan.

I got this call from Oakland South tower once:

"Pac Valley 8700 just want to make you aware that you have a 30 knot overtake on that Southwest 737 in front of you."

No worries!

 

[WrightAvia]

Well......actually..... Yea, it does slow things down a bit. Have you ever had to wait for departure clearance for 15-20 minutes while you wait for it to land?

How about 245 to the marker...

Call it Cessna's block time pay inhancement factor for regional pilots, if it makes you feel any better about it.

If we had a faster airplane, I'd have to work 5 days a week, instead of 10 days a month. I'm not complaining. In fact last month's holiday, gave me a 9 day work month. I knock on wood alot.

Being able to do 245 to the marker, means many markers during day and living out of a suitcase.

 

[wingnutt]

Have you ever had to wait for departure clearance for 15-20 minutes while you wait for it to land?

nope. sounds like y'all need some new controllers if your waiting for a Caravan thats 20 minutes out

and fearles is right (along with being an enroute slug) descent right at VMO was the norm...but "officially" we kept it to about 160. you can tell its "unofficial" by that little "beep-beep" you hear when he calls in, cause the airspeed warning wont shuttheheckup...unless of course you "unofficially" pulled the breaker