Info on Scenic Airlines Please

[Trash8Mofo]

Just want to get some info on Scenic. Yes, yes, I know its probably posted somewhere already. But...

Hiring Captains? Training Contract?
#Days of Wk? (Lines and Resrv.)
How long to be off Rerv?
Captain's Pay?
Training?
QOL? Fun to work there?


Thanks in advance. No flame please.

 

[Flywithmike]

After 30 seconds of looking without the search I found this.

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=49402

 

[Irish Pilot]

• Not going to be hiring captains off the street I dont think...should be a few upgrading shortly (hopefully myself included!).

• 5 days on 2 days off. Junior guys get mon-tues..etc. Some lines have 4-3 schedules but they are few and far between and go senior.

• There is no reserve. Checkride and then you are online.

• 3 weeks ground school training. Sims and flight training can take 2 weeks or more depending on how busy the IOE instructors are.

• Quality of life is a mixed bag. You sleep in your own bed pretty much every night...but I just came off my 5 days on with the last two being 16 hour days and two others being 12+. For captains 14+ hour days are fairly common it seems.

• The job is pretty **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** fun. Flying the Otter is an absolute blast. I have yet to meet or fly with anyone that I wouldnt be more than happy to have a few beers with. My experiences with management have been great. The days are fairly relaxed and fun but can get long. Most of the pilots are very motivated and capable which makes everything pretty fun and easy.

I kind of consider Scenic most likely my last great hands-on flying job. No autopilot obviously. Crazy winds around the SW make for interesting landings (Otter pilots tell you that it is one of if not the most difficult airplane to land in gusty crosswinds.) We all have a good time and its a very relaxed atmosphere. Im not sure how long I will stay (most FOs leave within months to go to good regionals...some stay for that 1ooo PIC) because my fiance and I are trying to get back home, but I am extremely glad I applied and was hired. I worked down here for awhile as a CFI and never really considered Scenic but I am really glad I ended up here.

Best of luck! Its a fun company to work for whether you are using it as a stepping stone or just to be home in your own bed every night.

 

[Irish Pilot]

Thats a lot of censoring for the alternate to dang.

 

[Flywithmike]

I second that, I think Scenic is an awesome place to work. The days can be long, but overall this is one of the best companies I have worked for.

 

[RJP]

Ho, Mofo!

Cuz, you looking for one new job again? How many numbers can you hold at once?

Don't let WP management find out that you're looking elsewhere, you'll lose all your seniority!

 

[Jim]

• Not going to be hiring captains off the street I dont think...should be a few upgrading shortly (hopefully myself included!).

• Not necessarily true. Even with all those eligible to upgrade, there still might be a captain shortage this summer. My understanding is that we do not seek street captains, but if the right resume comes along it is a possibility.

 

[Trash8Mofo]

Im just curious for now. Never hurt to ask and keep the options opened. WP, actually the entire hawaii market in general, is not very stable, you know.

Ho, Mofo!

Cuz, you looking for one new job again? How many numbers can you hold at once?

Don't let WP management find out that you're looking elsewhere, you'll lose all your seniority!

 

[plunger]

I was on their website and the mins for fo's were pretty low. Do they actually hire at those times? My times are about 750TT/230ME. Would someone like myself have a shot? thanks.

 

[HOURBUILDER]

if you have 400PIC yes

 

[Irish Pilot]

I was on their website and the mins for fo's were pretty low. Do they actually hire at those times? My times are about 750TT/230ME. Would someone like myself have a shot? thanks.

yup. certainly would.

 

[AftCG182]

I finished ground school last week, hoping to get in the sim next week. Here are a couple of observations from a "new hire".

• Practically no b!tching. Everyone looks like they genuinely enjoy working for Scenic.
• This is a "jump-pilot-friendly" company. There were three of us in my class.
• As previously mentioned, there is some great hands-on flying to be done here.
• Pilots and management appear to get along well.
• I'm from upstate New York, and I've been blown away by the scenery.
• Advisory: the cost of living here is slightly higher than average.

After doing my three familiarization flights, I anticipate the hardest part of my training will be familiarizing myself with the VGT-GCN terrain.

After three weeks... am I glad that I moved here? Absolutely. Good decision.

Sorry for the short review, but like I said, I'm new here.

-Dave

 

[psysicx]

What is pay like and where do most people live.I know North Las Vegas is ghetto.

 

[Irish Pilot]

Vicinity of the airport is a little ghetto...but most people dont live right near the airport. If you go 10 minutes in any direction other than south towards the strip you are in some of the nicest parts of town.

 

[RichardRambone]

Ive got 577 hours and 61 multi, with around 480 PIC and 332 X-C. When I hit that 600 mark do U think you guys might hire a guy with my numbers? I am currently a ferry pilot so it will happen but I also clean way too many airplanes and office bs that I'd like to get out of.

 

[Heavy Set]

What destinations beyond North Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon airport do you serve? Do you get any route variety or are you flying just back and forth to the Canyon?

You mention that your days are long - how many sectors flown on average per day? Are schedules beefed up during the summer and then reduced during the winter? If that's the case, can pilots fly for Scenic during the summer and then take a Twotter job elsewhere (say Caribbean) during the winter?

 

[FL280]

What destinations beyond North Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon airport do you serve? Do you get any route variety or are you flying just back and forth to the Canyon?

You mention that your days are long - how many sectors flown on average per day? Are schedules beefed up during the summer and then reduced during the winter? If that's the case, can pilots fly for Scenic during the summer and then take a Twotter job elsewhere (say Caribbean) during the winter?

Dont pay attention to heavy set, he's not a pilot he just pretends to be one.

 

[Jim]

What destinations beyond North Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon airport do you serve? Do you get any route variety or are you flying just back and forth to the Canyon?

You mention that your days are long - how many sectors flown on average per day? Are schedules beefed up during the summer and then reduced during the winter? If that's the case, can pilots fly for Scenic during the summer and then take a Twotter job elsewhere (say Caribbean) during the winter?

Destinations in the Otter: Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon West, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, Marble Canyon, Ely, Palmdale and air tours. The 1900s fly Reno, Elko, Merced and sometimes Grand Canyon. Palmdale, Ely, Elko and Reno are possible overnights (average 1 or 2 a month per pilot)

Long days does not mean long flights. It means 12 to 14 (sometimes right up to 16) hour duty days with 8 hours flying in 6 to 8 legs. Were consistently busy March through November. Really busy May through September. December through February slow down but the company tries to use this for annual recurrent ground schools, etc., so pilots still fly a bunch when not in training. There is also a one year training contract. No one flies here in the summer and elsewhere in the winter.

 

[OzBushWhacker]

1900

So how long is upgrade from Right Seat Twotter to Left? Taking into account ATP etc. Who flies the 1900? Is that the space shuttle of the fleet or are they pretty good bout upgrades?

Trying to figure out how Scenic fits in compare to 135 in a single etc.

Thanx

 

[Jim]

So how long is upgrade from Right Seat Twotter to Left? Taking into account ATP etc. Who flies the 1900? Is that the space shuttle of the fleet or are they pretty good bout upgrades?

Trying to figure out how Scenic fits in compare to 135 in a single etc.

Thanx

Otter upgrade: It depends. Right now it could be very quick if you have a turboprop background. Typically 6 months to a year depending on your total time. Typically 500 hours in the Otter with ATP mins gets you a left seat. With Scenic hiring 600 hour pilots, there are pilots with 500 Otter hours that don't have 1500 total so they can't upgrade.

Pilots bid for the 1900. There is a one year seat lock. So if you bid 1900 FO don't expect to bid Otter Captain for a year at least. 1900 FOs and Otter Captains can both bid for 1900 Captain. As long as they meet the company's internal minimums (I don't know what they are as I am happy in the Otter waiting for my HAL recall), it is awarded by seniority.

 

[MarineGrunt]

At the risk of asking a stupid question... does anyone commute to Scenic? Any jumpseat privlages?

 

[flatspin7]

As for living around VGT--- Do not live right by the airport.. you are asking to get your car broken into. I flew out of VGT for 6 months I lived out west of the field on the other side of the interstate. As long as you do that you are fine... you can do OK north as well... The further you are from the strip and down town the better off you are. Unless you want to live down in Henderson but in the AM the drive can take you a half hour.

 

[Jim]

At the risk of asking a stupid question... does anyone commute to Scenic? Any jumpseat privlages?

We have jumpseat privledges with a number of airlines. The schedule is typically 5 on / 2 off but there are some 4 on / 3 off lines for the more senior guys. There are some commuters to UT & CA that I know of, but you will not get a lot of time home.

 

[MarineGrunt]

We have jumpseat privledges with a number of airlines. The schedule is typically 5 on / 2 off but there are some 4 on / 3 off lines for the more senior guys. There are some commuters to UT & CA that I know of, but you will not get a lot of time home.

Is it reasonable to commute from SLC? It appears from some other posts that they hire some seasonal dudes for the summers... I could probably suck it up for the commute for 6-12 months....

Any input from those "in the know?"

 

[psysicx]

Is there not enough trips to bum in your unit?

 

[FL280]

At the risk of asking a stupid question... does anyone commute to Scenic? Any jumpseat privlages?

Many years ago Scenic got banned from America West jump seat, I'll bet it's still in place.

 

[flyf15]

I've heard that based on the quality of your flight time, Scenic will look at people with less than 600TT. If this is true, does someone with 500TT and 100ME have a chance with them?

 

[mrkopaj]

Many years ago Scenic got banned from America West jump seat, I'll bet it's still in place.

Scenic has good relations and a formal jumpseat agreement with America West.

 

[AftCG182]

Is it reasonable to commute from SLC? It appears from some other posts that they hire some seasonal dudes for the summers... I could probably suck it up for the commute for 6-12 months....

Any input from those "in the know?"

Rather than living in New York and commuting here, I'm going to live here (North Las Vegas) and try to get home as often as possible. Not Ideal, but not that bad, either. I've heard about those 4 on/ 3 off lines, but it's going to be a while before I can bid one of those, since I'm third from the bottom on the seniority list. A new class started last Monday, so that's going to move me up a few spots.

As far as living in North Las Vegas goes, it's not that bad. I live across from the airport (VGT) and I don't feel as though my car stereo is at risk. There has been quite a bit of rehab work done to the local area, and it continues to improve.

Commuting to/from SLC should be a piece of cake.

 

[146guy]

I commuted to phx when i worked there, no problem. Like the above poster said America West honors our jumpseat agreement. Can't ride on Southwest though, unless things have changed.