King Airelines

[Flyboy758]

Does anyone currently fly for King, or have flown with them in the past?

I've heard bad things about them but I've also heard there have been some recent changes. I'm just trying to find out more about the operation, ... how is the mx, equipment, is there a contract, etc.

 

[Fuzzy_is_Hungry]

I just saw that they are hiring at 500TT.

 

[moving2vegas]

You're a CFI, why try to live in vegas for 600/month + tips?

 

[psysicx]

I know a pilot who is a CFI in Vegas and does valet at night.

 

[moving2vegas]

I know a girl in Vegas that does alot more than that at night. Point is, why go to king when you can earn a much better living as a CFI?

 

[psysicx]

I was just agreeing with you.And there are places in Vegas hiring CFI's.Just wait another few months and get on with Scenic.But Valet is a good side job to make money.

 

[Flywithmike]

You're a CFI, why try to live in vegas for 600/month + tips?

You make at least $1100+ in salary and tips can be over $1000/ month. I think it blows a CFI job out of the water. Part 135 Cessna 402 PIC time in just a few months.

 

[Ill Mitch]

I have a bud that worked there...he quit after his third engine failure in the 402. He is now dealing cards at a Casino making way more than he ever did flying for King and a lot happier.

 

[Flywithmike]

Three engine failures is a little hard to believe. I never heard about them. But I'm not saying it never happened. Your friend should apply to Scenic.

www.scenicops.com

 

[FlyWithSean]

Looks like you need a little more time in your logboook, but Scenic is the better choice. By the way DO NOT send them a resume if you dont have the required time of 600 and 50. The people that take in the resumes throw these away. They feel you are not smart enough to follow instructions if you send in the resume without enough time.

 

[pilotlbs]

Well I am currently working for King Airelines as of March 15, 2005. I've lived in Vegas most of my life and have been around the flying community here for a few years. I know the old rumors that have been floating around Vegas for the past coulple years with regards to King. However, I must say I am definitely impressed with the improvement since Bob Trout our Chief Pilot taken over. Maintenance is maintained much better than it has been (from what I was told from senior pilots there), the cowboys are gone, there is definitely a much more professional environment now which I am enjoying. Unfortunately yes, there is a $500 initial training fee. Personally, I was instructing before this and I had absolutely no problem paying $500 to get on with King. I don't yet meet the 600/50 hours mins for Scenic, nor did I want to pay $12,000 dollars to go work for Vision (one of their pilots informed me of that cost), and I did not enjoy instructing so it wasn't a problem. King is a job, and yes they have older planes and fly the same routes all the time VFR. But I personally look at it as: I'm safe, my passengers are safe, my co-workers are great people, my Chief Pilot and management personel are very professional and realistic, and overall I'm having a good time. I'm young, building PIC 135 time and hopefully hop in the 402 within a few months. I'm also making much more than I ever did instructing, which I know is not a lot to some people. The other option for Vegas I would say is Scenic, I've got some friends who fly for them and they enjoy it also, plus I've met some of the guys who work there, really nice guys.
The pay scale I don't currently have in front of me for the twins, however for the Cessna 206/207 the pay is:
Air Only: $30/Flight
Air Ground: $45/Flight
"Helis" (Similiar to air ground): $45/Flight
Tips- Good day: >$100
Really bad day: $0
I hope this helps you guys, thanks!

Luke Simons

 

[Flyin Tony]

How many flights can you get in on a days worth of work? And could you live on that kinda money. I have a CFI job lined up mostly pvt stuff in 150-182. I dont have any multi yet, After I make a few bucks CFI'ing that the first thing on my list. It will be around 65$ an hour for a PA34-200T. How many hours are they getting at king a month? And are they still looking for pilots?

Thanks Tony

 

[HMR]

I don't yet meet the 600/50 hours mins for Scenic...

I'm young, building PIC 135 time and hopefully hop in the 402 within a few months

Let me get this straight: A pilot can go from <600/50 to PIC in the 402 in "a few" months?

I know you stay VFR but a decrepit C402, full of people, coming out of Vegas in the summer w/ a low experience captain sounds like trouble.

 

[pilotlbs]

Tony,
Hey man, you can get up to 3 flights a day which isn't too common but definitely possible, especially since we're coming up on the busy seaon. You of course don't make much money, a lot of the guys have room mates to help with expenses. Anyways, these are my personal stats since I've been flying at King I don't know what anyone else has got but here are mine.
Hours in 11 working days: 33.6 Hours
Total pay in 11 working days (INCLUDING TIPS): $1,135.00
The biggest reason I went to King besides the reason that I was hating flight instrucing, was to get my 135 PIC Multi-time in the 402. I could've gone to Scenic which is still an option in the future I suppose, but I think 135 PIC Twin time is just as valuable if not more than sitting right seat in an Otter (Twin turbine SIC 121). However, the advantage to Scenic is about after a year or so you upgrade to Captain which is definitely a better deal, because then it 121 PIC Twin Turbine. But to me they're all just stepping stones, just enjoying my time. Take care!

 

[Flyin Tony]

pilotlbs were you CFI'ing at Shebles? Im going out there this wed for the CFI thing they have. I would like to talk to you well im out there. I will send you a pm in a bit

Tony

 

[pilotlbs]

Tony,
Nooo, I was instructing at First Flight Aviation in North Las Vegas. I heard about something they're having at Shebles, is it at the Henderson airport? I'll most likely be workin Wed. during the day, don't know times or anything though. Yeah, let me know about it.

 

[146guy]

Someone said Bob Trout is the new chief pilot at King? I wonder if this is the same Bob Trout that gave my my private checkride out of Henderson years ago?

For you folks thinking about going to King it may be worth mentioning that the ONLY airport you will be flying to is Canyon West. That would get real boring, real quick. Go to Scenic, at least you can do some EAS flying and overnight in party central Ely, NV.

 

[pilotlbs]

HMR,
Yup thats right, I can understand what you mean, but its not like its that difficult. You train in the 402 just as you would train in anything, take a check ride and if you're good to go then you're good to go. Everyone starts somewhere as I'm sure you know. I feel confident enough with my abilities with just less than 600 hours that I could fly the 402 as PIC safely with the proper training. They make it work every year with very few problems.

Luke

 

[HOURBUILDER]

Does king airlines has a website.

 

[Flywithmike]

Tip: When you look for company websites, try typing in the name of the company.

www.kingairlines.com

 

[CFIIer]

Quite a while ago, I looked into King. I actually walked into that trailer they have for an office, and after they discovered i had more than 500 hours, they weren't interested. I'd say going out and doing some instruction in a twin, would be much better experience than doing two pilot flying in a one pilot airplane, to one airport, in vfr conditions....but I could be wrong

 

[Piper877]

Does anyone know if they're firm on the 50 multi? I only have around 37 but meet all the other mins. Thanks.

 

[pilotlbs]

CFIIER,
Thats why we said things have changed... You can't work for them unless you meet the VFR 135 Mins 500,100,25. All of our operations are single pilot there is no airplane on our line that uses two pilots. One airport which is considered cross country. I don't think flight instructing in a Dutchess or a Seminole can beat 135 Single Pilot in a C402.

 

[pilotlbs]

Piper877,
No man its not a firm number, I have 33 M.E. hours and its not a problem.

 

[HMR]

I don't think flight instructing in a Dutchess or a Seminole can beat 135 Single Pilot in a C402.

That's an interesting statement from someone with "33 M.E. hours".

Flying VFR canyon tours vs. teaching multi-engine ops? I learned just as much during 500hrs dual given in the Duchess as I did during my first 500hrs single pilot in the King Air. Don't knock it 'til you try it.

 

[pilotlbs]

No there is no doubt about learning a lot teaching multi-engine ops. There's no doubt about learning a ton in any teaching environment. HOWEVER, I feel that having a hands on 135 environment is better experience for the next level (regionals). Just because I've got 33 hrs of M.E. doesn't mean trash, I've been around instructing and I've been around this stuff. I prefer the 135 gigs, and thats just me so I gave my opinion. Instructing isn't as much of the hands on stuff, so you get the experience of learning a bit more from teaching but where do you perfect your own technique, I wasn't able to while instructing, considering that you hardly ever touch the controls, make sense? There is definitely no problem with teaching in a duchess, or seminole, I wouldn't take away my instructing experience for anything, but I personally would rather do the flying in a high performance twin than flyin a twin at 172 speeds. Know what I mean?

 

[Flywithmike]

Quite a while ago, I looked into King. I actually walked into that trailer they have for an office, and after they discovered i had more than 500 hours, they weren't interested. I'd say going out and doing some instruction in a twin, would be much better experience than doing two pilot flying in a one pilot airplane, to one airport, in vfr conditions....but I could be wrong

I was told by a Skywest recruiter that CFI time doesn't look nearly as good to them as 135 or 121 time flying passengers for an airline, Canyon VFR or not.

I think it's more about showing that you can be a dependable airline employee than it is about how much you learned on your last flight.

 

[Ill Mitch]

Three engine failures is a little hard to believe. I never heard about them. But I'm not saying it never happened. Your friend should apply to Scenic.

www.scenicops.com

It might have been two...I can't remember...I just remember the phone calls I got about them. Heck, I lost count of mine (not at King) after 6.

Anyway...he is out of aviation for a living. Tried it, realized it sucks and decided to make more money, faster and fly for fun.

 

[FlyWithSean]

I could've gone to Scenic which is still an option in the future I suppose, but I think 135 PIC Twin time is just as valuable if not more than sitting right seat in an Otter (Twin turbine SIC 121).

Are you kidding!!! Piston 135 VFR only PIC worth more than Turbine 121 SIC? Are you kidding me? Unless you want to go to Cape Air you are sorely mistaken. Hmmm 121 with IFR and multiple destinations with upgrade to captain in a year. I don't think there is any question which is more valuable. The only thing at a Regional or Fractional that is piston is the fuel truck. Look at anybody hiring pilots and the two things that everyone would want is TURBINE and 121 experience. Single Pilot flying breeds a sloppy pilot. You are not showing that you are capable of flying as a crew.

Talk to me about how much you like King when it is 100 outside and you have to do a "victory lap" before you can fly through Dutchmans Pass. Or when you have a 100 degree day with 6 passengers in 437. Trust me I know.

 

[pilotlbs]

I said RIGHT seat, not left seat. Left seat 121 twin turbine no doubt about it, is good time. However I know that 135 PIC C402 time is better than sitting RIGHT seat in an Otter 121, thats for sure, the great thing about Scenic is you upgrade in less than a year to the left seat then its great time, disagree with that? Its better than instructing thats all I can say. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! A SLOPPY PILOT?! Its interesting how someone with Ameriflight can go from a BE1900 single pilot 135 straight to Southwest. I don't think they're hire sloppy pilots, but thats just me. Not to mention the fact that X-Jet isn't impressed with your turbine time in a caravan that was 121, maybe thats why they're hiring all these ATP guys who have tons of twin time in a seminole, thats not even 121 or 135.