Moving to Canada
 

Hi,

I am currently in the middle of the Canadian emigration process and hope to wind up on the West Coast sometime in 2004 (assuming all goes to plan).

I hold an UK PPL(A) and have always harboured ambitions to move into an aviation related business. As I am the wrong side of 40 I doubt that a traditional airline career is on the cards. The question is 'what are my options?'.

After converting to a Canadian PPL I would like to do a CPL/IR and float rating with a view to:

1 – Developing and improving my flying skills
2 – Starting, or buying into, an aviation related business (preferably where I can do some of the flying)
3 – Convincing 'Front Of House Management' (AKA 'She who Must Be Obeyed') that it is safe to fly with her husband.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has attempted a similar transition or who may be willing to provide advice about opportunities for flyers in Western Canada.

Flying in Western Canada
 

Hi There,
I moved to Canada about 6 years ago. I moved over here with a UK PPL and completed training for my Commercial licence with Instructor rating.
At the present time things over here in aviation are very slow as they are worldwide. There are many float training companies on the West Coast and the best way to look them up is through Google and type in FLOATPLANE TRAINING CANADA.
Buying your own company may be an option but there are already plenty of operators out here and you may want to consider buying into an already existing company.

Hi Cubbuster,

I moved to Vancouver in January this year and am 3/4 of the way through my MIFR having completed my conversion from an FAA PPL, multi and a load of hour building.

I my opinion there is not much point completing your MIFR, you may as well plough the money into a commercial course completed on floats, there are a few companies around that do it. I however have not completed a course or work for any companies offering such courses. It may give you an advantage when it comes round to the hiring part of the year again over the guy next to you with the 7 hour seaplane rating.

Here are a couple of compaines that I have found, hope it helps and good luck in the immigration process, I am just about to start mine!!!!

www.air-hart.com

www.seaplane-training.com

Don't forget that what ever you decide to do, just enjoy it and follow your dreams, I am and am loving it.

CPL

Many thanks for the advice. You have given me plenty to think about.:ok:

You might want to take into consideration that 100 hrs on floats is quickly becoming the norm in Canada for a 'beginning' job. Kinda hard to get that experience unless you do it right from the start of your commercial and forget the IFR deal.:ouch: