Immigration - Australia and Canada

[Whippersnapper]

I am seriously considering emigrating to either Aus or Canada and am currently researching both options. All the books and articles on this , however, don't go into detail about jobs.

Could anyone please give me any information on pilot job prospects, requirements and the general feeling of resident pilots toward full immigrant colleagues.

I am 30 and have about 3500 hrs tt, 2500 on 737 (300+700). I'd be bringing my wife and 2 very young kids, with the intention of all of us staying permanently and becoming citizens.:cool:

[SpiralDive]

For more information on flying in Canada you can try the following websites

http://www.syz.com/avcanada/forums

http://www.canadianaviation.com/

Just for comparison purposes Westjet, a low cost Easyjet/Ryanair/Southwest clone, requires 5000 TT and 2 personal recommends for consideration onto their 737 fleet. Air Canada may be a better bet,

[redsnail]

For Oz
Try Immigration (http://www.immi.gov.au)
Have a look at the Dunnunda forum. You might be ok for A Virgin Blue slot.
For the licence (http://www.casa.gov.au) see here.
Just remember that Ansett has fallen over and there are a lot of jet qual'd pilots running around.
Good luck

[Sopwith Pup]

As Redsnail said, there are a lot of 737/A320 qualified pilots over here since Ansett went down, it is very competive at present. However Qantas would look at you if you had residency status and an Aust ATPL IR, Virgin would also probably be interested. I doubt you could get residency visas, licence and job in under 8 months.
Qantas have a few Pilots from different parts of the world, there have been no attitude problems from the locals.

[Whippersnapper]

Thanks for the replies, all very useful. :)

[Tonic Please]

Hi. Regarding Canada immigration, I have been researching for quite a while, and also spoken to the Canadian Embassy / high commission.
The internet site http://canadavisa.com/english.htm is helpful, including online assesment. I will be completing, starting next year, my CPL, Multi engine, Instrument and Night rating, as it is a very good country regarding Dollar to the Pound (currently 2.32 dollars Canadian to the Great Britain Pound). However, it fluctuates around this but not by much...

Also, If you email me at [email protected] i shall email you an email I recieved from the people incharge of europeans immirgrating to Canada. it gives the most important links, so I could be your key here :D
Anyway, best of luck, but regarding pilot jobs, I know that small carriers would take you on (i'm speaking through what ive been told with your type of experience and qualification) and also tourist pilots to fly around the cities. Courier pilots would also be needed, and also flying instructors. To fly with an airline, you MUST, and I repeat MUST (as of Air Canada and other airlines based in Canada), be fluent in spoken and written French. Reading should come naturally therefor - lol.

Best of luck, and stay in touch. Also, the jobs mentioed are regarding the EAST coast i.e; Toronto, Montreal, Quebec.

Smooth skies,

Dan :)

[ehwatezedoing]

So we "must" be fluent in French to fly airlines in Canada :confused:

But sure it can be an asset if your looking to be based in Quebec province.

Unfortunately, job prospect is a bit hard for now. You just have to remember the "demise" of Royal/Canada 3000 not so long ago. On the other side, things could change by the time you get all your papers done.

Ps: no attitude problems with the locals

And may be some other stuff to lurk in the MOT (http://www.tc.gc.ca) site

[Orca strait]

To fly with an airline, you MUST, and I repeat MUST (as of Air Canada and other airlines based in Canada), be fluent in spoken and written French. Reading should come naturally therefor - lol.

No such requirement on the French fluency - certainly an asset and would recommend taking language classes if available to you - gives you a leg up on other candidates all other requirements being equal.

[Whippersnapper]

I speak enough to get by, probably could be fluent within 6 months. Sounds a bit of a worry on the job prospects - with a young family I can't afford not to stay on jets.