Hi,

Thought it might be useful to have an up to date thread with current approximate (or gossiped..) ramp to flight line wait times. For those of us starting out.

With Summit and Perimeter posting recently they're probably still around a year I am guessing, maybe less now?

If anyone has any info they can share that would be great. Summit, Perimeter, Transwest, CMA, NCA, Borek etc

Cheers

500

A day?

what is CMA and NCA?

Last I heard, both Perimeter and Transwest are still sitting at around the >2 years mark, while Summit is still around >1.5 years. I doubt NCA or CMA are even hiring for their low-time programs now, but if they are, it'd likely be an extremely long wait (if ever). Out of the ones you mentioned, Borek would likely be the best gig. They seem to have their guys trained at around the 1 year mark.

Your best bet would be to do a road trip to find an actual flying job first. On the way, apply to companies with ramp positions too, in case your initial search yields no results. Try stick away from the 'cookie cutter' ramp companies, as they usually attract a lot of pilots, which equates to longer wait times.

lucien_kane wrote:what is CMA and NCA?

Central Mountain Air and North Caribou Air.

Go drive to Pickle Lake and get a job with Frank Kelner at North Star/Cargo North. If you can last you'll get into the Basler right seat pretty fast. Then Caravan or PC12 right seat. Lots of great pilots have come out of that town.

Stay far, far away from CMA and NCA. The ramp wait there is non existant anymore with the downturn in the economy. You will turn over in your own grave before going flightline. Sad, but it's true.

IWANTTOFLYYIN wrote:Stay far, far away from CMA and NCA. The ramp wait there is non existant anymore with the downturn in the economy. You will turn over in your own grave before going flightline. Sad, but it's true.

What's your source?

Do you have any more info on Cargo North? There doesn't seem to be much information on this site. I guess they're fairly new?

His source is impeccable"...

His second cousin's pen pal knew a guy who lived across the street from a guy who worked there...
Cant beat that. :

Btw..I feel for you young guys who take all that training and then set your sights on working on the ramp...A dreadful situation when companies take advantage of it.

fpsbc wrote:

IWANTTOFLYYIN wrote:Stay far, far away from CMA and NCA. The ramp wait there is non existant anymore with the downturn in the economy. You will turn over in your own grave before going flightline. Sad, but it's true.

What's your source?

I've heard similar from pilots who work there. As pilots (CMA specifically, NCA I'm not too sure). I know a few guys at Perimeter too and they also say the wait is pretty long right now. 2+ years.

lazyeight wrote:Go drive to Pickle Lake and get a job with Frank Kelner at North Star/Cargo North

I'm pretty sure they're at Thunder Bay airport now, with just flying being done out of YPL? (Also, wouldn't guys get right seat Caravan/PC12 first?)

trey kule wrote:His source is impeccable"...

Btw..I feel for you young guys who take all that training and then set your sights on working on the ramp...A dreadful situation when companies take advantage of it.

Yeah me too

Thanks for the replies guys. I thought that the wait would be long at some of the bigger operators, even the airlines that are still busy. But you'd think with the movement to Encore and Jazz there would be a bit more movement.

2 years is a long time but you have to think about it from all angles I suppose.

Cheers

You could very easily have your ATPL within two years. Make sure you remember that.

trey kule wrote:His source is impeccable"...

His second cousin's pen pal knew a guy who lived across the street from a guy who worked there...
Cant beat that. :

Btw..I feel for you young guys who take all that training and then set your sights on working on the ramp...A dreadful situation when companies take advantage of it.

Exactly.

I'm currently flying for CMA. My wait time was 3 years. The current wait time is between 2-3.5 years... For anyone getting into the industry I would recommend going up North, or getting a surveying job (Ops Mobil etc). Most of my friends who were on the ramp when I was, quit and came back later as direct entry Captains...

YXDPilot wrote:I'm currently flying for CMA. My wait time was 3 years. The current wait time is between 2-3.5 years... For anyone getting into the industry I would recommend going up North, or getting a surveying job (Ops Mobil etc). Most of my friends who were on the ramp when I was, quit and came back later as direct entry Captains...

+1

There are countless factors affecting the time you will spend on the ramp (some you can control, many you can't) and I think the majority of those factors will have a negative impact.

What I can tell you with certainty is that in the small bit of HR work I do, an awful lot of resumes I get show guys who ramped for a company for months to years but left to do survey/instruct/drop skydivers. Think on that for a while.

I will provide the best piece of advice I have been given. Even if I may not have always followed it (regretfully which makes ot good advice)

GO WITH WHAT IS OFFERED

Apply for everything. A job that leads to a flying position is still a foot in the door and will at least give you some experience in the industry.

There is nothing preventing you from continuing to look for flying opportunties while on the ramp somewhere.

And "ramp wait times" are like the lottery, it all depends when you start they go up and down ad nauseum

Just give er shit start working keep applying and your ass will be in a seat sooner than later.

Well said ogc

I agree with most of what has been said above. Starting out is tough of course but if you can avoid the ramp I would. I never worked the ramp and started off with a very basic aerial survey job on single engine pistons getting a few hours here and there. Not much later I got hired with the same airline as other people, that have worked the ramp for two years and then spent another 2 years building some time in a Navajo or Metro, right seat. If you're of a very patient nature and got all the time in the world then I guess you can stick it out loading and grooming airplanes for a couple of years. But keep in mind that you are a qualified pilot which means you should be seeking jobs as such. Even a job on a 172 gets you more flying hours (PIC on top of that) than any ramp job.
Having said that, a friend of mine took the ramp route with Perimeter which took him just under two years and his career that followed was quite rewarding and he enjoyed every bit of it. It is a tough wait though.

ogc wrote:I will provide the best piece of advice I have been given. Even if I may not have always followed it (regretfully which makes ot good advice)

GO WITH WHAT IS OFFERED

Apply for everything. A job that leads to a flying position is still a foot in the door and will at least give you some experience in the industry.

There is nothing preventing you from continuing to look for flying opportunties while on the ramp somewhere.

And "ramp wait times" are like the lottery, it all depends when you start they go up and down ad nauseum

Just give er shit start working keep applying and your ass will be in a seat sooner than later.

Can confirm. This has worked for a lot of guys and gals, and will always work. Just get yourself in the industry, work your ass off and keep the search for a flying job going while you do!

40ET

ogc wrote: There is nothing preventing you from continuing to look for flying opportunties while on the ramp somewhere.

It's people like you that will cause employers to require bonds for ramp jobs

digits_ wrote:

ogc wrote: There is nothing preventing you from continuing to look for flying opportunties while on the ramp somewhere.

It's people like you that will cause employers to require bonds for ramp jobs

Haha, im sure they would if they could.

Perimeter as of this month 2 years in YTH not sure of YWG.