Seeking info for floats
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Join Date: Jun 2005
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Seeking info for floats
Hi all,
Just looking for some advice re jobs on floats. Im a 3500+TT bush pilot looking to move to Canada to get on floats. I used to work in Maun, Botswana and had some of the best days ive ever had. I was wondering if Canada has a similar setup where there are a bunch of float companies working in a small town with good flying and good camaraderie. I would like to go to BC but obviously wherever the job is ill move too. The end goal is to try and get into aerial fire fighting and if anything helps it would be great to know. I understand that its fairly important who you do your float rating with and so looking for advice on this too.
Im waiting for things to get better with the economy and so wont be coming over until the end of 10, or the beginning of 11. When is the hiring season for float drivers?
Also i have the right to work in Canada.
Any advice is appreciated.
Just looking for some advice re jobs on floats. Im a 3500+TT bush pilot looking to move to Canada to get on floats. I used to work in Maun, Botswana and had some of the best days ive ever had. I was wondering if Canada has a similar setup where there are a bunch of float companies working in a small town with good flying and good camaraderie. I would like to go to BC but obviously wherever the job is ill move too. The end goal is to try and get into aerial fire fighting and if anything helps it would be great to know. I understand that its fairly important who you do your float rating with and so looking for advice on this too.
Im waiting for things to get better with the economy and so wont be coming over until the end of 10, or the beginning of 11. When is the hiring season for float drivers?
Also i have the right to work in Canada.
Any advice is appreciated.
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Hi there !
With this experience you shouldn t have any trouble to pick up a nice dscent jon in the float world in Canada. The hiring season starts usually in Spring, as you know except in the vicinity of the ocean floats operator do not operate in the winter though some operate on skis.
Something else, more and more operator will require you to prove that you can stick around by having more than a work permit, I am myself working in Canada with a work permit and some copanies didn t want to hire me as they required to be at least a permanent resident. You can check that on Pilot Career Centre.
Other than that, I am pretty sure that with your valuable experience you could get a sponsorship to get that status.
With this experience you shouldn t have any trouble to pick up a nice dscent jon in the float world in Canada. The hiring season starts usually in Spring, as you know except in the vicinity of the ocean floats operator do not operate in the winter though some operate on skis.
Something else, more and more operator will require you to prove that you can stick around by having more than a work permit, I am myself working in Canada with a work permit and some copanies didn t want to hire me as they required to be at least a permanent resident. You can check that on Pilot Career Centre.
Other than that, I am pretty sure that with your valuable experience you could get a sponsorship to get that status.
Join Date: Nov 2002
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I'd suspect, seeing as you have a fair amount of experience, you might be quite attractive to some operators. Most people starting out on floats seem to have <300 hours, with ~ 50 float time. You'll need a float rating first off - there's a couple of places on the West Coast that are open year-round. The time for looking is probably mid February to mid March. Red Lake, Ontario has several operators, Yellowknife also. You'll probably have to be in Canada first, though.
In terms of fire suppression, you'll need some decent multi-time (if you don't already have some) for all of the operators. If you were cunning, you might think of trying the Maldives - two operators there that operate Twin Otters on floats - neatly killing two birds with one stone.
Conair in Abbotsford, BC has the BC contract, and some of Alberta. Airspray, in Red Deer(?) Alberta has the rest of Alberta. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec are all government-run for fire supression.
Good Luck.
In terms of fire suppression, you'll need some decent multi-time (if you don't already have some) for all of the operators. If you were cunning, you might think of trying the Maldives - two operators there that operate Twin Otters on floats - neatly killing two birds with one stone.
Conair in Abbotsford, BC has the BC contract, and some of Alberta. Airspray, in Red Deer(?) Alberta has the rest of Alberta. Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec are all government-run for fire supression.
Good Luck.
Join Date: May 2007
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Question Questions Questions
Hi Guys,
I've been tossing the idea around lately and have now decided to get serious and ask some questions.
I am a 27yo Aussie bloke living in Brisbane. I have done an amphib beaver endorsement but couldn't get a start anywhere. I have an Aussie CPL and Instrument rating with about 310hrs or which only 5 are on floats.
I'd like to get out and experience some float flying in Canada. Can anyone give me some advice on:
1) If any operators would possibly give me a start
2) What would I have to do to convert my license
3) Does the flying work become seasonal? (close down during winter?)
4) Any idea on how and what type of visa I would need.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Clinty83
I've been tossing the idea around lately and have now decided to get serious and ask some questions.
I am a 27yo Aussie bloke living in Brisbane. I have done an amphib beaver endorsement but couldn't get a start anywhere. I have an Aussie CPL and Instrument rating with about 310hrs or which only 5 are on floats.
I'd like to get out and experience some float flying in Canada. Can anyone give me some advice on:
1) If any operators would possibly give me a start
2) What would I have to do to convert my license
3) Does the flying work become seasonal? (close down during winter?)
4) Any idea on how and what type of visa I would need.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Clinty83
Join Date: Apr 2000
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Right to Work...
I think that you should research the 'right to work' here in Canada. You can't 'just' come to Canada as we can't 'just' come to your country to work. In fact, our industry is in recession and it will be Canadian jobs for Canadians.
Join Date: May 2007
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Righto, first of all I never said I was going to 'just ' come to Canada to look for work. I said I would 'like' to come and experience float flying in Canada.
Second, I posted what I did to find out four simple Q's and unfortunatley you answered none of them.
I will however research the 'right to work' in Canada. You just go back to your big shiny 777 and try and forget about how you got your start in the aviation game.
Second, I posted what I did to find out four simple Q's and unfortunatley you answered none of them.
I will however research the 'right to work' in Canada. You just go back to your big shiny 777 and try and forget about how you got your start in the aviation game.
Join Date: Nov 2002
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1) If any operators would possibly give me a start
Yes, but you'd be in line with everyone else, and the work visa issue would rear its head. Get a visa, get in line; get sponsored for a visa - unlikely to happen with unemployed Canadians about. It's fair to say that there's a reasonable shortage of experienced float guys, but the trick is, how to get that experience? Much easier, I'd think, to go to the ends of the earth in your own country to get that experience.
2) What would I have to do to convert my license
Dunno? I suspect an air law exam for starters, and perhaps a flight test..Medical definitely.
3) Does the flying work become seasonal? (close down during winter?)
There's the odd operator that continues on skis, but many float places shut the doors until thaw..
4) Any idea on how and what type of visa I would need.
Dunno? Meet a guy/gal and get married?
Yes, but you'd be in line with everyone else, and the work visa issue would rear its head. Get a visa, get in line; get sponsored for a visa - unlikely to happen with unemployed Canadians about. It's fair to say that there's a reasonable shortage of experienced float guys, but the trick is, how to get that experience? Much easier, I'd think, to go to the ends of the earth in your own country to get that experience.
2) What would I have to do to convert my license
Dunno? I suspect an air law exam for starters, and perhaps a flight test..Medical definitely.
3) Does the flying work become seasonal? (close down during winter?)
There's the odd operator that continues on skis, but many float places shut the doors until thaw..
4) Any idea on how and what type of visa I would need.
Dunno? Meet a guy/gal and get married?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Queensland
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Thanks North Shore
I wouldn't expect to jump the que. My family and friends have been there and always come back and to tell me the place has a lot of floatplanes around.
Hopefully the economy will pick up soon. Things are starting to bounce back down under. Rumours left right and centre that the big boys will start hiring again. A lot of mid range trubine operators crashed at the height of the GFC and so flooded our market with turbine experienced pilots leaving us trying to get a start pretty buggered.
Thanks again.
I wouldn't expect to jump the que. My family and friends have been there and always come back and to tell me the place has a lot of floatplanes around.
Hopefully the economy will pick up soon. Things are starting to bounce back down under. Rumours left right and centre that the big boys will start hiring again. A lot of mid range trubine operators crashed at the height of the GFC and so flooded our market with turbine experienced pilots leaving us trying to get a start pretty buggered.
Thanks again.
Join Date: Mar 2007
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hi there guys!
geez flying floats or skis has always been a dream! i'm currently flying in Namibia and pretty settled in the company where i've been flying for 2 years now!
I need more info on where to start looking for float ratings but as you know, Namibia is one of the drier countries in Southern Africa... If anyone knows about somewhere where you can get a decent float rating, please help me out. I'd guess that you probably need a rating atleast before somebody will even start looking at you??
got about 1600 TT of which 200 on twin turbines and another 300+ on Caravans?? dunno what the requirements are for floats??
Any info on he topic will be much AppreciateD!!
Thanx and Blue skies!
geez flying floats or skis has always been a dream! i'm currently flying in Namibia and pretty settled in the company where i've been flying for 2 years now!
I need more info on where to start looking for float ratings but as you know, Namibia is one of the drier countries in Southern Africa... If anyone knows about somewhere where you can get a decent float rating, please help me out. I'd guess that you probably need a rating atleast before somebody will even start looking at you??
got about 1600 TT of which 200 on twin turbines and another 300+ on Caravans?? dunno what the requirements are for floats??
Any info on he topic will be much AppreciateD!!
Thanx and Blue skies!
