Lynx Air
 

Hey guys,

Does anyone know anything much about Lynx Air? They're a regional airline out of FLL flying to the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Carribbean.
I've been offered an interview and there's a class starting next week which I'd hopefully get into.
Do any of you guys fly for Lynx or know anyone who does? Their website doesnt have that much info for prospective employees, mostly for passengers.

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

I'm sure you have probably already been to their website, but for the benefit of other forum members; here it is http://www.lynxair.com/

Heh, they call their Metro service "first class"...thats a good one.:rolleyes:

http://www.lynxair.com/aircraft.html

whats their mins? and good luck with the interview

I thought it was this one when I first saw the thread. :)

Aussie, how much time do you have? That sounds like it'd be a pretty fun job. It'd be nice to know their minimums.

Are they requiring you to be a dispatcher first? They like to do that.

They didn't specify their minimums, but when I sent my resume to them they called me back within a week so I guess they're hurting for pilots.

My totals are 650TT with 110 multi. He says the company likes hiring lower time guys because they figure they'll stay longer.

There's only one issue with it. Because they're a fairly small outfit (4 planes, 20 pilots), they can't afford to lose pilots after they've paid for their type ratings and training. So, they make you pay about $9000 up front for the training, and then they reimburse you over 24 months at $375 a month. So it's more or less like signing a contract, if you decide to pack it in before the 2 years are up, you lose 1000 bucks for every 3 months early you leave. But if you stay for 2 years, you get the training and the type rating for free, and some quality twin turbine time to boot.

According to the chief pilot, upgrade time is about a year or so because attrition is high. The company has also purchased 3 Saab 340's to go with their 4 Metroliner III's.

I was debating whether or not to pass up the offer to hopefully wait for XJT or one of the other larger regionals to call, but "a bird in the hand" as the saying goes.

I don't think I can stand much more instructing!!

So let me get this straight...they make you pay $9 G's up front...why don't they just make you sign a contract and pro-rate it...

It's like wiping before you poop, it don't make sense?!

Yeah...that would be cool to get hired by them with low time, but if you have over 100 hrs multi I would wait for some like expressjet. It would be fun flying into some of those airports though. The whole deal of paying $9000 up front kinda sucks too. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Yeah I hear ya man it is a little bit strange, but then it doesn't bother me too much because I'm fortunate enough to be in the position where I can fork out 9 large without too much trouble (as long as I get to see it again!).

And no there's no being a dispatcher before you join the flight line, and there won't be much if any reserve time either. I should be able to fly straight away after I complete the training.

Obviously I'd rather be flying a nice jet but when you compare the upgrade time (about 1 year compared to 3-5 with most of the other regionals) I think I might even be better off... We shall see I suppose??!

So nobody here's ever flown with them or known anyone who has? I'd really love some info about the ins and outs of the company.

C

RE: Lynx Air
 

Aussie,

If you find out what the hourly pay rates are I'd be interested to know.

AV8R

hey mate,

i turned down the job, but the pay is about 1400 a month.
they dont pay hrly just mthly with bonuses.

aussie

Thanks Aussie, Yeah I think that was a good call to turn it down. Living in FLL on that pay would be hard go. Btw, have you looked at Colgan Air?
Based on what I've seen posted in some of the other recent threads it appears you already have the mins to get in.

8R

Yeah mate i've already checked out colgan, and i'm a member of airlineapps.com so ive applied to everyone on that site i.e. airwis, chq, colgan, mesa, eagle, comair, and a few others.

now just playin the waiting game...

where u located nzav8r>?

Cool. I'm located in PHX.

Hi guys, just stumbeled across lynx. I have extremely low time right now (280 and 60), but I sent my resume to the chief pilot with a few questions about how Lynx operates. Haven't heard back yet (that was 2 days ago), but I'm curious to know whether this kind of flying will make you marketable after the two years that you spend flying with them? By marketable I guess I mean stepping up to a larger carrier. Any thoughts?

Why would you dig up a two year old thread?

Furthermore, why would you pay $9k for a job that pays $1400 per month?

Not to be the bearer of bad news but if I were you I would get my Instructor Ratings and go teach.. the way the market is right now if you got a Job with your time right now it would be the exception and not the norm.. their are Thousands out there right now on the streets with Thousands of hours and maybe a few type ratings.

Now is a good time to look to GA and wait till the airline industry to stablize just my 02 cents

They are actually about to start a new class of 7 this coming Monday. Lynx will give you a chance with low hours. Only you know how good of a pilot you are. You have to make sure you are able to make it through Sims which is Hard Multi IFR training..."coming in on an ILS single engine down to min's, also V1 Cuts and other emergencies" and remember the Metro does not have an autopilot and the aircraft is very heavy and sluggish on the controls due to the way it was designed. Thats why you have to put $5000 up-front which goes towards your Sim Training at Flight Safety which they will pay back over your 2nd year of employment. But overall its a great job! You will fly ALOT of hours in a month, get to come home almost everynight, and its a great group of guys/gals to fly with.

So why the heck couldn't I get hired with the Metro type rating.... this company is frustrating the me to no end... well back to the pipeline.

Because you had a type. There was no way for them to lock you into it!!

I used that line all the time when I was flying the sewer pipe.

You are probably right... never thought of it that way.... and unfortunately it is incredibly dumb...

Are they CASS participants? jump seat privileges?