Possible Confederation college student
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Possible Confederation college student
I am a Registered Practical nurse here in Toronto and I am very interested on the possibility of becoming a Pilot one day. It was my deceased dad's dream. He just wasn't able to continue because of financial incapacity. May he rest in peace.
Anyhow, a few questions to Confederation College Students. How were you able to pay your bills during your stay in school? What type of work were you in? Full time? Part time? Under the table?
I was hoping to work up some money during my stay since I will be leaving home and will be helping family pay mortgage.
I will appreciate any helpful suggestion. Thank you!
Anyhow, a few questions to Confederation College Students. How were you able to pay your bills during your stay in school? What type of work were you in? Full time? Part time? Under the table?
I was hoping to work up some money during my stay since I will be leaving home and will be helping family pay mortgage.
I will appreciate any helpful suggestion. Thank you!
Join Date: Aug 2010
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I graduated there over 10 years ago now, also worked there as an instructor. Not sure how much has changed in that time. But most students did not work as the course load and flying schedule is quite demanding. When I was there however you could work part time in the flight ops department as a dispatcher. This was a part time position spread around amongst the students so not a lot of money to be made but a few extra bucks anyway. Again not sure if they still do that, as that was over 10 years ago now for me.
Some guys did have a part time jobs during the summer months as you were only flying and had a little more free time. The nice part for you is that you will find Thunder Bay significantly cheaper than Toronto.
Its a great program and I had a great time as both a student and staff. Good Luck.
Some guys did have a part time jobs during the summer months as you were only flying and had a little more free time. The nice part for you is that you will find Thunder Bay significantly cheaper than Toronto.
Its a great program and I had a great time as both a student and staff. Good Luck.
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Thank you very much for the response. I have also called the college and they said that I will be in school mon-fri having the weekend as my only chance of getting work. I have no idea how the bursary and OSAP work yet but will find out soon enough.
I am very worried paying up for the housing. But it is significantly cheaper compared to Toronto.
I am very worried paying up for the housing. But it is significantly cheaper compared to Toronto.
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Lem,
How about the RCAF?
Also, disregard anyone telling you not to follow your dream. If we all didn't follow our dreams then none of us would be a pilot!
Spc9
How about the RCAF?
Also, disregard anyone telling you not to follow your dream. If we all didn't follow our dreams then none of us would be a pilot!
Spc9
Last edited by saudipc-9; 20th Oct 2013 at 20:30.
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@twotigers, you could be right. Maybe I am. But you probably forgot to read the first part of my post.
Aside from that, I was an ER nurse once. When I came here to Canada, my father had a heart attack and I was unable to revive him. Since then, I can no longer stand to see people die, let alone suffer. It took a long while for me to get over it. I think/dream about it almost every day. Even had physical symptoms of hairloss. You are probably better than I am. Yet, I am not you. Watch your words next time
@SPC9 Thank you for your suggestion, I have taken that into consideration but haven't received my citizenship yet; first requirement of RCAF. I was also told that screening takes a while. I know someone who has the same status and ethnicity as I am and still waiting for a response from RCAF despite passing the initial check such as physical exam (Im just guessing, I forgot). Or something like that. I thought that If the initial screening takes a while, then the selection must be rigorous. Especially to the fact that I am not Canadian Born. So I eliminated that choice.
I am also thinking of delaying this for a while. Though thoughts of starting next year continuously haunt me, together with financing
If I get in, I will be starting Sep2014. I have a few months to prepare and to take a few more shifts @ the hospital. Wishing myself some luck
Aside from that, I was an ER nurse once. When I came here to Canada, my father had a heart attack and I was unable to revive him. Since then, I can no longer stand to see people die, let alone suffer. It took a long while for me to get over it. I think/dream about it almost every day. Even had physical symptoms of hairloss. You are probably better than I am. Yet, I am not you. Watch your words next time@SPC9 Thank you for your suggestion, I have taken that into consideration but haven't received my citizenship yet; first requirement of RCAF. I was also told that screening takes a while. I know someone who has the same status and ethnicity as I am and still waiting for a response from RCAF despite passing the initial check such as physical exam (Im just guessing, I forgot). Or something like that. I thought that If the initial screening takes a while, then the selection must be rigorous. Especially to the fact that I am not Canadian Born. So I eliminated that choice.
I am also thinking of delaying this for a while. Though thoughts of starting next year continuously haunt me, together with financing
If I get in, I will be starting Sep2014. I have a few months to prepare and to take a few more shifts @ the hospital. Wishing myself some luck
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Aviation in Canada is tough, and you don't make much money for a long time. I graduated over 10 years ago and I am finally now just making decent money. It was a long road with some sacrifices. Would I do it again? Absolutely.
If I were you, I would apply for next year and see if you get accepted and go from there. There are some options for loans and funding. You also have a huge advantage that you work right now, and can save lots of money. When I was there I was 20 years old and was lucky to have 10 bucks in my pocket.
So at least apply and see what happens, it might end up being the best thing you've ever done.
Good luck
If I were you, I would apply for next year and see if you get accepted and go from there. There are some options for loans and funding. You also have a huge advantage that you work right now, and can save lots of money. When I was there I was 20 years old and was lucky to have 10 bucks in my pocket.
So at least apply and see what happens, it might end up being the best thing you've ever done.
Good luck
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@El_Duderino I have already started my application and waiting how it goes. It is always good to hear personal experiences coming from other people. Thank you!
Would you mind me asking why it took a while? Did you have preferences where to work? Family? 10 years is a very long time my friend. What happened?
If I get the chance, I was thinking of flying Internationally. Wherever the offers are. Wherever the flying hours are.
Would you mind me asking why it took a while? Did you have preferences where to work? Family? 10 years is a very long time my friend. What happened?
If I get the chance, I was thinking of flying Internationally. Wherever the offers are. Wherever the flying hours are.
Don't just right off twotigers advice just because you don't want to hear it. It's not wrong to dream but listen to both sides of the story. Your dream of becoming a pilot could lead you to financial ruin. Yes dream away but maybe you should dream of becoming the best nurse you can be. Just stating this because from your words you don't seem to have a clue of what may lie ahead.
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@Gemini Twin I appreciate what he said and it is very true. What I do not appreciate is his choice of words which are rather offending. There is nothing wrong with the option of being a better nurse. I am still working as one too. No plans of giving up my license until the right time comes. I also have the option to take an exam to be eligible for the RN exam. I am Internationally educated and it is another story.
What I hoped to hear from this thread is the capacity/experience of a student to work and earn a few bucks during school. Working in the hangar to gain connection etc., Anything helps.
I am just about to start reading the book of James Ball. So you want to be a pilot eh? Guess I should have read that before posting. Thanks for the heads up.
What I hoped to hear from this thread is the capacity/experience of a student to work and earn a few bucks during school. Working in the hangar to gain connection etc., Anything helps.
I am just about to start reading the book of James Ball. So you want to be a pilot eh? Guess I should have read that before posting. Thanks for the heads up.
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Confederation College
Lem, as a former graduate I can tell you that the College you've expressed interest in is a great choice. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and was very pleased with the instruction I received. IMHO the staff and instructors (who at that time had a variety of professional experience) did a fantastic job of mentoring the students and preparing them for the realities of the Canadian Aviation industry. Work after college is promising although you'll need to "jump through a number of hoops" before getting on to the heavy metal and livable wages . . . You need to understand this upfront before you leave your nursing career. Perhaps a bit more research is warranted on your part in this area. As others have posted there will be little time for much other then school during the first two semesters. Save up your money and be prepared. Understand also that not all who are accepted will graduate. Attrition is exceptionally high as I recall (>60%). Best of luck with whatever choice you decide to make!
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Are you sure??
Lem - if I were you, I'd think seriously about whether you have the financial ability to keep yourself going until you get onto a livable wage.
Paying for your training is only the first step - many years after you qualify could well be spent in some "challenging, and remote locations" flying for peanuts - assuming you can find a job in the first place.
My suggestion is that, if at all possible, you should try to see if you can train and work elsewhere - preferably in Europe if you can claim an EU passport.
Let me tell you about Orville, who 6 years ago had the same dream as you. He was born in Toronto, so is a Canadian Citizen, but as his Mum and I were born in Europe, he also has an EU passport.
When deciding where to train, he checked out Canadian Schools - and also employment prospects. There are some great schools, but employment prospects are not good. There are few major airlines, and getting in isn't helped by the tradition in Canada of making it difficult for young pilots to improve themselves quickly.
We're very much in the "I spent x years as a bush pilot before I was allowed onto a big shiny jet, and if it was good enough for me, it's good enough for you".
In Europe, on the other hand, there's lots of airlines in the EU - the customer market is approaching half a billion, just a few more than the 30 million in Canada - so advancement is much faster for a newly qualified pilot. And with an EU passport, you can work in any of the EU countries legally.
So he trained in Europe at a major flight school in England, and took the JAA exams. He graduated with 150 hours and a Frozen ATPL on the Friday - and the following Monday, was working for a Carrier in Austria being type rated on A319/320/321s. Yes, 150 hour wonders routinely fly the airways in Europe if they are well trained!. By the way, this was in early 2009 - hardly the best time to find a new job!
3 1/2 years later, and now with over 2500 hours jet time, he moved to a major Middle East carrier as a SFO on A330 aircraft. That was 5 years after his very first PA28 flight lesson at flight school. He expects an upgrade to the left seat in 3/4 years.
That's from zero to right seat in a 200 ton jet in 5 years and zero to left seat in maybe 8 years. I can't imagine anywhere you could do that in Canada - it's pretty routine in Europe.
So what's the moral of the story? It's horses for courses. If you want to fly and don't mind spending 10 years flogging around the bush, or the circuit if instructing, living on next to nothing, then Canada is for you.
If you want to actually live the dream and fly the "heavy metal", I'd look elsewhere.....
OD
Paying for your training is only the first step - many years after you qualify could well be spent in some "challenging, and remote locations" flying for peanuts - assuming you can find a job in the first place.
My suggestion is that, if at all possible, you should try to see if you can train and work elsewhere - preferably in Europe if you can claim an EU passport.
Let me tell you about Orville, who 6 years ago had the same dream as you. He was born in Toronto, so is a Canadian Citizen, but as his Mum and I were born in Europe, he also has an EU passport.
When deciding where to train, he checked out Canadian Schools - and also employment prospects. There are some great schools, but employment prospects are not good. There are few major airlines, and getting in isn't helped by the tradition in Canada of making it difficult for young pilots to improve themselves quickly.
We're very much in the "I spent x years as a bush pilot before I was allowed onto a big shiny jet, and if it was good enough for me, it's good enough for you".
In Europe, on the other hand, there's lots of airlines in the EU - the customer market is approaching half a billion, just a few more than the 30 million in Canada - so advancement is much faster for a newly qualified pilot. And with an EU passport, you can work in any of the EU countries legally.
So he trained in Europe at a major flight school in England, and took the JAA exams. He graduated with 150 hours and a Frozen ATPL on the Friday - and the following Monday, was working for a Carrier in Austria being type rated on A319/320/321s. Yes, 150 hour wonders routinely fly the airways in Europe if they are well trained!. By the way, this was in early 2009 - hardly the best time to find a new job!
3 1/2 years later, and now with over 2500 hours jet time, he moved to a major Middle East carrier as a SFO on A330 aircraft. That was 5 years after his very first PA28 flight lesson at flight school. He expects an upgrade to the left seat in 3/4 years.
That's from zero to right seat in a 200 ton jet in 5 years and zero to left seat in maybe 8 years. I can't imagine anywhere you could do that in Canada - it's pretty routine in Europe.
So what's the moral of the story? It's horses for courses. If you want to fly and don't mind spending 10 years flogging around the bush, or the circuit if instructing, living on next to nothing, then Canada is for you.
If you want to actually live the dream and fly the "heavy metal", I'd look elsewhere.....
OD
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One of my daughters thought about going there. We took a tour. I was, to say the least, not impressed. I was told all their graduates were employed. When pushed, he said they "were employed on ramps and docks loading airplanes...you are not qualified to be hired as a pilot...." His words, not mine. Don't do it.
L
L
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They would be qualified to work as pilots, minus the MIFR. They may not have the experience needed to work at AC or WJA right out of school but no one gets the top job right out of school. You have to pay your dues which have changed over the years. I may have burnt some bridges in the beginning of my aviation career but I took the first job that guaranteed I would be paid to fly. Not a chance for a job as a pilot or may lead to a flying job. My first job as a pilot was flying skydivers. It wasn't the greatest job but it paid money and I flew 250hrs in 4 months. Experience is what gets you the bigger and better job.
I would recommend the college route to anyone on a tight budget. I wish I had gotten my CPL MIFR for $14k instead of the $45k I spent.
To get the experience needed for operators I would recommend towing gliders. My first summer of toeing gliders I flew 90hrs in a Citabria and all it cost me was $500 for a club membership which is required for insurance. Sure you're not paid to fly but you meet tonnes of people in aviation that will give you tips and pointers. I loved towing gliders and had a blast.
Sorry to go in a million directions but anyone who thinks they are entitled to work at AC with 200hrs is in for a real eye opener.
I would recommend the college route to anyone on a tight budget. I wish I had gotten my CPL MIFR for $14k instead of the $45k I spent.
To get the experience needed for operators I would recommend towing gliders. My first summer of toeing gliders I flew 90hrs in a Citabria and all it cost me was $500 for a club membership which is required for insurance. Sure you're not paid to fly but you meet tonnes of people in aviation that will give you tips and pointers. I loved towing gliders and had a blast.
Sorry to go in a million directions but anyone who thinks they are entitled to work at AC with 200hrs is in for a real eye opener.
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So, what you're saying is, basically you're willing to fly for free? That's what you did towing gliders. We have a word for that. How about trying to be the solution, instead of the problem.
L
L
