I am a flight instructor in the US and looking to take the next step in my career. I don't have the requirements for an ATP or the restricted version so I can't work for US airlines and I'm starting to look north. I have been doing some research about if you can act as an FO at a Canadian airline with a commercial license or if you need an ATP now like the US. From what I have found you can act as an FO with a commercial license, but was wondering if anyone who has experience with the CAR's had anymore information about this subject. Thanks for your help.
Canadian Airline rules
- Thread starter seisel
- Start date
Nark
Macho Superpilot
You need about 3-4 x the amount of hours/experience to work at a comparable regional in Canada.
You also need to take a written exam, IATRA in order to act as copilot. Also, copilot hours only count for half towards ATPL.(someone else can dive into it further for you). @chris @mattc206
Short story long, you will have an easier time building hours and flying a shiny jet here in the US, than in Canada.
You also need to take a written exam, IATRA in order to act as copilot. Also, copilot hours only count for half towards ATPL.(someone else can dive into it further for you). @chris @mattc206
Short story long, you will have an easier time building hours and flying a shiny jet here in the US, than in Canada.
Last edited:
CirrusMonkey
No Real Usefulness
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
I'd bet we'll be in the same boat here within a few years. It being ICAO and all.
Pachong
Well-Known Member
I bet you're right. Some US airport made me do that the other day actually. I was like "Not in my land, red man."
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
surreal1221
Well-Known Member
Lol...
mattc206
Well-Known Member
The below is copied from another forum, a posting on how to get a job in Canada. In Canada the typical regional pilot on interview has AT LEAST 2000-3000 hours and some MPIC command time in a twin (Some are college grads with a fancy bridge program from selected universities tho), this is for Dash 8/ATR type jobs with Jazz, Porter, Skyregional (aka the Go Jets of Canada), First Air, Canadian North. If you are thinking of Western Canada charter market it's even tougher due to customer requirements (e.g 1500 hours /500 multi to sit cojoe in a 1900), there are exceptions to that of course but the guys that get hired with lower hours typically have worked in the companies dispatch or ramp departments.
@Nark is correct, one can in theory fly anything 2 crew from a 1900 to a A380 in Canada with a bare CPL and a IATRA exam. Does it happen? No. Companies that hire here that are classified as regionals typically require a full ATPL before they will even look at your application. As well as time spent as Co-pilot in a 2 pilot op is counted on a 50% basis towards the ATPL, the law may be changing on that soon but that's been said years.
1) Have the legal right to work in Canada. This is an absolute show stopper. If you don't have this prior to seeking a job, you will not get a job, end of story!
2) Have a CANADIAN COMMERCIAL pilots license. Again, this is a showstopper if you want to be a pilot in Canada. This includes necessary Canadian ratings for the type of flying you wish to do (ie: floats, multi, IFR etc) and IATRA exam written
3) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! This clearly needs to be stated more than once.
4) Understand the climate, size and remoteness of Canada and whether it's suitable to your needs/desires. Generally time building jobs will be far far away from the amenities and lifestyle you may be accustomed too.
5) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! Yup, said it again, just to be crystal clear!
6) Know the hiring cycles in Canada. Ie: float operators will not generally need pilots in December
7) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! If you haven't already got the point, there is no helping you. I am not here to tell you how to get that, figure it out yourself and do the legwork.
8) understand that aviation is a small industry in Canada, everyone knows someone who knows someone. If you screw over one person to get ahead, you will pay for it severly in the future of your career.
9) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! Got it yet?
10) There is a very minute chance you will ever get hired by emailing resumes. In Canada, employers value Face to face time and a handshake.
11) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! Still don see what I'm getting at?
12) IF YOU OFFER TO PAY FOR YOUR TRAINING YOU WILL BE BLACKLISTED, see point 8
13) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! Self explanatory? I thought so too, but reading so many previous posts, I am clearly wrong!
14) IF YOU OFFER TO WORK FOR FREE FOR THE EXPERIENCE, this is not only illegal but immoral, see point 8 and 12
15) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA!!!
16) Employers value experience in Canada. There are literally hundreds of Canadian 200-500hr wonders who all think they deserve the job ahead of you, rightfully so, with significantly fewer openings available than applicants for entry level positions especially. You face an uphill battle in convincing an employer that they should hire a foreign applicant over a Canadian, but if you are thinking you can offer to work for less or save the company some training money, see points 8, 12, and 14
17). HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA!!!
Hope this helps.
@Nark is correct, one can in theory fly anything 2 crew from a 1900 to a A380 in Canada with a bare CPL and a IATRA exam. Does it happen? No. Companies that hire here that are classified as regionals typically require a full ATPL before they will even look at your application. As well as time spent as Co-pilot in a 2 pilot op is counted on a 50% basis towards the ATPL, the law may be changing on that soon but that's been said years.
1) Have the legal right to work in Canada. This is an absolute show stopper. If you don't have this prior to seeking a job, you will not get a job, end of story!
2) Have a CANADIAN COMMERCIAL pilots license. Again, this is a showstopper if you want to be a pilot in Canada. This includes necessary Canadian ratings for the type of flying you wish to do (ie: floats, multi, IFR etc) and IATRA exam written
3) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! This clearly needs to be stated more than once.
4) Understand the climate, size and remoteness of Canada and whether it's suitable to your needs/desires. Generally time building jobs will be far far away from the amenities and lifestyle you may be accustomed too.
5) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! Yup, said it again, just to be crystal clear!
6) Know the hiring cycles in Canada. Ie: float operators will not generally need pilots in December
7) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! If you haven't already got the point, there is no helping you. I am not here to tell you how to get that, figure it out yourself and do the legwork.
8) understand that aviation is a small industry in Canada, everyone knows someone who knows someone. If you screw over one person to get ahead, you will pay for it severly in the future of your career.
9) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! Got it yet?
10) There is a very minute chance you will ever get hired by emailing resumes. In Canada, employers value Face to face time and a handshake.
11) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! Still don see what I'm getting at?
12) IF YOU OFFER TO PAY FOR YOUR TRAINING YOU WILL BE BLACKLISTED, see point 8
13) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA! Self explanatory? I thought so too, but reading so many previous posts, I am clearly wrong!
14) IF YOU OFFER TO WORK FOR FREE FOR THE EXPERIENCE, this is not only illegal but immoral, see point 8 and 12
15) HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA!!!
16) Employers value experience in Canada. There are literally hundreds of Canadian 200-500hr wonders who all think they deserve the job ahead of you, rightfully so, with significantly fewer openings available than applicants for entry level positions especially. You face an uphill battle in convincing an employer that they should hire a foreign applicant over a Canadian, but if you are thinking you can offer to work for less or save the company some training money, see points 8, 12, and 14
17). HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK IN CANADA!!!
Hope this helps.
flyinggreasemnky
Well-Known Member
You already have to preflight in a vest at SAT. They are the only airport state side that does that I know of though.
Autothrust Blue
"Those are your factual recollections, Captain?"
American Eagle required a ramp vest. SkyWest crews preflighting airplanes branded as Beagle have to wear them too.
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
Autothrust Blue
"Those are your factual recollections, Captain?"
chris
Well-Known Member
You need the right to work in Canada, without it you're wasting effort.
In some cases, it can be "easier" to find work here if you're qualified. I was hired at Jazz back in 2008 with just under 2000hrs, then hired onto an A330 with 4100hrs. I have friends who were hired at Air Canada with as little as 2700hrs. I was hired at Air Canada with about 4500hrs about 2 yrs ago, but subsequently turned the job down.
If you're starting out and had the right to work in both countries, you'd probably advance quicker in the USA initially. Otherwise, just apply to all the big airlines you want to work for and go to the first one who calls you, whether it's in Canada or USA
In some cases, it can be "easier" to find work here if you're qualified. I was hired at Jazz back in 2008 with just under 2000hrs, then hired onto an A330 with 4100hrs. I have friends who were hired at Air Canada with as little as 2700hrs. I was hired at Air Canada with about 4500hrs about 2 yrs ago, but subsequently turned the job down.
If you're starting out and had the right to work in both countries, you'd probably advance quicker in the USA initially. Otherwise, just apply to all the big airlines you want to work for and go to the first one who calls you, whether it's in Canada or USA
Thank you for all of the insight. I have around a 1000 hours TT and about 300 hours of ME time. It sounds like I don't have the hours to fly for a Canadian airline. As far as the climate and all of that jazz I have lived in the northern US all of my life and love the snow and winter. But If I am looking to do something other then flight instruct do you have any suggestions for me?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Seggy
Well-Known Member
Do you have a right to work in Canada?
ChasenSFO
hen teaser
Like so many have said here, it is VERY hard to get the work rights in Canada. I seriously considered moving to YVR with my ex and flying in the Great White North. Then I found out I had to spend years working an approved NAFTA trade like plumbing before I could be legal for permanent residency and working as a CFI there. That along with all the other hoops, I decided it wasn't worth it.
Another thing to remember, Canada is huge, but not densely populated. There are only 2 big scheduled airlines up there, Westjet and Air Canada. Most of the other largeish airlines are mostly charter with some seasonal recurring routes. As far as hubs go, there are only a handful of "real" ones(YYZ, YUL, YVR, YYC, YOW, YEG) in the entire country. There are a few more, but I'll stop there since most of those mentioned hub operations for WS and AC don't even match up to what many US majors consider a focus city operations wise. The pickings are so slim on most of their Hub-Spoke routes that they're fighting tooth and nail. When the regionals started to explode here, Canada was looking great with Air Canada mainline flying CRJ-200s and with E170s on order(sans the fact Jazz was flying large Bae-146's). But things changed. My ex worked for Air Canada, nice people, but not a happy bunch. They were getting screwed pretty badly and progressively. For Air Canada, do some research on Skyregional and the CRJ-705 and see why they came to be. For Westjet, look at Encore and take a guess how long Westjet is going to be flying mostly its own mainline 737s between cities until those Dash-8s start creeping into the hubs. The grass isn't always greener. Though the pay and the people are pretty nice up there if you do make it, and pilots seem to be better respected.
Just know what you're getting into.
Another thing to remember, Canada is huge, but not densely populated. There are only 2 big scheduled airlines up there, Westjet and Air Canada. Most of the other largeish airlines are mostly charter with some seasonal recurring routes. As far as hubs go, there are only a handful of "real" ones(YYZ, YUL, YVR, YYC, YOW, YEG) in the entire country. There are a few more, but I'll stop there since most of those mentioned hub operations for WS and AC don't even match up to what many US majors consider a focus city operations wise. The pickings are so slim on most of their Hub-Spoke routes that they're fighting tooth and nail. When the regionals started to explode here, Canada was looking great with Air Canada mainline flying CRJ-200s and with E170s on order(sans the fact Jazz was flying large Bae-146's). But things changed. My ex worked for Air Canada, nice people, but not a happy bunch. They were getting screwed pretty badly and progressively. For Air Canada, do some research on Skyregional and the CRJ-705 and see why they came to be. For Westjet, look at Encore and take a guess how long Westjet is going to be flying mostly its own mainline 737s between cities until those Dash-8s start creeping into the hubs. The grass isn't always greener. Though the pay and the people are pretty nice up there if you do make it, and pilots seem to be better respected.
Just know what you're getting into.
Last edited:
Similar threads
