+TSRA, I appreciate your precious input. I am not discarding your opinion. Based on your experience, you are correct. Who am I to tell you otherwise ?! I just hope you would be more open to the idea that your reality might not be mine. You can’t just bash someone’s opinion based on what you know. Or think you know. As training Capt in an airline, you should know that, it is basic CRM 101 ! Or is there only 1 authority gradient in your company ? “ as Capt I m right and you are wrong !” Luckily for me I dont have to fly with you ahahahah
What CG was asking: as heli pilot, with no FW licence (understand a fresh CPL-A), do I have a chance to join WJ or AC? The answer is NO. CG never asked if after 5 years as FI on a 172, or flying for a regional, he would get granted access to the majors. He said, based on my current experience and a CPL-A, do I have a chance with AC or WJ.... and the answer is No. How do I know ???? After all, you are the one involved in recruitment in your company, right ? Not me.
Well, first of all, the requirement for AC or WJ are between 1000 and 2000 hours FW. Not helicopter. Regardless your TT. And 2nd, I was on the other side of the table, being the heli applicant to a FW position... me and Several of my colleagues. All of us in the aviation business for many years, all with ATPL-H AND either CPL-A ME-IR (IATRA) or ATPL-A. All of us with thousands of hours as ME PIC, glass cockpit, multi crew. Very similar to what CG is mentioning. Some of us with thousands of hours FW (ME-PIC) on top of our heli time. All of us applied to the airlines last fall when things were uncertain in our company. We applied at many 704 and 705 throughout the country. And guess what ? Amongst all my applications, only 1 biz jet guy on the west coast contacted me because we had a friend in common. Other than that, I was told “impressive resume but not what we are looking for”, “thank you but no thanks” and XX did not even let me apply because I did not have 1,000 ME FW. The majority of operators did not even bother answering my application. That is how I know that your reality is not THE reality.
Due to the 2000hrs FW requirement, I did not bother applying to AC but my good friend did. Young fellow, APTL-H and A, 10K TT, 4000hrs FW ME PIC with recommendation from an internal employee and guess what ? More than a year has past and he has not heard a thing. So, as training guy and person involved in recruitment, please enlighten me on that...
If companies are so desperate like you mention, why are the majority of operators ignoring perfectly qualified guys with lots of experience (and no, we are not old folks on the edge of retirement or only good at flying a load at the end of a cable)....? and if a CP sees our potential, why do we have to refuse the offer ? I was offered 1/3 of my current salary from the jet guy on the west coast. With 8000 hours experience and a family to take care of, I should not have to be a bartender on week-ends and evenings to put food on the table and pay for my rent. Would you agree ? And that is probably part of the dilemma raised by CG in his question. And part of the reason why airlines can’t find experienced crew.
On an side note, as you can see I am not on your side of the pond anymore. I met many low time guys in Europe flying 737 and A320. I was ashamed to tell them that the salary offered to me in Canada on jet with my 8000hrs experience was not even half their salary as 250 hrs wonder in Europe. And no, airfare in EU is not double the price. In fact I fly from London to Greece (4+hrs flight for $100-$150 return) when YYZ to YVR cost me 5-7 times more. Something to consider......
Because I am open minded and willing to meet you half way, I will reiterate what I said in the past: you are not incorrect when you say that airlines do hire “low times”. But it come with a price to pay. So here is my suggestion:, since you are very close from the hiring process and the airlines are so desperate, I would suggest that you send Canuck Guy a pm and invite him for an interview. offer him a decent salary too
That would kill 2 birds with 1 stone: give CG some hope for the future, and stop this ridiculous conversation we are having because at the end of the day, there is nothing that I would love more than for you to prove me that I was wrong !
Best regards. Over...