Will Porter hire again after May 2019

[Dingaling]

Hi everyone,
Just a quick question. I know April and May have ground schools running for new hires but does anyone have an idea if Porter will continue running courses throughout the year?
Any info would be appreciated

[Grey_Wolf]

With attrition forecasted at 6 per month (and the bulk in the spring (Apr-May-Jun), I'd say more than likely.

As long as Mainline (AC, WestJet) is hiring, the will be some movement from Porter. Sunwing and Transat are also places pilot transition too.

Best is to contact Julie (Assistant Chief Pilot - Recruitment), and/or attend the open house that regularly occur and ask those questions.

[Dingaling]

With attrition forecasted at 6 per month (and the bulk in the spring (Apr-May-Jun), I'd say more than likely.

As long as Mainline (AC, WestJet) is hiring, the will be some movement from Porter. Sunwing and Transat are also places pilot transition too.

Best is to contact Julie (Assistant Chief Pilot - Recruitment), and/or attend the open house that regularly occur and ask those questions.

Hey Grey Wolf.... thanks for the response
The movement is crazy right now so there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. Again thank you

[ap3hause]

Any idea when and where the next open house will be held? Thank you.

[lownslow]

there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.

Yes, it would be terrible for someone to have to spend their 800th hour living outside the centre of the universe. The horrors!

[172ReliefPilot]

Any word of summer ground schools? Heard there is a bit of movement happening with pilots moving on.

[Dingaling]

Any word of summer ground schools? Heard there is a bit of movement happening with pilots moving on.

A friend got hired September at Porter and has just left for another jet job literally 6 months later.
There is movement and also we have to c wat air Georgian has up their sleeves. They r running gs for CRJs and have hired under 1000 hrs.
I’m really not 100% maybe Julie May shed some light and give some hope ?

[172ReliefPilot]

Thanks for the info! Hoping to hear something soon.

[Dingaling]

Thanks for the info! Hoping to hear something soon.

Btw porter is still doin sim evaluations as we speak so there must b some more gs happening. Good luck with Porter

[smooth]

From what i've heard it's going to be Fall after the May ground school

[The Raven]

Any word of summer ground schools? Heard there is a bit of movement happening with pilots moving on.

A friend got hired September at Porter and has just left for another jet job literally 6 months later.
There is movement and also we have to c wat air Georgian has up their sleeves. They r running gs for CRJs and have hired under 1000 hrs.
I’m really not 100% maybe Julie May shed some light and give some hope ?

Why would your friend move from Porter? Did he go to another airline, or corporate?

[smooth]

I believe i also know this guy, he left to Charteright for a CRJ job. Corporate is his goal i think

Any word of summer ground schools? Heard there is a bit of movement happening with pilots moving on.

A friend got hired September at Porter and has just left for another jet job literally 6 months later.
There is movement and also we have to c wat air Georgian has up their sleeves. They r running gs for CRJs and have hired under 1000 hrs.
I’m really not 100% maybe Julie May shed some light and give some hope ?

Why would your friend move from Porter? Did he go to another airline, or corporate?

[True.pilot]

Hello folk!

Have just checked captain entry requirements in Porter and have not found any about citizenship or work permit. Who knows it means that Porter could support proper applicant’s application for PR immigration? Were there any known cases?

[Namttej]

Hello folk!

Have just checked captain entry requirements in Porter and have not found any about citizenship or work permit. Who knows it means that Porter could support proper applicant’s application for PR immigration? Were there any known cases?

Highly doubt it

[chipmunk]

Hello folk!

Have just checked captain entry requirements in Porter and have not found any about citizenship or work permit. Who knows it means that Porter could support proper applicant’s application for PR immigration? Were there any known cases?

No. You have to have the right to work in Canada. You also need to be able to regularly cross into the USA (visa, etc.).

[ahkhamza]

So basically no hiring until next year ?? Can anyone confirm?

[chipmunk]

So basically no hiring until next year ?? Can anyone confirm?

There's definitely no Initial class in October.

Traditionally (except for one year where we were very short) there are no classes in Nov/Dec, but so I personally don't expect a new class until the New Year. They haven't released the projection yet, but we are fully staffed with very little turnover at the moment.

[Grey_Wolf]

They haven't released the projection yet, but we are fully staffed with very little turnover at the moment.

Flight Ops has played it close to the chest for some time now.

The Assistant Chief Pilot - Recruitment & Retention left late spring/early summer for a career advancement at a competing airline. They have yet to replace that position. Couple that with the grounding of the 737 Max, the acquisition of Transat by AC, and WestJet by Onex. Hiring has trickled to a stop (at Porter at least).

All I can say, in my opinion, is that 2020 will be a make or break year for Porter. There is a lot riding on this election. In my opinion, if the Liberals get back in, the Jet Program is officially dead, and the only thing that Porter can look to is the runway extension (RESA, if approved) and Pre-Clearance (pending the ratification of the USMCA/NAFTA); allowing them to got a little further, and into main hubs as opposed to 'secondary' airports (think ORD instead of MDW, JFK instead of EWR, DCA instead of IAD).

The other factor is the "Retention Bonus" that will be paid out in Oct 2020. If there's no movement at Porter, I'd venture that there will a few to collect the bonus and then look for gainful employment/career advancement elsewhere.

[Grey_Wolf]

How much is the retention bonus, the Feds will take their slice

The Bonus is 6 months base salary (plus applicable CPI/COLA bump Jan 2020) based on your years of service in the position you hold.
*** Note*** Bonus was for those on the property as of Spring 2018.

For example:

A newly hired FO in March 2017, 3 years YOS as FO, will get approx 28,000$ gross.
A newly upgraded Capt in 2017, Year 3 YOS, will get approx 42,000$ gross.
A Captain that's been around for a while, at 6 Years YOS, will get approx 46,000$ gross
A Captain that's been around since the start of Porter, 13 YOS, will get 52,100$ gross

Payout will be made, and the Feds will take their cut; however Pilots can dump it into the company sponsored RRSP without taking a hit.

[BaldChewbacca]

How much is the retention bonus, the Feds will take their slice

The Bonus is 6 months base salary (plus applicable CPI/COLA bump Jan 2020) based on your years of service in the position you hold.
*** Note*** Bonus was for those on the property as of Spring 2018.

For example:

A newly hired FO in March 2017, 3 years YOS as FO, will get approx 28,000$ gross.
A newly upgraded Capt in 2017, Year 3 YOS, will get approx 42,000$ gross.
A Captain that's been around for a while, at 6 Years YOS, will get approx 46,000$ gross
A Captain that's been around since the start of Porter, 13 YOS, will get 52,100$ gross

Payout will be made, and the Feds will take their cut; however Pilots can dump it into the company sponsored RRSP without taking a hit.

Any idea if Porter has any intention on doing this bonus again? I believe it doesn't exist for new hires anymore unless I'm mistaken.

[Grey_Wolf]

Although I can't speak for Porter with regards to their intentions, I can speak from personal perspective with regards to the industry.

Right now, Porter seems to be adequately staffed, with a few exceptions in the outstations. With the grounding of the 737 Max; the Air Canada purchase of Air Transat, and Onex with WestJet; and the new "passenger bill of right"; new legislation with regards to duty day; the ratification of the USMCA; all the while the federal elections around the corner, there are a lot of moving pieces in play that will shape the future.

With that said, I would comfortably say that No, there won't be any kind of bonus offered for the near future (12-18 months). I can conceivably predict that if things don't go the way as planned for Porter in 2020, that they will forced to do something in the spring of 2021.

New hires currently don't get a bonus, they do however enjoy the CPI/COLA bump that will occur in Jan 2020. Their rates will increase by the average of the last 10 years CPI (or as seen in past years, about a 1.5% jump)

Jan 2018 - 43,484
Jan 2019 - 44,167 (1.57%)
Jan 2020 - 44,829 (1.50%)

[lownslow]

Will Porter hire again after May 2019?

So hang on, was the answer to this actually “No” because that’s incredible if true.

[172ReliefPilot]

Will Porter hire again after May 2019?

So hang on, was the answer to this actually “No” because that’s incredible if true.

They had done some hiring back in the summer, however next ground school wont likely be until early 2020

[JohnG]

Porter will run 2 initial hire ground schools in the early part of 2020. There will be FO spots in Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa and Thunder Bay. Interviews are scheduled for December and January.

Good luck to all who apply!

John G

[Dingaling]

That’s excellent news.... thanks for the response!