Anyone from Grand Canyon Airlines?

P

PositiveRate

Well-Known Member
Hi guys, please forgive me if this isn't in the correct spot.

Does anyone here have any recent experience in the Twin Otter at Grand Canyon Airlines?
 
Never worked for them, but a few, well, more than a few years ago, I was rubbing shoulders them quite a bit. None of them seemed very happy.

@lr31apilot pilot was too. Did you have the same vibe at the canyon?
 
I'm new to the industry, so I can't be too picky, and I think flying the canyon would be a great experience for someone just getting their foot in the door.

But if you guys have experience in the canyon, I would like to hear about you experiences and find out as much as I can.
 
I worked there back in 08-09. It's a good place to get started flying a turbine as the speed are practically the same as a Seminole. Most the guys there are fun to work with. Summer can be a drag just because it's so hot. Pay isn't very good, but if you don't have the time to go to an airline it will get you there.

I will say that once you've seen the Grand Canyon once, you've seen it enough times. Korea Sunday's were always a pain in the okole.
 
I liked the Asians. They puked in the first 30 minutes and then fell asleep. Best air tourists ever. I'd be weaving through the west end (this was back in the day), hit Lake Mead, turn around to see how stunned they were with the beauty, then notice nobody was comatose. All pays the same....
 
@mshunter ya, kinda grumpy. I think it would be a good job for a young low time pilot. I would try not to stay longer than it takes to get a better job with your new found ME time.
 
This sound like just the kind of job I'm looking for. I've got some multi turbine experience, but not enough to go into anything else.

What was the average weekly schedule? And did they provide housing when you guys worked there?
 
I worked with a former Grand Canyon Twotter FO, so take the following for what its worth......

He loved flying the canyon, and all in all thought GCA was full of good people. His main issue was the total lack of flying. Apparently you fly out, land, spend hours waiting, and fly back to VGT. I cant remember the exact number but the time he accumulated while there was shockingly little. Seems like 20 hours a month is what he said. He said a lot of guys were working on online degrees since there was so much downtime.

Anyway, seems like a cool gig, just be sure to ask about how much time you'll get, if timebuilding is your motivation.
 
Cazadores said:
I worked with a former Grand Canyon Twotter FO, so take the following for what its worth......

He loved flying the canyon, and all in all thought GCA was full of good people. His main issue was the total lack of flying. Apparently you fly out, land, spend hours waiting, and fly back to VGT. I cant remember the exact number but the time he accumulated while there was shockingly little. Seems like 20 hours a month is what he said. He said a lot of guys were working on online degrees since there was so much downtime.

Anyway, seems like a cool gig, just be sure to ask about how much time you'll get, if timebuilding is your motivation.
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@PositiveRate, Please disregard the above. Grand Canyon Airlines stopped flying out of VGT around 2007-ish. Between April and October expect to work 12-14 hour duty days, flying between 8 and 14 legs per day, everyday. Expect a 5 on, 2 off schedule. In the BVU base, you are on your own for housing. At the GCN and PGA bases, company housing "exists" but you pay the company for said housing. 95% of your flights will be day VFR. If you run across any former pilots from the last few years you will not find many positive experiences. However jaded they may be though, the fact remains that GCA essentially started their careers, and can help start your career as well.
 
Smurffe said:
@PositiveRate, Please disregard the above. Grand Canyon Airlines stopped flying out of VGT around 2007-ish. Between April and October expect to work 12-14 hour duty days, flying between 8 and 14 legs per day, everyday. Expect a 5 on, 2 off schedule. In the BVU base, you are on your own for housing. At the GCN and PGA bases, company housing "exists" but you pay the company for said housing. 95% of your flights will be day VFR. If you run across any former pilots from the last few years you will not find many positive experiences. However jaded they may be though, the fact remains that GCA essentially started their careers, and can help start your career as well.
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Sounds like a good deal then. I always fancied flying the Twotter.
 
I did both BVU and GCN bases. The company housing at the south rim was ghetto, but very cheap. The FOs at the south rim when I was there in the summer worked out a 10 on 5 off schedule simply because you don't want to be there on days off. Go up, work 10 days, go home. In the summer you will bust your ass and build hours quick. A buddy that was pretty low time when he got hired there before last summer just got hired on with a regional. All he did was one summer. It's a good place to jump start your career for sure.
 
Thank you all for the information, it definitely sounds like a good place to get started. I've talked to the Assistant Director of Flight Ops, and she said they would call sometime this week. Nothing yet, but I'm hoping to hear something soon.
 
Cpt Cook said:
I did both BVU and GCN bases. The company housing at the south rim was ghetto, but very cheap. The FOs at the south rim when I was there in the summer worked out a 10 on 5 off schedule simply because you don't want to be there on days off. Go up, work 10 days, go home. In the summer you will bust your ass and build hours quick. A buddy that was pretty low time when he got hired there before last summer just got hired on with a regional. All he did was one summer. It's a good place to jump start your career for sure.
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Felix?

Derek
 
PositiveRate said:
Hi guys, please forgive me if this isn't in the correct spot.

Does anyone here have any recent experience in the Twin Otter at Grand Canyon Airlines?
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I would assume any time building jobs won't be ideal, but flying over the Grand Canyon every day.. Not a bad office view
 
Back in the day we flew IN the Grand Canyon. It was a great experience. Boss was a huge tyrant though. Probably a good education for me early on as to why unions are a good thing..
 
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