Which Canadian Carrier Would You Wanna Fly For?
Join Date: Jan 2000
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This thread started as a "what is the best airline to work for in Canada". In that regard...I have a question for WestJet and Air Canada pilots.
I am a CX pilot approaching mid 40's and have had enough of the ULH flying for a company that doesn't care about it's pilots. Money is no longer the prime concern. Instead it has shifted to happiness and longevity. I know I can't continue with what I'm doing till 60 but I feel it may be possible at WJ or AC.
I plan to join AC or WJ in the next 12-18 months. I am looking at perks and pay after 3-5 years and 10 years only. I couldn't careless what I flew! I accept the fact that the first 2 and maybe 3 years will be at a low salary.
WJ I understand offers ticketing for life after 10 years or age 55. What does AC offer with ticketing?
WJ has an option to work down to 50 hours which is desirable I feel for older pilots. Does AC allow this?
Other than the pay issue at AC, are you guys generally happy or happier then 2-3 years ago?
Any other comments concerning these two airlines would be apprieciated!
I am a CX pilot approaching mid 40's and have had enough of the ULH flying for a company that doesn't care about it's pilots. Money is no longer the prime concern. Instead it has shifted to happiness and longevity. I know I can't continue with what I'm doing till 60 but I feel it may be possible at WJ or AC.
I plan to join AC or WJ in the next 12-18 months. I am looking at perks and pay after 3-5 years and 10 years only. I couldn't careless what I flew! I accept the fact that the first 2 and maybe 3 years will be at a low salary.
WJ I understand offers ticketing for life after 10 years or age 55. What does AC offer with ticketing?
WJ has an option to work down to 50 hours which is desirable I feel for older pilots. Does AC allow this?
Other than the pay issue at AC, are you guys generally happy or happier then 2-3 years ago?
Any other comments concerning these two airlines would be apprieciated!
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=757484
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Gents,
I would like to know if the first and second year pay at AC is a salary or an hourly rate? Also if it is an hourly rate, is there a possibility of making more than base pay by doing extra flying? I would love to apply to AC but the first and second year pay as advertised is a huge show stopper for me. Thanks inadvance.
xtwapilot
I would like to know if the first and second year pay at AC is a salary or an hourly rate? Also if it is an hourly rate, is there a possibility of making more than base pay by doing extra flying? I would love to apply to AC but the first and second year pay as advertised is a huge show stopper for me. Thanks inadvance.
xtwapilot
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The Original Point
The original question was regarding opportunities in Canada. The thread then subsequently degenerated into a expat/nationalist pissing contest.
To the original question:
The bottom line is to always bear in mind that you might not get the job you are after. Most of us react to opportunities as they arise. If AC offers you a position before WJ, then take it, and vice versa.
Try to keep all options open - that includes advancing your qualifications to work in any and all parts of the world forwhich you are eligible. If you have a UK passport, then get a JAA license and apply to BA et al. If EM will take you as a Canadian with Canadian credentials, apply there too.
You never know when your current employment will fall apart in this fickle industry. Throughout your entire career you should be spending regular periods researching other opportunities. Its an administrative burden, but you owe it to your dependants to be ready in the event of a layoff. Never be too loyal to your employer. Always remember, its a free market.
To the original question:
The bottom line is to always bear in mind that you might not get the job you are after. Most of us react to opportunities as they arise. If AC offers you a position before WJ, then take it, and vice versa.
Try to keep all options open - that includes advancing your qualifications to work in any and all parts of the world forwhich you are eligible. If you have a UK passport, then get a JAA license and apply to BA et al. If EM will take you as a Canadian with Canadian credentials, apply there too.
You never know when your current employment will fall apart in this fickle industry. Throughout your entire career you should be spending regular periods researching other opportunities. Its an administrative burden, but you owe it to your dependants to be ready in the event of a layoff. Never be too loyal to your employer. Always remember, its a free market.
Join Date: Jan 2000
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Sandbox,
Totally agree but dont think it is necessary to start a new thread for expats.
As right now after having applied to Westjet (dont know anybody there ) and Air Canada years ago and for years.
Personally I am not interested in applying for a Canadian carrier at the moment. My answer to the question is none.
Threads do take a life of their own we are on pprune after all not a Canadian
run forum.
I do miss Canada but having been laid off and gone abroad.
Currently living in Barcelona,Spain
There seem to be a number of guys on this thread who have gone through similar stuff.
Totally agree but dont think it is necessary to start a new thread for expats.
As right now after having applied to Westjet (dont know anybody there ) and Air Canada years ago and for years.
Personally I am not interested in applying for a Canadian carrier at the moment. My answer to the question is none.
Threads do take a life of their own we are on pprune after all not a Canadian
run forum.
I do miss Canada but having been laid off and gone abroad.
Currently living in Barcelona,Spain
There seem to be a number of guys on this thread who have gone through similar stuff.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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What Airline Would You Fly For
To the person who think canada's health system sucks.. all I can say is its better then the US. Here you can have a heart attack and not have hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills, they have it backwards down there you shouldnt have to pay to see your family doctor they should be paid by the health board or the government. its wrong!
When it comes to airlines which is what this site is for, keep in mind that Canada has always had a rocky unsteady airline industry. Ive worked for two of of the few airlines here in canada and dont have anything nice to say about Air Canada, higher pay yes but they treat you like dogs. Skyservice lays off cabin crew which is my profession way to often but is a great company to work for. Westjet is hard to get into as they recieve hundreds of resumes a day. I would love to fly for Sunwing Airlines they seem to be the new upcoming thing here in toronto and they are young enough to have room to grow, their service is impecable and they deffenatley now what an airline should be.
Regards
When it comes to airlines which is what this site is for, keep in mind that Canada has always had a rocky unsteady airline industry. Ive worked for two of of the few airlines here in canada and dont have anything nice to say about Air Canada, higher pay yes but they treat you like dogs. Skyservice lays off cabin crew which is my profession way to often but is a great company to work for. Westjet is hard to get into as they recieve hundreds of resumes a day. I would love to fly for Sunwing Airlines they seem to be the new upcoming thing here in toronto and they are young enough to have room to grow, their service is impecable and they deffenatley now what an airline should be.
Regards
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Flyguy,
You are joking...right. I can't even get a family doctor in this 'perfect' health care system that you speak of.
Heck, my mother had a heart attack while vacationing in Phoenix. The doctor told her that she probably would have died if this happened to her in Canada. By the way, the doc was a Canadian who studied at McGill, then got tired of the deplorable working conditions in our deplorable health care system.
You are joking...right. I can't even get a family doctor in this 'perfect' health care system that you speak of.
Heck, my mother had a heart attack while vacationing in Phoenix. The doctor told her that she probably would have died if this happened to her in Canada. By the way, the doc was a Canadian who studied at McGill, then got tired of the deplorable working conditions in our deplorable health care system.
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Hey flyguy...turn off your bold characters please....its rude to shout while your speaking!
I think the comparison is assumed that you have medical insurance in the US. If you are employed down there in a decent job...you should have it from your employer for a good rate. If you don't...but are still employed you should have a lower level package of your own at maybe 300 bucks a month or so? You save much more than that in taxes down there ... so if your not paying for it (hoping to save some money) your foolish and just asking for trouble. Btw.. I understand that they will not turn you away down there if its an emergency(heart attack). Even if you can't pay. Now..on to the benefits of a "insurance system" over the Canada "beurocratic system". In the In surance system, if you have a problem and need say...a MRI for eg, you will get one within Days. Why? Because the furthest thing the insurance co wants is for you to get more sick and eventually make a claim. So..the nip the bud ASAP. That is the benefit. Where in Canada...you will go on a waiting list...and your doc will make an appointment say 6 months away or more!
Neither system is perfect, but this is my observation. You gotta look below the surface.
Orange
I think the comparison is assumed that you have medical insurance in the US. If you are employed down there in a decent job...you should have it from your employer for a good rate. If you don't...but are still employed you should have a lower level package of your own at maybe 300 bucks a month or so? You save much more than that in taxes down there ... so if your not paying for it (hoping to save some money) your foolish and just asking for trouble. Btw.. I understand that they will not turn you away down there if its an emergency(heart attack). Even if you can't pay. Now..on to the benefits of a "insurance system" over the Canada "beurocratic system". In the In surance system, if you have a problem and need say...a MRI for eg, you will get one within Days. Why? Because the furthest thing the insurance co wants is for you to get more sick and eventually make a claim. So..the nip the bud ASAP. That is the benefit. Where in Canada...you will go on a waiting list...and your doc will make an appointment say 6 months away or more!
Neither system is perfect, but this is my observation. You gotta look below the surface.
Orange
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Canada's health care system
Perhaps we should change the name of this thread.
A few years ago 2000 I was living in Aylmer ( Quebec ) and we couldn't get a pediatrician for my children as we had just moved there. Long waiting lists.
Went to a general doctor in Ottawa. My son had a condition which was not noticed.
Then after being laid off moved to Spain, the doctors found a condition which was not noticed by the general childrens doctor. He was operated on right away with no waiting. I was very impressed the Spanish heath care system.
I believe the Canadian health care system had failed my son and glad I moved to Spain ( for him )which has a much better health care system ( I am ashamed to say it ). It is possible if I had not moved to Spain my son would have permanent speech problems. I am speaking only from personal experience.
As we Canadians need to take action and write. our MP's and get them to reinvest what they took out of a previously good system. Meanwhile profitable corporations are getting huge tax breaks.
Getting back to the original threaded topic.
Is going to Air Canada all that it is cracked out to be ?
A lot of unhappy pilots and the contract coming up next year. You start at the bottom and what about the next downturn in the business cycle.
Going on an Embraer to TO for a few years did not have a lot of sex appeal, for me, but that's just my personal opinion.
Is their hiring and interview selection process getting Air Canada the best pilots ?
Call me old fashioned but a simulator evaluation ( which costs more ) is in my opinion a better way to see what a guy is like in the cockpit than these psycho and cognitive tests.
What the hell do I know ?
I am here to learn and be humbled.
A few years ago 2000 I was living in Aylmer ( Quebec ) and we couldn't get a pediatrician for my children as we had just moved there. Long waiting lists.
Went to a general doctor in Ottawa. My son had a condition which was not noticed.
Then after being laid off moved to Spain, the doctors found a condition which was not noticed by the general childrens doctor. He was operated on right away with no waiting. I was very impressed the Spanish heath care system.
I believe the Canadian health care system had failed my son and glad I moved to Spain ( for him )which has a much better health care system ( I am ashamed to say it ). It is possible if I had not moved to Spain my son would have permanent speech problems. I am speaking only from personal experience.
As we Canadians need to take action and write. our MP's and get them to reinvest what they took out of a previously good system. Meanwhile profitable corporations are getting huge tax breaks.
Getting back to the original threaded topic.
Is going to Air Canada all that it is cracked out to be ?
A lot of unhappy pilots and the contract coming up next year. You start at the bottom and what about the next downturn in the business cycle.
Going on an Embraer to TO for a few years did not have a lot of sex appeal, for me, but that's just my personal opinion.
Is their hiring and interview selection process getting Air Canada the best pilots ?
Call me old fashioned but a simulator evaluation ( which costs more ) is in my opinion a better way to see what a guy is like in the cockpit than these psycho and cognitive tests.
What the hell do I know ?
I am here to learn and be humbled.
