Creating some form of Canadian Pilots Association
 

Hello Everyone,

As many of you know, for the past three years, I've been fighting the issue of Foreign Pilots that certain airlines in Canada employ every winter as Temporary Foreign Workers. At the time I engaged in this campaign, I thought this practice was limited to Canjet and Sunwing in the 705 (airline) sector. I have since learned that all Canadian Operators have recourse to Temporary Foreign Worker Pilots, from Flight Schools, to 702, 703 and 704 Operators. It seems that every year, hundreds of Foreign Pilots are given Temporary Work Permits to come to work in Canada and take jobs away from Canadians. This is especially prevalent in the helicopter industry.

I think that this practice must stop.

The Canadian aviation industry is well represented by all sorts of Industry associations which all lobby the government in favor of their particular sector of the aviation industry. These interests are often opposed to those of the Canadian pilots, like the recent crew rest and flight duty time legislation, that the aviation industry (the employers) mostly opposes and lobbies against.
There is no one that lobbies or does anything to defend the interests of Canadian professional pilots. Unions do a very poor job and many Professional pilots are not even represented by a Union.
Often, pilots are afraid to speak out because their fear consequences such as blacklisting from being hired.

Is it not time that some form of pilot association be created to defend the interests of all professional pilots in Canada ? Flight instructors, corporate pilots, charter pilots, crop dusters, water bombers, helicopter pilots, commuter pilots, and airline pilots. Anyone who has a CPL or an ATPL. An organisation created and run by people who are representative of the above pilots groups and who could speak for them, and defend their interests ?

How do we go about creating such an Association that would encompass everyone, look after everyone and whose sole mandate would be to defend the interests of Canadian commercial pilots and speak on their behalf as a strong and unified group ?.

Such a group would need thousands of members to be credible and have any teeth. (over 5000 members at least)

Where to begin and how ?

Open to Comments and suggestions

Gilles

Good Evening Gilles

I believe a start has been made with The College of Professional Pilots of Canada I have attached their web site below:

College of Professional Pilots of Canada

I am member 70 and in good standing. But the membership peaked at around 1500 and is now below 700.

This College thing of taking over licencing from TC, with all its good intentions, did not catch on I'm afraid.

How long has this organization been in existance?

Gilles,

I was all about signing up for the College of Professional Pilots Assoc.right up until the last page where it requested me to pay $60.00 I believe it was.

I opted to wait and see how the organisation would do, I am glad I did, as I have seen nothing from this association to date. Where has all the money gone that they have collected? Have you seen any return for your money?

I am a 705 Capt. and have been in the industry for 10+ years, I think its a great idea, and something needs to be done,but if you are wondering why it never took off, the money up front is your answer. I wonder is there a way to start this association without a fee for the first year?


Chris

I didn't join but it wasn't about the money. I had other concerns which I won't address here.

That said, compared to what most of us pay in union / association dues, $60 is a stone cold bargain. Just how exactly do you expect an organization to function? Setting up web sites, phone numbers, administrative tools etc. all costs money. It's a big ask to expect the people running it to fund it out of their own pockets.

Good Evening JO

I agree 100% with your comments!

For Chris28 when other pilots notice you are "cheap"you are in a distinct minority!

I am retired with a lapsed ATPL and I joined just so I could mentor younger pilots if required.

It is my way of paying back for a very privileged career.

330pilot, honestly you are the first person ever to call me "cheap"! The reason being is because I am far from it, but I do like to see something for my money, or at least let it make me feel good. I don't mean to take away from the discussion, because I really would like to see some sort of organization for all of us, at least to put us all on a level playing field of some sort, and have a voice.

But I would be willing to bet a vast majority of pilots in Canada scrolled through the registration process and stopped when they seen the $60.00 fee.

Sure it cost money to run things, but what did you get for your money? People will not blindly donate $60.00 of there beer money to something unless there is something in it for them.

What the solution is to this, I don't know. Maybe start with getting people on a list first without a fee, use our groups #'s to make a change and let people see there actually are people working behind this website.
A great first start would be putting a stop to the temporary foreign workers flying Canadian planes for Canadian companies. I can't see anyone not putting there name on this. Once you have them and the numbers on a list and one feat accomplished then throw the money pitch yadda, yadda. It's all JMO of course!

I'm afraid your expectations are a tad naive. Even the simple task of collecting names on a list is going to cost someone money and time.

Like I said its all JMO, but the majority of pilots out there aren't hauling in a boat load of cash, and most aren't overly interested in donating to some organization that hasn't proven itself. How much money you think it takes J.O.? $90000/ yr? What have you seen in return for your yearly fee to date? Nobody has answered that question yet.

I have to agree with Chris28; there are no examples of how the college has helped pilots. As a result not a lot of pilots will do away with $60 when, for the very people who would get the most out of such a system, that $60 dollars may be the difference between a decent meal or another week of KD.

I do see the potential for such a group but will admit I have not read myself into the specifics of it. To have guys like a330 mentoring the up-and-commers would be an amazing boost for our industry.

However, the college is a Catch-22. It needs the membership funds to properly start up, but it will not have sufficient membership until it prooves itself.

J.O is right too. It's a big ask to expect people to do this work pro bono in the beginning. Unfortunately, that is often what is required when starting up an organization.

At the end of the day, for me it comes down to "you get what you pay for". If you pay nothing, don't expect much in return.

If you nothing good to say.....
 

I applaude those who at least tried to unit us "eat your young" Canadian pilots. I also have been laid off, put out of work by bankrupt companies, etc.
I would gladly support an organization of any sort that will help us actually look like a true group of prfofessionals. But instead I see posts from grown men insulting the efforts of others. What I believe is the problem with us Canadians in the first place.
Good luck with your efforts!
As for the rest of you....as your mother said..." If you have nothing good to say, say nothing"