NZ Pilot to Canada - Worthwhile?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: man of mystery
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
NZ Pilot to Canada - Worthwhile?
Hi Canadians,
I am currently a NZ Pilot looking to move over to Canada sometime soon.
My experience - 28 years old
- DHC 8 Classic series- 1500 hours FO and building
- Command Single Engine - 1200 hours
- Should have my NZ ATPL soon.
From my brief research so far I understand that one has to re-sit exams etc + flight test if converting from a NZ CPL to a Canadian CPL...no problem.From a NZ ATPL - Canadian ATPL, is it a straight conversion with maybe a law exam required to be sat.
I plan to come into Canada and work on a working holiday visa. A commonwealth visa arrangement. So I will have the right to live and work in Canada and believe that this can be renewed.
Question 1: With my experience and once I have my licence, how realistic will it be for me to find a job?
Question 2: Anyone know of someone who has done the same?
Chur to the MAX in advance for responses!
...am i delusional to think that this whole process will work for me as envisaged?
Anyone have a Canadian girl I can marry?
I am currently a NZ Pilot looking to move over to Canada sometime soon.
My experience - 28 years old
- DHC 8 Classic series- 1500 hours FO and building
- Command Single Engine - 1200 hours
- Should have my NZ ATPL soon.
From my brief research so far I understand that one has to re-sit exams etc + flight test if converting from a NZ CPL to a Canadian CPL...no problem.From a NZ ATPL - Canadian ATPL, is it a straight conversion with maybe a law exam required to be sat.
I plan to come into Canada and work on a working holiday visa. A commonwealth visa arrangement. So I will have the right to live and work in Canada and believe that this can be renewed.
Question 1: With my experience and once I have my licence, how realistic will it be for me to find a job?
Question 2: Anyone know of someone who has done the same?
Chur to the MAX in advance for responses!
...am i delusional to think that this whole process will work for me as envisaged?
Anyone have a Canadian girl I can marry?
Coming to Canada
I would check the visa situation very carefully. I doubt a working holiday visa is going to do it for you for long or short term. My understanding is that visa is geared to temporary employment in the tourist industry. Maybe that would cover seasonal flying.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Wherever I go, there I am
Age: 43
Posts: 804
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Chur to the MAX
I did much the same as you're looking to do about 7 years ago - piece of piss if you've got the right material (although, I had the advantage of being a Canadian citizen)
Job market is strong right now with both major airlines hiring, but that can change overnight...
I married a kiwi girl to get my start, so I'd suggest knocking up a homesick Canadian girl - or at least following her back to Canada if that's gonna be too much trouble...not sure how else to do it really having done much the same to get into NZ...
PM me if you're still looking for specifics, but clunkdriver knows what's going on, so probably gave you everything!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: somewhere
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Only if your ‘e government give me the right to emigrate to NZ and do the same !!!! …. we don’t have a skilled pilot shortage here. What’s the situation where your’e from?
Last edited by dss3000; 2nd Apr 2013 at 15:14.
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Amsterdam
Age: 37
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lowtimer
Gents,
I've noticed that you know what's going on in Canada.
I'm a lowtimer with just 175 hours actual, finished an integrated course in the Netherlands/Portugal and looking for options abroad.
Are there any possibilities for pilots like me? Or a no-go...
Looking forward to hear from any of you!
Gr.
I've noticed that you know what's going on in Canada.
I'm a lowtimer with just 175 hours actual, finished an integrated course in the Netherlands/Portugal and looking for options abroad.
Are there any possibilities for pilots like me? Or a no-go...
Looking forward to hear from any of you!
Gr.
Last edited by realvandelft; 5th Apr 2013 at 17:11.
RVD, canada is rife with low time pilots. To work here you would need #1 a work permit, #2 a license conversion( check the TC website) #3 get in line with people like the 300hr dispatcher, rampee, cargo agent, or just know somebody to get you in the door the NZ guy looks to be ready to write his A's and has some good time. My ex roommate came from the UK worked for a yr on the ramp in yxe, and lucked into a right seat, it happens. Just don't expect it to!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: man of mystery
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know...an inner sense of adventure that I need to get out of my system. I figure life is too short. And I subscribe foolishly to the old cliche that the grass is always greener on the other side!! 
Any suggestions?
Most feedback is positive. I am under no delusion that I will walk into a turboprop job. I am happy to fly a C206 or something like that for a while.
Any suggestions?
Most feedback is positive. I am under no delusion that I will walk into a turboprop job. I am happy to fly a C206 or something like that for a while.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: man of mystery
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi again,
I found out that there is an agreement between USA and Canada for a easy licence conversion. Much like NZ to Aus.
I was reading the information on the Transport Canada website and it stated this under the eligibility requirements (FAA to a Canadian Licence) -
(d) FAA pilot certificates issued on the basis of a foreign licence are not eligible for conversion to a TCCA pilot licence under these implementation procedures. TCCA pilot licences issued on the basis of a foreign licence are not eligible for conversion to an FAA pilot certificate under these Implementation Procedures.
Excuse my lack of intelligence here, but does that mean if I convert my NZ CPL or ATPL (when I get one) to an FAA CPL/ATPL, then will my FAA CPL/ATPL be not eligible to convert to a Canadian equivalent under this process?????
Cheers
I found out that there is an agreement between USA and Canada for a easy licence conversion. Much like NZ to Aus.
I was reading the information on the Transport Canada website and it stated this under the eligibility requirements (FAA to a Canadian Licence) -
(d) FAA pilot certificates issued on the basis of a foreign licence are not eligible for conversion to a TCCA pilot licence under these implementation procedures. TCCA pilot licences issued on the basis of a foreign licence are not eligible for conversion to an FAA pilot certificate under these Implementation Procedures.
Excuse my lack of intelligence here, but does that mean if I convert my NZ CPL or ATPL (when I get one) to an FAA CPL/ATPL, then will my FAA CPL/ATPL be not eligible to convert to a Canadian equivalent under this process?????
Cheers
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: UK, US, now more ɐıןɐɹʇsn∀
Age: 41
Posts: 889
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There's special reduced requirements conversion between FAA and TCCA for airplane pilot licenses.
Since you'd have NZ CAA/ICAO commercial, you will have to do the standard foreign to Canadian conversion. Not that much anyway. Also, your NZ ratings should carry over, for types/multi etc.
What it meant was what it stated. Some people may have had temporary validations for more than PPL in the past, although I'm told it's been downgraded over past decade, to CPL validations done in the days bygone.
Besides, if you wanna head to Canada straight away, why bother with FAA licence? There are few N-reg aircraft, but I doubt you'd get to fly those, seen in Canada. Probably some utility helicopters, some private airplane owners etc. If there are airlines on wet lease arrangements for high season, they'd probably be supplied with the crew from country abroad as well.
Since you'd have NZ CAA/ICAO commercial, you will have to do the standard foreign to Canadian conversion. Not that much anyway. Also, your NZ ratings should carry over, for types/multi etc.
What it meant was what it stated. Some people may have had temporary validations for more than PPL in the past, although I'm told it's been downgraded over past decade, to CPL validations done in the days bygone.
Besides, if you wanna head to Canada straight away, why bother with FAA licence? There are few N-reg aircraft, but I doubt you'd get to fly those, seen in Canada. Probably some utility helicopters, some private airplane owners etc. If there are airlines on wet lease arrangements for high season, they'd probably be supplied with the crew from country abroad as well.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
NZ Pilot wanting to come to Canada
I've done something similar so here goes.
First, you wil find that NZ and Canada are not really that different.
You will be better off going to the USA to get an FAA ATP
which contains an instrument rating. You have not mentioned
an instructor rating so I'll assume you don't have one.
IF you did it would not save you any time in doing an FAA instructor rating.
That would require 15 hours duel and 15 hours ground school.
Once you get your FAA exams and Ride done, you can easily convert your FAA to a Canadian with a simple exam.
The reason for doing it this way is cost, flight training in the US is around 30% cheaper than Canada. It will also give you an FAA licence which will open doors for you in other countries.
Don't believe the stories of no probability of work.
If you have that amount of time, I'm sure you will find a job but it is not going to be easy at first. It will take time. I can tell you that in the last year, I've seen and heard of lots of much lower time pilots landing a job.
Recently several local low timers have gone to Africa and landed jobs as
soon as they got there.
I would suggest that you get a float rating and try to get a job on a 172 on floats or something similar. That will be an experience of a lifetime that you will treasure for ever.
Good Luck.
First, you wil find that NZ and Canada are not really that different.
You will be better off going to the USA to get an FAA ATP
which contains an instrument rating. You have not mentioned
an instructor rating so I'll assume you don't have one.
IF you did it would not save you any time in doing an FAA instructor rating.
That would require 15 hours duel and 15 hours ground school.
Once you get your FAA exams and Ride done, you can easily convert your FAA to a Canadian with a simple exam.
The reason for doing it this way is cost, flight training in the US is around 30% cheaper than Canada. It will also give you an FAA licence which will open doors for you in other countries.
Don't believe the stories of no probability of work.
If you have that amount of time, I'm sure you will find a job but it is not going to be easy at first. It will take time. I can tell you that in the last year, I've seen and heard of lots of much lower time pilots landing a job.
Recently several local low timers have gone to Africa and landed jobs as
soon as they got there.
I would suggest that you get a float rating and try to get a job on a 172 on floats or something similar. That will be an experience of a lifetime that you will treasure for ever.
Good Luck.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Age: 37
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I thought you couldn't convert a converted FAA licence as its a validation based on a new Zealand licence?
Was just my understanding anyway.
Canadian licence conversion is easy anyway...
Was just my understanding anyway.
Canadian licence conversion is easy anyway...
