Hello everyone, just looking for some advice here,

I currently have a decent job as an B200 FO, with a nice 14\14 schedule, for a company in ywg doing medevac in the Arctic. I currently have 550 TT and 250 in the KingAir. While the job has quite good conditions (pay, per diems) I don’t fly a lot as an FO. It’s been almost 7 months since I've been there and I average about 40-50h per month. The requirement to go left seat is 1300h (1200 for the mpic) as of right now.

My ultimate goal is to go to AC, but I’m really not in a hurry and I would really like to do a couple of years flying for a regional.

So here is my question, because all the hiring of the past months will slow down for sure in the somewhat near future and I don’t want to be stuck for years flying in Arviat at -40 (although it’s fun for now), is it better for me to apply now for a regional (althought it might take a while before having an interview) and move on in 3-4 months or to stay at my company for another 2 years and have more PIC time and ATPL ?

Thanks for your help

Vincepilot wrote: ↑Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:14 pm Hello everyone, just looking for some advice here,

I currently have a decent job as an B200 FO, with a nice 14\14 schedule, for a company in ywg doing medevac in the Arctic. I currently have 550 TT and 250 in the KingAir. While the job has quite good conditions (pay, per diems) I don’t fly a lot as an FO. It’s been almost 7 months since I've been there and I average about 40-50h per month. The requirement to go left seat is 1300h (1200 for the mpic) as of right now.

My ultimate goal is to go to AC, but I’m really not in a hurry and I would really like to do a couple of years flying for a regional.

So here is my question, because all the hiring of the past months will slow down for sure in the somewhat near future and I don’t want to be stuck for years flying in Arviat at -40 (although it’s fun for now), is it better for me to apply now for Jazz\Porter (yul or yyz) and move on in 3-4 months or to stay at my company for another 2 years and have more PIC time and ATPL ?

Thanks for your help

Medevac will likely get old really quickly. Better to be stuck in another job than your current one.

But ehm...not to burst a bubble, ... you might not be a super attractive candidate with 550TT and very limited PIC. So sure, try to get another job, but it might take you a while before you get one....

Air Canada will always be there. Sadly, those who have strictly focused on the end goal seem to be the most jaded, the ones I avoid golfing with as all they do is complain about work. My recommendation is to become the master of your craft. Learn everything you can from the captains you fly with and make it your own as you grow into the left seat.

Our industry is very volatile and seems to ebb and flow in a 10 year cycle. We may or may not be near the end of this one, who knows. What I do know is some of my fondest memories are those of the north. I still recall enjoying some of the finest coffee in the Cross Lake “terminal” tuned in to the local radio station, “THIS WEEKEND NORMA AND JEAN BUSHIE WILL BE COOKING CHICKEN DINNERS. $25 FOR A PLATE BRING YOUR OWN FORK.” I believe it was some of the most enjoyable flying I have done so far and to top it off the friends I made up there are the best I have.

Like I said, Air Canada will always be there, knock on wood. Focus on your passion while honing your craft and be the pilot that we all want to golf with.

^what that guy said.

Also, I'd stay doing medevac. Get a year as captain under your belt and the rest of your career will be pretty easy.