The Air Canada OTS thread

[altiplano]

"Applied last week, no call yet"

One thing that is often overlooked but is important at AC is a track record of wanting to be there. They know how long you've been applying, and how your career has progressed as a result... It counts. Of course there are guys that throw in an application and find themselves interviewed the next month but it's not the norm.

[aV1aTOr]

"Applied last week, no call yet"

One thing that is often overlooked but is important at AC is a track record of wanting to be there. They know how long you've been applying, and how your career has progressed as a result... It counts. Of course there are guys that throw in an application and find themselves interviewed the next month but it's not the norm.

Of course I want to agree with you altiplano, but I must admit, I fell for the whole "AC knows how long you have been applying" line. I maintained the same application file for 5 years, constantly updating it after every hour milestone or position change. Nothing but crickets. Then guys/gals at my employer started to notice something: if you ditched the old app and made a new one with a new email address, ta-daa! Interview invitation. Like I mentioned earlier, 5 years of crickets, but after a new identity (email address anyways, all other info the same of course) and new application, it took all of 1 month. Hired 2 months later.
I'm not trying to give away the 'secret' to getting noticed OTS. Maybe it was the key years ago for a short period of time. All I'm saying is there is alot less conspiracy going on behind the scenes than we'd like to think, and there's a lot of randomness and right place/right time to getting hired. Anyone who tells you "This is what they want to see" or "This is how you get an interview" has no idea what they're talking about. It is as unpredictable as AC's stock price fluctuations.

[altiplano]

You're probably right...

I had been told that and I guess I always just believed it.

Took me years to get hired too - I started applying before it was an online process - or at least before I had a computer and internet access - I actually dropped the first resume off... It took me years more of applying after it went online, and I couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting called while I watched others go...

Who frackin knows...

[awitzke]

+1 for post secondary. Canada usually follows the US. If you look at airlines like Delta and Alaskan. A University Degree is required, not just preferred...

Now I'm nowhere near working for AC, but it's funny you and others say this. I know a few pilots who have been hired at AC relatively recently without a degree or diploma.

[sportingrifle]

Yes.there have been candidates hired recently OTS without degrees. It is also worth noting that all the military candidates have degrees.
FWIW, this is rumored to be a new direction that AC is moving in and at this point, they seem pretty hard core about it. The two most likely things that would change it are a change of personnel high up in Flight Ops., or having difficulty finding well qualified candidates with degrees.
I personally think that a degree is very desirable, as are many other things, but i would be loathe to formally exclude applicants on the basis of this. It is a way to miss some very good candidates. Hope this helps those out there managing their career planning.

Cheers sportingrifle

[Chinaflyer]

Total time 7000 +
Airbus 5000+
Airbus PIC 2000 +
Post Secondary Diploma but no University Degree.
30 years old.

I applied early in March and nothing yet. The application window just closed so I'm assuming they will start sorting through the applications now. Seems there will be plenty of interview spots to go around. Good luck everyone!

[JoeyBarton]

Plenty of interview spots for OTS? No I dont think so.
E-mails have started going out for phone interviews for OTS pilots last week. Everybody I know who got the email has post secondary and 705 time.

[Elessar_44]

6100 TT
~700 PIC on a Citation
~1000 PIC on DH8
Bachelors
internal reference from a good friend who has been at AC a few years

Hoping for a call! However I did interview back in 2012 and didn't get accepted then, so not sure if that will be a negative on my application.

[THLC]

I met all the requirements AC has listed except for my ATPL... That arrived in the mail the day after the posting closed.
I have since updated my profile and resume on their website, but the preliminary questions of what licence and experience I have weren't available in that process. So my submission has a current resume, but I'm listed in their questions as still only having a CPL.

I would guess that I'm out of luck this time since there seems to be no way to change the status of my licence?

[gtanorth]

I met all the requirements AC has listed except for my ATPL... That arrived in the mail the day after the posting closed.
I have since updated my profile and resume on their website, but the preliminary questions of what licence and experience I have weren't available in that process. So my submission has a current resume, but I'm listed in their questions as still only having a CPL.

I would guess that I'm out of luck this time since there seems to be no way to change the status of my licence?

Have you applied to an express partner? That sounds like an option for a person with a new atpl.

[IdRatherBeFishing]

Well I got a sort of PFO today... talked to lots of guys who got the same email this AM. I've got 5500 TT plus lots of MPIC and medium jet time, a couple guys I know who received the same email are 737 skippers with lots more time than me, I wonder who these astronauts are who didn't get the email?

Congrats to all those with upcoming interviews, to the rest of us good luck! After all, they're gonna keep us on file

[jetav8r]

I got one today as well. 8000k including jet PIC, no degree but a couple of diplomas

[dtpilot]

Did everybody get an email no matter what? Did some who apply get nothing? Just wondering if the pfo email is something like still being on their radar since it says "may" be contacted in the future. Thoughts?

[AOW]

The poll time divisions don't seem to offer a very good breakdown between the realistic applicants.

According to the current numbers, there are 5 applicants with 500 hours of single pilot jet time, and there are no breakdowns for more than 500 PIC, or less than 1000 SIC. The TT breakdowns realistically should start at 3000; I don't think anybody is getting called with less than 3k, more likely 4-5k+ TT.

So sorry to the 1500 TT/500 MPIC guys, just because they posts their minimums that low, doesn't mean that they're going to hire anybody without considerably more time.

[TomC]

I got the phone interview email yesterday. Good luck to everyone!

2800 TT
1000+ >12500 MPIC
Bilingual
Bachelors degree
Internal Reference

[JBI]

The poll time divisions don't seem to offer a very good breakdown between the realistic applicants.

According to the current numbers, there are 5 applicants with 500 hours of single pilot jet time, and there are no breakdowns for more than 500 PIC, or less than 1000 SIC. The TT breakdowns realistically should start at 3000; I don't think anybody is getting called with less than 3k, more likely 4-5k+ TT.

So sorry to the 1500 TT/500 MPIC guys, just because they posts their minimums that low, doesn't mean that they're going to hire anybody without considerably more time.

The minimums for AC are 2000 TT. I know of folks who have gotten the "we'd like to interview you" e-mail with less than 3000 TT but with a degree and/or aviation college diploma.

I've also heard of an e-mail sent to people with less than 2000 TT with a "thanks, but you don't have the hours yet".

It really seems that the focus in this round was on having a degree or aviation college diploma.

[jpilot77]

Some military guys might be around the minimums due to the nature of military flying.

[Qdrivermann]

Hello everybody,
I got an email yesterday from AC for an invitation to a future telephone interview!
Total time: 15000 hrs
Total ME Turbine PIC (Q400/DH8 Legacy): 10100 hrs
BSc. Degree completed and almost done my MSc. degree.
No internal references.
I am looking forward to going over to AC!
Cheers
Qmann

Ps: does anybody know what goes on during the telephone interview? Pls PM me!! Thanks!

[Chinaflyer]

I also got the pfo email. A little frustrating as I currently have over 7000 hours and over 2000 hours A320 PIC.

No degree

I graduated high school with a CPL so I wasn't eligible to attend a College program for aviation. I was an instructor at Seneca College when I was 21. Some of my old students are already in Air Canada.

I've been flying in Asia for the past 10 years but trying to get back to Canada for family reasons. Maybe I can get a job as a Zamboni driver . Anyone have any leads? I'm a little out of the loop regarding Canadian Aviation. I'm aware Sky Regional is hiring. However, a little hesitant to join another stepping stone company given my personal situation.

[fruitloops]

I also got the pfo email. A little frustrating as I currently have over 7000 hours and over 2000 hours A320 PIC.

No degree

I graduated high school with a CPL so I wasn't eligible to attend a College program for aviation. I was an instructor at Seneca College when I was 21. Some of my old students are already in Air Canada.

I've been flying in Asia for the past 10 years but trying to get back to Canada for family reasons. Maybe I can get a job as a Zamboni driver . Anyone have any leads? I'm a little out of the loop regarding Canadian Aviation. I'm aware Sky Regional is hiring. However, a little hesitant to join another stepping stone company given my personal situation.

I'm sure Sunwing and especially Air Transat would be quick to scoop you up if u didn't care about AC Otherwise SKY definitely best regional to AC gig for a DEC, and secondly GGN DEC if you really want another kick at AC in the end. However be warned that if they overlooked you already with that experience and you don't have a degree there is a risk that your AC interview from a regional may have a similar result. I'm not HR but I'm just saying it's a possibility as a % of regional applicants get PFO'd still too.