Sunwing is hiring seasonal pilots

[Spruce Moose]

I applied twice on the previous posting, and never heard back either. 120 positions is a lot to fill, do you think they'll hire European pilot's exclusively? or a mix of Canadians and Europeans? I'm guessing the pool of NG rated pilots in Canada willing to go to Sunwing on a temporary contract is quite small, I can't see someone leaving Transat or WJ for a temporary position with them. Other than that who has NG's? Canjet? That's all I can think of.

[Gilles Hudicourt]

Has anyone been hired after applying for the March 7th ad ? Was anyone even called or is this all just scheming for tricking our government into approving TFW again ?

[gonnabeapilot]

Before everyone gets themselves all worked up over hidden conspiracies, I'd like to shed some light on the subject.

Job Ad #1: Don't fear fellow Canadian pilots, this job ad is legit... and yes, Sunwing would like to hear from you. This past winter, Sunwing hired 40 Canadian seasonal pilots WITHOUT type ratings to help with the busy season. These pilots were given type ratings on the 737 NG and NO bond was required. At the end of the season, 12 of these pilots were offered full time positions with Sunwing. Some took their shiny new (and free) B737 type ratings and time on type and decided to leave to companies like Air Transat, WestJet and various others. That's a lot of training dollars down the toilet but the company recognizes that that is part and parcel of training non-type rated Canadian pilots for seasonal work and has still elected to eat the cost. To me, this is a good news thing for Canadian pilots. Of the 15 or so seasonal pilots that Sunwing wasn't able to offer full time positions to this winter, they will all be offered seasonal positions again next winter season. On top of the 15 seasonal Canadian pilots who will be returning, the Company is planning on hiring an ADDITIONAL 50 or so seasonal NON-TYPE RATED Canadian pilots for winter 2014/2015. Again, I think this is a good news story. For those who applied for the job ad and haven't heard anything back... don't worry, they'll get to you. The management team has been busy dealing with some internal stuff that is now sorted out that more than likely put hiring on the back burner for a while. I'm guessing phone calls to applicants will start shortly.

Job Ad #2: So for those keeping track, Sunwing is planning on hiring around 50 seasonal Canadian pilots for next winter and calling back the 15 seasonal pilots who were employed with the company this past season. On top of that, the company has decided to upgrade 26 FOs to Captain positions for next winter season. So that's 50 new Canadian hires who require a type rating and 100 hours of line indoc, 15 returning Canadian seasonal pilots who won't have touched the aircraft in 5 months and will require re-familiarization flights and line checks and 26 Canadian FO upgrades that will require sim training, line indoc and line training. All of this requiring the training resources of a company that only employs 250 or so pilots and has a rather limited summer flight schedule to play with in order to ensure that all of the line training can be completed prior to the November start of the winter season. But as everyone is well aware, Sunwing plans on operating a winter flight schedule that requires a greater number of pilots than the company has. This brings us to job ad #2. Sunwing does not have the training capabilities to do anything more than what it is already doing to prepare non-type rated Canadian pilots for next winter. But if you happen to be a Canadian pilot with a 737 type rating and want to come work a seasonal FO job than guess what? This job ad is for you! Type rated guys require much less training than someone who requires the full type rating and the full line indoc. This means that the company can hire a few more Canadians above and beyond the 50 they're looking for because it won't be as much of a strain on the training resources.

Now of course, we all know that the number of current, 737 type rated pilots in Canada who would like to leave their jobs for a 5 month season FO contract are few and far between. So yes, we will see this job ad lead to an application for European pilots to come fly for Sunwing again next winter. For some, that will be a sign of all things wrong in Canadian aviation and another reason to raise the pitchforks against Sunwing. I've come to realize that these people will never see the situation as anything but so there's no point in trying to argue with them. For those with a more open mind, I will leave you with this: Next winter Sunwing plans on bringing over an identical number of Foreign pilots as they did this winter, even though the seasonal fleet will grow by another 5 aircraft. So while the number of Foreign pilots will not change, they will make up a smaller percentage of the Sunwing pilot roster than they did this year. Why? Because Sunwing is taking the time and spending the money to upgrade 26 FOs, hire and train 50 non-type rated Canadians, and call back and re-qualify 15 other seasonal Canadian pilots. So the percentage of Canadian pilots operating for Sunwing during the winter season will be going up for the third winter season in a row and the percentage of Foreign pilots operating during the winter season will be going down for the third winter season in a row. Again, to me this is a good news story. On top of that, there is also the good news story of the 70 Canadian Sunwing pilots who would otherwise be laid-off/downgraded this summer who will continue to be gainfully employed over the next 5 months. Why is that? Well because they are all headed off to Europe to spend their summers operating as Foreign pilots in the EU... due exclusively to the fact that Canada has allowed reciprocity for European pilots to do the same here.

So feel free to complain and cry foul all you want. To me, the story of these job ads is not one of conspiracy and the destruction of Canadian aviation. To me, it is simply the story of a company in growth mode and that is good news for Canadian pilots. Sunwing is hiring 50 non-type rated Canadians. Sunwing is taking the high-road and providing these pilots with type-ratings without any form of bond even though recent history has shown that some will take their type ratings and run. Sunwing is also upgrading a large number of Canadian FOs (some who have been with the company less than 2 years). And yes, Sunwing is using international partnerships to seasonally employ European pilots to help relieve the strain on the training department that hiring/upgrading all these Canadian pilots has created and to ensure that it can employ as many of these Canadian pilots year round as it possibly can. If that's what qualifies as a d*** move in aviation these days, well then so be it. Personally, I think if people want to talk about what's destroying Canadian aviation, they should be examining and standing up against the WAWCON at the likes of Encore, Skyregional and Georgian long before they get themselves worked up about what's going on at Sunwing....

[Big Pistons Forever]

Gonna be a pilot

Thanks for the update, but it have a question for you. Would any non type rated Canadian pilots be working the seasonal contracts if Giles and others had not held their feet to the fire. I think not, so Sunwing did not suddenly get all altruistic, they were dragged kicking and screaming into compliance with Canadian labour law.

They can make more money trying to get around Canadian Labour laws so that is always going to be the corporate first choice.

[AllClutch]

If I were sunwing I wouldn't hold my breath over the idea of getting any TFWs this year.
Gilles would have that in the papers with a quickness. And there is too much heat on the program these days that I don't think will die down soon.
They better get those sims fired up.

[FL320]

Some took their shiny new (and free) B737 type ratings and time on type and decided to leave

some will take their type ratings and run.

If you are rich enough to wait for 5 months at home earning 55% of your salary....good for you! People left because they got offered PERMANENT positions from other airlines while Sunwing was still talking - a month before the end of the seasonal contract - about the layoff of some of the permanent pilots. The future of the Seasonal pilots wasn't even considered at that time.
Furthermore there is no guarantee that they will call you back for the next season, it also depends on your previous performances.

So please don't blame those who left but the ones who have created that situation.

When people sign the contract, it says that they are employed until May and that's it. Yes the company pays for the type rating and there is no bond (of course...how can you legally justify a bond for a seasonal work??); but hey...that's their deal. If you're not happy with their contract just talk to the Management. Anyway from what I heard in a meeting I suppose that they don't really care to send these costs in the toilets.

[pilotman15]

Before everyone gets themselves all worked up over hidden conspiracies, I'd like to shed some light on the subject.

Job Ad #1: Don't fear fellow Canadian pilots, this job ad is legit... and yes, Sunwing would like to hear from you. This past winter, Sunwing hired 40 Canadian seasonal pilots WITHOUT type ratings to help with the busy season. These pilots were given type ratings on the 737 NG and NO bond was required. At the end of the season, 12 of these pilots were offered full time positions with Sunwing. Some took their shiny new (and free) B737 type ratings and time on type and decided to leave to companies like Air Transat, WestJet and various others. That's a lot of training dollars down the toilet but the company recognizes that that is part and parcel of training non-type rated Canadian pilots for seasonal work and has still elected to eat the cost. To me, this is a good news thing for Canadian pilots. Of the 15 or so seasonal pilots that Sunwing wasn't able to offer full time positions to this winter, they will all be offered seasonal positions again next winter season. On top of the 15 seasonal Canadian pilots who will be returning, the Company is planning on hiring an ADDITIONAL 50 or so seasonal NON-TYPE RATED Canadian pilots for winter 2014/2015. Again, I think this is a good news story. For those who applied for the job ad and haven't heard anything back... don't worry, they'll get to you. The management team has been busy dealing with some internal stuff that is now sorted out that more than likely put hiring on the back burner for a while. I'm guessing phone calls to applicants will start shortly.

Job Ad #2: So for those keeping track, Sunwing is planning on hiring around 50 seasonal Canadian pilots for next winter and calling back the 15 seasonal pilots who were employed with the company this past season. On top of that, the company has decided to upgrade 26 FOs to Captain positions for next winter season. So that's 50 new Canadian hires who require a type rating and 100 hours of line indoc, 15 returning Canadian seasonal pilots who won't have touched the aircraft in 5 months and will require re-familiarization flights and line checks and 26 Canadian FO upgrades that will require sim training, line indoc and line training. All of this requiring the training resources of a company that only employs 250 or so pilots and has a rather limited summer flight schedule to play with in order to ensure that all of the line training can be completed prior to the November start of the winter season. But as everyone is well aware, Sunwing plans on operating a winter flight schedule that requires a greater number of pilots than the company has. This brings us to job ad #2. Sunwing does not have the training capabilities to do anything more than what it is already doing to prepare non-type rated Canadian pilots for next winter. But if you happen to be a Canadian pilot with a 737 type rating and want to come work a seasonal FO job than guess what? This job ad is for you! Type rated guys require much less training than someone who requires the full type rating and the full line indoc. This means that the company can hire a few more Canadians above and beyond the 50 they're looking for because it won't be as much of a strain on the training resources.

Now of course, we all know that the number of current, 737 type rated pilots in Canada who would like to leave their jobs for a 5 month season FO contract are few and far between. So yes, we will see this job ad lead to an application for European pilots to come fly for Sunwing again next winter. For some, that will be a sign of all things wrong in Canadian aviation and another reason to raise the pitchforks against Sunwing. I've come to realize that these people will never see the situation as anything but so there's no point in trying to argue with them. For those with a more open mind, I will leave you with this: Next winter Sunwing plans on bringing over an identical number of Foreign pilots as they did this winter, even though the seasonal fleet will grow by another 5 aircraft. So while the number of Foreign pilots will not change, they will make up a smaller percentage of the Sunwing pilot roster than they did this year. Why? Because Sunwing is taking the time and spending the money to upgrade 26 FOs, hire and train 50 non-type rated Canadians, and call back and re-qualify 15 other seasonal Canadian pilots. So the percentage of Canadian pilots operating for Sunwing during the winter season will be going up for the third winter season in a row and the percentage of Foreign pilots operating during the winter season will be going down for the third winter season in a row. Again, to me this is a good news story. On top of that, there is also the good news story of the 70 Canadian Sunwing pilots who would otherwise be laid-off/downgraded this summer who will continue to be gainfully employed over the next 5 months. Why is that? Well because they are all headed off to Europe to spend their summers operating as Foreign pilots in the EU... due exclusively to the fact that Canada has allowed reciprocity for European pilots to do the same here.

So feel free to complain and cry foul all you want. To me, the story of these job ads is not one of conspiracy and the destruction of Canadian aviation. To me, it is simply the story of a company in growth mode and that is good news for Canadian pilots. Sunwing is hiring 50 non-type rated Canadians. Sunwing is taking the high-road and providing these pilots with type-ratings without any form of bond even though recent history has shown that some will take their type ratings and run. Sunwing is also upgrading a large number of Canadian FOs (some who have been with the company less than 2 years). And yes, Sunwing is using international partnerships to seasonally employ European pilots to help relieve the strain on the training department that hiring/upgrading all these Canadian pilots has created and to ensure that it can employ as many of these Canadian pilots year round as it possibly can. If that's what qualifies as a d*** move in aviation these days, well then so be it. Personally, I think if people want to talk about what's destroying Canadian aviation, they should be examining and standing up against the WAWCON at the likes of Encore, Skyregional and Georgian long before they get themselves worked up about what's going on at Sunwing....

Did you every think that maybe we should leave the so called "shortage" of pilots for these WAWCONs listed above and allow the true spirit of the TFW program to play itself out how it is supposed to (i.e. a few guys here a few guys there to different operators because they legitimately can not find Canadians to do the job). The fact is that if I am Canadian, applied to the posted position and met all of the qualifications, I at least deserve a call. By Sunwing not hiring Canadians to do even the seasonal work they are leaving them to take employment at the above mentioned companies in order to feed their families.

[Gilles Hudicourt]

Air Transat called all its layed off pilots back last December and began hiring to prepare our winter 2014/2015 season. Our training department is working full time to prepare the crews for the 2014/2015 season. I did my 737NG simulator in Feb 2014, although I will not be flying the aircraft until the fall of 2014. Why ? Because that was the only way we could train crews for 16 B737NGs......

Sunwing laid pilots off and will only begin hiring and training crews in August, and then claim they need TFW pilots because they do not have time to hire and train sufficient Canadian pilots...........

And the TFW pilots will get approved for that reason.

[old fart]

So Sunwing will hire some seasonal Canadian F/O's and then bring in foreign Captains making much more money.

Not really fair to a qualified Canadian is it?

[LivingLife]

So true Giles!!

[Rogerdodger2]

First off SW didn't layoff any pilots.
Second anyone interested should start receiving calls shortly.
Third SW is doing everything including using sims in Europe and the US to get the required training completed.

To anyone who thinks that FW will be completely eliminated is dreaming.

To the Transat 37 drivers, when you get your layoff, SW will gladly take you. It's coming...

[Jean-Luc Monette]

First off SW didn't layoff any pilots.



It's coming...

It's very good news that Sunwing isn't laying off any pilots, that means year round employment for Canadian pilots!

And what is coming?

[SeawingsUAE]

"So Sunwing will hire some seasonal Canadian F/O's and then bring in foreign Captains making much more money"

Sunwing seems to be searching for qualified typed Canadian FOs, but what about qualified Canadian Captains?
Surely if they will take any endorsed, qualified Canadian FO over a temporary foreign pilot, the same would apply to any qualified Captains as well?

can anyone confirm that they will also hire suitable Canadian DEC candidates?

[Gilles Hudicourt]

So far, DEC has always been for the contracted foreigners only.

[WJ200]

Ideally I'd love to fly seasonally DEC in the winter and then take the summer off to sail etc....maybe if SW is still around in 15 years I would consider it. Surely there must be some in Canada that are very near retirement today who would consider it?

[Gilles Hudicourt]

Some pilots that fit that description wrote to me to inform me they had applied. They were told that Sunwing did not hire seasonal DEC. When he asked about the Foreign DEC he got a blank stare. As though the foreign DEC were a different breed.

[LivingLife]

Nice attitude RodgerDodger....

I've had many friends apply to SWG and none received a call or acknowledged. Sunwing's model has worked up to know, however IT WILL definitely change in the near future! Sure, the TFW program will continue, but not at the scope it's currently at!

Even TUI, doesn't use you guys for many of their ops but hire us airlines and Aeromexico to do the work. Good luck!!!

Keep the good work going Gilles! Thank you for everything you've done for us canadian pilots!

[Gilles Hudicourt]

Out of 40 seasonal pilots, 12 were offered full time employ. Some left because in January 2014, Sunwing pilots received a memo stating there would be lay offs in the spring.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/105 ... 14-011.pdf

The memo states that sunwing would only need 184 pilots in the summer. All told the seasonal pilots would be cut free and an additional 20 to 30 pilots would be laid off. If no one got laid off in the end is a technicality, because of the 40 seasonal pilots who were hired, several quit and found jobs elsewhere (because they thought they were going to lose their jobs), 12 were hired by Sunwing and 15 were let loose.

In March Sunwing posted an ad stating they needed pilots for August. FOR AUGUST. Then they are going to claim they do not have enough time to train pilots and need TFW pilots

They can afford to let go 25 pilots that were already checked on the 737, they can afford to wait for August before they hire new Canadian pilots but they do not have time to train pilots for next winter so they need TFW pilots ?

The furloughs etc are cost cutting measures, not to save the company, just to maximize profits. They are only hiring Canadian pilots in August, not to save the last penny in order to save the company, but to maximize profits. Sunwing declared profits of 85 million dollars last year:

http://tourismexpress.com/nouvelles/vol ... s-gratuits

These lay offs, these late hires, the Temporary Foreign Worker pilots, are all to maximize profits. At the expense of Canadian Tax Payers. At the expense of Canadian pilots and their familes. .

In the meantime, Air Transat is planning to operate 12 B-737s next winter. In order to do this, it recalled all furloughed pilots last December. Not that they needed them right away to fly aircraft, not at all, but because they needed time to train pilots for next winter. Then they began to hire dozens of pilots and train them, again for next winter. Air Transat entered into an agreement with Canjet to train some of its pilots on the 737 this winter, so they could have them already trained next winter. They are hiring now and will continue to hire and train until next fall, in order to have the required number of crews ready to fly the 12 Boeing 737s next winter. And they will not need any TFW. Because they hire and train Canadians in sufficient time and in sufficient numbers to make sure they are ready on time. And at great expenses in training and in salaries. Air Transat does not lean on its pilots, on their families and on the Canadian Tax payer to generate a higher profit.

Sunwing will be soon be asking ESDC for permission to hire TFW pilots. IF they get any resistance from our government officials, someone close to the Minister will give the Minister a call on behalf of Sunwing to inform him that it will spell disaster for Sunwing and for Sunwing customers (and their vacation plans) UNLESS ALL the TFW pilots are approved immediately. Like they did last year. And the year before that.

http://fr.scribd.com/doc/222406483/Jaso ... d-the-TFWP

What will the Minister do this year ?

[Rogerdodger2]

Nice attitude RodgerDodger....

I've had many friends apply to SWG and none received a call or acknowledged. Sunwing's model has worked up to know, however IT WILL definitely change in the near future! Sure, the TFW program will continue, but not at the scope it's currently at!

Even TUI, doesn't use you guys for many of their ops but hire us airlines and Aeromexico to do the work. Good luck!!!

Keep the good work going Gilles! Thank you for everything you've done for us canadian pilots!

1. Like I said before, expect calls soon. I don't know how much more clear I can be.
2. What scope are you referring? 100 to 120 pilots a year? There's no argument, everyone would like to see that come down, but it's never going away completely.
3. Even TUI doesn't use us??? I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about. Aeromexico and us airlines, as you put it, do work for SW travel groups US company not TUI. They are used because SW airlines is too busy doing the Canadian lift for SW travel, which is dominating the Canadian market. Good Luck!!!

Fantastic attitude!

[Rogerdodger2]

Out of 40 seasonal pilots, 12 were offered full time employ. Some left because in January 2014, Sunwing pilots received a memo stating there would be lay offs in the spring.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/105 ... 14-011.pdf

The memo states that sunwing would only need 184 pilots in the summer. All told the seasonal pilots would be cut free and an additional 20 to 30 pilots would be laid off. If no one got laid off in the end is a technicality, because of the 40 seasonal pilots who were hired, several quit and found jobs elsewhere (because they thought they were going to lose their jobs), 12 were hired by Sunwing and 15 were let loose.

In March Sunwing posted an ad stating they needed pilots for August. FOR AUGUST. Then they are going to claim they do not have enough time to train pilots and need TFW pilots

They can afford to let go 25 pilots that were already checked on the 737, they can afford to wait for August before they hire new Canadian pilots but they do not have time to train pilots for next winter so they need TFW pilots ?

The furloughs etc are cost cutting measures, not to save the company, just to maximize profits. They are only hiring Canadian pilots in August, not to save the last penny in order to save the company, but to maximize profits. Sunwing declared profits of 85 million dollars last year:

http://tourismexpress.com/nouvelles/vol ... s-gratuits

These lay offs, these late hires, the Temporary Foreign Worker pilots, are all to maximize profits. At the expense of Canadian Tax Payers. At the expense of Canadian pilots and their familes. .

In the meantime, Air Transat is planning to operate 12 B-737s next winter. In order to do this, it recalled all furloughed pilots last December. Not that they needed them right away to fly aircraft, not at all, but because they needed time to train pilots for next winter. Then they began to hire dozens of pilots and train them, again for next winter. Air Transat entered into an agreement with Canjet to train some of its pilots on the 737 this winter, so they could have them already trained next winter. They are hiring now and will continue to hire and train until next fall, in order to have the required number of crews ready to fly the 12 Boeing 737s next winter. And they will not need any TFW. Because they hire and train Canadians in sufficient time and in sufficient numbers to make sure they are ready on time. And at great expenses in training and in salaries. Air Transat does not lean on its pilots, on their families and on the Canadian Tax payer to generate a higher profit.

Sunwing will be soon be asking ESDC for permission to hire TFW pilots. IF they get any resistance from our government officials, someone close to the Minister will give the Minister a call on behalf of Sunwing to inform him that it will spell disaster for Sunwing and for Sunwing customers (and their vacation plans) if ALL the TFW pilots are not approved immediately. Like they did last year. And the year before that.

http://fr.scribd.com/doc/222406483/Jaso ... d-the-TFWP

What will the Minister do this year ?

Anyone who reads and believes that BS should have their heads checked. Gilles has completely made up a false explanation for what went on a SW this winter.

The threat of layoffs came about because the pilot group refused to undergo EASA medicals, a requirement to obtain the licence validation. Because of this the Europe program was in danger of being scraped. Layoffs were on the horizon because of the fact SW would have been over staffed. The same reason Transat lays off pilots every year (to maximize profits). After hard work from the MEC a number of LOUs were drafted making deployment voluntary. When the bid came out it was determined that there were enough volunteers to send 3 aircraft and a rebid was able to draw enough pilots for a 4th. Instead of the planned 7-8 aircraft. This saved everyones jobs! SW will still be operating heavy at every Europe base and here at home bases to avoid layoffs. Vacation is being forced in the summer to avoid layoffs. While the negotiations were going on 14 JR FOs mostly contractors left for other opportunities. They feared they'd be out of work, understandable. All remaining seasonal Canadians were offered full time work last month. 16 accepted the job, some did not because they went back to jazz or other commitments. The August hires have nothing to do with TFW. The reason is because the Europe program issues were only solved last month! Upgrades are being done in July and new hires in Aug. There's only so much time and sim space. How can you hire and train when you don't know if you can keep the pilots you have?! But Gilles would have you all believe it's some great conspiracy.

Stop blindly believing everything this guy writes. What makes more sense? His conspiracy theory or the fact that SW Europe program was threatened by EASA regs and the time taken to solve the problem. The SW management and MEC saved numerous CANADIAN PILOT JOBS.

[fish4life]

Maybe if you can't train enough pilots don't bid the work then ? The ol don't bite off more than you can chew ?

[Gilles Hudicourt]

Sunwing is sellling seats on aircraft they do not have the Canadian pilots to operate.
Sunwing io selling seats on aircraft for which they have no intention of having Canadian crews to operate.

Its not a matter of not having the training facilities, the simulators, the instructors or the aircraft to do the line indoct with.

They sell all these packages to Canadian families on aircraft they do not have, crewed by pilots they do not have and then use these pre-sold vacation packages to pressure the government into allowing the TFW pilots.

Then they also claim that Sunwing's Canadian employees will all risk losing their jobs if the TFW are not approved.

They did this in 2012/2013, and again in 2013/2014. They plan on doing it again next winter.

How is Sunwing allowed to sell tickets on aircraft for which they have no pilots ? Who controls this ?

Transport Canada ?
The Canadian Transportation Agency ?
Employment and Social Development Canada ?
Immigration Canada ?

Each one of these throws the hot potato at the other and no one wants to be left holding it.

If Sunwing wants to demonstrate that they can crew all these aircraft that they are selling tickets and vacation packages on next winter, they should do like Air Transat is doing now: Recall all the trained pilots they let go, and offer them a full time year round job, and begin hiring and training pilots now for for their next winter season. Not next August. And those simulators better be working round the clock pumping out Canadian B-737NG rated pilots before Sunwing comes crying for TFW pilots again.

The business plan cannot be based on always using TFW pilots.

They now have roughly 200 pilots. Next winter Sunwing plans of having 37 aircraft. They plan that five to six of those will be wet leases with European crews. That means that they need to crew at least 31 aircraft with "Canadian" crews (and licences: hint hint TC).

They need at the very least 12 pilots per aircraft during the high season. To crew 31 aircraft they would need a minimum of 372 pilots. They thus need to hire and train about 172 pilots over what they have now. They have six months to do that. You would think that with such high requirements and such a short time frame, that they would have kept all of the temporary 2013/2014 pilots on staff and began hiring and training instead of laying off ?

But no. They furloughed. And they are only hiring next August. Maybe. They will hire and train some 50 "seasonal" pilots and use these to demonstrate to ESDC that they made a "reasonable" effort to hire and train Canadians. And they will import 120 TFW pilots in addition to the 80 to 90 European pilots that will be in Canada flying the 5 to 6 aircraft Sunwing plans to wet lease. So next winter, we can expect Sunwing to have maybe 250 Canadian pilots and about 210 foreign pilots.

Because the real plan is to crew the extra aircraft with TFW that they will manhandle the government into approving. Again.

[Rogerdodger2]

But no. They furloughed. And they are only hiring next August. Maybe. They will hire and train some 50 "seasonal" pilots and use these to demonstrate to ESDC that they made a "reasonable" effort to hire and train Canadians. And they will import 120 TFW pilots in addition to the 80 to 90 European pilots that will be in Canada flying the 5 to 6 aircraft Sunwing plans to wet lease. So next winter, we can expect Sunwing to have maybe 250 Canadian pilots and about 210 foreign pilots.
.

Again, not one pilot was furloughed.
SW is hiring in Aug for the reasons in my last post.
Again, more Gilles fiction to fit his anti competition agenda.

Interesting he ignores my last post which completely destroys his made up reasons for SWs business decisions. He'll say its because he doesn't "like" my my posts so he ignores me. I say it's because I challenge him to stop posting fiction and I tell it like it truly is.

SW has hired more pilots then any other charter company over the last two years and will hire 50 more this summer. SW not good for Canadians?????? Or not good for Transat #Gilles?

Like I said before, don't blindly follow because he says so. Think. He's been caught in clear lies with his last two posts. Blatant outright lies and untruths and passes it on as fact.

[FL320]

SW has hired more pilots then any other charter company over the last two years and will hire 50 more this summer.

To the Transat 37 drivers, when you get your layoff, SW will gladly take you. It's coming...

Rogerdoger2,
You know that this year they managed to avoid any layoff thanks to a very last minute aproval from the Czech CAA. However way will happen to these 50 new seasonal pilots and some of the permanent pilots in 2015? You know that the new JAA rule says that you can get an aproval for a year and then extend for an other year if you prove that you are studying the JAA ATPL exams. If Sunwing does not change its model, I really wonder what's gonna happen in 2015, and 2016. They won't be able to send anyone in Europe, as you know that no pilot (or very few) will manage (or want) to pass the JAA conversion. And then it will also be very hard to justify TFW...
The future of Sunwing does not really look better than Transat as a pilot point of vue...

[aerosexual]

Gilles, it is in very poor taste to be posting internal memos for the public to see. Whomever is supplying you with this information hopefully feels you have breached their confidence, and frankly they should be ashamed if that is not the case. It is one thing to paraphrase what an internal memo states, it is entirely different to post it online for all to see. You bring valid arguments to the table, but you lose credibility with your lack of tact and professionalism.

If you care as much about Canadian jobs as you state, then you will respect the fact that Sunwing has approximately 210 permanent pilots plus the above mentioned Canadian seasonal pilots, all of which have very competitive terms and conditions. You will also understand that the foreign pilots coming to work for Sunwing are not here because they are "cheap labour". Quite the contrary, these pilots are being very well compensated for being here. It is true that the training resources are limited, and they can only pump out a finite amount of newly hired pilots plus train internal upgrades. The reality is that with bringing in the foreign pilots it allows the opportunity to deploy some Canadian pilots who actually enjoy the prospects of deployment, and appreciate that more permanent pilots are able to remain on the roster. I know you have a loyal following that believe what you say is completely factual, and therefore think Sunwing is the scum of Canadian operators, but I can assure you that the vast majority of pilots at Sunwing feel differently about their jobs.

The last thing for you to consider Gilles, is that if you are smart, you will want Sunwing to remain a competitor. Sunwing pilots are well compensated. If Sunwing Airlines ceases to exist, then the lift will be provided by a new airline with far lower terms and conditions. Perhaps Sky Regional or Air Georgian will fill the void. As a well paid Air Transat pilot, if I were you I'd rather have Sunwing as a benchmark than Sky Regional or Air Georgian. Be very careful what you wish for Gilles, and be very careful how you play your games.