Sunwing/Canjet fleet and foreign pilots winter 2012-2013

[BverLuver]

Gilles Hudicourt,

Do you happen to know if there are any former ranking members of Transport Canada or HRSDC in the employ of Sunwing Airlines that may have an inside track? There are companies, such as an infamous Winnipeg operator, that have used this tactic to get "preferential" treatment within the various agencies.

BL

[Gilles Hudicourt]

Some time ago, I was informed that Mexico would not allow the Wet-Leases operating on behalf of Sunwing to fly into Mexico. That was one of the reasons that the Sunwing Pilot's Union wrote to the CTA to protest the wet-leases.

It seems that they have resolved that particular problem with the Mexican authorities:



OK-TVS in Cancun today

[Jim la Jungle]

Wow, incroyable!

Maybe a team of lawyers or some kind of lobby prompted that. I'm speechless.

[Gilles Hudicourt]

When I first began to work on this file, back in March of 2012, I looked at the Transport Canada Regulations that allowed foreign pilots to obtain Foreign Licence Validation Certificates. I expressed my concerns to the Honorable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport. Here is the subject of my letter to the Minister. I found the following Standard: 421.07 (2):

Purposes For Which Foreign Licence ValidationCertificates May Be Issued

(a) for the holder to undergo a flight test;

(b) for private recreational flying;

(c) for ferry of an aircraft registered in Canada to or from aforeign country;

(d) for the holder to give type rating training on an aircraft registered in Canada to the registered owner, or to Canadian flight crew employed by the registered owner;

(e) for the holder to receive training in a Canadian registered aircraft;

(f) for operation of aircraft registered in a foreign state under the operating certificate of a Canadian carrier provided that the privileges are limited to the type of aircraft being operated;

(g) for operation of Canadian aircraft on Canadian commercial air services in urgent circumstances; such as fire suppression operations, emergency agricultural and forestry aerial application, airlift in relief of domestic natural disasters, and search and rescue operations;

(h) for commercial air services operated entirely within aforeign country where pilots holding a licence from that country may have their licence validated for operation of Canadian registered aircraft in that country;

(i) for the operation of aircraft registered in Canada on lease to foreign carriers;

(j) for reasons other than those mentioned above where approval may be given if, in the opinion of the Minister, it is in the public interest and not likely to affect aviation safety.

Since (a) to (i) clearly did not apply to 705 operations, I deducted that the FLVC issued to foreign pilots flying on behalf of Canjet and Sunwing could only be issued under (j), that is "if, in the opinion of the Minister, it is in the public interest and not likely to affect aviation safety".

He was kind enough to reply. Here is his complete reply, dated July 5th 2012:

Mr. Gilles Hudicourt


Dear Mr. Hudicourt:

Thank you for your correspondence of March 24, 2012, regarding foreign pilots working in Canada. Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying.

I should explain that Transport Canada Civil Aviation’s mandate is to make sure that the appropriate framework and oversight programs are in place for the safe operation of the Canadian aviation system. Transport Canada does not mandate how companies hire as long as chosen applicants meet the requirements and comply with the Canadian Aviation Regulations. Private companies are free to make their own business decisions regarding job requirements.

Since some of the concerns you have raised may be better addressed by the departments of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada or Immigration Canada, I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of our exchange of correspondence to the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, for their consideration.

I trust that the foregoing has clarified Transport Canada’s position with respect to this matter. Again, thank you for writing.

Yours sincerely,



Denis Lebel, P.C., M.P.

[TrailerParkBoy]

There has to be a university of lawyer students that could write a thesis on this topic?

[Sunwing738]

Sunwing just received their second Thomson lease for the winter on the 21st of November, ferried from Manchester and re-registered C-FPZA (ex G-FDZA) assuming its a dry-lease. Also G-FDZA is in the new Thomson colour scheme, dont think it will go over well with the bright orange tail once its re-stickered.

[Gilles Hudicourt]

The Sunwing fleet now stands at 20 aircraft:

10 long term leases
7 short term leases
3 wet-leases

They already doubled their regular fleet and are still expected to grow by another 9 aircraft this winter.

They have a number of foreign pilots working for them on work permits. How they obtained these permits and on what basis, I still have no idea.

How can an airline triple in size each winter and claim 1:1 reciprocity with a stone face ?

[termerair]

Just talked to my European friend flying for Canjet this winter.

He said he is not a Canjet employee as he is hired by a Suiss recruitment agency (PAS Aviation) with a UK contract. He also confirmed he doesn't pay any taxes here... None!

I have only one thing to say :

T.

[CD]

Besides Transat Holidays, who else is CanJet providing lift for this winter in conjunction with other companies?

[Sunwing738]

As far as tour operators go, Canjet operates for Transat/Nolitours and Hola Sun (Cuba), those are the two big ones. They also operate for the smaller Club Med and Tours Mont-Royal out of Montreal & Quebec City I belive.

[Gilles Hudicourt]

Someone told me that there were a bunch of German pilots training for Sunwing at CAE these days and that at least some of them had not yet obtained their work permits.

[termerair]

Just talked to my European friend flying for Canjet this winter.

He said he is not a Canjet employee as he is hired by a Suiss recruitment agency (PAS Aviation) with a UK contract. He also confirmed he doesn't pay any taxes here... None!

I have only one thing to say :

T.

Let me add he doesn't pay taxes here in Canada nor in Europe... 6k$ directly in the pocket! He is completely unknown from the Canadian government except for the work permit... It would actually be interesting to see what company name shows on his work permit!

How is this even possible...? The more I learn about this file, the more I think there is a f%$£ing serious problem about the people WE pay to look after our own interests! I hope everyone is sending the "nice" letter to Stephen to let him know how fucked up this situation is!

End of the rant for tonight! Have a great week!

T.

[Gilles Hudicourt]

Sunwing's 21st aircraft was added to the Civil Aircraft Register today : C-FYUH, dry-leased from TUIfly, ex- D-ATUH. That explains the German pilots.

[snowball]

I am curious how the FO's at SWG are taking this. Is there any tension going on?

[Rogerdodger2]

From what I understand, the most Jr. FOs have become quite Sr. For the winter. Because of all the upgrades done this year there aren't many foreign Capt. All the foreign FOs are Jr. to SWG pilots.

[Gilles Hudicourt]

From what I understand, the most Jr. FOs have become quite Sr. For the winter. Because of all the upgrades done this year there aren't many foreign Capt. All the foreign FOs are Jr. to SWG pilots.

A little arithmetic and logic.

Sunwing had 150 pilots, so roughly 75 Capt and 75 FOs.
They hired 20 temp FOs, and upgraded 30 FOs to Captains. That left them with 105 Captains and 65 FOs.
They need 300 pilots for 25 aircraft at 12 pilots per aircraft. Mr Hunter said they were hiring 130 foreigners this year.

So about 45 to 50 foreigners will be captains and about 80 to 85 foreigners will be FOs.

This does not count the other 50 to 60 foreign pilots flying the 4 737s that Sunwing wet-leased.

[snowball]

If those numbers are accurate Gilles, there is probably a few sour mouths at SWG. Not a good working environment to say the least.

[AsheetMaDraws]

Any F/O that was able to upgrade in the spring was given the opportunity to do so, including F/O's hired
as recently as the spring. Any F/O that has remained an F/O now has a number of pilots below them
and can hold a schedule that gives them just about whatever they want, including Christmas and New Year's off.
Not sure how that would equate to a bad working environment.

[ea306]

The FO morale has been significantly improved this year over past years. Upgrades have helped a lot. Not hearing any complaints on the line....

[Gilles Hudicourt]

Not too long ago, I made a request to HRSDC under the Access to Information Act, to ask to see all LMO applications made for pilots in Canada in 2012:

There are a couple applications from CANJET, as I already knew. But,

there is none from Sunwing. That means that all foreign pilots in Canada presently flying Sunwing aircraft came under the reciprocal agreements under Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

RECIPROCITY! How obscene! Let me spell it out for you:

In 2011, Sunwing sent 3 aircraft on wet-leases to Europe and twelve (12) pilots to fly Foreign Registered aircraft.

In exchange, The government of Canada (CIC, HRSDC and the CTA) let them import:

in the summer 2011, 2 wet-leased Portuguese B-767s,
in the winter 2011-2012, 15 B-737 from Europe
in Feb 2012 1 wet-leased B-737

For a total of 18 imported aircraft and pilots. 3 against 18


In 2012, Sunwing sent 4 aircraft on wet-leases to Europe and zero pilots to fly Foreign Registered aircraft.

In exchange, The government of Canada (CIC, HRSDC and the CTA) let them import:

in the summer 2012, 2 wet-leased Portuguese B-767s,
in the winter 2012-2013, 15 B-737 dry-leased from Europe and another 4 B-737s wet-leased from Europe

For a total of 21 imported aircraft and pilots. 4 against 21!

In the name of reciprocity.

[Cod Father]

Has this been explained to the fine folks over a The Fifth Estate? http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/

[Gilles Hudicourt]

I just received an email from a friend, whose subject was the "The goon squad", in which he reminded me of the Mahatma Gandhi quote.

First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.

Thanks for that buddy. I hope you are right. I can't wait for the fourth period to begin.

[morningwood]

Gilles
I mean no personal disrespect, but your tone on this forum reminds me of a schoolyard bully looking to pick a fight, and being egged on by his buddys standing behind him.

[fingersmac]

I read this forum on a regular basis and especially threads concerning this topic. I certainly don't think Gilles tone is anything near what you describe. I would imagine the majority on here feel the same way. I'm thankful he's taken this matter upon himself in order to shed some light on what could be very damaging to our profession here in Canada.

[OPEC6-Heavy]

Gilles,

If you "Win" we all win...

Another brilliant quote by Mahatma Gandhi

The moment there is suspicion about a person's motives, everything he does becomes tainted.