Das Auto

Agreed. And to be fair we fly to some of the most challenging airports in the U.S. extended over water ops and international. Not everyone breezes through the training either. I for one agree that they should be selective. Especially for direct entry captains.

Puttyjonah

1. iPads issued to pilots or kept in the planes?
2. Is there time off between indoc and sim?
3. Any tricks to help stay cool before a/c on?
4. Do they allow you to choose early or late call outs on your trips?
5. Who chooses what day you start your 8 on?
6 Do firsts days generally start early or is there usually plenty of time to get to plane?
Thanks in advance. Most questions answered already...I was just curious about these minor things.

Das Auto

All pilots are issued a company iPhone 8 but iPads remain on board the aircraft.
Most go straight to survival / 1st aid training after Indoc, then to the sim.
To keep the plane cool, put it in the hanger, use the window shades in the cockpit, darken the cabin windows and turn on the cockpit and cabin blowers. Once the engines are started the A/C does a good job cooling the aircraft but those few minutes boarding and briefing passengers can be uncomfortable. At some FBOs we have our own air carts.
No control over early vs late trips. Scheduling will assign as needed.
Start days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. You can request a particular day but they generally assign as needed. Your start day doesn't change once assigned.
Start days usually start fairly early. It depends. Obviously they want to get you to your assigned aircraft asap and to allow for delays etc. If you duty on before 6am you get an extra $500. Also if you arrive home after midnight in the time zone you started in on day 8 you get an extra $500.

Busdriver91

1. No personal ipads issued by the company. Each plane has two dedicated ipads.
2. Just flew with a guy fresh off ioe and he said that he went straight to sim from indoc. Every person's experience may be different depending on sim slots of course.
3. Look through the last page here, if you know of any more please let me know.
4. No
5. The company however you can request a different day and week but it doesn't mean you will get it awarded to you.
6. My average show time is about 9 am. I have had as late as 8 pm when picking up plane in my base and as early as 6 am. Your assigned aircraft, show time, and airline tickets are emailed to you by 8 pm the night before.

Deluth16

Are you with same crew entire 8 days?
Are you given a rental car for overnights?
Thanks

EMAW

Not always.

Most of the time not. Rental cars are really more of a pain than why they’re worth. Overnights are usually 10-12 hrs no time to do anything and our hotels are within 20 min of the FBO. Shuttle, Uber, Lyft, taxi.

deadstick35

How man other 350 operators use a pilot with the “SIC required” type?

Puttyjonah

1. Do most guys use their own headsets or use the Bose in the a/c?
2. Does anyone use Bose ProFlight or mostly the A20s?
3. What do most guys do for a flight bag and overnight bag? (I currently use a backpack and an old TravelPro but they’re both in rough shape...want to get new stuff)
Thx again.

EMAW

Most guys use the A20s in the aircraft.

As far as bags go. I use a luggage works stealth 22 inch. Whatever you use it has to fit in the wing locker, as that’s where our bags go most of the time. Some guys use the luggage works 26 inch.
I’m one of the few guys that doesn’t carry any other bags. It works well for me with no issues.

Busdriver91

I also use the luggage works stealth 22in and it seems like a lot of other guys use it too but anything that fits in the wing will work. A great thing about working at Gama is there is no need for a flight bag. All that is required for you to bring is your licenses, medical, passport, etc. Most other guys bring along a backpack filled with computer, food, or any number of items I don’t want to know about.