A question on seniority

[Fred94DC]

Hello,

I'm 18 years old and I'm really interested in a pilot career with AC. I actually find their cadet program very interesting and I applied considering my parents are will pay the 60 000$.

I know that there is a big difference between captain's wages and FO's wages and I want to know how much time it takes to become captain at AC? Is it different from plane to plane? When you change plane do you lose your seniority?

Thank you for answering and have a good day!
Frédérik D.C.

[CanadianEh]

Hi Fred,

A few pieces of advice before I answer your question.

I remember all the starry eyed wannabe pilots who were in my program in 1st year (before we started flying) who already knew 100% that their God given purpose on this earth was to be an Air Canada/WestJet Captain....without having ever flown a plane!

Needless to say, out of 26 initial people in the course, less than 30% actually finished and even fewer went on to pursue a career in aviation. People either found it too hard/weren't good at flying, too stressful, had financial limitations, but most of all didn't realize what flying a plane actually entails.

Although the cadet program seems pretty sweet (and I personally think it is), you should DEFINITELY go to a flight school and do a familiarization flight before jumping in with both feet.


To answer your question, it all depends on timing. When an airline is in a phase of rapid growth or has high attrition at the top levels, upgrade times are shorter. If the airline is not gaining new airframes and has a relatively young workforce, it will slow considerably. But I caution you, if you are going into aviation for the money you could do much better financially by picking a different industry.

[Fred94DC]

Thanks for replying CanadianEh

you should DEFINITELY go to a flight school and do a familiarization flight before jumping in with both feet.

I'm going to experiment one in 2 two weeks, I also have one reserved for this summer (on a helicopter this time so I can see the difference between both of them). But I already took a ride into both (plane and helicopter) and I'm pretty sure this is what I want to do in my life.

But I caution you, if you are going into aviation for the money you could do much better financially by picking a different industry.

I'm studying this domain for a long time now and since I'm young aviation as always been a passion for me, more then a job that pays money.

I'm also aware of how it is hard to find a first job in this domain and that I'm going to have to work hard for a long time before I find a good job this is why this program is interesting to me.

There is just one thing that I fear about this program and my future career it's that I'm a french canadian, I'm pretty good in english but I'm still not bilingual. So the training may be harder for me than anybody else who english is their first language.

[flatface]

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[Fred94DC]

Hahah thank you, you are right and the program will surely help me a lot with my english

[CanadianEh]

Fred,

While most people enjoy flying as a passenger, flying in the role of a pilot is much different. That's why I recommend the fam flight. The fam flight will give you a flavour of what is needed. Being a pilot is one of those unique jobs where a strong mix of academics and hands on skills are required. I know many people who are strong academically who just didn't have the hands and feet to be pilots and vice versa. Many of the people in my initial flight training had the same attitude as you and reality sunk in eventually but they were always saying "I won't be one of those people who gives up"... and frankly it has nothing to do with giving up and everything to do with what you want to get out of this life. I can easily say that some of those people who "gave up" on a career as a pilot are living much better, more balance and most prosperous lives than those who continued flying AND some of them still fly privately on their own terms.

If this is something that you really want to do then by all means pursue it with 110% effort.
There is lots of excellent information on this forum from people who have lived the life and have much insight into aviation, so use this resource well.

I wish you the best of luck,
CdnEh

[altiplano]

Dude. You're 18, time to upgrade at Air Canada is the last thing you should be thinking about at this point...

[Xander]

Dude. You're 18, time to upgrade at Air Canada is the last thing you should be thinking about at this point...

Interesting.

Would you care to elaborate?

If he's asking questions about a career at AC, in my view he's demonstrating his interest for a future career there.

Way better than videogames.

I've known people who at age 30 didn't know what to do with their lives...

[+RA]

Hi Fred,

I'm 18 as well, and like you, I've also applied to the Air Georgian/Air Canada cadet program.

From the limited advice I can give, i'd suggest you take a familiarization flight at the controls before making any decisions. Flying is hugely expensive and very demanding, so it's doubly important to know you truly enjoy it before jumping in and pursuing it extensively, as many far more knowledgable and experienced members have already pointed out.

That being said, for me, my fam flight was quite enjoyable but nothing to write home about. It was only during more interesting maneouvers such as spins, spiral dives, steep turns, etc. that i truly began to enjoy my flight training.

Jack

[altiplano]

Xander: Point is that he has bigger fish to fry at this point. At 18, zero flight time, wondering how quickly he can go left seat at a the national carrier to make the bigger bucks... getting ahead of himself is all...

Right now just worry about how you will get there as quickly as possible, once you are there and get the landscape of the times and whatever contract is in force the rest will come. You are 18, if you get there quickly I have no doubt that you will get your time as a captain on whatever the biggest plane in the fleet is 40 years from now and everything in between...

[flatface]

Deleted

[ringworm]

Air Canada pilot eh? Must be willing to be based out of YYZ.
rw