Lab Quest???

[FlyGuy78]

Does anyone know who uses the callsign Lab Quest?
I heard it on the radio last night and was wondering what freight company it was and what they fly??
Thanks in advance....

 

[Timebuilder]

"Lab Quest" = Quest Diagnostics

old company name = SmithKline Beachem Laboratories

old callsign "skibble"

 

[hyper]

.....and TBM700s.

 

[FADEC]

N9103m. If you only knew how much the pilots at Lab Quest make I'd doubt you would call them cowboys. Lab Quest evolved from SmithKline Beecham, when Quest Diagnostics purchased their clinical flight department in mid 1999. They have two bases, a small base in Atlanta GA and the parent base in Reading PA. I flew for them for four years out of Reading and got lots of quality C310 time. Today they fly quite a mix of aircraft namely C310's and TBM 700's. In addition, out of RDG they have a King Air 200 and a 350, a Twin Otter and a Hawker 800 XP. When I flew for SmithKline I was making $50.000 before I made the jump to the regionals. In my opinon Lab Quest is one of those hidden little jewels. They like to hire co-pilots because some of the runs are very long. I have several friends who have made Quest their career and I know for a fact they make way more than me, plus they are home every day.

 

[hyper]

FADEC is 100% correct, although I hate to admit it. I talked to one of their 310 drivers and he was making $60k. 60k flying a 310! He also said that it is somewhat of a brotherhood to get in. The same old, "ya gotta know someone there."

 

[PA-44Typed]

test

test

 

[sonicyouth]

Yeah, I know they had some excellent pilots and some cowboys in the past. Just look at their crash history at both bases. I think some felt pressured to fly in severe conditions in the 310s, but I don't know if they are still like that.

 

[ProPilot5]

Any contact information for "Lab Quest"

Any contact information for "Lab Quest" or "Quest Diagnostic",

other information, bases, best method for contacting them, maintenance, times they are looking for, is 2100/280 competitive?

Thanks in advance for anthing you can get.

Tim

 

[Timebuilder]

Being hired at Lab Quest, as nearly as I can figure, is a matter of familiarity and personality. I have seen low time people hired, and friendly, knowlegable, experienced people passed over for hiring. When I was interested in working for them, they were not hiring anyone.

If you know one of their pilots, and the person who hires decides that he likes you, you're in. After that, it's a matter of when they need you.

 

[FADEC]

Lab Quest

For all those interested, Lab Quest received an excellent write up in the December issue of Professional Pilot. As I ponited out in a previous post I flew for SmithKline Beecham for Four years before they became Quest. The flying was incredible and the pay was even better. From what I know much of the old infrastructure is still the same. Lab Quest fly medical specimens, namely blood, with the majority of flying at night. In the old days we mainly serviced the Northeast, but today I believe their network has expanded considerably. They basically fly Monday thru Friday with a reduced schedule on weekends. The majority of the blood runs are flown in the TBM's and C310's. I don't know very much about the Atlanta side of the house but the companies nerve center is Reading PA. The company are in the process of building a new 19000 sq ft hangar in Reading. Whilst the majority of flying is at night they also do day time work. During the day they run a shuttle service between Reading, Pottstown Limerick and Teterboro NJ in the Twin Otter and the King Air. Additionally they use the King Airs for corporate trips along side the Hawker 800 XP. All maintenance is carried out inhouse and from my experience was second to none. Engine changes in the C310's was routine and all the C310's had operational radar and GPS. Aircraft 98904 even had spoilers to prevent engine shockcooling. The problem in the past with getting hired was getting your foot in the door. As a company its very much who you know and I think that you really have to live in the Reading, Philadelphia or Atlanta area, although this may haved change. Overall an excellent company with good equipment and great pilots. You can be home every day and enjoy a normal life.