Pilot Hiring in Canada

D

Dreampilot

Well-Known Member
Hey I was just wondering if anyone had any information about the airline industry in canada. Can a US citizen fly for a candadian airline. If anybody has any experience with that it would be great. THanks
 
The rules in Canada are the same as in the USA for being able to work
in Canada.
You must have a right to work here.

1) Canadian Citizen
2) Landed Immigrant
3) Work Visa
4) Marry some canadian....


Now if you wish to convert to Canadian ratings it is as follows...

1) Go to a Canadian transport office to get a private pilot license
based on your FAA rating.
2) Take your commercial written exam. Fly with an instructor to
get signed off for the flight test. A 172 is all that you have to fly.
3) Take the Instrument exam. Fly with instructor and take the
flight test.....This time in a Twin.

Now you have a commercial multi, group one instrument.
Now you can apply and work at a canadian company. As long as
you have a right to work in Canada.

There you have it :). I was actually looking into this (I got this from someone who did it) because my significant other is canadian. I wouldn't do it to go fly for a regional in CAN, but flying for Air Canada would be sweet.

I'm also looking into Qantas, the process and requirements look similar down under.
 
When I flew up to YUL, the FA told me both the pilots were Americans. I don't know if they migrated up to Canada or if they are still American citizens.
 
Unless you have a significant reason to come to Canada to fly (family, lots of time, ect.) I would not suggest it. Currently things are moving fairly well here but it is still very difficult for a low timer. Unless you are instructing or very lucky you are looking at having to work the ramp for a company usually up north for about a year before they put you into a flying postition. Instructors generally, after about 1500 hours can get a job in a king air or maybe a 1900. A/C Jazz (our main regional) takes guys with 5000 hours to fly dash 8s and rj's. Quite different from the 1500 it takes most of you guys. Now if you already have some time and jet experience AC is doing a lot of hiring. They range from 3000 hours to 10,000 hours (they're more looking for the person and the type of experience), 3000 hours would most likely be someone that already has alot of jet time.
If you're still interested I would suggest www.avcanada.ca and take a look at their forums. Just don't let some of the bitterness discourage you. Any other questions about the industry up here feel free to ask.
Chris
 
Under the NAFTA agreement you could get a work visa easily as long as you come under one of the professions as outlined in the agreement.
As far as I know, pilots unfortunately do not fall under that category, if you were a nurse, doctor or even a cook.....you would be eligible, that goes the same for a canadian pilot trying to work in the U.S, You have to have a greencard or citizenship to work for a commercial operator.

To get a temperory work visa in canada, an employer has to show HRDC(Human resources and development of canada) that there are no qualified individuals available in canada for a given position, it has to be posted in media for a certain amount of time and then if no qualified individuals are found then the employer may provide you with a job letter which you take to HRDC to be approved before you apply for your work authorization at Immigration Canada.
It's pretty much the same for the U.S

Pilot Hiring in canada is picking up, but again the regional's or small commercial operators having very high minimums compared to the U.S.
 
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