Canada: Training & Employment prospects
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Neil
I would forget Codys post about getting a long line job, without being disrespectful to him he is dreaming. I am just on my way home from visiting a number of operators here in BC and I dont like your chances of getting anything with that amount of time.
You might be lucky and get a hangar rat job and get to ferry some aircraft from time to time but thats about all. Longline here in Canada is very very different to what you would have seen back home, I am from Auckland, and it is a big culture shock.
However I wish you luck but check into getting a Canadian licence as well and dont forget work permits as Immigration is tough on that.
Pac Rotors.
I would forget Codys post about getting a long line job, without being disrespectful to him he is dreaming. I am just on my way home from visiting a number of operators here in BC and I dont like your chances of getting anything with that amount of time.
You might be lucky and get a hangar rat job and get to ferry some aircraft from time to time but thats about all. Longline here in Canada is very very different to what you would have seen back home, I am from Auckland, and it is a big culture shock.
However I wish you luck but check into getting a Canadian licence as well and dont forget work permits as Immigration is tough on that.
Pac Rotors.
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NeilB,
you are going to find it very hard to get a start with that resume.I can tell you that most if not all the companies in Vancouver will not want to see you and will have insurance policies which exclude you anyway.Proximity of mountains, coastal weather and overall knowledge required to operate to the standards expected of helicopter crew in BC is their excuse.
My suggestion is that you don't waste a day in the mountainous areas and head straight out to the flatlands.There are companies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the territories who have 500/206 aircraft and relatively low requirements for crew. The reason they have low requirements is that they don't want to pay you much and will work you hard, so you go there knowing that and also knowing that all parties understand you are there long enough to get the time to get a reasonable deal. Most people do a season or at the most two with these companies then move on.
If you do get on, don't expect good pay, conditions, equipment or fair treatment. Everyone will know who these companies are so it won't be hard to find out who they are. It will cost you to get around to see all these people, but its the only way. Phoning faxing is a waste of time. They'll want to see your face and chat. Might even be worth buying a van, living in it and driving until you get something.
Good luck.
you are going to find it very hard to get a start with that resume.I can tell you that most if not all the companies in Vancouver will not want to see you and will have insurance policies which exclude you anyway.Proximity of mountains, coastal weather and overall knowledge required to operate to the standards expected of helicopter crew in BC is their excuse.
My suggestion is that you don't waste a day in the mountainous areas and head straight out to the flatlands.There are companies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the territories who have 500/206 aircraft and relatively low requirements for crew. The reason they have low requirements is that they don't want to pay you much and will work you hard, so you go there knowing that and also knowing that all parties understand you are there long enough to get the time to get a reasonable deal. Most people do a season or at the most two with these companies then move on.
If you do get on, don't expect good pay, conditions, equipment or fair treatment. Everyone will know who these companies are so it won't be hard to find out who they are. It will cost you to get around to see all these people, but its the only way. Phoning faxing is a waste of time. They'll want to see your face and chat. Might even be worth buying a van, living in it and driving until you get something.
Good luck.
NeilB- good luck and stay motivated. It sounds as though you have the right attitude. Pac Rotors and Ditchy offer realistic advice. Cody, Pac Rotors is right-you are dreaming. If you don't believe me post your comments in the Just Helicopters forum and see what reaction you get. Pac, thanks for the Lama slide (saves me sending you an email).
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I am not dreamin. I have realitives that are making 170,000- 200,000 in long line operations, granted they do have a few more hours. If you don't believe me contact the head of PHI or Columbia Helicopters and ask them what there money-making field, my cousin is one of the CEO's of Columbia, which is a very respectable company. They use Ch 47's for their ops. If thats dreaming then I guess im a dreamer. But you have got to admit that you cannot beat the versitility of long-line, other pilots will starve when others are still flying.
Cody
Cody
Cody, no one disputes that you can make good money as a long line pilot, but you are dreaming if you think it is good advice to tell someone with 152 hours tt to look for long line jobs. That's like telling someone who just got their driver's licence to look for a job as an F1 driver because it pays well. Yes the people you are taking about will have a few more hours- about 5000 to 10000 more. I admire your enthusiasm but get some experience in the industry before you start dispensing advice.
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Mark,
What you say is true but the man was looking for a job in an industry that could make good money. I told him that the best place to be is long line. By all means i didn't tell him that it would be posible right away. I guess that I need to be more specific perhaps?? Just trying to help a man in need. Thats why I told him to check out things at justhelos. Read more carefully
Cody
[ 08 July 2001: Message edited by: Copter Cody ]
What you say is true but the man was looking for a job in an industry that could make good money. I told him that the best place to be is long line. By all means i didn't tell him that it would be posible right away. I guess that I need to be more specific perhaps?? Just trying to help a man in need. Thats why I told him to check out things at justhelos. Read more carefully
Cody
[ 08 July 2001: Message edited by: Copter Cody ]
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Cody
As mentioned above not trying to have a shot at you, just saying that it was vitually impossible to get long line work with that sort of time.
All the guys I flew with during my recent visit over there who were flying longline were in excess of 5000 hrs plus. In fact the forestry companies are setting the minimums, not the operators. One of the 214B operations I spent some time with have to have a co-pilot for safety reasons and all he does is sit there and monitor the dials and provide look out etc (not saying it isnt important, just thatv he doesnt get to fly unless its a ferry flight).
This requirement is a logging company requirement combined with the insurance agency so things are tough in the long line world. However knocking on every door is always a positive outlook.
Quick example I was at Black Tusk in Squamish for two days and they got ten resumes in the mail over those two days, some with a couple of thousand hours. Hope that explains it.
Regards
Pac Rotors
As mentioned above not trying to have a shot at you, just saying that it was vitually impossible to get long line work with that sort of time.
All the guys I flew with during my recent visit over there who were flying longline were in excess of 5000 hrs plus. In fact the forestry companies are setting the minimums, not the operators. One of the 214B operations I spent some time with have to have a co-pilot for safety reasons and all he does is sit there and monitor the dials and provide look out etc (not saying it isnt important, just thatv he doesnt get to fly unless its a ferry flight).
This requirement is a logging company requirement combined with the insurance agency so things are tough in the long line world. However knocking on every door is always a positive outlook.
Quick example I was at Black Tusk in Squamish for two days and they got ten resumes in the mail over those two days, some with a couple of thousand hours. Hope that explains it.
Regards
Pac Rotors
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Pac Rotors,
I totally understand. I was just trying to help out a fellow chopper pilot. Im not trying to take affence either. This got blown way out of perportion. I hope that you accept my appologies.
Cody
I totally understand. I was just trying to help out a fellow chopper pilot. Im not trying to take affence either. This got blown way out of perportion. I hope that you accept my appologies.
Cody
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Copter Cody,
As i understand in one of your other posts, you have not left high school, and want to start flying helos when you leave. Good luck to you. However, to say you are trying to help a fellow chopper pilot is misleading, wouldn't you agree?
I agree with Pac Rotors, and others, you have absolutely no idea about the helicopter industry and how it is driven by insurance costs. Long Lining is one of the most demanding and dangerous jobs a helo pilot can have, their pay does reflect that, but so it should, they are production pilots. Production pilots make money by high production, there is very little room for low time people, and by low time I mean low logging time. Don't pretend to be someone you're not. Hope your relative at Columbia can get you a job, by the way, you need a spellchecker.
[ 09 July 2001: Message edited by: sling load ]
As i understand in one of your other posts, you have not left high school, and want to start flying helos when you leave. Good luck to you. However, to say you are trying to help a fellow chopper pilot is misleading, wouldn't you agree?
I agree with Pac Rotors, and others, you have absolutely no idea about the helicopter industry and how it is driven by insurance costs. Long Lining is one of the most demanding and dangerous jobs a helo pilot can have, their pay does reflect that, but so it should, they are production pilots. Production pilots make money by high production, there is very little room for low time people, and by low time I mean low logging time. Don't pretend to be someone you're not. Hope your relative at Columbia can get you a job, by the way, you need a spellchecker.
[ 09 July 2001: Message edited by: sling load ]
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NEILB.
Helijet Airways had a posting looking for ramp attendants, it's not a flying job but it could lead to one.Other than that you sort of missed the season in Canada, It is best to look for work in March and April by now most small companies have their crews.An IR might also help you land an F/O job with an IFR operator.
Helijet Airways had a posting looking for ramp attendants, it's not a flying job but it could lead to one.Other than that you sort of missed the season in Canada, It is best to look for work in March and April by now most small companies have their crews.An IR might also help you land an F/O job with an IFR operator.
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The Instrument Rating is a little too early. 250 hrs TT in helis are required in Canada in order to be endorsed on a multi-crew aircraft unless things have changed. It is also rare to get a co-jo job with less than 500 hrs. Few captains want to be teaching as well as running the trip.
It's not just an adventure....
it's just a job!
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Copter Cody:
I have just been reviewing the posts I have missed over the past month or so and I couldn't help commenting on your rather amusing if not juvinile advice.
You are quite right that a long-line pilot can command an excellent financial renumeration package, however, that only applies to a very few, dedicated and what we in the industry like to call "brain dead" pilots (kidding) called the HELILOGGERS!
Yes they can earn in excess of 200K per annum, but at what cost?
It's basically a 100% Q climb, followed by a flat pitch auto through some of the foulest WX you can imagine and they have to be able to do the turn in two or three minutes. Sound like fun to you?
Long-lining is a very broad term in the helicopter industry and cannot be easily generalized.
I think you have to review you're previous posts and finish High School and then get a life, not a fantasy.
Keep Dreamin'
Cheers
OffshoreIgor
[ 24 July 2001: Message edited by: offshoreigor ]
I have just been reviewing the posts I have missed over the past month or so and I couldn't help commenting on your rather amusing if not juvinile advice.
You are quite right that a long-line pilot can command an excellent financial renumeration package, however, that only applies to a very few, dedicated and what we in the industry like to call "brain dead" pilots (kidding) called the HELILOGGERS!
Yes they can earn in excess of 200K per annum, but at what cost?
It's basically a 100% Q climb, followed by a flat pitch auto through some of the foulest WX you can imagine and they have to be able to do the turn in two or three minutes. Sound like fun to you?
Long-lining is a very broad term in the helicopter industry and cannot be easily generalized.
I think you have to review you're previous posts and finish High School and then get a life, not a fantasy.
Keep Dreamin'
Cheers
OffshoreIgor [ 24 July 2001: Message edited by: offshoreigor ]
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Neil,
In my opinion the Canadian industry is substancially healthier than any of the australasian sectors. Igor, PR and IHL are correct in the suggestions to check out Alberta.
I have investigated this road and had intended showing up to hangar rat (if necessary) to get a start. I know plenty of antipodeans who have had a great time in Alberta and set themselves up for good work in OZ/NZ when the workpermit expires. The permit is the biggest hurdle and if you search back thru pprune to JAN you will find quite a lot of advice on the subject. E-mail me if you need help.
regards
In my opinion the Canadian industry is substancially healthier than any of the australasian sectors. Igor, PR and IHL are correct in the suggestions to check out Alberta.
I have investigated this road and had intended showing up to hangar rat (if necessary) to get a start. I know plenty of antipodeans who have had a great time in Alberta and set themselves up for good work in OZ/NZ when the workpermit expires. The permit is the biggest hurdle and if you search back thru pprune to JAN you will find quite a lot of advice on the subject. E-mail me if you need help.
regards
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canadian helicopter schools
a friend of mine needs helicopter schools to contact in canada. the best would be a list of web sites he could check out... i am more familiar with the us ones.
anybody?
anybody?
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I'll pass along the Training Unit I deal with - Silverline Helicopters which is located about 40 minutes north of Toronto. Currently undergoing building expansion, as a result intake of new students is currently limited. www.silverlineheli.com
If you want info via email, send it to [email protected], he will have the chief flight instructor respond with any information your friend may require.
If you want info via email, send it to [email protected], he will have the chief flight instructor respond with any information your friend may require.
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Canadian license/work?
I am a UK military heicopter pilot/test pilot and instructor with 3500 hours and a UK ATPL (H). What must I do to convert my license to a Canadian commercial license and how are the Job prospects in Canada. I am qualified on S61, Bell 212/206/205/412, S70A? Thanks for any responses and suggestions for places look.
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You shouldn't have any problems. They may validate your UK license. I went up this past summer with a FAA Comm/Inst. Helo. Had to do a full commercial checkride + 100 question written exam. The main thing here is to find a prospective employer. They have to put in a request with immigration after proving to the satisfaction of the bureaucrat that no suitable Canadian is available. It's off season now, so that may be a bit hard. You could go for landed immigrant status, then look around. Some bigger operators are Canadian Helicopter, Helijets, and others. Try this site www.avcanada.com or www.avcanada.ca (can't remember exactly). If you want temporary, contract, like I did, wait until Jan or Feb and start applying for the fire positions.
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A decent Canadian site is Canadianaviation.com. Lots of Ra Ra Ra on the state of the industry, etc. Written exam plus a ride will get you a comm ticket. Canadian Helicopters EMS program can't seem to fill all their chairs for any length of time so they would be a good bet.(76's)
Good Luck
Good Luck