Opportunities in BC?
 

So, I'm in my early 30's and considering a career change away from IT.

I have a PPL that I obtained in Texas back in '98, but it has been ~7-8 yrs since I last flew (should have around 70 hrs logged).

What are the chances of getting a pilot job in BC?

I'm not interested in airlines. Would love to do bush flight / servicing remote villages / etc. Flying an old Beaver / Twin Otter would be about as perfect as it gets. I'm guessing I'd need commercial, ME, float and IFR. Anything else?

Thanks

you and about 500 other pilots, good luck with that.

Wow! what a helpful response. That statement covers basically any aspect of entering into aviation, yet serves no purpose other than to discourage people from following their dreams. I thank my lucky stars I took all the feedback similar to yours and threw it in the garbage. Just my opinion though:)

OK Alex, here is a brief on the current state of the aviation industry in Canada

If you do not have the unrestricted right to live and work in Canada, it is almost impossible to get a work permit.

There are

Lay-offs
Pay cuts
Bases closing
AOCs in suspension
Companies closing down
Companies eating each other

Low-timers who thought they might have to spend a year or two on the ramp first are facing the prospect of 3-4 years before they get flying.

Flying schools are still pumping out pilots, but I have not heard of any new-hires for many months.

A large number of pilots out of work include those with lots of hours.

That is the realistic view of an industry in crisis. If you want to follow your dreams, be my guest but don't live in a dream world.

My suggestion - build up your hours. Get your commercial. Stick with IT for a few years, follow the state of the industry, follow your dream. Good luck.

Following the Dream
 

Hey Alex,

12 years ago now, I packed up the car with $1000 in my pocket and headed to the Northern Territory in Darwin Australia to follow my dream. At the time I had a bare CPL, 220hrs and no plan at all, I didn't research the market prior to packing in my job and basically fell flat on my ar5e.

I managed to find a good job and transferred to my home town of Melbourne, Victoria, still no flying. Married, two kids, a mortgage and a good paying job, but I still want to fly professionally. Luckily for me, my best friend convinced me to give it a go again as at the time things were pretty good in Australia. I now have the best of both worlds. I still have my good paying job, and I fly part time on the weekends. Happy days.

If you want it bad enough, you'll find a way to make it work. Like one of the previous posts stated, their will be plenty of competition no matter where you go, or what you are looking for. Today the idea of professional flying may be totally unrealistic, but who knows what tomorrow brings.

Good luck and safe flying.

Cheers from Down Under

There are those that do, and those that moan about how difficult it all is and don't - do -- anything. It has always been thus.

40 years ago I encountered the same negative nonsense and carried on anyway to a full carreer in aviation.

One foot at a time, walk in that direction and you will get there, or put your feet up. Your call.

Ever heard of buy low sell high? same thing. When everyone else is running for the hills, dig in and you'll be there for the upswing.

Hey, I am a Spanish guy waiting for my license CPL, ME, IR and MCC. My dream is also try to found a job in Canada, try to create my aviation life there. I know is hard in every place, i am sure, that if you fight for your dream you will be reward with something...

That bad is the situation in Canada?

Yup, It's that bad. T is spring I applied to and called at least a couple hundred places (not all of which were in Canada) without any luck. Eventually I found a dockhand position, through a friend, which was a foot in the door. From there I changed employers and havn't looked back. There are always jobs out there, just very hard to come by. As 5ly mentioned, every step of the way there are reasons why it won't work and countless people who remind you of it, but if you want it bad enough it will happen. It was also mentioned earlier, but a work permit will be key. It could be a long road, but its worth it!

Hey Domyalex

I can say this , every one of my mates I learnt to fly with (who perservered) , are today airline or heavy corporate metal pilots.
( not that that is the be all and end all , a c208 on floats is heaven).
The ones who gave up on the dream ( and listened to the peanut gallery) or who were not prepared to work for less than their existing ( non flying job) were the only ones that never made it.
Its very tough getting there and once you are there you might even think that you have climbed the wrong ladder ( because its not all its made out to be and certainly is not the job it once was). However its there for the taking , you must really really want it though.

What Limits' summary is on the money.

If you look at how many recent Seneca or Moncton Grads that are still looking for a ride, it makes depressing reading. It is also true, the "job for life" that many of the mature ones in the left hand seat have enjoyed, is a dream from the past.

Low-time pilots from overseas who want to come to Canada in search of a flying job - you won't get past the Border - impossibility, and it's going to be a tough road to hoe.

That said, I followed my dream, worked my backside off, and even in these uncertain times, I wouldn't change a thing.

Good luck too by the way!

Thx for all the responses!

Ah.. my bad, forgot to say: I currently live just outside Vancouver, BC and will hopefully be applying soon for my permanent residency card.

I have lived in Dom. Republic, Italy, US and Canada; Canada is by FAR the best place to live!

Hunger is the key
 

Hey fourgolds..

You hit it right on...you must really want it.. money must not be the prime consideration.. direction and vision and it will happen. It did for me... some 40 years ago..
Cheers
glex01

Money... money
 

Hey,
My son is one of the Seneca grads and trying to find a direction to go to.. I did not tell him to go into aviation, but he did it anyway... It was not any easier in the 70's. True, the big money may be gone for a while, but it is always supply and demand. You just have to hang in there, because some of them will not and the chance for the persistent will come..
Safe flying
glex01