Australian pilots working in Canada
in regards to BC drivers licence conversion its now a 60 day wait form when submitting you ICBC papers to getting your BC licence, found this our yesterday when we tried to change ours over
High on the list of my reasons for staying in this fickle industry is the richness of the experience, the people I've met, things I've seen. If you can have a crack at a working-road-trip-adventure in Canada then why not? There are always nay sayers - we have enough of them in Australia - but they tend to run out of puff when they see a hard working pilot with professional integrity. On that point, never undercut any one. Don't do it. Never allow yourself to take the food off another mans table or lower his (or her) working conditions because you want the hours. Make it a point to be one of the mob who raises the bar, not lowers it.
What LFB262 said...
(Post #15)
Good luck, have a great time.
I wish they'd raise that age limit by two or three decades!
Cheers,
Pithblot
Hey AussieNick....You are a long way from sitting in an Arrow 3 over the skies of Melbourne ... and a long way from Darwin too
What LFB262 said...
(Post #15)
If you are made to be a rampie for 2yrs, you have picked a bad company. If you offer to do rampie for two years, I will find you, and I will hurt you.
Some will tear your CV up if you even suggest the above.
You will struggle to find work with your hours. But if you take the time to drive around and shake hands and meet the operators, then you will find work (Sounds just like home yeah?)
Some will tear your CV up if you even suggest the above.
You will struggle to find work with your hours. But if you take the time to drive around and shake hands and meet the operators, then you will find work (Sounds just like home yeah?)
Good luck, have a great time.
I wish they'd raise that age limit by two or three decades!
Cheers,
Pithblot
Hey AussieNick....You are a long way from sitting in an Arrow 3 over the skies of Melbourne ... and a long way from Darwin too
Last edited by pithblot; 15th May 2014 at 02:44.
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Why not applying for jobs in QF/JQ? They do recruit SOs!!!
staff benefits of AUS is way better than those in CAN..(salary as well lol)
PS: I am a Canadian and went Australia as an internstional student
staff benefits of AUS is way better than those in CAN..(salary as well lol)
PS: I am a Canadian and went Australia as an internstional student
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AussieNick Thanks for the heads up, I had a look on the ICBC and it says "After moving here, you have 90 days to switch over your licence. You can drive with an existing, valid licence in the meantime." is that what you did?
Good advice Pithblot, Aviation is too small an industry to undercut people and make enemies so I'll be very careful applying for positions that include the ramp work. Definitely glad that you and others have pointed that out to me.
And CX163, I would love to fly for an Australian airline but with my level of experience I wouldn't be able to get a position with any of the major ones. And even the smaller air carriers in Australia can afford to be more selective because of the low number of jobs and high number of pilots. I've always wanted to see Canada and love the idea of flying float planes to remote lodges so I figure I'll go and stay there for a while, if I get a job that'd be great, if not, at least I got to experience it.
Good advice Pithblot, Aviation is too small an industry to undercut people and make enemies so I'll be very careful applying for positions that include the ramp work. Definitely glad that you and others have pointed that out to me.
And CX163, I would love to fly for an Australian airline but with my level of experience I wouldn't be able to get a position with any of the major ones. And even the smaller air carriers in Australia can afford to be more selective because of the low number of jobs and high number of pilots. I've always wanted to see Canada and love the idea of flying float planes to remote lodges so I figure I'll go and stay there for a while, if I get a job that'd be great, if not, at least I got to experience it.
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Good luck getting insurance while on your aussie licence! It's ok for hire cars but you will struggle a lot, and it will cost a fortune, while on a foreign licence.
You also can't get a set of number plates for your car until you have insurance.
(This was my experience in Ontario at least)
You also can't get a set of number plates for your car until you have insurance.
(This was my experience in Ontario at least)
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Originally Posted by evansb
If you get a decent job, you will pay 38 percent federal income tax, and 13 percent B.C. provincial income tax. Essentially half your gross income goes to paying tax. Great place to live, isn't it? Lets say you make about $50,000 gross in your first year. After taxes, your net income is about $25,000. In Canada, you will also pay 5% GST on pretty well everything else.
For the 50k job you mention since you deduct basic personal amount your federal tax rate will be 15%.
Your marginal rate in BC will be 7.7% on only the portion of taxable income over $37607, 5.06% on the rest.
Vs. Alberta where you will pay 10% on it all...
Common misunderstanding on Alberta taxes being low... In actual fact it benefits high income earners but not so much for the average bunch of us.
Canadian income tax rates for Individuals - current and previous years
Federal tax rates for 2014
15% on the first $43,953 of taxable income, +
22% on the next $43,954 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income over $43,953 up to $87,907), +
26% on the next $48,363 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income over $87,907 up to $136,270), +
29% of taxable income over $136,270.
Alberta
10% of taxable income
British Columbia
5.06% on the first $37,606 of taxable income, +
7.7% on the next $37,607, +
10.5% on the next $11,141, +
12.29% on the next $18,504, +
14.7% on the next $45,142, +
16.8% on the amount over $150,000
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Ahh yes that makes a lot of sense actually, I should have figured that the ICBC was moreso referring to hire cars. What did you do for the waiting period (60 days)? Did you spend that time converting your CPL licenses before being able to purchase a car and go job hunting?
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Congratulations on looking at all the possibilities.
First, 25 years ago, I was in a similar but more experienced position and have been stuck in Canada ever since. While Canada has it's adventure and experience, as an Australian, talking to another Australian, Canada is a corrupt country and has no legal rights for males. As long as you remain single and have no plans to have children in Canada its a good place to visit and or gain experience.
Second, don't bother doing any more training in Australia. Just get here and do the conversion which is very simple.
The cost of training is much lower, and in IFR, you can get a far superior level of training here than in Aus who have conceited IFR ideas.
Fly in real icing, real minimums and you will have adventure and experience you will never ever see in the tropics.
An instructor rating for example will cost you 50% of the Australian cost, and you can then later convert it to an Australian and eliminate a great deal of cost. Forget doing an Australian first and converting.
Jobs, you will have to first sort out your immigration status and that is a relatively easy task despite the negative crap you will read here and on AvCanada which is all anti-foreigner ... and make sure you remember, that you will encounter a lot of ill-will being a "foreigner" taking away jobs from Canadians etc.
Dont expect to learn it all before you get here and have it all sorted out.
I'd suggest you take a look at TWO places only in Canada. Harv's Air in Manitoba and Cornwall Aviation in Ontario.
Good luck and remember, keep Canada to a long visit. Don't ever plan on living in this corrupt country on a long term basis. I'm looking forward to tearing up my Canadian passport.
First, 25 years ago, I was in a similar but more experienced position and have been stuck in Canada ever since. While Canada has it's adventure and experience, as an Australian, talking to another Australian, Canada is a corrupt country and has no legal rights for males. As long as you remain single and have no plans to have children in Canada its a good place to visit and or gain experience.
Second, don't bother doing any more training in Australia. Just get here and do the conversion which is very simple.
The cost of training is much lower, and in IFR, you can get a far superior level of training here than in Aus who have conceited IFR ideas.
Fly in real icing, real minimums and you will have adventure and experience you will never ever see in the tropics.
An instructor rating for example will cost you 50% of the Australian cost, and you can then later convert it to an Australian and eliminate a great deal of cost. Forget doing an Australian first and converting.
Jobs, you will have to first sort out your immigration status and that is a relatively easy task despite the negative crap you will read here and on AvCanada which is all anti-foreigner ... and make sure you remember, that you will encounter a lot of ill-will being a "foreigner" taking away jobs from Canadians etc.
Dont expect to learn it all before you get here and have it all sorted out.
I'd suggest you take a look at TWO places only in Canada. Harv's Air in Manitoba and Cornwall Aviation in Ontario.
Good luck and remember, keep Canada to a long visit. Don't ever plan on living in this corrupt country on a long term basis. I'm looking forward to tearing up my Canadian passport.
Ramjet,
You can't easily convert an instructor rating from outside Aus to a CASA one. You pretty much have to do the whole thing again. Same with the IFR.
Don't know who is telling you this stuff cause it's just plain wrong.
You can't easily convert an instructor rating from outside Aus to a CASA one. You pretty much have to do the whole thing again. Same with the IFR.
Don't know who is telling you this stuff cause it's just plain wrong.
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vonsnrub,
May I suggest an alternate path. As many have stated, you will be hard pressed to find a job with your 200 hours in the bush. The possibility is there; however, the probability is low. After conversion, why not get your flight instructor certificate? I would try to train at a school that teaches a ton of students (foreign and domestic). By completing your CFI there, you'd have a fairly good shot at getting work at that school. If you are not able to secure employment at the school you trained for your CFI, you have an instructors rating in hand and you can go look for work at other schools. Work as an instructor for a year; get a few hundred hours under your belt then on the 2nd year of your holiday visa go look for work in the bush. If it doesn't work out finish up instructing during your second year. You will have a great experience, will meet some terrific students and will have quite a few hours in your logbook when you go back home.
Just my two cents worth.
May I suggest an alternate path. As many have stated, you will be hard pressed to find a job with your 200 hours in the bush. The possibility is there; however, the probability is low. After conversion, why not get your flight instructor certificate? I would try to train at a school that teaches a ton of students (foreign and domestic). By completing your CFI there, you'd have a fairly good shot at getting work at that school. If you are not able to secure employment at the school you trained for your CFI, you have an instructors rating in hand and you can go look for work at other schools. Work as an instructor for a year; get a few hundred hours under your belt then on the 2nd year of your holiday visa go look for work in the bush. If it doesn't work out finish up instructing during your second year. You will have a great experience, will meet some terrific students and will have quite a few hours in your logbook when you go back home.
Just my two cents worth.
Last edited by TheBigD; 28th Aug 2014 at 18:01.
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Nonsense,
I called CASA just to make sure.
Call them yourself. It's now September 2014 and changes have occurred and are occurring with respect to "foreign Instructor Ratings".v
As I understand it, experienced instructors from overseas will be welcomed and given fair treatment, not told to do it all again.
Canada requires 15 air and 15 ground for any ICAO instructor rating. That still might not be enough for a Canadian Ride or it could be unnecessary.
That's what I had to do and the 15 + 15 was unnecessary and had just done several foreign instructor rides.
As for IFR, its relatively easy to do it in Canada or the USA and then return to AUS and save a fortune.
Yes, at Moorabbin you will do a 3 hour Initial IFR ride but that's not true everywhere.
I called who I knew and as long as we got the approaches and hold done, it was not going to take the typical time for an initial.
Now, it does depend on experience and the examiner but, at the end of the day, if you have a foreign IFR rating, you really need only do a Ride and you are good to go. The Aus IFR written exam is a joke compared to the USA or Canadian INRAT.
Pilots travel and it sure is nice to run into the right people when you running the gauntlet of those with anti-foreigner ideas.
I called CASA just to make sure.
Call them yourself. It's now September 2014 and changes have occurred and are occurring with respect to "foreign Instructor Ratings".v
As I understand it, experienced instructors from overseas will be welcomed and given fair treatment, not told to do it all again.
Canada requires 15 air and 15 ground for any ICAO instructor rating. That still might not be enough for a Canadian Ride or it could be unnecessary.
That's what I had to do and the 15 + 15 was unnecessary and had just done several foreign instructor rides.
As for IFR, its relatively easy to do it in Canada or the USA and then return to AUS and save a fortune.
Yes, at Moorabbin you will do a 3 hour Initial IFR ride but that's not true everywhere.
I called who I knew and as long as we got the approaches and hold done, it was not going to take the typical time for an initial.
Now, it does depend on experience and the examiner but, at the end of the day, if you have a foreign IFR rating, you really need only do a Ride and you are good to go. The Aus IFR written exam is a joke compared to the USA or Canadian INRAT.
Pilots travel and it sure is nice to run into the right people when you running the gauntlet of those with anti-foreigner ideas.
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After sitting the 3 exams required in New Zealand for the IFR and then doing the INRAT after a 3 day ground course and having basically all the answers were on file... I'd have to say the INRAT was a joke...
I also liked how I could gain a Class 1 IFR rating with all the single pilot privileges after doing a PPC as a cojo in a King air.
Same with the ATPLs. All the Chinese students at Moncton had the answers and just studied those. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to make use of the cheat sheets before I left and basically score myself a free ATPL.
I do miss the hell out of flying there though. Loved that place.
I also liked how I could gain a Class 1 IFR rating with all the single pilot privileges after doing a PPC as a cojo in a King air.
Same with the ATPLs. All the Chinese students at Moncton had the answers and just studied those. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to make use of the cheat sheets before I left and basically score myself a free ATPL.
I do miss the hell out of flying there though. Loved that place.
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lilflyboy262...2
Its rather sad that a 3 day prep can get someone thru the INRAT when without that 3 day prep course, it would take them months to actually learn the material that is full of questions, which of the following answers is false etc.
While I have not done the NZ instrument, I did the Australian and it's a joke and very easy compared to US or Canada both of which I've written.
The ATPL in Canada is a joke compared to Europe or Australia and I'm guessing NZ as well where it was, at least 20 years ago, an academic exam.
The foreign students do get coached not matter where they learn and
its up to those who manage exams to throw some curved balls and constantly change exams.
I would go sofar as to throw in poison pill false questions just to see what happens.
I still think that any NZ or Aust pilot will need to do some significant amount of study to pass the US or Canadian instrument exam.
Its rather sad that a 3 day prep can get someone thru the INRAT when without that 3 day prep course, it would take them months to actually learn the material that is full of questions, which of the following answers is false etc.
While I have not done the NZ instrument, I did the Australian and it's a joke and very easy compared to US or Canada both of which I've written.
The ATPL in Canada is a joke compared to Europe or Australia and I'm guessing NZ as well where it was, at least 20 years ago, an academic exam.
The foreign students do get coached not matter where they learn and
its up to those who manage exams to throw some curved balls and constantly change exams.
I would go sofar as to throw in poison pill false questions just to see what happens.
I still think that any NZ or Aust pilot will need to do some significant amount of study to pass the US or Canadian instrument exam.
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I haven't had to do the Aussie IFR, it transferred across from my Kiwi licence with the TTMRA (TTRMA? I dunno, whatever it is called).
If I had studied the three exams in NZ then sat the Canadian INRAT exam with a bit of a brush up on the TC regs, the INRAT would be a walk in the park.
I didn't really find it that challenging at all. I did have a bit of a curve ball thrown at me in my exam as I was told to not expect any NDB and focus more on GPS. I ended up getting a crap load of NDB stuff!
I had 0 IFR experience before I washed up on the shores too! Just a rating that had never been used.
Don't even get me started on the NZ ATPL exams. I felt like my English level 6 should be revoked.
If I had studied the three exams in NZ then sat the Canadian INRAT exam with a bit of a brush up on the TC regs, the INRAT would be a walk in the park.
I didn't really find it that challenging at all. I did have a bit of a curve ball thrown at me in my exam as I was told to not expect any NDB and focus more on GPS. I ended up getting a crap load of NDB stuff!
I had 0 IFR experience before I washed up on the shores too! Just a rating that had never been used.
Don't even get me started on the NZ ATPL exams. I felt like my English level 6 should be revoked.
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1) How to I obtain the right to legally work in Canada (temporarily or permanently)?
Answer:
As an Australian, you can do the working holiday visa, a very large number of young Canadians make the reverse trip to Australia.
Even if you are from the Peoples Republic of Whatever, you can still get an employer to advertize a job that no Canadian wants and simply put your name forward. Its done all the time both properly and improperly, perhaps you have some unique skills.
2) How do I transition my license (also, I have 70hrs PIC which is the Australian CPL minimum, do I need 100hrs as that's the Canadian minimum)?
3) Is it worth getting my Multi-Engine Instrument rating/ float plane (bush course) endorsement here or would I be better off getting that in Canada?
Your hours are honoured, your experience is dubious as they don't know you. You will STILL need to write the Canadian Instrument Written, InRAT which is a lot harder than the Aus Irex or whatever its called. Training here is a lot cheaper, and even cheaper in the USA so I'd do it in the USA, then come to Canada if I were in your shoes.
4) Do I stand much of a chance getting employment without any work experience and being foreign (I wouldn't mind doing 2 years ramp work prior)?
You never know your luck. If you have a work permit then you have a shot at it like anyone else, if you have the right attitude etc, you can walk into jobs that others might not get.
Your negative will be an assumption "what the hell is an Australian doing here? There will be some that will associate that with a negative reason. You will need to keep a positive stable approach to win them over.
5) I've read that employers there like to physically meet you rather than read your resume, where is a good hub to set up shop while I look for work i.e. Yellowknife, Edmonton?
Correct, Waltz up to Yellowknife and see what happens. You simply need to check out the list of operators and I'd suggest you invest in a Float rating in Canada, don't do it in Aus.
Once you have a Canadian and a US FAA, I'd strongly suggest you check out instructing, that will give you an edge and if you want to then go to Africa etc, and have adventure, the world is waiting for you.
I'd also contemplate, in your position, a trip to Indonesia, as an alternative to Africa where 200 hour wonders get jobs all the time.. Having an Instructor rating will make a world of difference for you.
Again, in your shoes, do it in the USA then come to Canada.
I have read through a lot of forums and done some research on transitioning licenses, obtaining work permits etc I'd just really appreciate some first hand experience, especially from anybody who has done something similar. Thanks
Yes, I did it back some 25 years ago.
Its as easy as buying a bus ticket and takes less time.
Answer:
As an Australian, you can do the working holiday visa, a very large number of young Canadians make the reverse trip to Australia.
Even if you are from the Peoples Republic of Whatever, you can still get an employer to advertize a job that no Canadian wants and simply put your name forward. Its done all the time both properly and improperly, perhaps you have some unique skills.
2) How do I transition my license (also, I have 70hrs PIC which is the Australian CPL minimum, do I need 100hrs as that's the Canadian minimum)?
3) Is it worth getting my Multi-Engine Instrument rating/ float plane (bush course) endorsement here or would I be better off getting that in Canada?
Your hours are honoured, your experience is dubious as they don't know you. You will STILL need to write the Canadian Instrument Written, InRAT which is a lot harder than the Aus Irex or whatever its called. Training here is a lot cheaper, and even cheaper in the USA so I'd do it in the USA, then come to Canada if I were in your shoes.
4) Do I stand much of a chance getting employment without any work experience and being foreign (I wouldn't mind doing 2 years ramp work prior)?
You never know your luck. If you have a work permit then you have a shot at it like anyone else, if you have the right attitude etc, you can walk into jobs that others might not get.
Your negative will be an assumption "what the hell is an Australian doing here? There will be some that will associate that with a negative reason. You will need to keep a positive stable approach to win them over.
5) I've read that employers there like to physically meet you rather than read your resume, where is a good hub to set up shop while I look for work i.e. Yellowknife, Edmonton?
Correct, Waltz up to Yellowknife and see what happens. You simply need to check out the list of operators and I'd suggest you invest in a Float rating in Canada, don't do it in Aus.
Once you have a Canadian and a US FAA, I'd strongly suggest you check out instructing, that will give you an edge and if you want to then go to Africa etc, and have adventure, the world is waiting for you.
I'd also contemplate, in your position, a trip to Indonesia, as an alternative to Africa where 200 hour wonders get jobs all the time.. Having an Instructor rating will make a world of difference for you.
Again, in your shoes, do it in the USA then come to Canada.
I have read through a lot of forums and done some research on transitioning licenses, obtaining work permits etc I'd just really appreciate some first hand experience, especially from anybody who has done something similar. Thanks
Yes, I did it back some 25 years ago.
Its as easy as buying a bus ticket and takes less time.
For ease of drivers licence conversion, all you need to do is hand it over your licence from Australia and they will issue you a BC licence.
In all other provinces you must sit a theory and practical exam for your licence.
In all other provinces you must sit a theory and practical exam for your licence.
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I know what to do. Go to Buffalo in YZF and work on the ramp but make sure that you are part of the TV show. The producers will love that Australian accent and how you used to work in Croc country and now are in Polar bear country on the other ide of the world. In no time, you will be on a big radial machine as they have to have a progression of the story for audience entertainment.
Don't expect much money, time off, rights, etc. But for a 200 hour guy, it could be worth it.
Google Ice Pilots. Where a few men are still men like all of Australia.
Just don't eat any vegemite before the interview.
Don't expect much money, time off, rights, etc. But for a 200 hour guy, it could be worth it.
Google Ice Pilots. Where a few men are still men like all of Australia.
Just don't eat any vegemite before the interview.