Airline Pilot Central Forums - Grand Canyon Airlines

Airline Pilot Central Forums (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/)

- Hiring News (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/hiring-news/)

- - Grand Canyon Airlines - HIRING CAPTAINS & F/Os (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/hiring-news/14072-grand-canyon-airlines-hiring-captains-f-os.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilot221 (Post 199450)

I fly for Scenic so this is about Scenic...can't speak for GCA.

For me a typical day starts out at 5pm the previous day when I get my schedule for the next day. If I get a 4, 5, or 6 o'clock AM show time...I don't go out and do anything...I sleep. Our show times are 1 hour before our actual flight so a 4:10 show would mean I would be on the 5:10 departure for the Canyon. Some days are 2-3 turns to the south rim. Some are 2-5 turns to the west rim. Some are to the south then to the west, then to the south then back to boulder. It's a mixed bag. Most days now are about 12 hours. Sometimes you'll get a short day. Varies.

Training is 3 weeks ground, about a week and a half simulator, then a short time flight training in the twin otter at 3:30am since that is the only time you can get into mccarran and is the only place where there is a nearby ILS. The simulator is pretty darn near exactly like the twin otter...no movement, no monitor. When you get out of the sim the airplane is cake.

No idea on the merge, we don't get told those kinds of things but so far all the changes have been minor.

The days at GCA can be long ones too especially if based at the South Rim. I have also seen 8-9 hour duty days at Boulder City which are pretty nice. Flight training at GCA is currently conducted in the aircraft only and is done at the South Rim during normal hours (0700-1700). GCA Ground school lasts about 10 days and the flight training for F/O lasts about a week. Can't say if the merger will be good or bad. The fact that they are waiting till the first of the year is good since it allows everyone to adjust to each companies procedures and policies. I was with Lake Powell Air when we immediately merged with Scenic in 1993. It was a total disaster as I had to fly F/O with alot of angry Scenic Captains who took big paycuts and thought we had destroyed their lives. This "slow" merger may be more positive.

Canyonair: What's pay like at GCA for FOs?

Pilot 221: What about at Scenic?

If there's a difference, will the pay still be different after the merge, or will you kinda compromise?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitragorz (Post 199729)

Canyonair: What's pay like at GCA for FOs?

Pilot 221: What about at Scenic?

If there's a difference, will the pay still be different after the merge, or will you kinda compromise?

FO pay is a guarantee of $1296 a month. You get paid $13.50/hr when you fly, and half that/hr when you sit. Once you reach the minimum, anything you work over that is added to it. I've gone over the minimum every month. If you work a lot (or on your days off) you can make $1500 to $2000 a month which isn't bad and it's not very difficult to do right now. If you upgrade to captain, double the hourly pay. Some captains are staying here since they would be taking a nice pay cut to go elsewhere.

No idea what will happen to pay but if they drop it I can tell you there won't be many pilots to fly their airplanes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilot221 (Post 199752)

No idea what will happen to pay but if they drop it I can tell you there won't be many pilots to fly their airplanes.

Sounds to me like they are having a hard time already. Do you know anything about their plans to improve pilot recruiting and retention?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berkut (Post 199785)

Sounds to me like they are having a hard time already. Do you know anything about their plans to improve pilot recruiting and retention?

The only thing floating around are rumors. As far as retention, they are hiring lower time pilots now hoping they will get more out of them. I think 'they' know what will happen should they touch our pay, it's not really a secret amongst everyone...i'm not too worried.

Hey Pilot221,
I was wondering what I should expect from the sim portion of the interview? Also COTriple7 mentioned doing some sim prep the day before. Is that normal? Thanks again for all the info. I’m really excited.

Quote:

Originally Posted by samstanton (Post 203842)

The sim part is pretty straight forward. They'll tell you to fly heading and altitude to join an airway. Then give you a hold. Figure it out and say entry and you will probably not have to do it. Then you'll do an approach...that's it. You'll be told ahead of time what will take place. I would recommend doing the sim prep beforehand. It will take away any surprises and will be exactly what you will do the next day. Should be some info on setting up the sim prep in the email they sent. Look at the recent gouges and you'll be good.

I had a chance to observe the sim session at Scenic when I participated in an interview session. No surprises and straight forward. Very similiar to the simulator evaluation at Skywest.

I emailed Mike my resume last Saturday. No response yet, though...

Hi Mitragorz. I have forwarded all resumes for the past two weeks to the Director of Ops., Craig Sanderson. He will be contacting those people including yourself soon about interviews. Yesterday was my last day at GCA as Chief Pilot. I have accepted an F/O position with Allegiant Air. GCA will be running a ground school in late August but I have no idea what exact date Craig has decided on.