First Pilot job 2024 Fresh CPL

[xplane]

Hi, First time poster

Just wondering what's the pilot job outlook looking like in 2024!

I am a fresh CPL, have Multi, Finishing up IFR this week. 301h Total Time.
No IATRA

How hard would it be for me to get my first pilot job (non-instructor), if I don't mind moving? (I'm in Montreal)

I'm a naive new pilot, please be gentle hahaah

[flyinhigh]

Hard..

Haha, jk. You’re in a fortunate position right now as our industry is booming with movement and you said the key words, “don’t mind moving”.

Do a road trip north to Northern Ontario, Manitoba, etc and I’m sure you will get something.

[lowoleo22]

If you aren't interested in instructing I highly recommend aerial survey jobs (First Base Solutions, Airborne Energy, Integrated Sensing etc). Great experience, and you'll get to travel around the continent. Otherwise your best bet would be northern flying (Wasaya, Bearskin, Air Creebec) but you'd likely have to spend some time on the ramp first. It's a great time to be flying so just get your foot in the door somewhere. Best of luck!

[CaptDukeNukem]

1)Make a nice singled page resume and a good cover letter template.

2)Go to pilot career center’s website; and find a list of Canadian companies

3) send above mentioned resume and cover letter to every single one. (Make sure to edit the cover letter slightly based on the company you are applying for)

Good luck

[Loading...]

Get your IATRA and even Jazz will take you.
Not even joking, I know less qualified candidates than you that got hired recently. And no, they were from a local flight school, no fancy college or anything. However, I recommend going up North and doing some real flying first, get your PIC time before going to any airline.

[Happyflyer78]

Get your IATRA and even Jazz will take you.
Not even joking, I know less qualified candidates than you that got hired recently. And no, they were from a local flight school, no fancy college or anything. However, I recommend going up North and doing some real flying first, get your PIC time before going to any airline.

We know you’re joking, Jazz isn’t taking king air captains with ATPLs

[porcsord]

We know you’re joking, Jazz isn’t taking king air captains with ATPLs

I think you're mistaken. They are hiring king air captains, they aren't hiring you.

[xplane]

We know you’re joking, Jazz isn’t taking king air captains with ATPLs

I think you're mistaken. They are hiring king air captains, they aren't hiring you.

What I'm seeing is that they are hiring at 500h! How do I get in at 300h lol

https://www.google.com/search?q=jazz+hi ... AAAA%3D%3D

[xplane]

Hard..

Haha, jk. You’re in a fortunate position right now as our industry is booming with movement and you said the key words, “don’t mind moving”.

Do a road trip north to Northern Ontario, Manitoba, etc and I’m sure you will get something.

Thank you! Your post gives me hope! Really excited to start flying for a living!
Random question, from your experience, usually when the aviation industry is booming, how long does it last (I.e. how much time do I have to get my first job)?

[Me262]

Hard..

Haha, jk. You’re in a fortunate position right now as our industry is booming with movement and you said the key words, “don’t mind moving”.

Do a road trip north to Northern Ontario, Manitoba, etc and I’m sure you will get something.

Thank you! Your post gives me hope! Really excited to start flying for a living!
Random question, from your experience, usually when the aviation industry is booming, how long does it last (I.e. how much time do I have to get my first job)?

Until 2020 it was also booming like crazy. If you have a magic 8 ball, I'd like to use it as well

[flyinhigh]

Hard..

Haha, jk. You’re in a fortunate position right now as our industry is booming with movement and you said the key words, “don’t mind moving”.

Do a road trip north to Northern Ontario, Manitoba, etc and I’m sure you will get something.

Thank you! Your post gives me hope! Really excited to start flying for a living!
Random question, from your experience, usually when the aviation industry is booming, how long does it last (I.e. how much time do I have to get my first job)?

That’s tough, the previous boom was about 1.5 years than the recession of 08 hit. We are in a position right now where there literally are no pilots so it’ll keep going for quite sometime.

AC is forecast to stop hiring end of this year (6000 #), but than there’s still, well everyone. At Porter we still need around 600 pilots on the E2, plus the DH8 needs a couple hundred.

Transat, WJ, and everyone else still need combined a couple thousand.

So with that, I think this will continue for a few years.

[TurkeyFarmYQX]

Get your IATRA finished and the options open up a lot for you.

Montreal has a bunch of options as well if you don't want to move away.

Air Liaison, Chrono, PAL, Flightpath (and other corporate operators), Jazz, and Nolinor all have bases there and will take low time guys.

[xplane]

Get your IATRA finished and the options open up a lot for you.

Montreal has a bunch of options as well if you don't want to move away.

Air Liaison, Chrono, PAL, Flightpath (and other corporate operators), Jazz, and Nolinor all have bases there and will take low time guys.

But don't those have super high ramp time if I only have 300h. That's what I heard? Those that don't do ramp time already have 1000-2000h coming in.

[MexicanILS]

Try to get a pipeline job or something pic. Going straight to 705 fo will bottleneck you when it comes time to upgrade to left seat and you still don't have atpl requirements

[CaptDukeNukem]

Get your IATRA and even Jazz will take you.
Not even joking, I know less qualified candidates than you that got hired recently. And no, they were from a local flight school, no fancy college or anything. However, I recommend going up North and doing some real flying first, get your PIC time before going to any airline.

We know you’re joking, Jazz isn’t taking king air captains with ATPLs

Go work the ramp again. Maybe you need to throw a little
More lumber in the back of a twotter. We all know you’re trolling,

[I WAS Pez]

Jobs have always existed for low time folks... moreso now than for a very long time.

As others have said, apply to postings, but more importantly, do the road trip. Show up and shake hands - after researching the folks you're looking for a job with. That matters, a lot. Especially for the operators that take low time folks. The jobs exist, and always have.

[TurkeyFarmYQX]

Get your IATRA finished and the options open up a lot for you.

Montreal has a bunch of options as well if you don't want to move away.

Air Liaison, Chrono, PAL, Flightpath (and other corporate operators), Jazz, and Nolinor all have bases there and will take low time guys.

But don't those have super high ramp time if I only have 300h. That's what I heard? Those that don't do ramp time already have 1000-2000h coming in.

I don't understand what you mean by super high ramp time. Ramping is a scam to get cheap labour. You can skip the ramp these days. All the places I listed will take people with 250 hours. No working the ramp to prove you're desperate along with financially irresponsible.

[CaptDukeNukem]

Get your IATRA finished and the options open up a lot for you.

Montreal has a bunch of options as well if you don't want to move away.

Air Liaison, Chrono, PAL, Flightpath (and other corporate operators), Jazz, and Nolinor all have bases there and will take low time guys.

But don't those have super high ramp time if I only have 300h. That's what I heard? Those that don't do ramp time already have 1000-2000h coming in.

Summer is coming. You could always fly sky divers and get some valuable pic time. By the fall; you’d probably easily have gained 2-3 hundred hours and all PIC. This will aid you in getting your ATPL one day, and will put you at top of pile for lower time pilots at 705 Airlines

[xplane]

Hi, First time poster

Just wondering what's the pilot job outlook looking like in 2024!

I am a fresh CPL, have Multi, Finishing up IFR this week. 301h Total Time.
No IATRA

How hard would it be for me to get my first pilot job (non-instructor), if I don't mind moving? (I'm in Montreal)

I'm a naive new pilot, please be gentle hahaah

Canadian job prospects for pilots are notably positive, with Ontario showing particularly strong demand.
Therefore, the national outlook suggests a trend toward a shortage of pilots, aligning with global predictions. On the global stage, the need for pilots is underscored by forecasts from reputable sources like Boeing, indicating a requirement for 649,000 new pilots over the next 20 years to address the expanding and retiring fleet needs. This situation is further emphasized by the post-pandemic recovery of air travel demand. Therefore, given these favorable conditions and your readiness to relocate, your career prospects appear promising. Your willingness to move could indeed open up a wealth of opportunities in areas where the demand for pilots is most acute. It's an opportune time to leverage your qualifications and adaptability to secure a pilot position.

Hey! I've been applying everywhere! No call backs! Only from 1 operator in Ontario that shall not be named on this forum lol. They want me to do 3months ramp, +3months ramp during PPC on Navajo, then Full-time FO. Is it worth bitting the bullet and doing ramp time for essentially 6months?

[Don'tSink]

I believe I read North Star and Summit also do about 6 months of ramp before moving you into a right seat. Mind you that would all be turbine/multi turbine time. Personally I'd wait before committing to a ground position. The low hour jobs do exist and will come around. Keep applying, and don't give up. I too had several ramp to flight positions offered to me but I declined, took me almost 9 months of applying before I got my first job. Direct right seat Navajo. Some of my friends that took the ground position were still ramping... 12 months later!

Don'tSink

[JetBlast01]

I believe I read North Star and Summit also do about 6 months of ramp before moving you into a right seat. Mind you that would all be turbine/multi turbine time. Personally I'd wait before committing to a ground position. The low hour jobs do exist and will come around. Keep applying, and don't give up. I too had several ramp to flight positions offered to me but I declined, took me almost 9 months of applying before I got my first job. Direct right seat Navajo. Some of my friends that took the ground position were still ramping... 12 months later!

Don'tSink

I work for North Star. Although the wait time is more than stated above, it's an excellent company to work for on the ramp, with good flying opportunities. Also, rampies get paid more than new FOs in most companies.

I disagree with Don't Sink. You guys should take any opportunity you get. You could still apply somewhere else while working on the ramp, it's better than being unemployed for months. At least you have a foot in the industry. Employers look at that too, they are way more likely to hire someone that got experience on the ramp rather than a guy that rejected opportunities and been unemployed for a while.
Maybe Don'tSink was lucky. Not everyone gets a spot in 9 months. He would have worked on the ramp, he could have obtained a seat in the ATR in about the same amount of time instead of a Navajo, just saying.

[PersonPersonson]

Hi, First time poster

Just wondering what's the pilot job outlook looking like in 2024!

I am a fresh CPL, have Multi, Finishing up IFR this week. 301h Total Time.
No IATRA



How hard would it be for me to get my first pilot job (non-instructor), if I don't mind moving? (I'm in Montreal)

I'm a naive new pilot, please be gentle hahaah

Canadian job prospects for pilots are notably positive, with Ontario showing particularly strong demand.
Therefore, the national outlook suggests a trend toward a shortage of pilots, aligning with global predictions. On the global stage, the need for pilots is underscored by forecasts from reputable sources like Boeing, indicating a requirement for 649,000 new pilots over the next 20 years to address the expanding and retiring fleet needs. This situation is further emphasized by the post-pandemic recovery of air travel demand. Therefore, given these favorable conditions and your readiness to relocate, your career prospects appear promising. Your willingness to move could indeed open up a wealth of opportunities in areas where the demand for pilots is most acute. It's an opportune time to leverage your qualifications and adaptability to secure a pilot position.

Hey! I've been applying everywhere! No call backs! Only from 1 operator in Ontario that shall not be named on this forum lol. They want me to do 3months ramp, +3months ramp during PPC on Navajo, then Full-time FO. Is it worth bitting the bullet and doing ramp time for essentially 6months?

If you’re concerned with working the ramp for 6 months this might not be the industry for you…. If you can find direct entry great! But otherwise the majority of pilots put in their time either on the ramp or instructing before being handed the controls of an airplane. In previous years 1.5 to 2 years ramp time was the average. Consider yourself lucky to only have to do 6 months

[xplane]

Canadian job prospects for pilots are notably positive, with Ontario showing particularly strong demand.
Therefore, the national outlook suggests a trend toward a shortage of pilots, aligning with global predictions. On the global stage, the need for pilots is underscored by forecasts from reputable sources like Boeing, indicating a requirement for 649,000 new pilots over the next 20 years to address the expanding and retiring fleet needs. This situation is further emphasized by the post-pandemic recovery of air travel demand. Therefore, given these favorable conditions and your readiness to relocate, your career prospects appear promising. Your willingness to move could indeed open up a wealth of opportunities in areas where the demand for pilots is most acute. It's an opportune time to leverage your qualifications and adaptability to secure a pilot position.

Hey! I've been applying everywhere! No call backs! Only from 1 operator in Ontario that shall not be named on this forum lol. They want me to do 3months ramp, +3months ramp during PPC on Navajo, then Full-time FO. Is it worth bitting the bullet and doing ramp time for essentially 6months?

If you’re concerned with working the ramp for 6 months this might not be the industry for you…. If you can find direct entry great! But otherwise the majority of pilots put in their time either on the ramp or instructing before being handed the controls of an airplane. In previous years 1.5 to 2 years ramp time was the average. Consider yourself lucky to only have to do 6 months

I agree that you have to start somewhere and have to put in your time. Starting out in most jobs, you will probably need to grind it out and working conditions won't be perfect, but starting at the ramp after spending almost 60-80k in training is bullshit. This is 100% companies taking advantage of your situation and we shouldn't encourage that.

[goldeneagle]

I agree that you have to start somewhere and have to put in your time. Starting out in most jobs, you will probably need to grind it out and working conditions won't be perfect, but starting at the ramp after spending almost 60-80k in training is bullshit. This is 100% companies taking advantage of your situation and we shouldn't encourage that.

I see it quite differently. There was a time quite a number of years ago where I was CP for a small outfit, and the one tasked with hiring new pilots. I can remember one time very clearly, young fella showed up looking for that 'first job', low time person. I told him, we were fully staffed, but, definitely could use an extra set of hands around the hangar. If he took that, then, next seat open in an airplane would end up in a position to fly. Youngster declined, and left, after all he was a pilot, to good to get his hands dirty in the shop. He left an impression with me, not a good one. The very next day, after dinner one of our folks broke an arm during a softball game, suddenly we had an empty seat. Had youngster taken the offer to be a hangar gopher, that job would have lasted exactly 2 days before he was in an airplane. but he left such a good impression, I didn't even bother calling him, instead went to the resume pile.

It's been often said here, getting that first job as a low time pilot often involves being in the right place, at the right time. Working at an outfit in a non flying position is one way to end up in the right place, at the right time.

There's a lot of regulars here, long time airline types started into this industry in a non flying position, be it on a ramp, on a dock, or in a dispatch office, so they were at the right place when the right time arrived.

[‘Bob’]

I agree that you have to start somewhere and have to put in your time. Starting out in most jobs, you will probably need to grind it out and working conditions won't be perfect, but starting at the ramp after spending almost 60-80k in training is bullshit. This is 100% companies taking advantage of your situation and we shouldn't encourage that.

I see it quite differently. There was a time quite a number of years ago where I was CP for a small outfit, and the one tasked with hiring new pilots. I can remember one time very clearly, young fella showed up looking for that 'first job', low time person. I told him, we were fully staffed, but, definitely could use an extra set of hands around the hangar. If he took that, then, next seat open in an airplane would end up in a position to fly. Youngster declined, and left, after all he was a pilot, to good to get his hands dirty in the shop. He left an impression with me, not a good one. The very next day, after dinner one of our folks broke an arm during a softball game, suddenly we had an empty seat. Had youngster taken the offer to be a hangar gopher, that job would have lasted exactly 2 days before he was in an airplane. but he left such a good impression, I didn't even bother calling him, instead went to the resume pile.

It's been often said here, getting that first job as a low time pilot often involves being in the right place, at the right time. Working at an outfit in a non flying position is one way to end up in the right place, at the right time.

There's a lot of regulars here, long time airline types started into this industry in a non flying position, be it on a ramp, on a dock, or in a dispatch office, so they were at the right place when the right time arrived.

You’re missing a few things, Mr GoldenEagle.

First is that rarely does such a fortuitous interaction ever occur. In fact, quite often it’s six months to a year commitment to a ramp position before being considered for a flying position. Some places even longer.. years!

Second. Ramp does absolutely nothing to teach a pilot to be a better pilot. Flying skills atrophy and useless skills accumulate.

Finally.. it isn’t the “good old days” anymore.. thank god. Most pilots bypass this “paying your dues” BS. This has been a wonderful wake up call for lots of old timers who thought that pilots were a dime a dozen and cheap or free labour abounds.

I never worked ramp. Started flying day one as a flight instructor. Then I went up north into a flying position. Then came down south, or middle, or whatever isn’t the big smoke but still has KFC and Walmart and been doing it ever since.. not once having anyone question my work ethic or coming across anything a 30 second YouTube video couldn’t explain better than an old curmudgeon.