Low time hiring slowdown

[Newby76656]

Hey guys,

I don't want to sound impatient or anything but is hiring slower during the winter periods? I guess I would see the logic considering you don't want a new F.O during winter ops...

I'm curious on your guys opinion and maybe experience on the hiring waves!

Currently a flight instructor with over 600h ..

[I WAS Pez]

Generally, yes. There's a lot of seasonal work out there. Most (but not all) hiring in the 702/703 world is leading into spring/summer.

[co-joe]

Right now, there's a pilot about to face another winter of freezing their eyeballs off in a place with the name Fort whatever in the title who is about to quit for the first job down south that comes along. The trick is to be there when they hand in their notice ready to start tomorrow. This story is as old as the hills and is playing out all over the north country as we speak...

[Me262]

There is a slowdown indeed. Even Pasco took out all their pilot ads and have nothing on their website anymore. I guess we're back to that lower cycle curve. Westjet only has DEC for Encore and Jazz seem to be advertising for their affiliate program and DEC.

[‘Bob’]

Seasonal slowdowns are only for seasonal work. Seaplanes, tour operators, skydiving, summer based charter work (lodges), wildfires, etc.

Lots of work goes on year round and you'd better believe that you will be thrown right in to the middle of winter ops as a new FO.

There is a general slowdown as our country starts running out of cash for travel and vacations and a lot of pilots are staying put vs risking it to go to airlines. Particularly as they find out that Air Canada's 'world class contract' is in a world of its own.

[TeePeeCreeper]

There is a slowdown indeed. Even Pasco took out all their pilot ads and have nothing on their website anymore. I guess we're back to that lower cycle curve. Westjet only has DEC for Encore and Jazz seem to be advertising for their affiliate program and DEC.

Yeah it’s not a surprise that they lost a major contract incidentally with…

How’s that first job search going again?

TPC

[Newby76656]

I've applied to most 703 operator mainly. I would like to stay there a bit to be able to jump on the left seat one day. Still haven't gotten anything.

I've even tried some survey companies because my flight school doesn't have a multi so I would at least love getting that multi time up.. But nothing as well

So just curious if it's my timing or is it that I'm doing something wrong

[JoeG]

It has definitely slowed down. I have heard from 3 companies all saying they would like to do an interview but they are not hiring anytime soon. The economy is not as good as it was post covid. Also low time here with 250 hours TT.

[darren_y]

Timing does play a big part for sure, but some companies are definitely hiring here and there. My current company in the last few months just hired a bunch of 250-400TT hr pilots externally for FO on the king air. Honestly though if you're at 250TT I would either find a ground/ramp ( our company always hires qualified internal applicants before going external, which I assume is the same for a lot of other companies.) or go the instructing route if the ground route doesn't appeal to you.

[Pepperwood]

I've been struggling to hear back from any company after 3 months of applications across Canada (and I'm not picky) and am glad to see I may not be the only one. I've also got low hours with only 220 with Multi-IFR and float rating and am wondering if its maybe because I'm below the 250hrs?

[nappo787]

I've been struggling to hear back from any company after 3 months of applications across Canada (and I'm not picky) and am glad to see I may not be the only one. I've also got low hours with only 220 with Multi-IFR and float rating and am wondering if its maybe because I'm below the 250hrs?

30 hours make no difference for being overall low time pilot, so the answer is no.

[‘Bob’]

I've been struggling to hear back from any company after 3 months of applications across Canada (and I'm not picky) and am glad to see I may not be the only one. I've also got low hours with only 220 with Multi-IFR and float rating and am wondering if its maybe because I'm below the 250hrs?

30 hours make no difference for being overall low time pilot, so the answer is no.

At 250 hours you can write your IATRA which opens up other possibilities (however small) for low time pilots.

[kingbear]

I've been struggling to hear back from any company after 3 months of applications across Canada (and I'm not picky) and am glad to see I may not be the only one. I've also got low hours with only 220 with Multi-IFR and float rating and am wondering if its maybe because I'm below the 250hrs?

I’ve applied to about 40 companies with 205tt 105 pic and 20 multi. I have group 1 IFR and IATRA written. I understand that getting your first gig is the most difficult but right now it seems no one’s hiring. I’m thinking of taking out another loan to get my FIR and instruct as there seems to be more job availability there.

[Me262]

I've been struggling to hear back from any company after 3 months of applications across Canada (and I'm not picky) and am glad to see I may not be the only one. I've also got low hours with only 220 with Multi-IFR and float rating and am wondering if its maybe because I'm below the 250hrs?

I’ve applied to about 40 companies with 205tt 105 pic and 20 multi. I have group 1 IFR and IATRA written. I understand that getting your first gig is the most difficult but right now it seems no one’s hiring. I’m thinking of taking out another loan to get my FIR and instruct as there seems to be more job availability there.

Try to find a school that would be willing to put it in writing that if you are successful in getting your instructor rating they would hire you.

[TeePeeCreeper]

I've been struggling to hear back from any company after 3 months of applications across Canada (and I'm not picky) and am glad to see I may not be the only one. I've also got low hours with only 220 with Multi-IFR and float rating and am wondering if its maybe because I'm below the 250hrs?

I’ve applied to about 40 companies with 205tt 105 pic and 20 multi. I have group 1 IFR and IATRA written. I understand that getting your first gig is the most difficult but right now it seems no one’s hiring. I’m thinking of taking out another loan to get my FIR and instruct as there seems to be more job availability there.

Try to find a school that would be willing to put it in writing that if you are successful in getting your instructor rating they would hire you.

You are dreaming in technicolor. Rather amusing to read your advice on this forum.

How’s that CPL coming about again Me262?

TPC

[kingbear]

I’ve applied to about 40 companies with 205tt 105 pic and 20 multi. I have group 1 IFR and IATRA written. I understand that getting your first gig is the most difficult but right now it seems no one’s hiring. I’m thinking of taking out another loan to get my FIR and instruct as there seems to be more job availability there.

Try to find a school that would be willing to put it in writing that if you are successful in getting your instructor rating they would hire you.

You are dreaming in technicolor. Rather amusing to read your advice on this forum.

How’s that CPL coming about again Me262?

TPC

The places I’ve looked into usually do hire their most successful students, but in any case, there’s many opportunities for class IV instructors across the country.

[Me262]

Try to find a school that would be willing to put it in writing that if you are successful in getting your instructor rating they would hire you.

You are dreaming in technicolor. Rather amusing to read your advice on this forum.

How’s that CPL coming about again Me262?

TPC

The places I’ve looked into usually do hire their most successful students, but in any case, there’s many opportunities for class IV instructors across the country.

He's just a troll, ignore him. Sitting on reserve sometimes takes its toll.

[TeePeeCreeper]

You are dreaming in technicolor. Rather amusing to read your advice on this forum.

How’s that CPL coming about again Me262?

TPC

The places I’ve looked into usually do hire their most successful students, but in any case, there’s many opportunities for class IV instructors across the country.

He's just a troll, ignore him. Sitting on reserve sometimes takes its toll.

How am I a troll? You are the one that keeps repeatedly posting un factual information. Again… how’s that that CPL of yours coming along?

TPC

[arbhana]

I've been struggling to hear back from any company after 3 months of applications across Canada (and I'm not picky) and am glad to see I may not be the only one. I've also got low hours with only 220 with Multi-IFR and float rating and am wondering if its maybe because I'm below the 250hrs?

I’ve applied to about 40 companies with 205tt 105 pic and 20 multi. I have group 1 IFR and IATRA written. I understand that getting your first gig is the most difficult but right now it seems no one’s hiring. I’m thinking of taking out another loan to get my FIR and instruct as there seems to be more job availability there.

As a recent Class IV FIR, I want to let you know it seems like flight instructor hiring has also slowed a little bit in the last few months. Because of the training backlog with the smaller 705s, a lot of the mid/high time instructors are stuck at their schools, so there aren't many schools hiring new class IV FIRs. Not sure how long it'll last, but hopefully not more than a few more months.

I got my FIR back in September and haven't been able to find a job yet... every school I've applied to has said they're full and that they'll let me know when they start hiring again.

Not sure if this is the same across the country, just my experience in Southern Ontario. Best of luck!

[Squaretail]

Seasonal slowdowns are only for seasonal work. Seaplanes, tour operators, skydiving, summer based charter work (lodges), wildfires, etc.

To be fair though, the seasonal jobs are a large chunk of low time entry jobs, especially when you throw survey work into that group.

There is a general slowdown as our country starts running out of cash for travel and vacations and a lot of pilots are staying put vs risking it to go to airlines.

And in Canada there is an aspect of seasonal slowdown in those things too. People are reluctant to shift jobs as winter comes on, they spend more money in the holidays and hiring departments and training personnel are all planning vacation time.

[kingbear]

I've been struggling to hear back from any company after 3 months of applications across Canada (and I'm not picky) and am glad to see I may not be the only one. I've also got low hours with only 220 with Multi-IFR and float rating and am wondering if its maybe because I'm below the 250hrs?

I’ve applied to about 40 companies with 205tt 105 pic and 20 multi. I have group 1 IFR and IATRA written. I understand that getting your first gig is the most difficult but right now it seems no one’s hiring. I’m thinking of taking out another loan to get my FIR and instruct as there seems to be more job availability there.

As a recent Class IV FIR, I want to let you know it seems like flight instructor hiring has also slowed a little bit in the last few months. Because of the training backlog with the smaller 705s, a lot of the mid/high time instructors are stuck at their schools, so there aren't many schools hiring new class IV FIRs. Not sure how long it'll last, but hopefully not more than a few more months.

I got my FIR back in September and haven't been able to find a job yet... every school I've applied to has said they're full and that they'll let me know when they start hiring again.

Not sure if this is the same across the country, just my experience in Southern Ontario. Best of luck!

I don’t want to sit around and do nothing. Realistically people are going to continue finishing their training, and with every passing day there will be more and more low time pilots needing jobs. I am hoping it is only because of winter and come spring there will be more opportunities. If I don’t do my FIR, what else can I do to have somewhat of momentum? Even ground to flight positions aren’t getting back to me.

[goldeneagle]

Seasonal slowdowns are only for seasonal work. Seaplanes, tour operators, skydiving, summer based charter work (lodges), wildfires, etc.

To be fair though, the seasonal jobs are a large chunk of low time entry jobs, especially when you throw survey work into that group.

The other part of that, most openings that do come up thru this part of the year get gobbled up by those that were doing the seasonal work thru the summer.

When spring comes around, we start to see significant amounts of movement in the lower echelons of the ranks. Instructors and former float drivers head off to do fire patrol so they can rack up some of the vaunted MPIC into the book. Also see a bunch of the mid tier operations ramping up for the busy summer, so folks like CMA and Pasco gobble up a bunch of the folks that have spent time in the 'ho. Lodge operators are into the hiring mode, and discover the folks that were there last summer took on something else over the winter, so they are now on the hunt for fresh bodies.

Not all of the openings are for seasonal positions, but, many of them come about from the seasonal hiring sprees.

[I WAS Pez]

One other thing that's been posted many times before, but bears repeating here for the low-timers.... Showing up and shaking hands matters. There's very little to differentiate a 250 hr CV from another, and pretty much all employers get inundated by these.

Showing up to speak to the CP or OPS manager generally goes a long way (unless you don't come across well, of course) - especially for the more remote operators. That's how I got my first aviation jobs... Same has been true for many. Heading into Christmas may not be the best time, but the new year, and into spring, is a good time to think about planning road trips.

[TeePeeCreeper]

One other thing that's been posted many times before, but bears repeating here for the low-timers.... Showing up and shaking hands matters. There's very little to differentiate a 250 hr CV from another, and pretty much all employers get inundated by these.

Showing up to speak to the CP or OPS manager generally goes a long way (unless you don't come across well, of course) - especially for the more remote operators. That's how I got my first aviation jobs... Same has been true for many. Heading into Christmas may not be the best time, but the new year, and into spring, is a good time to think about planning road trips.

I second this. Great advice.

All the best,

TPC

[kingbear]

One other thing that's been posted many times before, but bears repeating here for the low-timers.... Showing up and shaking hands matters. There's very little to differentiate a 250 hr CV from another, and pretty much all employers get inundated by these.

Showing up to speak to the CP or OPS manager generally goes a long way (unless you don't come across well, of course) - especially for the more remote operators. That's how I got my first aviation jobs... Same has been true for many. Heading into Christmas may not be the best time, but the new year, and into spring, is a good time to think about planning road trips.

January road trips in the books if I cant get started with my FIR by then. Cheers.