CANUK Feedback...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: A Town Near You
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CANUK Feedback...
Anyone out there who moved from the Great White North to that Great Sandy Dune have any feedback on their move?
IE Timmy's withdrawl....
Regards, Flex
IE Timmy's withdrawl....
Regards, Flex
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somehwere on the planet
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lots of us over here. The move can be a bit of a culture shock depending on how you handle new stuff, alot of the wives/girlfriends had a bit of an adjustment period. Most like it once they settle in.
Bad: No timmy's, expensive beer, it's damn hot/humid for 2 months/year and everything takes about 9 times the effort and paperwork to get done as it does in Canada, the locals make Montreal drivers look good, no Canadian Tire (try finding some stuff over here if you do any DIY, course you don't have to do anything DIY cause labor is so cheap, quality leaves a bit to be desired though),remember ATC that you bitched about in canada/US?...you'll miss them soon enough after flying to Asia a few times, gulf controllers are usually decent though, you'll be appalled at how they treat cabin crew and indians (not the NA kind) and everything is beige...all the time.
Good: You'll be amazed at how well pilots are treated compared to back home, no digging your car out of a 2 foot snowbank after coming home from a 3 day pairing, no deicing, hardly any weather and the runways are all 10000'+ long (easy flying), cheap cars, car insurance, boats, gas..NO TAXES!! and 10 months of the year the weather is great for BBQ's. You can really live a lifestyle you'd never afford to back home. All in all it's what you make of it, some hate it, most love it. i know there is no way i could go back home to make $40k a year at AC.
Bad: No timmy's, expensive beer, it's damn hot/humid for 2 months/year and everything takes about 9 times the effort and paperwork to get done as it does in Canada, the locals make Montreal drivers look good, no Canadian Tire (try finding some stuff over here if you do any DIY, course you don't have to do anything DIY cause labor is so cheap, quality leaves a bit to be desired though),remember ATC that you bitched about in canada/US?...you'll miss them soon enough after flying to Asia a few times, gulf controllers are usually decent though, you'll be appalled at how they treat cabin crew and indians (not the NA kind) and everything is beige...all the time.
Good: You'll be amazed at how well pilots are treated compared to back home, no digging your car out of a 2 foot snowbank after coming home from a 3 day pairing, no deicing, hardly any weather and the runways are all 10000'+ long (easy flying), cheap cars, car insurance, boats, gas..NO TAXES!! and 10 months of the year the weather is great for BBQ's. You can really live a lifestyle you'd never afford to back home. All in all it's what you make of it, some hate it, most love it. i know there is no way i could go back home to make $40k a year at AC.
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Home
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There's no way I would go home to make $210,000-/year at AC.
Confirmed B/FSA tickets on your vacation, 20% pay raise over last 2 years, remember the pathetic on-time perf bonus at AC - try another months pay at EK - and ALL of it goes into your pocket.
No brainer.
Confirmed B/FSA tickets on your vacation, 20% pay raise over last 2 years, remember the pathetic on-time perf bonus at AC - try another months pay at EK - and ALL of it goes into your pocket.
No brainer.
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
Posts: 2,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The redeeming quality is that you can find good coffee in the Middle East. I think a Timmies addiction is not unlike drinking Budweiser or Labatt's Blue all your life and thinking that it's the definition of "great beer."
Ban that man immediately!!! He just slandered Timmy's coffee....hmmmm timmy's, damn my addiction is acting up again, thought i got rid of that.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somehwere on the planet
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok there are 2 months of the year that even i don't BBQ...the rest is doable if you're a slightly crazy canuck trying to unthaw after 15 years flying dead moose around in northern canada.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Surrounded by aluminum, and the great outdoors
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah but that moose is really rosy when it starts to thaw huh??? Never! turn on the heater in ur 185 when hauling the boys out of the hunting lodge NEVER!!! learned that one the hard way!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: A Town Near You
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the feedback "Ya-All", some good stuff, gimme more.
"Seen" to many of those "Un-fore-seen" 17 hour duty days.."Yep", I did say 17
Good old CARs looking out of us "P-Lots" in the "First World"
Flex
My Bad on the "Canuck"...got in from a red, going on a blue eye
"Seen" to many of those "Un-fore-seen" 17 hour duty days.."Yep", I did say 17
Good old CARs looking out of us "P-Lots" in the "First World"
Flex
My Bad on the "Canuck"...got in from a red, going on a blue eye
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dubai,UAE
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
if you do come "brings yer hockey gear buyz" pretty good league starting up again in a few weeks
What's wrong with BBQ in summer here, just a little humid that's all!! Used to BBQ all year round in the "Big Smoke" of T.O. mind you it was done in the garage in the winter with the door open ansd huddled very close to the closed grill for warmth, but hey anytime was a good time for a BBQ and a frosty beer!!
Dooner
What's wrong with BBQ in summer here, just a little humid that's all!! Used to BBQ all year round in the "Big Smoke" of T.O. mind you it was done in the garage in the winter with the door open ansd huddled very close to the closed grill for warmth, but hey anytime was a good time for a BBQ and a frosty beer!!
Dooner
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somehwere on the planet
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah the hockey is suprisingly good here, some great ice outside of BAH. The bangkok tourny was a blast.
The duty rigs over here are much better than Canada. At least in GF 17 hour days aren't legal..there are a few 12 hour + ones, but overall the rosters are alot better that way. Takes some getting used to only 8 days off a month though...lot less than Canada, howver we get 2 months vacation here so it balances out. Also the flight time limits are lower, UAE is creeping up but still no one has 1200 hours/year yet here. It's really embarrassing to see just how bad the duty rules are in Canada once you see the EU stuff, with the exception of Italy of course.
The duty rigs over here are much better than Canada. At least in GF 17 hour days aren't legal..there are a few 12 hour + ones, but overall the rosters are alot better that way. Takes some getting used to only 8 days off a month though...lot less than Canada, howver we get 2 months vacation here so it balances out. Also the flight time limits are lower, UAE is creeping up but still no one has 1200 hours/year yet here. It's really embarrassing to see just how bad the duty rules are in Canada once you see the EU stuff, with the exception of Italy of course.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: out there somewhere...
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Way to go guys! I only got 46 
Glad to see the increase for ya! Do they still split it, and still only give you one free ride "home"? They also used to embargo at a moments (or none) notice, I've seen stranded employees who were left behind when travelling on a positive space leave ticket (We had that lovely experience once ourselves) On a good note, we were treated extremely well by the cabin crew at all times. GF had that down pat!
Cheers, LC
Glad to see the increase for ya! Do they still split it, and still only give you one free ride "home"? They also used to embargo at a moments (or none) notice, I've seen stranded employees who were left behind when travelling on a positive space leave ticket (We had that lovely experience once ourselves) On a good note, we were treated extremely well by the cabin crew at all times. GF had that down pat! Cheers, LC
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Surrounded by aluminum, and the great outdoors
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The 46 was because being UAE based it didnt include the public holidays which BAH apparently has more of....no increase but the cabin folks got theirs sorted finally....now back to barbeques...used to pry mine open every day I had off in Northern Michigan, (south Sault ste Marie) light it let it de-ice a bit then while it was doing that grab a cup of coffee, sit on the back deck, and choose which deer I was going to shoot to get my year's quota, put down the coffee pop the deer, then finish the barbeque hot or cold, there's always a way to have a good outside griilin"
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: A Town Near You
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's To the Life...
Popping the garage door at minus 30c-Opening a case of half frozen Blue-Firing up the "Q" with the boys on a October weekend
Awwww, i'll miss those times.
..WAIT..I got a tax AUDIT in the mail
Save some space on the dunes for Flex
Popping the garage door at minus 30c-Opening a case of half frozen Blue-Firing up the "Q" with the boys on a October weekend
Awwww, i'll miss those times.
..WAIT..I got a tax AUDIT in the mail
Save some space on the dunes for Flex
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: in a van, down by the river
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Seeing as how we are on the topic of BBQ's, lets not mention how much the bloody things cost over here. However, my recommendation is to have a set of electric padals on stand-by to help you kick start your heart after you see the price. If you can get over that, you'll be set. OR have one shipped with your belongs if you decide to move over.
As for the 2 months that it really isnt nice BBQ'ing wx, here's what I do. Begin by hydrating. Pop, fizz, bubble bubble, glug glug glug. You get the idea. Run (walk fast) out side for the 1 minute it takes to whip off the cover and light it. Wheel BBQ to side window, in my case, the window beside the kitchen. Run back in. re-hydrate. Then from the comfort of your airconditioned kitchen, prepare meat. Open window, place meat on BBQ. close window. re-hydrate. repeat when the meat needs to be turned. repeat as required. serve. ...simple really!
However, all of this is useless information unless the wife can handle the sand pit as well. No matter what you say, if she doesnt like it, you aint coming. Seen it happen more times then i thought I would.
Other then that, lots of CanuCk's over here which makes for good social events. Plus a "club for canadians" which hosts Canadian related events for Canadians. Hell I even won some Timmy's at an auction one time. Its good and I'll drink it because i am Canadian eh, but over here i prefer Starbucks.
Otherwise, everything the rest of the lads have said regarding the quality of life you can afford over here is bang on. There's no way I'd be able to afford half the things I do here if I was earning a Canadian wage. I'm not saying its all roses or that the cost of living is low (I.e. rent - but lets not get side tracked with that) but my favorite part is that a dollar earned is a dollar kept and that makes for a huge difference.
Good luck. With an opened mind you will enjoy the change.
As for the 2 months that it really isnt nice BBQ'ing wx, here's what I do. Begin by hydrating. Pop, fizz, bubble bubble, glug glug glug. You get the idea. Run (walk fast) out side for the 1 minute it takes to whip off the cover and light it. Wheel BBQ to side window, in my case, the window beside the kitchen. Run back in. re-hydrate. Then from the comfort of your airconditioned kitchen, prepare meat. Open window, place meat on BBQ. close window. re-hydrate. repeat when the meat needs to be turned. repeat as required. serve. ...simple really!
However, all of this is useless information unless the wife can handle the sand pit as well. No matter what you say, if she doesnt like it, you aint coming. Seen it happen more times then i thought I would.
Other then that, lots of CanuCk's over here which makes for good social events. Plus a "club for canadians" which hosts Canadian related events for Canadians. Hell I even won some Timmy's at an auction one time. Its good and I'll drink it because i am Canadian eh, but over here i prefer Starbucks.
Otherwise, everything the rest of the lads have said regarding the quality of life you can afford over here is bang on. There's no way I'd be able to afford half the things I do here if I was earning a Canadian wage. I'm not saying its all roses or that the cost of living is low (I.e. rent - but lets not get side tracked with that) but my favorite part is that a dollar earned is a dollar kept and that makes for a huge difference.
Good luck. With an opened mind you will enjoy the change.