The Air Canada OTS thread

[flea]

Yea YWG was the last 320 ETOPS base, but it’s apples to oranges this time around

Previously only a couple 319’s were ETOPS - with the XLR it’ll be 30 fins or so

Tricky to bid when going off rumours! I can see the logic behind YUL being ETOPS - but for those who want to avoid night transatlantic flying it would be nice to know if the plan is exclusively Europe for YUL pilots or a mixed bag of some domestic stuff too

[jpilot77]

Yea YWG was the last 320 ETOPS base, but it’s apples to oranges this time around

Previously only a couple 319’s were ETOPS - with the XLR it’ll be 30 fins or so

Tricky to bid when going off rumours! I can see the logic behind YUL being ETOPS - but for those who want to avoid night transatlantic flying it would be nice to know if the plan is exclusively Europe for YUL pilots or a mixed bag of some domestic stuff too

I think it will be a mix for YUL pilots, it still is a mainline 320 base.

[FL030]

The new equipment bid shows 333 vacancies.

[TheRealMcCoy]

What’s the average time for an email back after applying? I’m just over 2 months currently

3000+ hrs
500+ pic on “heavy” multi, (can’t remember the specific weight they listed on the question)
Aviation degree

[altiplano]

500+ pic on “heavy” multi, (can’t remember the specific weight they listed on the question)

IIRC it's 12566 lbs. over which is a "large" aircraft by definition.

BE02 but not BE20

SW4/5 but not SW3

ETC.

[kev994]

What’s the average time for an email back after applying? I’m just over 2 months currently

3000+ hrs
500+ pic on “heavy” multi, (can’t remember the specific weight they listed on the question)
Aviation degree

I ticked those boxes (but with a bachelor’s degree)and got an email asking for interview dates in ~2 days. Maybe check your junk mail? My buddy was right at the 2000 hour mark and it took a bit longer but certainly not 2 months.

Edit: slightly different now that I think of it, I used 500+ PIC multi-pilot large turbine aircraft or something to that effect. Whatever the highest option was.

[TheRealMcCoy]

IIRC it's 12566 lbs. over which is a "large" aircraft by definition.

BE02 but not BE20

SW4/5 but not SW3

ETC.

Just checked. The box is “500+ pic on a multi engine plane with a ramp weight over 33,000lbs”

[TheRealMcCoy]

I ticked those boxes (but with a bachelor’s degree)and got an email asking for interview dates in ~2 days. Maybe check your junk mail? My buddy was right at the 2000 hour mark and it took a bit longer but certainly not 2 months.

Edit: slightly different now that I think of it, I used 500+ PIC multi-pilot large turbine aircraft or something to that effect. Whatever the highest option was.

Ya, seems we had similar applications. Checked my junk and what not… Ah well haha.

[Hamburglar]

What’s the average time for an email back after applying? I’m just over 2 months currently

3000+ hrs
500+ pic on “heavy” multi, (can’t remember the specific weight they listed on the question)
Aviation degree

I applied this January, waited about 4 weeks and received an email saying they were updating their system, and if I'm still interested would need to reapply. After reapplying it was about 6 weeks until I heard back. Was able to click the top boxes with those times as well, but no degree.

Currently waiting to hear back. I completed the interview and medical two weeks and one week ago

[flieslikeachicken]

I applied this January, waited about 4 weeks and received an email saying they were updating their system, and if I'm still interested would need to reapply. After reapplying it was about 6 weeks until I heard back. Was able to click the top boxes with those times as well, but no degree.

Currently waiting to hear back. I completed the interview and medical two weeks and one week ago

Anticipate hearing back at the earliest, end of June. Let us know.

[altiplano]

IIRC it's 12566 lbs. over which is a "large" aircraft by definition.

BE02 but not BE20

SW4/5 but not SW3

ETC.

Just checked. The box is “500+ pic on a multi engine plane with a ramp weight over 33,000lbs”

There you go. Used to just be differentiated by large aircraft, not a "heavy multi" - times change...

[DSHTRSH]

What’s the average time for an email back after applying? I’m just over 2 months currently

3000+ hrs
500+ pic on “heavy” multi, (can’t remember the specific weight they listed on the question)
Aviation degree

I applied this January, waited about 4 weeks and received an email saying they were updating their system, and if I'm still interested would need to reapply. After reapplying it was about 6 weeks until I heard back. Was able to click the top boxes with those times as well, but no degree.

Currently waiting to hear back. I completed the interview and medical two weeks and one week ago

Hey! I might be able to provide a little insight for you:

I applied back in November of 2025, I interviewed in early december of 2025.
I just got a call for a May PIT.
And just some background, at the time of my application / interview, I had roughly 550 PIC on a Q400 and about 2500hrs total.

That math is roughly 5 months from interview to ground school for me.
Now this is pure speculation from what I have heard here and from my buddies currently at AC, but there was a decent backlog of external applicants from late last year because of the jazz only PITs that were occuring... Plus the initial lower demmand for new hires for 2026. This has now changed and they are back up to 480 new hires for 2026 with 2 PITs a month until the end of the year. With all that, I suspect you'll hear back sometime in the summer!

[altiplano]

I wouldn't hold my breath on the previous forecasts here for so many every month.

And if you have an offer already, I would delay giving notice until the minimum respectable time. Like 2 weeks maybe.

There is some divide in management levels on how they should be reacting to fuel prices, particularly with the run up to the earnings report next week. Jury is still out in which direction they take. I think a pause on hiring is a very likely outcome.

[BaldChewbacca]

What’s the average time for an email back after applying? I’m just over 2 months currently

3000+ hrs
500+ pic on “heavy” multi, (can’t remember the specific weight they listed on the question)
Aviation degree

I applied this January, waited about 4 weeks and received an email saying they were updating their system, and if I'm still interested would need to reapply. After reapplying it was about 6 weeks until I heard back. Was able to click the top boxes with those times as well, but no degree.

Currently waiting to hear back. I completed the interview and medical two weeks and one week ago

Hey! I might be able to provide a little insight for you:

I applied back in November of 2025, I interviewed in early december of 2025.
I just got a call for a May PIT.
And just some background, at the time of my application / interview, I had roughly 550 PIC on a Q400 and about 2500hrs total.

That math is roughly 5 months from interview to ground school for me.
Now this is pure speculation from what I have heard here and from my buddies currently at AC, but there was a decent backlog of external applicants from late last year because of the jazz only PITs that were occuring... Plus the initial lower demmand for new hires for 2026. This has now changed and they are back up to 480 new hires for 2026 with 2 PITs a month until the end of the year. With all that, I suspect you'll hear back sometime in the summer!

Hey thanks, that's great to know! I'm a little worried with not having post secondary, plus all the points altiplano pointed out. But all I can do is hope for the best and hope that if I'm hired I'm not shortly laid off haha

[altiplano]

Rumour on the line no new hires after May, until further notice.

[Dry Guy]

I would delay giving notice until the minimum respectable time. Like 2 weeks maybe.

Is that even a legal requirement? There's a good case to be made not to quit your old job until you've already started your new one in case they cancel your PIT course.

[altiplano]

I would delay giving notice until the minimum respectable time. Like 2 weeks maybe.

Is that even a legal requirement? There's a good case to be made not to quit your old job until you've already started your new one in case they cancel your PIT course.

Notice isn't a legal requirement. I think there's a good case to be made that being a man, owning your choices, and giving notice is the fair thing to do. Maybe depends on your employer and how they treated you. I was treated unfairly by one employer I recall, I still gave 2 weeks notice because I thought that was right.

[cdnavater]

Rumour on the line no new hires after May, until further notice.

From the next thread down, didn’t age very well.

viewtopic.php?t=230359&start=125

Anyone know of any calls for a May / June PIT?

I also have heard they have added a few courses for the remaining of the year.

Just heard today, the target is 480 new hires for 2026. Courses every 2 weeks but class sizes can vary a lot from less than 20 to over 30. Training dept and crew planning trying to balance demand and fleet staffing.

[TheMexicoLooter]

WELL THE REAL MEN NEED TO MARCH RIGHT BACK INTO THE OFFICE AND WITH A FIRM HANDSHAKE GET THEIR OLD JOBS BACK

[altiplano]

Rumour on the line no new hires after May, until further notice.

From the next thread down, didn’t age very well.

viewtopic.php?t=230359&start=125

Anyone know of any calls for a May / June PIT?

I also have heard they have added a few courses for the remaining of the year.

Just heard today, the target is 480 new hires for 2026. Courses every 2 weeks but class sizes can vary a lot from less than 20 to over 30. Training dept and crew planning trying to balance demand and fleet staffing.

Only rumour, hope I'm wrong...

Should find out more on outlook in Q1 earnings report later this week.

[thepoors]

This "we are on the edge of needing layoffs" and "too poor to pay for fuel" narrative also works to the company's favour as the AME's and rampies contract is up and they will be entering negotiations this summer. You can never count out dirty games when it comes to AC management.

The summer bid will be flat or show reductions and everyone will be panicking and fear mongering. Then once they get the AME's locked into a shitty contract, everything will go back to business as usual.

Also news today that the UAE is leaving OPEC so they won't be subject to the Saudi cartel quotas. Oil is going to flood the market and drive prices down again.

[flyingcanuck]

This "we are on the edge of needing layoffs" and "too poor to pay for fuel" narrative also works to the company's favour as the AME's and rampies contract is up and they will be entering negotiations this summer. You can never count out dirty games when it comes to AC management.

The summer bid will be flat or show reductions and everyone will be panicking and fear mongering. Then once they get the AME's locked into a shitty contract, everything will go back to business as usual.

Also news today that the UAE is leaving OPEC so they won't be subject to the Saudi cartel quotas. Oil is going to flood the market and drive prices down again.

It wont because then were up again next year. Theyll claim due to the oil situation itll affect us for years lol.

[lostav8r]

This "we are on the edge of needing layoffs" and "too poor to pay for fuel" narrative also works to the company's favour as the AME's and rampies contract is up and they will be entering negotiations this summer. You can never count out dirty games when it comes to AC management.

The summer bid will be flat or show reductions and everyone will be panicking and fear mongering. Then once they get the AME's locked into a shitty contract, everything will go back to business as usual.

Also news today that the UAE is leaving OPEC so they won't be subject to the Saudi cartel quotas. Oil is going to flood the market and drive prices down again.

It wont because then were up again next year. Theyll claim due to the oil situation itll affect us for years lol.

I'm going to quote Avcanada123,

Fuel is predicted from $5 billion pre war to $8 billion at the current fuel prices. In the best year ever AC made $2.276 billion (COVID rebound of 2023) which obviously isn't enough profit to cover the extra gas costs.