Hey Username,

Congrats on being my first post. There are probably a few pilots at Big Sky that have worked at other airlines. I am one of them and so are many of my fellow street captains. There is both good and bad from my last airline. I flew in Alaska in a 1900C. I no longer walk around hunched over due to the ceiling. The D model in itself is an upgrade. Pay is less for a captain ($50 in Alaska $35 at BS), but better than an FO in Alaska (hence being a street captain). Two year upgrade where I was at in Alaska . . . BS upgraded me from the start. BS pilot group very young from where I flew at last. Not to take away from my fellow pilots in Boston (don't know the guys in Billings), but along with age seems to come maturity. They are a good bunch of guys just a bit wild. I had to clean the inside of the airplane in Alaska as an FO. I still help as a captain (my choice). I had to load the airplane in Alaska, I don't anymore. I had to fuel the aircraft in Alaska. I don't anymore. Had to move, and smell muktuk in Alaska. Don't do that anymore either. I would say it is easier, and less stressful than Alaska. I miss Alaska though. These guys have it easy from my perspective. T-storms were mild in Alaska. Here they cause havoc. I don't have to be outside at -40 (doesn't matter Fahrenheit or Celsius about the same) below in a 25 knot gale at Point Hope(less) Alaska. I don't like the big city. Love New Hampshire though. The complaints that were listed are all valid by stewie. Issue 1: Just remember to turn in your extra flying form and check your paycheck. Every time (2) I have been shorted they corrected it. Issue 2: Their notice on closing and opening bases is pretty horrific. Issue 3: Proposed paycuts shouldn't happen with a "hunt" for so many pilots (up to us in my opinion). Issue 4: I personally addressed the issue with the crew call at Canadian hotels and it has been fixed (in less than 48 hours). Issue 5: Cab rides in Canada can sometimes be difficult, but so can cab rides anywhere else I have been when in other parts of country. Issue 6: Reserve B sometimes happens that is why it is in the contract. Issue 7: I will figure that one out in October. We are suppose to have CASS August 14th. I will test that August 15th. The Alaska airline did the same thing with CASS "dangling a carrot" they still don't have it either. Life is good and I am building turbine PIC. As Shaun said, "quick upgrade" and there are a lot of street captains here doing just that. I never heard of Big Sky until I saw an ad. You can let these forums make your decisions or you can, but only you decide that! All I ask is if you do come to Big Sky is to come here as a professional our customers/passengers need to see that. One last thing, "I really don't want to see you change your underwear".

Flysafe: cool, calm and collected.

 

Now there is a KILLER second post.

Thank you so much for your info.

 

Beech1900Bush,

Thanks so much for putting in the time on that post. I'm still "making good" on my one year contract with my current employer, but your info really helped to bring in to focus the blurry image I had of Big Sky prior. I definitely share your sentiment about bringing your professional "A" game to work with you. I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by people like that at my current job but it hasn't always been like that for me so I know how frustrating that can be. Thanks again, I appreciate the input.

I'm going to throw out a couple of questions...hoping you can answer them...

1. What is a typical weekly schedule like at Big Sky in BOS?
2. How much opportunity is there for overtime?
3. Where do you park? Does the company cover your parking in the Chelsea Garage or something?
4. What does a typical day look like for you?
5. Is the 1900 just too much airplane for someone with no turbine time to consider taking on as a street cap?

Thanks again!

P.S. I'll promise not to change my underwear in front of you as long as you explain what Muktuk is.

 

Do you fly for Cape Air right now? Cessna 402 Capt? Is this Mario?

 

Cape Air: yes

Mario, although a great guy: no

 

I'm from Montana and although Billings isn't the best location in the state, I was wondering if the Street Captains are being given a chance to be domiciled there or if everyone is headed to Boston? (Yes, I know Horizon and Skywest can get me close to home). Still curious.

Also, what is the trend in airlines that Big Sky Alumni are headed to? Wondering if after slugging it out in the 1900 the Captains still have to do time in larger regionals to get bigger airplane / RJ experience before jumping to some place like AirTran or Alaska.

 

1. Typical week is fairly simple. Things change. We take mx delays, scheduling delays, weather, etc. Today we delayed due to pilot documents to go into Canada. I would say know your stuff it can save your bacon. I have had a week where everything went smooth and I have had a week where everything was crazy.
The lines we fly could be more efficient for the crew, but Big Sky operates for Delta out here, so what Delta wants Delta gets. There are 2 runs I enjoy to Canada, but they only get you 3.5 hours of turbine a day for 4-5 days straight. There are also runs that fly you up to 80+ hours a month where you fly 4-5 days and get 4-5 days off and then do it again. Those usually go to senior pilots. There are about 25 lines, but only 2 have you home every night. Most of our pilots commute from out west, so I think they tailor the lines to them. You have probably heard how full planes our this summer. Commuting has been miserable. I choose to stay close to Boston unless I can string together 4 days off.

2. Probably 90% of the time Big Sky has needed a pilot and I have called ahead I have been given the trip. Other pilots drop days and you can pick those up too. Some days when you don't want to fly they still call you. It is up to you to answer the phone on your days off to make the extra money.

3. Free parking at Delta parking with a shuttle to the airport. I think it is over in Chelsea. I have parked there, but not sure which city it resides in.

4. Right now my typical day is sitting reserve. Which I have done for the past 2 days and I have flown both days with overnights in Canada and they called up another reserve Captain because we ran out of First Officers. I like Big Sky reserve. Sometimes I sit at home and read a book, go to the beach, workout. I can bid a line, but barely and I decided to bid reserve for specific days off that I needed this bid. Remember as a street captain your seniority might go down as First Officers upgrade that have been with the company longer. I was 17 on the Captain seniority list in Boston. Now I am in the mid 20's. Since mid May I have 130 turbine PIC. Basically sitting reserve I have managed 40 hours per month and I didn't start picking up extra time until August. You will fly on reserve, unlike some horror stories I have heard about other airlines. Big Sky is relentless in adding new cities it seams, so we always get more flying each bid period.

5. I think the 1900 requires some right seat time. I have seen the company hire "street captains" that had no-time in the 1900 and put them in the right seat for about 100 hours. Then they go back to training to upgrade. Coming in as a "street captain" is not easy. I think every class had someone fail out. To some of the "street captains" that don't make the cut they have offered them the right seat for a while. They have already invested in you so they generally want to keep you. I don't know anyone that made the street captain position without part 121 time and some turbine time. I also think anyone can fly the 1900, but I also think the 1900 can fly anyone. You have to think ahead and you have to know your systems. From what I have seen when people have problems they are usually lacking knowledge of the system, including myself. The Alaska guys really knew their plane and it showed.

They need pilots. Everyone needs pilots, look at Northwest. All of this will slow down slightly in the winter months until Holiday travel begins, but not much of a slow down in demand. My thoughts. Whether Big Sky is right for you is your decision. Big Sky fit what I was looking for and I hope to make Big Sky better while I am here. I can only hope my peers feel the same. A lot of the first officers have a good attitude in Boston and I really like them for it.

For everyone that has never flown in Alaska and is curious what Muktuk is:
Muktuk

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Bowhead Whale (the whale most often used in Muktuk / Mungtuk)


Muktuk is the Inupiaq Eskimo word for the traditional meal of whale skin and blubber. In the Siberian Yupik language of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, this same food is called Mungtuk. It is most often made from the skin and blubber of the bowhead whale, which has been hunted for subsistence throughout the northern Bering Sea for centuries. Amongst the Inuit of the Canadian Eastern Arctic this same food is called Muktaaq and may originate from Narwhal, Beluga or Bowhead whale. Usually eaten raw, it is occasionally finely diced, breaded, deep fried and served with soy sauce.
It has been found to be a good source of vitamin C.

"Muktuk is also a very good source to make a 1900 stink for a month", this goes out to my compadre from Frontier Flying Service. "Eric, I feel for you my brother". Hope the jacket smells better now.

Flysafe: cool, calm and collected.

P.S. I need to work on my brevity.

 

Don't sweat the brevity. The information is priceless. Thanks a bunch!

 

BeechBush -looking for some direction, I've got 266TT 60MEL 180PIC not sure i want a shiny jet job. i think Alaska might be right for me. something like fire bombing or floats.what gigs are out there that i can get in on with my low times. I'm married, 2 kids and can't afford CFI pay with the mouths to feed.-navy

 

If you can't survive on CFI pay, than you probably can't get by on the entry level low time positions either. Truth is, that many CFI's that I have known made more than I did flying sightseers or doing other similar work...as long as you are a busy CFI in a busy area. I know many CFI's that make much more than regional FO's...and some regional captains!