Hello all, I have recently been looking into a possible career in the air traffic field, and was looking over the navcanada website about the selection process and what the training program entails and have a qustion!

It says for example that there is an unpaid classroom course for up to 6 months, now i am just curious as to how someone survives for 6 months without any income coming in?

Is there some sort of financial assistance available, or is it possible to collect unemployment insurance while in the classroom?

Thanks

Can be longer than 6 months depending on stream and specialty (can also be quicker, depending on the same variables).

I'm coming up on 8 months, will be 9 by the time I get paid if the course continues to go well.

EDIT:
To clarify...
FSS tends to be approximately 4 months unpaid.
Tower tends to be about 5-6 months unpaid.
IFR tends to be 8-12 months unpaid.

To answer your other questions...

Highflyinpilot wrote:It says for example that there is an unpaid classroom course for up to 6 months, now i am just curious as to how someone survives for 6 months without any income coming in?

I saved up about 10k prior to the course starting, and somehow convinced the banks to give me another 10k. On top of that, I've lived extremely frugally.

It is technically possible to work a part time job while training - the schedule they put you on is quite predictable. I would recommend against it unless you really need to though. It wouldn't be wise to fail off the course because you were exhausted from your bartending shift the night before, or didn't have time to study because you were waiting tables.

Highflyinpilot wrote:Is there some sort of financial assistance available, or is it possible to collect unemployment insurance while in the classroom?

Student loans / lines of credit and similar are not available because Nav Canada is not a registered post secondary institution.

The vast majority of students are ineligible for EI while training. Technically you can be eligible if you successfully jump through all of the hoops (I'm told it includes interviews, being recommended for the training, and other random govt BS). I was ineligible because I quit my job to do the training - you need to be laid off to even start the process.

Highflyinpilot wrote:It says for example that there is an unpaid classroom course for up to 6 months, now i am just curious as to how someone survives for 6 months without any income coming in?

You survive by being in good financial shape before you start and by minimizing expenses. We should all have a minimum of 3 months living expenses in cash, it's not that hard to bring that up to 6 months. I would recommend against taking a loan unless there's no other way. One might not pass the course and then you've really pooched yourself.

If you go the EI route, don't quit your job and you should go to the EI office now and let them know you are considering it. They will give you advice from there. I think they are working on getting accreditation with certain banks in order to get a student loan. Best is to save up beforehand and live on Kraft Dinner. After I went through I still eat Kraft Dinner (by choice), so you might as well get used to it!

Thanks everyone for your replies, it definetly sounds like a tough go thats for sure.

Ill have to put this idea on the back burner for now, or at least until i am more comfortable financially, kids are expensive

Highflyinpilot wrote:Thanks everyone for your replies, it definetly sounds like a tough go thats for sure.

Ill have to put this idea on the back burner for now, or at least until i am more comfortable financially, kids are expensive

The application process can be quite long... It took 2 and a half years from the time I started my application until I started training. As such, it might not hurt you to apply and decide whether to accept the training offer when / if it comes.