Ramp attendant for first job

[mike92]

Hi,
I'm currently following my commercial pilot licences (that I will probably finish around april) and I'd like to know some of the companies that hire pilots with 250 hours (IFR and Multi engine) on the ramp and give them a flying job after. Does anybody know companies in the Canada english that is doing that? If yes, how many months does it take to have a flying job

Also, I'd like to know if there are companies that hire rampie boy that doesn't speak perfectly in english. I'm from Quebec and I have a good knowlegde of english but not enough to be bilingual. I'd like to work in the Canada english to increase my english.

Thank you

[arctic_slim]

I can think of a few companies.

North Wright (Norman Wells)
Air Tindi (Yellowknife)
Summit Air (Yellowknife)
Buffalo Airways (Yellowknife, if WW2 planes are your thing)
Kenn Boreck (Calgary)
Sunwest Aviation (Calgary)
Perimeter (multiple bases)
Transwest Air (Prince Albert and a few other bases)

There is a place in High Level AB, forgot the name, they fly C206 and some other planes.
EDIT: Nor-Alta Aviation in High Level

Im sure there are many more, that's just the ones that I know of.

[MartinB]

I'll add to the list.

-Northern Air Solutions if under 500 hours (Muskoka)
-Central Mountain Air (I'm not quite sure if it's for ramp. I think it may be dispatching only. Correct me if I'm wrong)
-Air Bravo (Several Bases in Canada)
-I'm sure most of the float plane operations in Canada will do it but if you don't have a float rating, there's not much use in that.

[flyinthebug]

and a few more...

Wasaya Airways (YQT,YRL,YPL)
Northway Aviation (MB)
WAM Air (but id suggest you stay away) (MB)
Alta flights (YEG)
North Cariboo Air (BC, Alta)
Northern Thunderbird (BC)
Northstar Air (YPL)

There are several others not listed yet. Get a JP Fleet manual and start sending out your CV.

You can expect to spend anywhere from 6 months up to 2 years working the ramp. Wasaya was usually about 9-12 months depending on movement in the industry. If its a "pilots market" then your ramp time will be less...and if times are tough and minimums are high, you can be there up to 2 years. In todays climate, I would expect you would move to an airplane reasonably quick.

Best of luck in your job search.

Fly safe.

[RadicalRadial]

Word on the street is that Buffalo is currently looking for a Hay River rampie. Current movement is about 12 months on the ramp before checkout but there's lots of fight to go on as a helper in the mean time.

[the_game969]

Thanks a lot guys for all the names, I want to find a job in Quebec. Any good places? I was thinking about working for Air Inuit since I heard the promote internally.

Thanks!

[CPLMike89]

WAM Air (but id suggest you stay away) (MB)

Whats the issue with Wamair? you're aware it's under new management right?

[Kapitanov]

Thanks a lot guys for all the names, I want to find a job in Quebec. Any good places? I was thinking about working for Air Inuit since I heard the promote internally.

Thanks!

Yeah, Air Inuit used to promote internally, but they won't do it anymore unless you have the hours for. At least 500 hours and even more. In Quebec, you may get promoted internally in some companies if you were already working there before getting your pilot licenses and if people know you well, but there is nobody in Quebec that has a reputation of hiring pilots for ground positions before promoting them to pilot like Transwest or Perimeter.

Of course, you can get a ramp job with Pascan, Starlink, Air Inuit, etc. but it won't guarantee you a job as a pilot.

[willow burner]

It wont garantee you a pilot job no matter where you go. In fact, I like to say pilots are only sure of a job to their next ride or next medical.

But i know what you meant.

[notpaying]

Not that I'm against ramping or anything, but why don't you try finding a flying job straight out of school ? Ramping will keep you from flying for some time. Flying will get you flying even more. You CAN find a flying job straight out of school, not pay for it and get a good start without waiting for someone to . you a bone.

[flyinthebug]

WAM Air (but id suggest you stay away) (MB)

Whats the issue with Wamair? you're aware it's under new management right?

No I was not aware of this. I thought William was still the boss there? Guess im a bit outta date. If management/ownership has changed, it could be a well run company now. If this is the case, I retract my statement about them. I recall them as usually having 2-3 accidents a year when I was working in those parts. Good old William was a big part of the problem. If he and Cathy have retired that's great news for them and the industry.

Fly safe.

[the_game969]

That's a bummer, I was looking forward to trying Air Inuit since it was closer to home and heard that they were hiring pilot from within.

Any other good places I can try in Quebec? Sorry I'm asking here, I don't really have any contacts in the field and I would like to have a couple of plans before getting my cpl.

[Mr.Blonde]

Any other good places I can try in Quebec?

Unless you have a wife and children or a major constrain, why would you try to get started there ?! Unless, you have a bulletproof contact or want to instruct, it`s pretty hard to get started. For Air Inuit, last year I had an interview with them, and they ask at least 2 years working on the ground before they will consider you. There's way more opportunity in the rest of Canada. Left that province the same day I got my CPL, and will leave Canada the same day I will hit 3000TT

[the_game969]

Any other good places I can try in Quebec?

Unless you have a wife and children or a major constrain, why would you try to get started there ?! Unless, you have a bulletproof contact or want to instruct, it`s pretty hard to get started. For Air Inuit, last year I had an interview with them, and they ask at least 2 years working on the ground before they will consider you. There's way more opportunity in the rest of Canada. Left that province the same day I got my CPL, and will leave Canada the same day I will hit 3000TT

Thanks for the reply, I'm exploring other options but I never really left the province so I wanted to try something that I'm more familiar first. The 2 years ground doesn't really bother me since I still have at least 1 year before I get my CPL. I was just wondering if during the interview I should specify to them that I want to be a pilot or would it hurt my chance of getting hired for the ground position.

Sorry if the question seems stupid, I'm still new to all this and want to be prepared if I decide to take the Air Inuit road.

[arctic_slim]

Yeah I'd say you definitely tell them in the interview that you want to be a pilot. A lot of these places hire ramp attendants as pilots in waiting so that's what they are looking for.
Depends on the airline and job obviously, some will specify that they want pilots in waiting, some specify that they just want rampa attendants with no possibility of flying for them.

[the_game969]

Great, thanks a lot! If anybody else know of a place where I should tryout in Quebec feel free to tell me!

[lionheart27]

There is a site called pilotcareercentre.com that has alot of details on most companies in Canada and provincial too. Type in companies by region, Canada then Charters/Corporate/Medevac - Quebec
And cycle through the companies that have small aircraft ie singles light twins etc. Send in resume, they may like you. Talk to the chief Pilot, Ops Manager. Be discrete but confident and while they know you by name, send your resume, CL and REf. You never know whos hiring! With your bilingual ability you should be an asset there. If anything Trois Riverie is 99% French. Just remember you need your 4th lvl English proficiency. You have to do your on leg work. Do a road trip in Quebec to these places and meet them, there may hire you on the spot.

[flyinthebug]

Talk to the chief Pilot, Ops Manager. Be discrete but confident and while they know you by name, send your resume, CL and REf. You never know whos hiring! With your bilingual ability you should be an asset there. If anything Trois Riverie is 99% French. Just remember you need your 4th lvl English proficiency. You have to do your on leg work. Do a road trip in Quebec to these places and meet them, there may hire you on the spot.

This is the best advice yet on this thread. A road trip can be incredibly helpful when trying to land your first job. Shaking the hands of the CP and Ops Mgr means they will remember you when they are hiring, or maybe hire you on the spot as lionheart27 suggested. I have personally hired almost a dozen pilots that I met during their road trips. If I needed a Navajo FO and I liked the young man/woman who walked through the door...and they presented themselves as a team player and willing to work/earn their way up the ladder...I often hired them on the spot. That gave them as good a feeling as it gave me. Do not underestimate the power of a road trip to become employed. Its an age old tactic that still works better than any social media or email. Nothing trumps that's personal contact aspect of the hiring process. Not even Skype. You can speak to them in their own language which again, lionheart27 pointed out. Id say you would be a shoe in at places like Air Inuit.

Use your bilingual skills (which again are a huge advantage where you are seeking employment) and show them you want it, by being willing to drive 1000 kms for the opportunity to shake their hand and apply for a job. Trust me when I say, Ops Mgrs and CPs appreciate it more than you think they do.

Good luck with your future.
Fly safe. FTB