Any Canadian ATCO here?
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: CYQT
I was one of 3 guys imported in January, I think we were the most recent. We all went VFR, me (a brit) to Thunder Bay, the other two (an Aussie & a Brit) to London, Ontario. The website keeps you at arms length but it is possible to get around the "high density control towers only" thing. I just sent an e-mail/CV to the right person asking for a shot at Nav Can. Worked for me. However that person has now left the company, don't know who's running the experienced controller program now.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: yeg
I am a controller in Edmonton. there are at least 5 or 6 imports here from all over, kiwi or 2, an couple aussies, brit, etc. currently short staffed, and all working overtime. Housing prices in this area have gone up a ton in the last few years, but still cheaper than most of europe. cold winters good summers. ppm me for more info
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Germany
Thanks for your infos. Actually I have contacted Navcanada already, they said they would be interested, BUT, they also said theres no way to get that f... security clearance. i took a few phone calls and a bit of luck to find the right person here at the embassy who is responsible to find out that it shouldn't be a problem to get that sec.clearance.
so now, knowing that on the one hand, navcanada would be interested and on the other being aware that the whole immigration thing would take a while but other than that shouldn't be a big problem, its now time to find out if working in Canada is really what I'm looking for.
That's why I was posting here. Is the job any better than in Germany? I mean, the DFS really sucks right now. They are getting prepared to be sold by the government etc.
So what are the working conditions like? What are you paid (ok, that depends - I'm working Tower (we only do the Tower business, they took away the Approach part from the Tower controllers unfortunatelly), in Germany we have a Tower rating with IFR seperation responsibilities within CTR, lots of VFR, i guess Cologne is not the busiest, but as well not the lasiest in the world).
How many hours do you work in the average?
Lots of questions before making that decision,
Christine
so now, knowing that on the one hand, navcanada would be interested and on the other being aware that the whole immigration thing would take a while but other than that shouldn't be a big problem, its now time to find out if working in Canada is really what I'm looking for.
That's why I was posting here. Is the job any better than in Germany? I mean, the DFS really sucks right now. They are getting prepared to be sold by the government etc.
So what are the working conditions like? What are you paid (ok, that depends - I'm working Tower (we only do the Tower business, they took away the Approach part from the Tower controllers unfortunatelly), in Germany we have a Tower rating with IFR seperation responsibilities within CTR, lots of VFR, i guess Cologne is not the busiest, but as well not the lasiest in the world).
How many hours do you work in the average?
Lots of questions before making that decision,
Christine
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Montréal, Canada
Welcome to Canada
Hi Christine,
I work at Montreal Center and I'm one of those Canucks who loves his country. We still have plenty of wide open spaces and we're, in general, a fairly easy going bunch.
To work in Montreal or any airport in the province of Quebec, you must be fluent in french AND english. At any other unit, the only requirement is english.
If you live away from a major urban area, expect to pay C$150,000 or so for a house. Closer to C$200,000 as you get nearer Montreal, for example, and right in the city, closer yet to C$300,000 on a much smaller lot however. You can PM me for more info on that.
We do make a decent wage although we all like to think we're underpaid and overworked.
Relations between the controllers and the company executives are fairly tense but one hopes things might calm down one day. Most towers are fairly small units with good morale and working conditions. Complex towers are the most fun though but are much bigger units with everything that that entails.
Good luck in your research,
S.A.O.
I work at Montreal Center and I'm one of those Canucks who loves his country. We still have plenty of wide open spaces and we're, in general, a fairly easy going bunch.
To work in Montreal or any airport in the province of Quebec, you must be fluent in french AND english. At any other unit, the only requirement is english.
If you live away from a major urban area, expect to pay C$150,000 or so for a house. Closer to C$200,000 as you get nearer Montreal, for example, and right in the city, closer yet to C$300,000 on a much smaller lot however. You can PM me for more info on that.
We do make a decent wage although we all like to think we're underpaid and overworked.
Relations between the controllers and the company executives are fairly tense but one hopes things might calm down one day. Most towers are fairly small units with good morale and working conditions. Complex towers are the most fun though but are much bigger units with everything that that entails.
Good luck in your research,
S.A.O.
Ohcirrej
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,919
Likes: 0
From: This is the internet FFS.........
Ah yes, the good old security clearance. It seems (note, seems) that up till recently trainees could be taken on while the security clearance was being processed and had to be finalised before checkout. Now the clearance has to be obtained before you set foot in the door.
(Check you Private Messages
)
(Check you Private Messages
)
Last edited by Jerricho; 6th October 2006 at 17:52.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Canada
You'd probably have to double that in Toronto
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: YYZ via the UK
The F in security clearance is not a problem if you apply in time...infact mine was done in less than a month.
It is the F in immigration that takes F in ages!!
My German colleague in Toronto is still being messed around and it has been over 4 years now I think!
It is the F in immigration that takes F in ages!!
My German colleague in Toronto is still being messed around and it has been over 4 years now I think!
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: YUL
I am going for intiial testing with Navacanada soon (I am a Canadian and a Brit, but lived in Canada all my life), and I have spent a fair time poking around their websites as well as many sites such as this. I have also done a tower visit, and met with one of the main tower control trainers. Here is what I have taken from all these sources:
NavCanada is in a bit of a weird situation right now. When they were a government organization, they had a huge hiring binge between 1965 and 1975. As a result, out of the 2200 or so controllers, many of them are coming up on retirement. This is particularly true in the towers, somewhat less so in the IFR but still an issue. The percentage of employees over 55 is fairly high in some of the centers. Say again Over can surely comment on this.
At the tower I visited, they were looking at over 50% retirements in the next 5 years, and often sooner (because of an interesting buyout deal to get people to leave... which is sort of weird).
If you check the NavCanada business plan (2005-2008) they make a very VERY vague reference to this issue, but it was indicated to me to be a much bigger issue than they let on. Further, it was indicated to me that the ability to train is being outstripped by the demand. In the most recent labor contract, training of new IFR staff has been moved from Cornwall Ontario directly to the centers themselves. Some people suggest this is to open up more space so that more VFR controllers can be trained at that facility (more classes).
2005 saw 70 or so new IFR, and 2006 was set for over 200 IFR students. There was no indications for 2007, but it appeared to be on an up curve. Apparently the IFR centers in Winnipeg and Edmonton are still somewhat understaffed, and while NavCan states they are at 105% staffing, the reality in the field seems to be that overtime is there for the asking because of fairly clear shortages in some areas.
As Say Again Over mentioned, if you want to work in Quebec, well, you need to be at bare minimum spoken word bilingual (english french), with reading near the top as well. Montreal and Quebec City are both nice places to live and relatively cheap (when compared to Toronto, Vancouver, or the current stupid housing situation in Calgary), but that requirement makes it more difficult. It should be pointed out that because the requirement is to be fluent in english to work at NavCanada, they appear to have a harder time getting recruits out of Quebec.
If you are looking to cross over, check out their website and follow the deal. The timing will only get better in the next 24 months, as the retirement bump pushed NavCanada to take bigger steps to fill their gaps.
Alex
NavCanada is in a bit of a weird situation right now. When they were a government organization, they had a huge hiring binge between 1965 and 1975. As a result, out of the 2200 or so controllers, many of them are coming up on retirement. This is particularly true in the towers, somewhat less so in the IFR but still an issue. The percentage of employees over 55 is fairly high in some of the centers. Say again Over can surely comment on this.
At the tower I visited, they were looking at over 50% retirements in the next 5 years, and often sooner (because of an interesting buyout deal to get people to leave... which is sort of weird).
If you check the NavCanada business plan (2005-2008) they make a very VERY vague reference to this issue, but it was indicated to me to be a much bigger issue than they let on. Further, it was indicated to me that the ability to train is being outstripped by the demand. In the most recent labor contract, training of new IFR staff has been moved from Cornwall Ontario directly to the centers themselves. Some people suggest this is to open up more space so that more VFR controllers can be trained at that facility (more classes).
2005 saw 70 or so new IFR, and 2006 was set for over 200 IFR students. There was no indications for 2007, but it appeared to be on an up curve. Apparently the IFR centers in Winnipeg and Edmonton are still somewhat understaffed, and while NavCan states they are at 105% staffing, the reality in the field seems to be that overtime is there for the asking because of fairly clear shortages in some areas.
As Say Again Over mentioned, if you want to work in Quebec, well, you need to be at bare minimum spoken word bilingual (english french), with reading near the top as well. Montreal and Quebec City are both nice places to live and relatively cheap (when compared to Toronto, Vancouver, or the current stupid housing situation in Calgary), but that requirement makes it more difficult. It should be pointed out that because the requirement is to be fluent in english to work at NavCanada, they appear to have a harder time getting recruits out of Quebec.
If you are looking to cross over, check out their website and follow the deal. The timing will only get better in the next 24 months, as the retirement bump pushed NavCanada to take bigger steps to fill their gaps.
Alex
