Here’s the thing with Encore - personally I think it’s a great place to start or progress or even stay (if airline flying is your desire). It’s a great place to learn, grow your experience and has many opportunities for those that want to do more or expand into training departments etc. In addition it has opportunity to make it your final stop. I find many pilots are so focused on the $ and how fast you can get upgraded or transfer then they lose sight or stumble in into a bad choice only to become angry at the investment in time and money. Don’t get me wrong - some do very well moving too! I get it - I thought that way too when I was in the regionals, but eventually your goals do come to fruition. Even after being laid off and gone through a shut down. Airline flying gets a bit boring sometimes and then life throws curveballs (like covid). Many can’t deal with those stresses because it’s out of their control and Pilots love to be in control.
Encore can provide nice aircraft to fly and provide relative control over schedule with a nice or fair work life balance. Is anything perfect - no. Does the company learn from their mistakes - yes. Will things improve in the next contract (their 2nd) - likely. The support you receive is some of the best in the industry. I still think floats are the hardest thing out there and you certainly aren’t working like a dog at Encore. Come fly floats with me someday
I’ve worked for many companies myself - like Bearskin, Wasaya, Air Atlantic, InterCanadien, Air Ontario and now 21 years at WestJet. As mentioned, I still fly floats in the summer and mingle with the new pilots and have tons of fun.
Every section of this industry has its plus and minus.
If you want structure and predictability while being new-ish in the industry - the regionals are great for that. They each have little their unique differences but I can confidently say (IMHO) there isn’t much difference between the companies. Again examine the differences that suit you best - and be professional about it.
All companies right now need all-hands-on-deck and many received a blow to the gut this past two years. The people or culture are the difference and I think the WJ group has a lot of great pilots and opportunity.
Personally too, I think it’s great we opened the posting.
This will be for courses projected end of Q1 and into Q2. Pandemic recovery pending, but the compass is solidly pointing that way. Will we hire ALL @ 250 hrs? - no but this posting allows a lot more pilots to explore Encore through an interview and for us to explore what they have to offer vs our old 1000 hr minimum. To answer another question, yes - the training footprint has been expanded to take on a lower time pilot and expose them to airline ops. Additions such as more practical scenario or LOFT training.
I wasn’t a big advocate of low time pilots direct into the regionals myself in the past, but the efforts of Jazz - and now us along with other airlines - have collectively put into schools such as BCIT, MRU and Seneca is commendable.
Today’s programs develop these new pilots into more than just a heartbeat in the right seat. Things have changed. Jazz can tip a hat for really putting a lot of effort into these schools and pioneering this technical initiative. A job well done and as a result, the whole industry has benefited. CRJ sims, industry exposure, SME access, industry advisory boards moulding the curriculum from statistics etc - all contribute.
Does it beat hard-core experience up north, military or flying a medivac at 2am? I don’t think so either - but all have merits. Again, the goal for the future classes is to have or maintain a healthy balance.
I don’t mean to come across narcissistic or a kool-aid clown, but Encore is a good company and it has a lot to offer. Again IMHO.
Cheers
