Airbus vs Boeing

[prairieflyer]

Hi Everyone and Happy New Year!
I have approx 7000TT with approx 5500 hrs on A319/320/321 aircraft as a FO. I was employed on contract overseas in S.E. Asia for 10 years until COVID-19. Unfortunately waited +1.5 years on no pay to get back into the air overseas. In the end had to resign and return back to Canada end if 2021 and ended up in a non aviation job to make up for lost income and time.

I managed to renew the IFR and obtain my long overdue Cdn ATPL in 2023. The A320 Rating lapsed after returning back home to Canada sadly.
I am trying to figure out which avenue would be best to take with the airlines. My issue is my age is nearing 50 and have to be realistic as well on how my career in aviation would progress with time remaining until 65 and having a reasonable pension one day. I understand I may end up retiring as an FO which I can expect due age. I was thinking Air Canada as it has Airbus fleet but there are no guarantees and would result in a major move depending on where one ends up being based and whether would even be selected on Airbus or Boeing as company decides what fleets need filling from my understanding.
I live in Central Canada so Westjet could be another option but its Boeing aircraft.
Anyone have any thoughts, experience or advice on transition from Airbus to Boeing at my age. Would it be better to stick with familiarity or attempt to apply to Westjet which a Boeing operator?
Thanks so much for any input. Greatly appreciated.

[Uplinker]

I am an Airbus FBW fan. I have around 8,500TT on A320, A321 and A330 and a year on B737.

Owing to a very long established and respected Airbus airline suddenly going out of business because of mismanagement; I had to take a job with B737 classics after about 15 years on the Airbus.

I could fly the Boeing because I had flown other conventional basic jets and turbo-props in previous airlines. So pitch trimming all the time and holding back pressure in turns etc. was automatic to me and I had no problem flying the Boeing.

However, I found the B737 to be a real step backwards from the Airbus in terms of its lack of sophistication and basic nature. The 737 cockpit is very cramped, and the automatics logic is very strange after the Airbus FBW; which is an order of magnitude better. The Boeing auto-thrust logic is also odd, and needs to be disconnected if flying manually - a far cry from the excellent Airbus.

Other Boeings seem better but I have only briefly flown B757/767/777 in the SIM. All Boeings still have a bloody great yoke in the way of the instruments though......

B737 have a "Captain plus secretary" attitude and layout, and the F/O (secretary) has a lot to do on the Classic overhead panel, whereas the Airbus is laid out for two full pilots, with all controls available to both sides. Airbus have a much more logical overhead panel layout as well.

If I had a free choice, I would go for Airbus FBW !

But you probably won't have a free choice. I am sure that you will be able to fly a Boeing - I could after many years on the Airbus - but they might well put you on the Airbus fleet to avoid having to put you on a complete new type rating ?

Good luck !

[+TSRA]

I was thinking Air Canada as it has Airbus fleet but there are no guarantees and would result in a major move depending on where one ends up being based and whether would even be selected on Airbus or Boeing as company decides what fleets need filling from my understanding.
I live in Central Canada so Westjet could be another option but its Boeing aircraft.

I won't get into the Airbus v. Boeing debate, but I will point out that it doesn't matter as you're assuming you have a choice.

While Air Canada has an Airbus fleet, you don't get to decide what you'll fly when first hired. At least, not right away. Your initial position at Air Canada is based on the needs of the airline, the positions being trained at the time your class goes through (availability of instructors and simulators per type), and what you draw for seniority in your class. Some classes are a mix of available types, while others are all put on a single type. In one case a good friend was offered right seat 767 or relief 777. Her class had available positions on the 767, 777, and A330. She drew the middle of her class for seniority, so she still had her pick. Another friend two classes later was told everyone was going on the A220, even though the airline had multiple open spots on other types. A third guy I know, his class was a mix of A320 and 737Max. He found himself on the Max because he drew last in seniority and that's all that was left. You simply don't know when you start, so you have to be prepared for anything. Sure, once you've done your initial you can bid for whatever your seniority can hold, but at that point, you've already done the training, so you should be bidding for lifestyle. Also, I've been told by friends quite recently that if you have previous jet experience, you can expect to be shoehorned onto a heavy into the right seat (cargo) or cruise relief, so again less choice, and maybe not what you want. As for upgrades. although the time at AC seems to be 3-5 years right now, I'll point out that many new hires in the last 5 years are all still in their 20s or early 30s. In 5 to 10 years, Air Canada will start to have a movement problem as those pilots upgrade but are still 25-30 years away from retirement. I firmly believe the next 15-year FO is already on the property at Air Canada, so I think your idea of ending in the right seat is probably very realistic.

As for WestJet, yes it'll be 737, and likely Calgary-based, but they've had moments too where they only hire for Toronto. But, they've recently opened a Winnipeg and Edmonton base, so depending on where you mean by "central Canada," you might be able to avoid a nasty commute. They do not allow new hires to fly the 787 because they use a transition training program from the 737, not an initial, so at least there is certainty there, although that's where it ends. WestJet is just starting to merge with Sunwing, and the lord only knows what the implications will be from that seniority and base shakeout. Upgrade times are a low of 9 years right now, but there simply is not enough movement compared to Air Canada. Many guys and gals wait 12-15 years so they don't have to hold reserve, and of those upgrading, many are in their early to mid-40s, so same deal - in 10 years it'll be a slow trickle, so planning to end in the right seat is again, pretty realistic.

But ultimately, I don't think you'll have a problem with the actual airplane. Sure the systems are different and the way to fly them is different, but the training program is meant to teach you how to fly that airplane. By the time you hit line indoctrination, you'll be drawing on your previous experience rather than falling back on it. A year after that, you'll complain to the guy you're flying with about the things that an Airbus does that Boeing doesn't and vice versa, but it won't hinder your work. At least, that was my experience watching students change types.

[prairieflyer]

Thank you "Uplinker and +TSRA" for your insight and advice regarding the aircraft types. Yes there are pros and cons I am sure with aircraft types and preferences but as you coreectly say, the company will train on whatever the type ends up being. Thanks +TSRA on a bit of how the process works at AC and how it changes from intake to intake. It sheds some light on the current Canadian aviation scene and the reality of wait times for upgrades etc.
Thanks again to you both.

[MLHeliwrench]

Originally Posted by prairieflyer

Thank you "Uplinker and +TSRA" for your insight and advice regarding the aircraft types. Yes there are pros and cons I am sure with aircraft types and preferences but as you coreectly say, the company will train on whatever the type ends up being. Thanks +TSRA on a bit of how the process works at AC and how it changes from intake to intake. It sheds some light on the current Canadian aviation scene and the reality of wait times for upgrades etc.
Thanks again to you both.

Look in to getting a FO position at Air Transat on A321.

[yclufk]

transition from Airbus to Boeing is of course difficult. But Boeing FCOM and especially QRH will help you during this process. They are designed very well and you do not need to chech every book(fcom fctm afm) when you need an info about a system or procedure.