Invites for 2024 GS?

[PittBoss]

Anyone got invites yet for upcoming GS this year?

[LR200]

Was just asked if I was interested in staying in the pool. I asked when they plan on running groundschool and they said March, April, May, and September.

[PittBoss]

Same here. Are they looking for any specific Hour requirements? Did they ask you about your HOURS?

[canadian_aviator_4]

I think by the time westjet starts running gs again, AC will have their new contract, and it will be difficult for Westjet to fill just like before CA2.

[TheLastonetoknow]

I think by the time westjet starts running gs again, AC will have their new contract, and it will be difficult for Westjet to fill just like before CA2.

Difficult to fill? More like difficult to retain…

[canadian_aviator_4]

Both for sure.

[Me262]

I think by the time westjet starts running gs again, AC will have their new contract, and it will be difficult for Westjet to fill just like before CA2.

Mainline no longer hires through their westjet careers webpage.

[dontcallmeshirley]

I think by the time westjet starts running gs again, AC will have their new contract, and it will be difficult for Westjet to fill just like before CA2.

Mainline no longer hires through their westjet careers webpage.

WestJet has slowed down it's hiring, but according to the Sunwing page, they are ramping up hiring and taking on pilots who don't have enough experience to apply to MedEvac up north.

[MaxAuto]

There are no more new hire classes at Sunwing going forward for now. I was told by a GS instructor the last scheduled class got cancelled.

[dontcallmeshirley]

There are no more new hire classes at Sunwing going forward for now. I was told by a GS instructor the last scheduled class got cancelled.

I'm glad to hear. They should not be loading up their rosters when they are about to be merged into a larger airline.

[canadian_aviator_4]

There are no more new hire classes at Sunwing going forward for now. I was told by a GS instructor the last scheduled class got cancelled.

I'm glad to hear. They should not be loading up their rosters when they are about to be merged into a larger airline.

[PittBoss]

So what about people like us sitting in pool with WJ?

[CaptDukeNukem]

So what about people like us sitting in pool with WJ?

Simple, you’re not hired yet, so when you get the call…. It’s BOTL.

[cdnavater]

So what about people like us sitting in pool with WJ?

Simple, you’re not hired yet, so when you get the call…. It’s BOTL.

I was going to say, apply to Sunwing, if you’re in the WJ pool you’re obviously qualified for SunWing.
The reality is, the union will not be putting any resources into protecting pilots that were interviewed and waiting, you are not a WJ pilot yet, so I would apply to Sunwing and take the first that calls, that will be your quickest way to a WJ seniority number.
It’s kind of interesting, WJ, in the past has offered a job at Encore when you interviewed for a Mainline position, why aren’t they doing this with their “SunWing division”?

[dontcallmeshirley]

I was going to say, apply to Sunwing, if you’re in the WJ pool you’re obviously qualified for SunWing.
The reality is, the union will not be putting any resources into protecting pilots that were interviewed and waiting, you are not a WJ pilot yet, so I would apply to Sunwing and take the first that calls, that will be your quickest way to a WJ seniority number.
It’s kind of interesting, WJ, in the past has offered a job at Encore when you interviewed for a Mainline position, why aren’t they doing this with their “SunWing division”?

Are they still offering WR positions to people in the pool? They are woefully short of captains in YYC to the point where I could see them offer (almost) DEC. At this point the upgrade could almost be guaranteed for the day after the first PPC.

[Canadaflyer46]

What will be interesting is after the merger the low time Sunwing guys that I’ve heard they’ve been hiring a lot of lately will likely not be able to fly at WJ. Perhaps the plan will be to offer them a position at Encore, and hence solve some of Encore’s staffing issues (for FOs anyway).
I can’t see WJ dropping their 1500/ATPL requirement. There will be a huge backlash from ALPA if they try.

[MaxAuto]

So what about people like us sitting in pool with WJ?

Simple, you’re not hired yet, so when you get the call…. It’s BOTL.

I was going to say, apply to Sunwing, if you’re in the WJ pool you’re obviously qualified for SunWing.
The reality is, the union will not be putting any resources into protecting pilots that were interviewed and waiting, you are not a WJ pilot yet, so I would apply to Sunwing and take the first that calls, that will be your quickest way to a WJ seniority number.
It’s kind of interesting, WJ, in the past has offered a job at Encore when you interviewed for a Mainline position, why aren’t they doing this with their “SunWing division”?

Because Sunwing and WestJet are still two different flights operations in two different cities. Sunwing has its own unique needs.

[cdnavater]

Simple, you’re not hired yet, so when you get the call…. It’s BOTL.

I was going to say, apply to Sunwing, if you’re in the WJ pool you’re obviously qualified for SunWing.
The reality is, the union will not be putting any resources into protecting pilots that were interviewed and waiting, you are not a WJ pilot yet, so I would apply to Sunwing and take the first that calls, that will be your quickest way to a WJ seniority number.
It’s kind of interesting, WJ, in the past has offered a job at Encore when you interviewed for a Mainline position, why aren’t they doing this with their “SunWing division”?

Because Sunwing and WestJet are still two different flights operations in two different cities. Sunwing has its own unique needs.

So is Encore, it’s a completely separate company with a separate OC that WJ owns, this is no different in my opinion. WJ now or will own SunWing and could easily say to Sunwing flight ops, any new hire should come from this pool.
Also, an offer doesn’t mean they will accept, they could defer and wait for a WJ spot, just like some did with Encore.

[MaxAuto]

What will be interesting is after the merger the low time Sunwing guys that I’ve heard they’ve been hiring a lot of lately will likely not be able to fly at WJ. Perhaps the plan will be to offer them a position at Encore, and hence solve some of Encore’s staffing issues (for FOs anyway).
I can’t see WJ dropping their 1500/ATPL requirement. There will be a huge backlash from ALPA if they try.

Not true at all. Once hired you are hired. Sunwing has some high time pilots without ATPLs that have been here 10+ years. The new low time pilots are perfectly capable. The cadets are some of the sharpest pilots I've flown with. One is will be a captain in the next round of upgrades. Another one is a recently upgraded captain at Air Canada. Hiring going forward is a different ball game.

[MaxAuto]

What will be interesting is after the merger the low time Sunwing guys that I’ve heard they’ve been hiring a lot of lately will likely not be able to fly at WJ. Perhaps the plan will be to offer them a position at Encore, and hence solve some of Encore’s staffing issues (for FOs anyway).
I can’t see WJ dropping their 1500/ATPL requirement. There will be a huge backlash from ALPA if they try.

Not true at all. Once hired you are hired. Sunwing has some high time pilots without ATPLs that have been here 10+ years. The new low time pilots are perfectly capable. The cadets are some of the sharpest pilots I've flown with. One will probably be a captain in the next round of upgrades. Another one is a recently upgraded captain at Air Canada. Hiring going forward is a different ball game.

[Hysteria]

What will be interesting is after the merger the low time Sunwing guys that I’ve heard they’ve been hiring a lot of lately will likely not be able to fly at WJ. Perhaps the plan will be to offer them a position at Encore, and hence solve some of Encore’s staffing issues (for FOs anyway).
I can’t see WJ dropping their 1500/ATPL requirement. There will be a huge backlash from ALPA if they try.

Not true at all. Once hired you are hired. Sunwing has some high time pilots without ATPLs that have been here 10+ years. The new low time pilots are perfectly capable. The cadets are some of the sharpest pilots I've flown with. One is will be a captain in the next round of upgrades. Another one is a recently upgraded captain at Air Canada. Hiring going forward is a different ball game.

Might be a dumb question but how can one be there for years and not have an ATPL? Is it that they did not acquire the AA’s PIC time before becoming 705 FO?

[daedalusx]

You’d have to be insane to think that a 737 FO with years of experience would be demoted to being an Encore FO because they lack the ATPL.
I don’t like cadets programs and I don’t think they should exist but that’s just ridiculous.

[josejimenes33]

What will be interesting is after the merger the low time Sunwing guys that I’ve heard they’ve been hiring a lot of lately will likely not be able to fly at WJ. Perhaps the plan will be to offer them a position at Encore, and hence solve some of Encore’s staffing issues (for FOs anyway).
I can’t see WJ dropping their 1500/ATPL requirement. There will be a huge backlash from ALPA if they try.

Not true at all. Once hired you are hired. Sunwing has some high time pilots without ATPLs that have been here 10+ years. The new low time pilots are perfectly capable. The cadets are some of the sharpest pilots I've flown with. One is will be a captain in the next round of upgrades. Another one is a recently upgraded captain at Air Canada. Hiring going forward is a different ball game.

You cannot sanely think that a 250hrs CPL pilot will match the level of experience of a 1500+hrs ATPL pilot hired in mainline. If Sunwing low timers (or even high timers) FOs were not recruited or didn't apply to WJ mainline (one of the 2(3?) Major airline in Canada) there is a reason. I'm not saying that SW FOs are incompetent, but you can't compare a major airline recruitment versus a leisure airline recruitment.

[fish4life]

Insurance requirements could be different, maybe one company has certain requirements in their policy that make it a bit cheaper. No one on here would know

[MaxAuto]

What will be interesting is after the merger the low time Sunwing guys that I’ve heard they’ve been hiring a lot of lately will likely not be able to fly at WJ. Perhaps the plan will be to offer them a position at Encore, and hence solve some of Encore’s staffing issues (for FOs anyway).
I can’t see WJ dropping their 1500/ATPL requirement. There will be a huge backlash from ALPA if they try.

Not true at all. Once hired you are hired. Sunwing has some high time pilots without ATPLs that have been here 10+ years. The new low time pilots are perfectly capable. The cadets are some of the sharpest pilots I've flown with. One is will be a captain in the next round of upgrades. Another one is a recently upgraded captain at Air Canada. Hiring going forward is a different ball game.

You cannot sanely think that a 250hrs CPL pilot will match the level of experience of a 1500+hrs ATPL pilot hired in mainline. If Sunwing low timers (or even high timers) FOs were not recruited or didn't apply to WJ mainline (one of the 2(3?) Major airline in Canada) there is a reason. I'm not saying that SW FOs are incompetent, but you can't compare a major airline recruitment versus a leisure airline recruitment.

Major vs leisure is irrelevant. Porters interview process is harder than Sunwing interviews. So what? Line pilots interview pilots at Sunwing. The way it should be. No dumb compass testing or stupid 10 min presentations. Sunwing turns down a lot of pilots. Sunwing flying is just as complicated and dangerous as WestJet flying if the guys upfront don't know what they are doing. These pilots are already on a list and are union paying members. Their jobs are safe post seniority integration. They have rights. And yes some are better than the 1500+ hour pilots. When you sit in the left seat you'll be surprised at what see with high time pikots. The opposite is also true from the right seat.

Lots of Sunwing pilots never applied or did and turned it down because some flying is more enjoyable than others. Schedule carrier flying is boring and mundane. Being at Sunwing pilot has nothing to do with not being able to get on with AC or WJ.