Western Airways in Houston

[flying_gringo]

I need the good, the bad, and the ugly on them - I'm considering an opportunity with them, and need a little background. I know little about them, and would like some gouge before I move across the world for them.

Someone here has to know somebody who works for them... can you lend me a hand?

Either post here or send me a PM... as I would love to find the skinny on these guys.

thanks -

fg

 

[DAS at 10/250]

Is that the outfit out of Sugarland on the northwest side?

 

[flying_gringo]

its about halfway down the east side of the airport...

any gouge?

fg

 

[DAS at 10/250]

Sorry, I was chair flying. You are correct, it is the east side.

I don't have any info on them. I do know a DPE real well who works that area. I'll give him a call and I'll PM you any info I get.

 

[DAS at 10/250]

Sorry. I was unable to get the 411.

I did get a good word on their MX shop though.

 

[MX Rider]

Western

I use to fly out of HOU. I met several pilots from Western and they were not very happy. Over-worked and Under-paid! That is just their side of the story though................

Hope this helps

MX

 

[petergibbins]

me and a buddy walked in a resume there one time and was greeted by i guess the chief pilot, i don' t remember. anyway he was a real jerk, he told us we were too young underqualified and we needed to be flying 182s, and if we wanted to be marketable we should go buy a type rating because there's no way he was gonna pay for it. grant it i only had like 1400 hrs but still there's no need to be an jerk, he could've just took our resumes and said thanks i'll get back to you or something. He just gave us a bad impression of the company.

 

[FlyingSig]

I don't buy that... I fly charter out of Houston and Western has a very good reputation for safety, maintenance, and treating it's employees well. My last company farmed out trips to them all the time and they were always curtious and professional and did not seem to be the disgruntled types being described on this board.

 

[Dr. B]

King Airs, Westwinds, a Challenger, and a Piaggio. Also operate 1 or 2 421's and there is a company next door that operates on their 135 certificate with a Lr-60, and 2 Citation X's though they crew their own equipment. The planes are all nicely kept and maintained.

The company is in the process of changing ownership now. Pilots are not on any real schedule, you are notified of trips as they come up. Not sure of the salary these days, 2 years ago a King Air pilot was paid around $36,000...they sometimes use right seaters in the King Airs and pay nothing to them or $50 day, must need a warm body for insurance I suppose. Don't charter the planes out too much, mostly fly the owners in them. Some long days 18 hours etc part 91 with the owners on board, 135 when chartered out.

Hope this helps you.

 

[DAS at 10/250]

Sorry Sig,

I have to backup everything that petergibbins has to say. I was the buddy with him that day and the guy was a total d!ck!!