Places In Canada To Avoid!

[splitpin]

Skids Up is on the right track Gftp. Perhaps you should consider an employer change. As I said, I haven't had a problem with employer support. It would be interesting to hear from other members on the point of employers supporting employees on sub standard conditions. I will concede that there are sometimes that poor conditions cannot be avoided, for example a fire flap in a very remote location. But generally speaking, there is absolutely no excuse for poor conditions such as Grayling Camp south of Fort Mac.

[Skidz]

Dunno JW,

 

I've refused accommodations in the past. Especially on fires. Never caught any flak from my bosses or customers. I've found that 50% of the time they're trying to see if you'll lie down and take it, and the other 50% of the time it's just ignorance or oversight.

 

I think if you approach it reasonably and don't throw a hissy fit you can get what you want.

 

Exampe:

 

Pilot: " Excuse me, but these accommodations aren't ok with me."

 

Customer: "Oh ? Were you expecting the Ritz ?"

 

Pilot: " Nope. I simply expect to have my own room/shack/tent, in a quiet area where I can get some decent sleep, and a warm meal."

 

Customer: "Sorry, nothing available right now, maybe tomorrow."

 

Pilot: " Okay then, Chibougamau is only 0.7 away. I'll take off from there at first light tomorrow morning to get back here. I'll do that every day until something opens up"

 

Customer: "You can't do that !"

 

Pilot: "Yes I can. I've got enough daylight left to make it, and it's not an unreasonable distance away. If you'd like to take it up with my boss, here's his business card."

 

True story. That night the assistant fire-boss double-bunked with his 2IC, and the next day I had my own room... :punk:

 

Never had any more problems with them after that. The trick is to be firm but non-confrontational. Never get into a pissing match with a customer in public. Take him aside and explain the facts to him.

 

Ask your customer: "Do you want to fly with a tired and cranky pilot ?"

 

[Elvis]

The only good thing I remember about Jenpeg was Xmas diner. I couldn't decide between the filet mignon or the lobster so I had both. :shock

[splitpin]

Dunno JW,

 

I've refused accommodations in the past. Especially on fires. Never caught any flak from my bosses or customers. I've found that 50% of the time they're trying to see if you'll lie down and take it, and the other 50% of the time it's just ignorance or oversight.

 

I think if you approach it reasonably and don't throw a hissy fit you can get what you want.

 

Exampe:

 

Pilot: " Excuse me, but these accommodations aren't ok with me."

 

Customer: "Oh ? Were you expecting the Ritz ?"

 

Pilot: " Nope. I simply expect to have my own room/shack/tent, in a quiet area where I can get some decent sleep, and a warm meal."

 

Customer: "Sorry, nothing available right now, maybe tomorrow."

 

Pilot: " Okay then, Chibougamau is only 0.7 away. I'll take off from there at first light tomorrow morning to get back here. I'll do that every day until something opens up"

 

Customer: "You can't do that !"

 

Pilot: "Yes I can. I've got enough daylight left to make it, and it's not an unreasonable distance away. If you'd like to take it up with my boss, here's his business card."

 

True story. That night the assistant fire-boss double-bunked with his 2IC, and the next day I had my own room... :punk:

 

Never had any more problems with them after that. The trick is to be firm but non-confrontational. Never get into a pissing match with a customer in public. Take him aside and explain the facts to him.

 

Ask your customer: "Do you want to fly with a tired and cranky pilot ?"

 

Or worse still, a cranky(er) old Engineer??

 

You have hit the nail right on the head Skidz. That's exactly what we do. Never had a problem

[Gftp]

Skidz, Spilt

 

Agree totally have changed employer and they back us guys up o matter what, vis a vie expert helicopter clients. You know the guy who jumps in the left seat and proclaims he has more hours than you and therefore he is in charge. The funny thing is that now that I have 20 years in the business this one does't work any longer. I guess there are some benefits to middle age. The problem more ofter than not, is that it gets back to the office and you then have a few different perspectives to deal with.

 

Never am confronational I'm too old for arguments plus I get enough at home with a teenager that knows everything, always polite, but realistically the rules are very hard to enforce from a pratical persective.

 

I have always advocated for a mechanism that will look out for the pilots and wrenchers. Personally I can see very little difference between the hazard of a tired engineer and a pilot. The mere thought of a exausted overworked engineer not getting his sleep and the possibilty of errors due to fatigue scares the **** out of me. The rules for both are equally important. Just thinking about a wrencher tossing and turning in the back of the bell motel, is a recipe for disaster.

 

Cheers

 

JW

[Murdoch]

I would have to say the drunk tank at Whitecourt RCMP station. Definently my least favourite spot in Canada. Its a long story!!!

 

Where were you drinking? The Crown and Anchor? The Office? The Night Deposit? Fuzzy's? Shooters? No no no, don't tell me you were at Shooters... actually, the story would make sense if you had been to Shooters.

[Cambox]

Yup......... Every Wednesday was steak nite, but you still had to decide how you wanted it done :shock: :shock:

 

R...

 

 

The only good thing I remember about Jenpeg was Xmas diner. I couldn't decide between the filet mignon or the lobster so I had both. :shock

[Bladestrike]

How about Pickle lake, Ontario, Marathon, Wawa, and any other hamlet, town village, iggloo, or place north of 60 except Yellowknife.

 

Wow, this thread is bringing back memories! Been a long time out of the bush, but I'll second those quoted, and I'd say Armstrong is waaay up that list, as well as Relais 22 North West of Lac St.Jean, spent six weeks there one winter, freezing rain every third day. Never overnighted but used to run medevacs out of White Dog, North of Kenora, nearly 400 calls per year, and the population was just over 300. Rough, rough place.

[Wiggins]

How about Pickle lake, Ontario, Marathon, Wawa, and any other hamlet, town village, iggloo, or place north of 60 except Yellowknife.

 

Hey TT2,

Don't know what you're talking about. I always had a lot of fun working in Marathon, Wawa, white river etc. Of course, maybe that was back before fun was legislated out of the helicopter business.

 

Pickle lake. I agree.

[highbladedown]

Moosonee, next to the moose's ***. LG2 in the early days, Fort George, Paint Hills, East Main. Got WX'd in on Long Island (tip of James Bay-East side) for 2 days with a G4, what a riot that was (NOT!).

 

hbd