Era Aviation, Alaska?
- Thread starter CamYZ125
- Start date
OldTownPilot
Well-Known Member
Trying to find another job waiting for sims?
good on ya. Dont know about ERA though.
good on ya. Dont know about ERA though.
CAMY....
A couple/few years back they went to file bankruptcy and closed a lot of their routes in the Bethel area. The 135 operators were jumping at picking up those routes. I do recall seeing them fly around while I was up there a couple of months ago in Anchorage (I'm pretty sure it was them), so I don't believe they are completely shut down. I'd PM ol' PPragman since he's currently/actively flying up there now--I'm sure he could provide some better insight. I would really doubt they are hiring anyhow. You can give PenAir (peninsula airways) a try if you want to stick with a 121 operator or try Grant Aviation, Hageland Aviation, Northern Air Cargo, Everets if you are wanting 135 type of operators.
Pac Man
A couple/few years back they went to file bankruptcy and closed a lot of their routes in the Bethel area. The 135 operators were jumping at picking up those routes. I do recall seeing them fly around while I was up there a couple of months ago in Anchorage (I'm pretty sure it was them), so I don't believe they are completely shut down. I'd PM ol' PPragman since he's currently/actively flying up there now--I'm sure he could provide some better insight. I would really doubt they are hiring anyhow. You can give PenAir (peninsula airways) a try if you want to stick with a 121 operator or try Grant Aviation, Hageland Aviation, Northern Air Cargo, Everets if you are wanting 135 type of operators.
Pac Man
ASpilot2be
Qbicle seat warmer
I dont know anything about Era, but I heard that Hageland may open a base in Palmer. There is also talk of Frontier buying them. So that is something to watch.
I don't know if this guys is even active anymore on the boards, but here is a perspective article:
ERA Aviation
FWIW, I believe this guy moved on to Xjet though.
ppragman
No pasa nada.
Here is the deal, I live and work in Alaska and ERA is a job that you want if you don't want to be respected, and you want to get payed less than 25000 per year. IOW, it sucks. If you work in Alaska here is the order of companies to work for (btw don't be afraid to work for a 135 carrier because in alaska, it doesn't really matter if you're 135 or 121, 135 has some perks.)
1. Hageland Aviation
2. Penair
3. Alaska Central Express
4. LAB Flying Service
5. Frontier Flying Service
6. Everything Else
7. Era
Look, ERA just doesn't pay enough to be treated poorly and get payed dog #### wages. 121 experience aside (which doesn't really mean anything, because most of these companies will put you in something to get crew experience) ERA sucks. Although financially, they are doing much better now.
Here's just a little peice, a tid bit of info, if I may that may enlighten you as to the true nature of ERA. There's a guy at my work who worked at ERA for 7yrs, and didn't upgrade, he's worked here for like 3-4 mos, and is in the upgrade class. Keep that in mind.
CamYZ125
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info guys, just what I was looking for. I remember seeing a post on another site about them a couple months ago, but disregarding it because I never thought I'd live in Alaska. Now... I'm not so sure. Maybe my brain has been fried by this Phoenix heat, but I like the cold and Alaska looks beautiful.
According to their website they are hiring for a November class. 700 TT, which may be reduced to 500 TT if you have 200 dual given.
Thanks for the advice, ppragman.
According to their website they are hiring for a November class. 700 TT, which may be reduced to 500 TT if you have 200 dual given.
Thanks for the advice, ppragman.
500and2
Well-Known Member
Best advice is to talk with pilots from each of these airlines to get the "real" sdoop.
To each his/her own..... one man's worst job is another's best.
But... It's no secret that ERA's upgrade times are comparable to Horizon's.
Upgrade at the smaller 135 companies "can" be quicker, but it's all about timing. Ppragman is witnessing a "rare" case where upgrades are happening within 1yr of employment.
In past years, ACE upgrade was stagnant.... 2-3yr F/O's were leaving for the regionals because upgrade was N/A.
25k is BIG MONEY when you compare it to other first yr salaries in the lower 48. (ACE f/o's just got a raise to 25/hr...but you have to work pretty hard to make any money. 30k = 1400 of block time...)
For those interested in a career in Alaska, consider flying for a company you would want to retire from. Lateral moves in this industry suck due to the associated pay cuts and seniority issues. I think that is why you have so many "lifers" at various companies. They get stuck making "ok" money and can't justify taking a pay cut until they upgrade somewhere else..... hence the long upgrade times for f/o's at some carriers.
Keep networking and try to make as few "lateral" moves as possible.
Blue Skies,
500and2
To each his/her own..... one man's worst job is another's best.
But... It's no secret that ERA's upgrade times are comparable to Horizon's.
Upgrade at the smaller 135 companies "can" be quicker, but it's all about timing. Ppragman is witnessing a "rare" case where upgrades are happening within 1yr of employment.
In past years, ACE upgrade was stagnant.... 2-3yr F/O's were leaving for the regionals because upgrade was N/A.
25k is BIG MONEY when you compare it to other first yr salaries in the lower 48. (ACE f/o's just got a raise to 25/hr...but you have to work pretty hard to make any money. 30k = 1400 of block time...)
For those interested in a career in Alaska, consider flying for a company you would want to retire from. Lateral moves in this industry suck due to the associated pay cuts and seniority issues. I think that is why you have so many "lifers" at various companies. They get stuck making "ok" money and can't justify taking a pay cut until they upgrade somewhere else..... hence the long upgrade times for f/o's at some carriers.
Keep networking and try to make as few "lateral" moves as possible.
Blue Skies,
500and2
ppragman
No pasa nada.
I work at ACE, I think I would know about ACE. Penair and Hageland just look better, better pay, more time off, CASS.
Ontop of that, if you wanna work at ERA, go ahead, however, expect to do short runs, and the same run. You'll get Bethel (the longest run at 3hrs or so) Kenai, Homer, Valdez, Cordova, Fairbanks. Not too much more than that (Kodiak maybe, I can't remember)
Yes and no, upgrade times are pretty quick at little ace because turnover is so high.
True, that's not the case now though.
25K is by no means big money when you live in Alaska. If you live in the midwest then maybe, but no way is it big up here? Where are you from????
You're going to fly that much, so I wouldn't worry about it, if you're going to work at ace, forget having a life.
No no no no no no no no no n on o no no no no no no no no...get into Alaska if you can get in at all right now. You build your alaska time, and build your hrs then you look for a place to retire from. Be ready to move laterally, be very ready, the market up here kills flying companies damn near faster than they can certifiy new ones. Look into as many places you can, and remember that there are stepping stones to move to better companies up here.
Companies like NAC and Everts are great companies to get on with, and you could retire from places like that, however, you aren't going to get on with those places with no Alaska time. Going to someplace like little ace, or Penair, or LAB etc. makes a great stepping stone, you can network from there and meet people. Trying to hit the big time up here without ever having flown up here will not happen.
Look, if you can get in at ERA, get on with them. Go for it, however, be ready to go someplace where you can make some cash quick like. Don't get stuck there forever, don't get screwed.
hattrick
Well-Known Member
well i dont claim to know a whole hell of a lot about either little ACE or Era but i have talked to their pilots along the way up here. ive heard some great things about era from people that work there. ive talked to pilots at ace also and have heard good and bad things as well. i didnt like the DO there at ace which was a major reason im not there now. both companies have had a very rocky past but they both seem to be doing quite well now. as far as others up here i know for a fact that frontier is hiring. warbelows is looking for chieftain pilots but they require 2000 and atp. as far as LAB goes please do me a favor and just forget they exist. the safety record leaves much to be desired. there are a lot of 135 single engine operators in the southwestern and western parts of the state that will hire 500 hr guys but that area hasnt yet caught up with the safety standards of the rest of the state so be careful. not that they are bad companies they just push their guys. anyway if you have any other questions i may be able to answer them, not that im on here a lot though
ppragman
No pasa nada.
If you have no AK time then chances are you won't be able to get hired, though ACE just picked up a guy from the lower 48 without any alaska time, so my guess is as good as yours. Try anyplace out in Bethel, JP Air, Yute Air, Grant, Hageland...just keep puttin' your app in.
ppragman
No pasa nada.
True about the safety record, however, you can always walk away from the job if its not safe enough. As far as I know, Alaska Air Taxi is the worst.
LAB is good because its got some serious flying, and the pay is pretty good. Frontier has a tendency to treat their FOs pretty bad, however, they have good equipment. Warbelows is awesome as far as I have heard.
ASpilot2be
Qbicle seat warmer
I know Wings of Alaska wants Alaska or Pacific Northwest time.
ppragman
No pasa nada.
Yeah, they want like a billion hours though to fly the beaver. For all you guys who wanna fly floats in alaska, give it up until you've got some alaska time under your belt. sorry, but unless you're really lucky, or have scads and scads of float time, you'll need to fly a 207 for a little while to get your street cred...
ASpilot2be
Qbicle seat warmer
I would be perfectly content with the 208
ppragman
No pasa nada.
I would be perfectly content with the 208
I'd like to fly one too, however, getting right on flying the caravan is not likely either, its 207 or saratoga first, then the 208, if you're lucky
ASpilot2be
Qbicle seat warmer
True, but one can dream
I dont think they have a Saratoga, at least I havent seen it in Haines.
hattrick
Well-Known Member
yeah agreed there stop dreaming of flying floats. unless you have a plane on floats where you can build your float time yourself than it probably wont happen. ive got 1500 207/206 plus a crap load more alaska time and i still couldnt. oh well like you said i can still dream. i do however have to disagree with the not getting a job without alaska time. it happens all the time people are hurting for pilots up here because the regionals in the states are hiring so many pilots with such low time. people dont need to come up here build time in order to get on with someone in the states. however like you said you arent going to get on with the best jobs you will have to work your way into the industry
500and2
Well-Known Member
Obviously..... if you don't have any flight experience... you take what ever options are available and then move when you have the chance. (hence.. the rapid turnover at ACE)
I think my point of trying to pick an airline that has the opportunity for long term career advancement is still valid. aka... places like Penair where you can get hired with low time... and still make it a career once you have experience.
I still say lateral moves suck.
500and2
I think my point of trying to pick an airline that has the opportunity for long term career advancement is still valid. aka... places like Penair where you can get hired with low time... and still make it a career once you have experience.
I still say lateral moves suck.
500and2