Will Lynden open up their FO application window to fill the expected new hire class this summer or is there a pool?

I would say give them a call or go see them if you really want to fly the Herc around ze verld!

How's a day to day life of a Lynden loadmaster usually like? How often are check rides? And when they're gone how long are they usually gone for e.g. Africa and such?

Also I'm assuming most of the missions are air land. Do they do much air drop?

Any updates on Lynden? Is the pay scale on the APC profile accurate? Schedules said to be 2 weeks on 2 weeks off... travel on OFF days... how's that translate into reality? People get at least 12 at home in a row?

Any idea what the average turnover rate is at LAC, upgrade time, avg first year pay?

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Regarding the questions about retention, etc., Lynden lost three FOs and two Captains last year to other companies. Neither of the Captains leaving went to 121 operators, but went to corporate/business operators that they felt better suited their lifestyle desires. They were the first Captains to leave in the last five or so years. All of the FO departures happened in the first part of the year, and all went to various other 121 supplemental operators. I'm guessing they went for the money.

Our junior Captain on the line was hired in the fall of 2015. Reserve Captain in upgrade training this week was hired in early 2017 and had previous Herc time. Management will tell you in the interview to expect 6 to 8 years, but with the fleet expansion, retirements, and people leaving, that has been greatly reduced for the folks on the line right now. YMMV.

Lynden came through with a decent pay bump at the beginning of the year, which was a nice surprise, and a newly-hired FO should probably expect to bring home between $75-80,000 in their first year here, not counting per diem. Lynden, Inc., the parent company of LAC has a profit sharing scheme which has historically added 10-15% above the normal pay annually. It's not guaranteed, but they have been pretty reliable for the time I have worked here.

The 121 supplemental life is certainly not for everybody, but for those who want to fly for a living, but not be an airline pilot, and go where no other US carrier gets to go (not all locations are great, but some are :), all 7 continents), and fly a classic aircraft which the Company has spent the money to modernize and maintain (Primus Epic retrofit, WAAS LPV, ADS-B Out compliant 2 years ago), it can be a very good fit.

Just started an initial class and expect another in April. I would expect the application window to open up again sometime this week, if they do it as they have in the past. Check the LAC website if you're interested.

What would be competitive for FO? I have 7000+/1000+ but no turbine...all piston.

Depends a lot on what sort of flying to did to get the time. The Chief Pilot would make the call depending on your experience, and the needs of the Company. While I'm pretty sure he would like to see some turboprop time in there, the application window is open, and the worst that can happen is you don't get called. Second worst case would be he calls and gives you a path forward if you're truly interested in Lynden. I know he has done that on occasion. Best case, you get an interview. Small company, so the time from application, to interview, to class is pretty compressed into a couple months, or even a couple weeks at times. Showing an interest now could pay off for a future class too. Currently hiring for an early April class.

Thanks...I have an A+P but not the FE written...not sure if I'd be considered for an FE slot.

I assume they require loading/unloading along with fueling of the aircraft as well?

We carry loadmasters to do the loading and unloading. The FE does do the fueling normally, as well as preflight. Need to have at least the FE writtens done or they won't look at the application. The Chief FE is a DE who can and has done the initial FE ticket, but if you don't have tests done, it doesn't show you really have much interest in playing. That said, almost all of the competitive FE applicants, and from that the new hires, have some Herc experience, either flying or maintaining. Somebody who knows the plane sitting in the middle seat makes everything run better. Of course, there are getting to be fewer and fewer of those as the military sheds their C-130Hs in favor of Js.

Hi all, just newly discovered these guys and just wondering about some insight into what life is like at Lynden as an FO. I noticed they just started flying you out of your home city to the airplane if this is true? Not sure what the hiring outlook is either for the near future if anyone has any guidance on that as well. Thanks!

Lynden has been using home-basing for longer than I've been working here, I think since inception; it's nothing new. Approval of location by Chief Pilot and Scheduling is all that's required, and the company will fly you to where you're needed. We had one guy travelling in an RV with the family for quite a while, just updating his parking spot from month to month.

We have hit all of the continents, finally adding Antarctica last fall, and are cargo-only with the exception of some specialty operations such as oil spill response and firefighting. Scheduling goal is 18 on, 13 off, with the junior lines probably ending up in Africa, where we have two aircraft currently based. Our busiest market is Alaska/Canada, and will generally keep three aircraft busy through the summer months. The other aircraft will be wherever the contracts take us. Have one in PNG, as I type this. Interesting flying. PM me if you have specific questions.

On the specialty operations, are you Part 121 or Part 125? I was wondering because a few of our retired AWA guys have been flying for one of your competitors.

Anyone know what competitive hiring mins are?

Specialty operations are done under part 137.

jrav8r, I sent you a PM, but in case anyone else is curious:

In the LAC General Operations Manual it lists New Hire Employment Requirements as:

What exactly is home basing?

You mentioned 18 on and 13 off. OS this 18 days straight of being gone from home?

Home basing means the company buys you a ticket from your home airport to wherever in the world they need you to meet up with the airplane. The 18 on/13 off does mean being gone for 18 days straight. If you managed to bid the last half of one month and the first half of the next, you could be gone 36. I will say this has never happened to me. After the 15th day on the road, they bump your hourly salary by $10/hour for FOs and FEs, $15 for Captains. This would count for either the 3 hours guaranteed (2 hour daily guarantee (60per month/30 days=2 hours/day) + 1 hour of over-guarantee for being on the road, flying or not), or whatever hard time you flew each day.

Some people don't like being on the road that long at a time, but others don't mind getting the work out of the way and have long stretches at home. It's not for everybody, but great for those who like it.

Four Fans, thank you very much for your responses about this company and how they operate. I'm not sure if that schedule is suitable for me but I now know a little more about them. Thank you again