The Air Canada OTS thread

[Vile Weed]

I've got 3200 TT (including 1500 777 SO), 1400 King Air FO, Aviation Diploma, but only 250 PIC. Do I have any chance at all with Air Canada?

Realistically, no.

You need some 705 time. For you the fastest way to AC would likely be swoop or flair FO. AC likes seeing ppl get through at least one 705 course in Canada and a bit of operational experience. Your 777 stuff might help but hard to say.

Ok, thanks!

[RockSalty]

I've got 3200 TT (including 1500 777 SO), 1400 King Air FO, Aviation Diploma, but only 250 PIC. Do I have any chance at all with Air Canada?

Realistically, no.

You need some 705 time. For you the fastest way to AC would likely be swoop or flair FO. AC likes seeing ppl get through at least one 705 course in Canada and a bit of operational experience. Your 777 stuff might help but hard to say.

705 time isn’t a hard requirement, I know some 703 skippers making the move to AC at around the 3000 hour mark with no time in anything bigger than a king air

[negroni]

It's very much the exception. If they can get on great, just don't count on it and in the meantime look at ways to make yourself more marketable.

[canadian_aviator_4]

It's very much the exception. If they can get on great, just don't count on it and in the meantime look at ways to make yourself more marketable.

Couldn’t agree more. People seem to assume the exception is the norm.

[Outlaw58]

It's very much the exception. If they can get on great, just don't count on it and in the meantime look at ways to make yourself more marketable.

Couldn’t agree more. People seem to assume the exception is the norm.

Late to the party but yeah... I totally agree.

58

[Vile Weed]

Thanks to everyone who chipped in. Should I prioritize 705, or more PIC?

[negroni]

705.

AC cares more about 705 pic anyways. IMO if I were in your shoes I'd be applying at Flair, Swoop and AT. But still apply at AC of course.

[Rooster69]

Thanks to everyone who chipped in. Should I prioritize 705, or more PIC?

I wouldn’t be taking career advice from people using aliases on a public forum. If you personally do not know any AC pilots, ask around, there are many pilots who will talk with you.

[negroni]

And those pilots will tell him the same thing. 3k hours 703, it's time to make the jump to 705. Or at minimum 704 CA at a place like Bearskin Pasco or Wasaya.

[Col. Panic]

There was a time when they hired a fair number of people with only 703 time. It seems to be much more rare in recent years… but there have been more than a few hired recently while the ink was still wet on their B737 type rating from one of the 705 carriers.

But as we have all seen the music stop with little notice, don’t take a job that you’re not willing to stick at, if everything grinds to a halt for a little while.

[sportingrifle]

There is no definitive answer to this question because at this point AC is trying to hire from as diverse a group of pilots as possible, subject to the distortions caused by the PML. Hiring from a single stream, any stream, creates problems. High time B1900 captains often struggle with an initial training course, especially on fly by wire FMS equipped aircraft. Sharp kids who have spend all their short careers in the right seat of a 705 airplane often have an easier time initially, but have a miserable track record when attempting a command upgrade a few short years later. Military pilots also tend to have their strengths and weaknesses. For many years being bilingual was pretty much irrelevant. Not sure now but with our new focus on language it may help a little.

The most desirable candidate would have tons of 705 PIC time, in a fly by wire FMS equipped airplane, ETOPS experience, an engineering degree, and be bilingual. Those applications are getting a little thin, but the closer you get to that bar, the better your chances. On top of all of this, the most important thing is not what you are flying, but what kind of a pilot are you, and what kind of a long term employee you will be. Very difficult things to determine but something the airline is becoming acutely aware of. Good references, both internal and external, help here.

There is no wrong answer. A true professional continually furthers their knowledge, experience, and skills. Keep doing that and you will have a long and rewarding career.

[schnitzel2k3]

The most desirable candidate would have tons of 705 PIC time, in a fly by wire FMS equipped airplane, ETOPS experience, an engineering degree, and be bilingual.

Too bad initial pay is signaling they want to hire Starbucks baristas. But you pointed out the result - thinning of experience.

[CPT.HarshColdReality]

Anybody know if calls going out for Dec 7th PIT. Wether it's jazz or OTS..

[canadian_aviator_4]

The most desirable candidate would have tons of 705 PIC time, in a fly by wire FMS equipped airplane, ETOPS experience, an engineering degree, and be bilingual.

Too bad initial pay is signaling they want to hire Starbucks baristas. But you pointed out the result - thinning of experience.

Looks like it may come to the case where Jazz hires have more experience than OTS.

[kiaszceski]

Reminds me of another regional company...

[a2btrail]

PIT Class starting today Nov 16

Class of 40. 20 OTS and 20 JAZZ.

[canadian_aviator_4]

Wow, still so few jazz, considering how far hiring is behind for jazz.

[Tbayer2021]

Mind blowing how after the almost 3 years at this point, pilots still don't understand that companies will wipe their a$$es with the contract when they see fit. Talk about battered wife mentality.

[canadian_aviator_4]

Relax. Just pointing out a numerical anomaly. Mind blowing is just to accept it as the norm in Canada. That’s really depressing.

[schnitzel2k3]

Mind blowing how after the almost 3 years at this point, pilots still don't understand that companies will wipe their a$$es with the contract when they see fit. Talk about battered wife mentality.

Gotta beat them up like a vienna schnitzel. Only then will working for AC feel like an 'upgrade'.