How hard is it to get the first job after cpl

[travelisfun]

Given I am willing to go anywhere in Canada and that I am willing to go on a road trip to knock on some operator's doors, will I be able to find a first flying job eventually with effort? How competitive are these first jobs to work on floats or to instruct?

[Vsquared]

Can't say what the float or instructing landscape looks like, as I have no experience there. But it wasn't the easiest thing to get my first job when things were on the up. Can't really recall seeing many, if any, entry level jobs the last few months. If you're willing to work a ramp, and stay the course, you'll end up in a seat eventually.

[rwy31]

its very competitive as theres no shortage of 250 hour wonders , also its a matter of pure luck / right place right time kind of thing

[lowoleo22]

Float jobs pop up early in the year to prep for the Summer season. Expect a dock position until they have a flying spot available. There are jobs out there, but it can be tricky to get your first one. Make connections wherever you can, most first jobs are given by word of mouth and a good reference.

[Bug_Stomper_01]

Not easy, good luck!

[lownslow]

It doesn’t come free but on the other hand every professional pilot you see did it so it’s not some hopeless impossibility.

[Bug_Stomper_01]

It doesn’t come free but on the other hand every professional pilot you see did it so it’s not some hopeless impossibility.

Sacrifices have never been higher

[digits_]

It doesn’t come free but on the other hand every professional pilot you see did it so it’s not some hopeless impossibility.

Survivorship bias
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias

[lownslow]

It doesn’t come free but on the other hand every professional pilot you see did it so it’s not some hopeless impossibility.

Survivorship bias
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias

Yes, definitely not some encouragement. Better to just give up.

[digits_]

It doesn’t come free but on the other hand every professional pilot you see did it so it’s not some hopeless impossibility.

Survivorship bias
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_bias

Yes, definitely not some encouragement. Better to just give up.

Not at all. But the statement 'every profesisonal pilot you see did it', while factually correct, is quite irrelevant to the OP's question. For every professional pilot who succeeded, there are likely 1 or 2 who didn't.

Some caution would be wise before spending 60k / 80k / whatever it costs nowadays/... on getting your licenses.

[Hangry]

Those that can, do. Those that can’t, don’t.

[Avi-Nation]

It's hard, I've been looking for almost a year, but I suspect not having Group 1 is hurting chances. I'm doing an instructor rating now and im happy to be doing it. Any decent job takes time, effort, experience, and luck. As long as you don't quit, who cares about the ones that didn't make it, they gave up. Look up to the people that did, and learn from them.

[Vincepilot]

It's still difficult, I've been searching for my first job for more than a year now. I have a group 1, close to 300TT and aviation college degree but still nothing. I'm currently doing my instructor rating but it's quite expensive. I have some ramp jobs offer but it's seem a gamble to know if the 1 year of ramp they promise will not turn into a 2 or 3 years...Hope things will continue to move quilky!

[TurkeyFarmYQX]

If you can afford an instructor rating, I'd suggest doing that. Class 4 jobs are plentiful right now and it's a good way to get your ATPL hours.

[firstofficer]

It’s tough. I’m working in a warehouse doing manual labour. Everyday for the last year I’ve been looking for flying work but absolutely no luck. Being a minority doesn’t help anything but I’ll remain optimistic that things will change for the better especially with the World Cup coming to Canada in 2026 I believe the aviation industry will feel the pressure.

If you have the money to become an instructor I suggest you go down that road unless you’re willing to go up north. Lack of flying sure does suck.

[SeptRepair]

Those that can, do. Those that can’t, don’t.

I think the quote is "Those who can, do. Those who can't teach (Instruct)."

[2112]

If you want to get in a plane then first start driving, more often then not as a low-timer you will not get hired unless there is a face to the resume. Start with the usual suspects, Thunder Airlines (YSB,YTS,YQT), Air Bravo(YSB,YQT), Sky-Care (YXL), Wilderness North (YQT,YQN), North Star (YQT,YPL,YXL), Wasaya (YQT,YPL,YXL), Slate Falls Air (YXL), Superior Airways (YRL), Excellent Adventures (YRL), Sandy Lake Seaplane (can't drive to this one sometimes catch them in KL2), Northway Aviation (YAV), Eagle Air (YAV), Adventure Air (YAX) and come spring every VFR float operation on the way west (assuming you start out from the GTA). Good luck and try to enjoy the adventure starting out in this industry can provide.

[Flight94]

I found it easy. However I never once emailed a resume. I talked to pilots coming and going from the FBO I trained at. Got a feel for the industry from those working in it, and made a short list of companies I thought would be a good fit for me. Called them up, asked if I could come and have a look at their operation, if they said yes, I'd bring a resume with me and politely ask them to consider me if they had a job come up in the future.

Also, I'm sorry, it's a hard truth, but having 300TT, MIFR, aviation diploma/degree whatever is meaningless. Your competition all have the exact same credentials. You have to bring something else to the table. A demonstrated history of success or work ethic in another field etc. Worked for me.

My $0.02. Good luck.

[IJNShiroyuki]

It's hard. I've got 530 hours, cpl, multi ifr, float rating and IATRA. Have been looking since June, emailed all entry level job listing on PCC and here. Visited almost all small operators east of winnipeg all the way to Newfoundland, and called for multiple follow ups.
Yet I'm still siting here with no job. I'm hoping with spring hiring season comes, I could have some better luck by then.

[2112]

It's still difficult, I've been searching for my first job for more than a year now. I have a group 1, close to 300TT and aviation college degree but still nothing. I'm currently doing my instructor rating but it's quite expensive. I have some ramp jobs offer but it's seem a gamble to know if the 1 year of ramp they promise will not turn into a 2 or 3 years...Hope things will continue to move quilky!

Take the ramp spot now, this spring is shaping up to be decent WRT pilot movement in the 703/704 world and your ramp time may be significantly reduced. Worse case scenario you save up enough to finish your IR after a year of networking with other pilots.

[Bede]

It’s tough. I’m working in a warehouse doing manual labour. Everyday for the last year I’ve been looking for flying work but absolutely no luck. Being a minority doesn’t help anything but I’ll remain optimistic that things will change for the better especially with the World Cup coming to Canada in 2026 I believe the aviation industry will feel the pressure.

I'm really sorry to hear that.

[lownslow]

Take the ramp spot now

Yep. If it takes a long time to get on the flight line for external reasons (another pandemic, act of terrorism, economic catastrophe, etc.), ramping is at least work while the outside gets it’s crap back together.

If it takes too long for internal reasons you’ll at least be living and working where the action is. Maybe the company you’re with doesn’t need you on the Metro any time soon but the other shop across the field that you’d never heard of before living there needs someone on a Navajo next week.

[Avi-Nation]

If you can afford an instructor rating, I'd suggest doing that. Class 4 jobs are plentiful right now and it's a good way to get your ATPL hours.

Are they? I sure hope so

[Big Pistons Forever]

One of my CPL students got a job right in the middle of the early 1990's recession. At that time the industry was so terrible companies where asking for 5000 hrs for Navajo Captain jobs, and getting it. He looked up every bush operator in Canada and went on a road trip with an emphasis on the more remote operators. After a 5 hour drive on a nasty dirt road he visited one small float operator at a remote northern town.

He walked in to the small office and asked about work. The owner and chief pilot pointed to a inch high stack of resumes on his desk and asked "Why should I hire you and not all those guys ?" His response " Well I am here and they are not. Give me a weekend on the dock to prove myself". He got that weekend, got hired and was flying the 185 by the end of the season. Not one of the guys who sent in a resume every got a call back.

I just retired from my 5th aviation job. Every job was a result of people I knew or knew me. The industry is small and the way to get started is to be in it because that is how you find out about jobs and get known. Take what ever ramp, dispatch, fueler job that is available now, and there are lots.

[futboler14]

Given I am willing to go anywhere in Canada and that I am willing to go on a road trip to knock on some operator's doors, will I be able to find a first flying job eventually with effort?

6/10