To return to the skies or wait a while longer…

[McKinley]

With recalls happening in faced with a dilemma.

I currently have a job lined on in the service industry.. it’s not glamorous out it puts a bit of money on table. I’m in a small town so the competition was stiff for the job… the job is seasonal and is now coming to a close. I have the option of trying to find another service type job…

I don’t enjoy the job overly and I’m scraping by. ( which is stressful) it’s a service job.. not a professional Career.

Not flying has been hell… I hate it…I miss it.

Obviously flying has benefits, significantly higher pay and it’s a bloody career and everything that comes with it. I also worked my ass off to get there ..

Retraining will be a long challenging road and from what I hear there’s waits for Medicals now…

My concerns are with the variant nonsense and the fear train … how much longevity is there in the industry? Am I going into another layoff where I could be in a position where I’m struggling to get a crappy service job of all things... ( I don’t want to go there again)

Mentally, it feels surreal to be going back and I almost can’t see myself in the cockpit after the run we’ve had. This has been the longest run I’ve had in my life away from aviation and I never really thought I’d have the Career back..

I wondering what others are doing and if people have felt the same way and I’d love some insight into domestic passenger loads… I’m so far removed at this point.. be gentle guys! I’m being vulnerable here!!

[montado]

Get back on the horse.

Cant predict the future. If a seat is available take it and don't worry about the "what if". Its not like you are leaving a "career" to make this choice, Seasonal contract is over so its natural to go back to flying!

[McKinley]

Get back on the horse.

Cant predict the future. If a seat is available take it and don't worry about the "what if". Its not like you are leaving a "career" to make this choice, Seasonal contract is over so its natural to go back to flying!

Thanks ! I don’t know how recalls are happening with 10-15% of 2019 flying. I guess that’s my worry .. is going back to a layoff then not being able to find something to replace it in winter ..with the variant craziness

I’m also scared of the personal rust I’ll encounter … jumping back into an airliner … I’m sitting in the over 4-5000 hour mark. Intend to read, study, study and attend an IFR/ ATPL seminar to brush up .. but still…

[McKinley]

Get back on the horse.

Cant predict the future. If a seat is available take it and don't worry about the "what if". Its not like you are leaving a "career" to make this choice, Seasonal contract is over so its natural to go back to flying!

Thanks ! I don’t know how recalls are happening with 10-15% of 2019 flying. I guess that’s my worry .. is going back to a layoff then not being able to find something to replace it in winter ..with the variant craziness

I’m also scared of the personal rust I’ll encounter … jumping back into an airliner … I’m sitting in the over 4-5000 hour mark. Intend to read, study, study and attend an IFR/ ATPL seminar to brush up .. but still…

[200Above]

I'm not going back till the moment I have to. This change of pace has been exactly what I needed. Learning new skills that will benefit me indefinitely has been a blessing.

My sleep patterns are back to normal and I can accept invites to parties or family get togethers knowing 100% I'll be able to attend. Christmas? Yup, I'm off. Have fun sitting yyz reserve.

The only downside I can think of? We don't continue to accrue YOS. That's it. Full stop. (maybe the pension thing, but I look after that independently anyways)

Rusty? Nah, I'm always rusty.

[jpilot77]

Get back on the horse.

Cant predict the future. If a seat is available take it and don't worry about the "what if". Its not like you are leaving a "career" to make this choice, Seasonal contract is over so its natural to go back to flying!

Thanks ! I don’t know how recalls are happening with 10-15% of 2019 flying. I guess that’s my worry .. is going back to a layoff then not being able to find something to replace it in winter ..with the variant craziness

I’m also scared of the personal rust I’ll encounter … jumping back into an airliner … I’m sitting in the over 4-5000 hour mark. Intend to read, study, study and attend an IFR/ ATPL seminar to brush up .. but still…

Right now AC is back to maybe 40% to 50% of the 2019 flying. The last month stuff has gotten quite a bit busier. Even compared to a week ago the airports have gotten busier.

[McKinley]

Get back on the horse.

Cant predict the future. If a seat is available take it and don't worry about the "what if". Its not like you are leaving a "career" to make this choice, Seasonal contract is over so its natural to go back to flying!

Thanks ! I don’t know how recalls are happening with 10-15% of 2019 flying. I guess that’s my worry .. is going back to a layoff then not being able to find something to replace it in winter ..with the variant craziness

I’m also scared of the personal rust I’ll encounter … jumping back into an airliner … I’m sitting in the over 4-5000 hour mark. Intend to read, study, study and attend an IFR/ ATPL seminar to brush up .. but still…

Right now AC is back to maybe 40% to 50% of the 2019 flying. The last month stuff has gotten quite a bit busier. Even compared to a week ago the airports have gotten busier.

Hello,

Thanks for the information. I was under the impression we were way way lower than that. -This is really encouraging news.

I think it’s time to turn off the news on my phone…. I will say it would have been helpful to get this kind of information from somewhere else than an online forum.

Sounds like people are wanting to live their lives sans variant fear.

[Kosiw]

Here's hoping the airlines don't start "Yo-Yoing" with recalls, its gonna piss off a lot laid off guys if they get kicked to the curb again....everyone's got bills to pay.

[McKinley]

Here's hoping the airlines don't start "Yo-Yoing" with recalls, its gonna piss off a lot laid off guys if they get kicked to the curb again....everyone's got bills to pay.

That’s exactly my concern … I can see their perspective in a sense that so much is outside their control. However, I feel this does not negate our challenges. ( as employees of the hardest hit sector of the economy)


The COVID karens think otherwise ( everyone having bills to pay) .. I was told by a healthcare employee that I should be humbled / proud to have sacrificed for others so I can save lives. however, if I’m concerned about my career I’m narcissistic. So

[montado]

Here's hoping the airlines don't start "Yo-Yoing" with recalls, its gonna piss off a lot laid off guys if they get kicked to the curb again....everyone's got bills to pay.

That’s exactly my concern … I can see their perspective in a sense that so much is outside their control. However, I feel this does not negate our challenges. ( as employees of the hardest hit sector of the economy)


The COVID karens think otherwise ( everyone having bills to pay) .. I was told by a healthcare employee that I should be humbled / proud to have sacrificed for others so I can save lives. however, if I’m concerned about my career I’m narcissistic. So

This is why I carry pots and pans everywhere I go. This way I can start banging them saying how I'm so lucky to have teachers and nurses working through the pandemic. And teachers my God they are hero's. they adapted to Google classroom and teach my kids half hour a day. Bang my pots for this!

[the-minister31]

Jazz pilots are protected until march 2022, and then all predictions show we'll need everyone back by then.

[BTD]

It is not cost effective for a company to recall pilots and lay them off again, and recall. At any reasonably large company if they are calling you back, they have likely had a lot of intelligent eyes on the problem for a while, and are doing it because they will need you.

[DHC-1 Jockey]

It is not cost effective for a company to recall pilots and lay them off again, and recall. At any reasonably large company if they are calling you back, they have likely had a lot of intelligent eyes on the problem for a while, and are doing it because they will need you.

Sunwing is currently training in the SIM only (no line indoc or line checks) and then re-laying off the pilots after completion of SIM.

While there is only demand for a few flight crews at the present moment, I guess the plan is to have everyone current for an anticipated busy winter season.

[RegionalPilot]

It is not cost effective for a company to recall pilots and lay them off again, and recall. At any reasonably large company if they are calling you back, they have likely had a lot of intelligent eyes on the problem for a while, and are doing it because they will need you.

Sunwing is currently training in the SIM only (no line indoc or line checks) and then re-laying off the pilots after completion of SIM.

While there is only demand for a few flight crews at the present moment, I guess the plan is to have everyone current for an anticipated busy winter season.

Sunwing is doing that because they will need a lot of staff within a very short period of time (compare to AC/WJ which are gradually ramping up flying). With the limited amount of 737 sim time available in Canada, they have no choice but to proceed that way since they can’t train 100% of their required staff within a few weeks.

[DHC-1 Jockey]

Sunwing is doing that because they will need a lot of staff within a very short period of time (compare to AC/WJ which are gradually ramping up flying). With the limited amount of 737 sim time available in Canada, they have no choice but to proceed that way since they can’t train 100% of their required staff within a few weeks.

I know, I'm just responding to BTD that there are companies out there who are training and then laying-off again.

[cdnpilot77]

If I’m not mistaken, you dipped your toe in the water in another aspect of aviation several years back (atc) and it didn’t go well. I would surmise from that and your current predicament, that you are a pilot, you are meant to be a pilot and anything less will end in disappointment. We all did what we could to make it in this industry because it sits deep down, don’t let the doubts seep in. Go after it like you did when you had 250hrs and don’t look back.

[BTD]

It is not cost effective for a company to recall pilots and lay them off again, and recall. At any reasonably large company if they are calling you back, they have likely had a lot of intelligent eyes on the problem for a while, and are doing it because they will need you.

Sunwing is currently training in the SIM only (no line indoc or line checks) and then re-laying off the pilots after completion of SIM.

While there is only demand for a few flight crews at the present moment, I guess the plan is to have everyone current for an anticipated busy winter season.

Fair enough. However, if you have that knowledge going in, I wouldn’t classify it as a recall.

[sjatana]

With recalls happening in faced with a dilemma.

I currently have a job lined on in the service industry.. it’s not glamorous out it puts a bit of money on table. I’m in a small town so the competition was stiff for the job… the job is seasonal and is now coming to a close. I have the option of trying to find another service type job…

I don’t enjoy the job overly and I’m scraping by. ( which is stressful) it’s a service job.. not a professional Career.

Not flying has been hell… I hate it…I miss it.

Obviously flying has benefits, significantly higher pay and it’s a bloody career and everything that comes with it. I also worked my ass off to get there ..

Retraining will be a long challenging road and from what I hear there’s waits for Medicals now…

My concerns are with the variant nonsense and the fear train … how much longevity is there in the industry? Am I going into another layoff where I could be in a position where I’m struggling to get a crappy service job of all things... ( I don’t want to go there again)

Mentally, it feels surreal to be going back and I almost can’t see myself in the cockpit after the run we’ve had. This has been the longest run I’ve had in my life away from aviation and I never really thought I’d have the Career back..

I wondering what others are doing and if people have felt the same way and I’d love some insight into domestic passenger loads… I’m so far removed at this point.. be gentle guys! I’m being vulnerable here!!

Why not take the risk and go do what you miss? You can get laid off working a seasonal job or get laid off doing what you love. I prefer the latter.

Sounds like you have the maturity to handle life's problems. You survived this layoff...you will surely survive another.

However, all that being said, there's no shame in waiting longer...everyone's life circumstances are different. People have quit flying all together and I do not judge those folks. Do what's best for you, mate.

[Ash Ketchum]

I am currently in a fairly well paid professional non aviation job and am accepting my recall no matter which seat I get. Sure the money and stability may be temporarily worse in aviation but I just can't stand sitting at a desk and staring at a monitor for 9 hours a day and I miss flying.

[WhataYoke]

I'm in the same boat as Ash Ketchum^. It's a little egotistical but once your a Pilot you will always will be no matter where you're working (IMO). We all got into this career for the love of flying. We sure as hell didn't do it for the money or the stability, It's well known that most of the time it pays like shit. If you see yourself looking at planes flying overhead wondering what type of a/c it is and where it's going you already have your answer. It just sucks we have to put up with low wages and a very unstable industry. Once you know what's important to you focus on it and don't let the distractions deter you. My 2 cents.

[pitottubey]

I don't understand how some pilots are considered themselves shit pay... considering that the average after tax income in Canada is about 60,000, don't most airline pilots make more then that?? It seems to me that airline pilots mostly make upper middle class income and some cpts and the majors make beyond that even...

[scdriver]

I don't understand how some pilots are considered themselves shit pay... considering that the average after tax income in Canada is about 60,000, don't most airline pilots make more then that?? It seems to me that airline pilots mostly make upper middle class income and some cpts and the majors make beyond that even...

Except for the first 4 years at AC, every year at any regional till you’re captain, and almost any job you get before those. You’re making 35K at your first job. That’s minimum wage… and 55K to fly any machine at AC is beyond embarrassing. Yes there’s obviously the outliers that are captains at mainlines but that’s not the majority of pilots in Canada. If you think the industry doesn’t pay like shit for the most part you are very very mistaken

[pitottubey]

I agree with your numbers, so if my math is correct thats a total of roughly 10 years. In a 40 year career thats only about a quarter of it.

[goldeneagle]

and 55K to fly any machine at AC is beyond embarrassing.

Obviously it's not, they have far more applications than positions, always have, always will.

[Ash Ketchum]

and 55K to fly any machine at AC is beyond embarrassing.

Obviously it's not, they have far more applications than positions, always have, always will.

The AC flat pay is so rough when you combine it with covid career slowdowns. It will take awhile for most younger pilots to get to decent pay in Canada. I started flying professionally 6 years ago at 24 and while regional captain pay was decent I won't be making good money until I am in my late 30s or early 40s. Meanwhile my friends who are paramedics, bus drivers, nurses, and teachers will out earn me until then.