LAB Flying Service

[airdog577]

Anyone have any current info. on LAB Flying Service in AK. They used to have a bad rap but I hear they are cleaning it up and they hire lower time folks?

 

[pilot_guy]

Don't worry about it...

They don't hire candy-assed homos...so I don't think you have anything to worry about Pour a glass of kool-aid and take it easy.

 

[Gabe]

Lab

Low training pay, low regular pay, long hours, six day work weeks, provide your own round trip flight, provide your own VFR gps, room with others and fly pipers. Its like a paid vacation.

 

[airdog577]

Gabe, thanks for the reply! Even if it wasn't the best news. I,ve heard about the swamp and Litter box living quarters. What is the average pay for a seasonal pilot?

 

[Gabe]

I think it was $1500/ month, 6 days a week (Cherokee 6). I sent a resume in and had a phone interview where this was discussed. AK has a high cost of living, remember. Through some research, a friend (in AK) told me their maintenance is good and they're part of the capstone program, but so far only 1/3 of their planes are equipped. I think they go into more detail about this on their website.

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

I know that there are more knowledgeable folk here than I...

Pay should be 1,000 a month, and then 1,500 a month after 3 months if memory serves. Room is provided, in a pilot shack with the other pilots (may or may not be for you).

Not much hiring going on (if any) outside of the summer tourist season.

Dan

 

[airdog577]

Thanks for the info. Dan, atleast I know what to expect if I talk to

LAB. Its a start.

 

[500and2]

Some of the best flying you'll ever do is in Southeast AK........

the above posts are mostly correct..... you'll be flying ~4hrs a day, 6 days a week.... with close to 14hr duty days. They provide housing....aka "litterbox" and "new trailer"... (the "swamp" was decommisioned years ago)

pay is negotiable after your first season if you can sweet talk Lynn Bennett. Upgrade into the seneca II or Chieftain is possible after a season or two, depending on seniority/experience.

Capstone is installed in many if not ALL planes by now....even the ARCHER's....

I hear the new Chief Pilot is a good guy.

Let me know if you have any more questions.....

Red tails-black bellies forever

 

[irapilot]

Run, don't walk, run away as quick as you can. It is not worth it.

 

[airdog577]

Wow mixed results, this all gives me some idea of what to look for
in the next hiring season, thanks to all of you! I do appreciate any
insight and advice.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

I had the "pleasure" of flying with Layton on his 75th birthday. He gave himself a birthday present in the form of PFT. He wanted me to pay him $3500 to get trained and then get paid a whopping $500/month salary. His son was pretty upset that his dad was charging new-hires and asked me to stay for a few days and see if his dad would change his mind. Four days later the old man came in the back room in JNU and asked me if I had his money. I told him I wasn't going to pay him to work there and he abruptly said, "Bye!". This was ten years ago. I was lucky enough to get on with, in my opinion, a much better company in southeast (see avatar).

Glad to know that they no longer participate in PFT. A few years ago they were actually shut down by the FAA until they could get their act together. I don't remember the reason for the shutdown, however.

If you are looking to get into twins in SE AK, LAB would be the place to go. They are once again flying their Senecas (down for a few years) and also fly the Chieftain and Islander. Not sure if they still fly the Lake amphib.

I didn't know that the swamp was decommissioned. Did the health department shut it down or was it the fire department???

If you do go, be prepared to deal with some boot camp like mentalities while in training. I'm not saying this is bad at all, its just their way. Best advice I can give you is to listen to them, especially the guys who have been around for a long time, especially Lynn. He is arguably one of the best pilots in southeast. Other advice is don't be a hot dog...if they find out you've been hot dogging, or flying illegally, you're gone. I've personally seen LAB pilots hot dogging in Skagway as I'm sure other companies pilots have done while away from their home base. As far as a GPS goes...treat it like a toy and use it (for navigation) in an emergency. I'm sure they'll tell you about the guy a few years ago who was trying to penetrate a cloud to get to Glacier Bay and wound up as a big stain on a vertical rock. I've heard that he was trying to use his GPS to fly illegal IFR....whether or not this was a contributing factor, don't fly into a cloud with or without a GPS.

Most of all, have fun. It is the most beautiful place in the world. Fly up there now before that freaking road is built connecting Juneau and Skagway.

If you have any questions about flying in southeast, send me a PM.

Cheers!

GP

PS: Long live the crotch-on-the-tail and white bellies!!!

 

[500and2]

Hey GP.... been back to Southeast lately??

I think I'm going to start flying down there next month again.... Looking forward to some familiar sights!

The Lake amphib flew at least one time while I was there (01-02)..... (took mail to Excursion Inlet)..... but still leaked pretty badly! It is probably a permanent fixture in front of the hangar in JNU now...

-You don't want to mess with the weather.... plenty of pilots have paid the price for that sort of behavior. Capstone and GPS are a nice bonus....but shouldn't be relied on totally! use your head!

the old saying "there old pilots and bold pilots....not both".... holds true to Southeast flying.... learn as much as you can from the OLD pilots!

I think Layton is 84yrs old now..... what a legend. So many stories.....

If you can get on with LAB, or any other Southeast carrier, just be smart about your flying. Always have an out! (simple rules to follow.... you just have to be disciplined and not let anything pressure you into doing something you don't feel comfortable doing.... it's as easy as that!)

LAB
Look A Bear! (if you know others... please post)

 

[GuppyPuppy]

Hey GP.... been back to Southeast lately?...
LAB
Look A Bear! (if you know others... please post)

Was there mid June through early July. Got married in Skagway and then spent some time in Haines and Juneau. Had an absolute blast! Nice to have my family and my buddies up there at one time.

Probably going back sometime this fall to check on the condo in JNU.

I thought LAB meant "Look, a Beer"!

Legs and Bones
Lose All Bags
Love Asian Babes
Lusts After Blue-Hairs
Lousy and Bad
Late and Bitchy

Sorry...couldn't resist. Just a friendly rivalry, eh?

Long live the crotch-on-the-tails!!! Well...at least they can survive until that stupid road is built.

Cheers!

GP

BTW...LAB is 85 years old!

 

[500and2]

a friendly rivalry indeed.....

what do you make of the proposed "Ground effect" vehicles that are poised to run the Lynn canal with Pax/mail????

For all those who fly in Southeast... check this out...

"http://www.pacificseaflight.com"

looks like something out of StarTrek..... I wonder what they will pay to pilot it??? (only requires a marine license??...) PFT??? hahahah

I met the president at the ANC Fedex Expo this yr... He apologized in advance for taking our jobs away!!! (i guess only time will tell)

anyways, Congrats on your marriage GP!

Cheers

 

[Old Bush Pilot]

I don't know much about LAB having flown Southeast in the past only as a herring spotter for the Sitka Sound herring seasons, but you might take a look at www.flyalaska.com for further information on Alaska Flight Operations. That website has a directory of Alaska flight ops with several links to websites and a bunch of other stuff. They also have a membership section that charges a small fee for a one year subscription.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

a friendly rivalry indeed.....

what do you make of the proposed "Ground effect" vehicles that are poised to run the Lynn canal with Pax/mail????

For all those who fly in Southeast... check this out...

"http://www.pacificseaflight.com"

looks like something out of StarTrek..... I wonder what they will pay to pilot it??? (only requires a marine license??...) PFT??? hahahah

I met the president at the ANC Fedex Expo this yr... He apologized in advance for taking our jobs away!!! (i guess only time will tell)

anyways, Congrats on your marriage GP!



Cheers

Thanks! Now if I can just get the heck out of groundschool maybe I can spend some time with my new wife. Been married two months. Of that two months I've spent almost 6 weeks down here in "beautiful" Miami. But, I've learned some Spanglish while I've been here.

As for the ground effect vehicle...It will still be slower than the airplane, but obviously faster than the new ferry. I can't see that it could even run when the weather gets too windy, which happens often. I briefly read the website, but I have a hard time believing that the craft could handle large swells. My wife met the guy who wants to start this service last year and didn't seem impressed. My understanding is that although it claims to be able to handle larger swells (was it 12 foot swells?), it could only land in 3 foot swells. Also wonder how maneuverable it would be when it comes around the corner at Lena Point at 80 knots and stares right into the face of a bunch of boats!

I think the bigger threat to the small airlines in southeast is the proposed road. It first starts with Juneau to Skagway. Then links most communities in southeast with roads, bridges and small ferries (trips of up to an hour or so). Also wouldn't be suprised to see a road to Bethel someday. I hope this never happens.

For those of you familiar with the Lynn Canal and Taiya Inlet, think of all the avalanches and rock slides you see up and down the fjords. Think of all the folks who live off the main road out towards Eagle Beach who enjoy the quiet. They'll be subject to 18-wheelers shaking their house at all hours of the night. I wish they'd leave it as is...no road.

OK...I'm off the soapbox.

GP

BTW, Airdog: Don't bother with paying for a service telling you about all the operators in Alaska. You have plenty of resources right here on this board to help you with your search. Bottom line...if you have no AK time and you want to fly twins eventually, go to LAB. If you want to fly floats, go to Wings. If you want the higher pay (and can entice the boss to let you stay in JNU vs. Gustavus) go to Air Excursions. Good luck, my friend!

 

[N8Dogg]

How about "Limbs and Bodies"? In recent years LAB has struggled with parts coming off aircraft in flight (IE wheels, engine cowlings, flaps, etc). I remember the FAA coming in on a number of occasions and grounding all the aircraft. I know they hired a new director of maintenance last year. He seems to be a pretty good guy but I would be surprised to see him last the next round of cost cuts by the Bennets (they like to pencil whip rather than doing it the right way). Not too long ago half of all the pilots employed by LAB had an incident, accident or some type of letter of investigation by the FAA on their record. Looking back, the flying was a lot of fun but I thank my lucky stars that I came away from the company with a clean record. I would definately recomend the other operators like Wings of Alaska or Skagway Airlines before LAB. If you do go, be smart and fly safe. Just my $0.02.