VFR Likely Locations & Relocation

[yegtc]

Wondering if anyone would be able to provide some further (updated) insights on VFR locations & when relocation may be possible.

I am currently in YEG - would I likely be placed in northern YEG FIR after training?

How soon after initial placement can a relocation be requested? How likely is it that a relocation to major tower is granted (YEG in this case)?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[kaye.boe]

If I may pose the same question for members in YVR FIR. Assuming YLW, YVR, YHC, YYJ are fairly sought after, are most ab initios then sent to YXS and smaller lower mainland airports?

Thank you!

[stabilizedapproach]

In general, your first post in YVR could be to anything except CYVR. You get to submit your choice but it doesn’t really matter. You go where they need staff so if the prospect to being sent to George isn’t so attractive, you may want to reconsider.

I think you can bid out starting at year 2 or 3, don’t remember the specifics… but it’s hard to actually get out after a short time because of various factors. Bidding is based on national union seniority and where you find desirable, many others might as well. Those I’ve heard who manage to leave after 2/3 years either got really lucky or bid to a place that isn’t so desirable.

[kaye.boe]

In general, your first post in YVR could be to anything except CYVR. You get to submit your choice but it doesn’t really matter. You go where they need staff so if the prospect to being sent to George isn’t so attractive, you may want to reconsider.

I think you can bid out starting at year 2 or 3, don’t remember the specifics… but it’s hard to actually get out after a short time because of various factors. Bidding is based on national union seniority and where you find desirable, many others might as well. Those I’ve heard who manage to leave after 2/3 years either got really lucky or bid to a place that isn’t so desirable.

Thank you so much! I'm all good with anywhere, preferences towards Vancouver and surrounding, but getting qualified is the priority for sure.

[mckinley007]

The sites most likely picked for ab-initios in ZEG are: Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Fort McMurray, Villeneuve, and Springbank. Not to say Edmonton or Calgary aren’t available. It all depends on staffing and what sites need people the most. After your first posting there is a 2 year wait period, that commences at qualification, before you can bid to a different site. When you bid it’s purely based on seniority. YEG tower is one of the most sought after towers in the western half of the country. It’s unheard of to get in there with less than 8-10 years in.

The sites ab-initios get sent to are decided based on likely success given your performance and strengths in basic along with the staffing considerations. Sometimes they ask for your preference but that may or may not be a courtesy.

[yegtc]

The sites most likely picked for ab-initios in ZEG are: Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Fort McMurray, Villeneuve, and Springbank. Not to say Edmonton or Calgary aren’t available. It all depends on staffing and what sites need people the most. After your first posting there is a 2 year wait period, that commences at qualification, before you can bid to a different site. When you bid it’s purely based on seniority. YEG tower is one of the most sought after towers in the western half of the country. It’s unheard of to get in there with less than 8-10 years in.

The sites ab-initios get sent to are decided based on likely success given your performance and strengths in basic along with the staffing considerations. Sometimes they ask for your preference but that may or may not be a courtesy.

Thank you for your insight, this helps a lot!

Villeneuve and Springbank would actually be perfect as well. Would they be comparatively easier to bid for, if the initial site is elsewhere?

[mckinley007]

The sites most likely picked for ab-initios in ZEG are: Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Fort McMurray, Villeneuve, and Springbank. Not to say Edmonton or Calgary aren’t available. It all depends on staffing and what sites need people the most. After your first posting there is a 2 year wait period, that commences at qualification, before you can bid to a different site. When you bid it’s purely based on seniority. YEG tower is one of the most sought after towers in the western half of the country. It’s unheard of to get in there with less than 8-10 years in.

The sites ab-initios get sent to are decided based on likely success given your performance and strengths in basic along with the staffing considerations. Sometimes they ask for your preference but that may or may not be a courtesy.

Thank you for your insight, this helps a lot!

Villeneuve and Springbank would actually be perfect as well. Would they be comparatively easier to bid for, if the initial site is elsewhere?

This question poses a significantly great challenge to answer. Those two sites aren't easier or harder to bid for. The trick to this question is how likely will your current site release you to go to either of these two or any other site won on a bid. Downbids have more stipulations in the union collective agreement, whereas sideways and upwards bids have fewer. What I suspect you're asking is how sought-after are ZVL and YBW. YBW is a wicked challenging checkout and not everyone can make it there. ZVL being a similar traffic type to YBW is easier to checkout by nature of traffic volume. The major difference between the two is volume. ATC grade is a strong indication of the difficulty of checkout, but not always the most accurate indicator. ZVL is traditionally over/at staff. YBW is traditionally under staff. ATC grades are as follows:

ATC 1: ZVL, YMM, YXY, YQF
ATC 2: YZF
ATC 3: YBW
ATC 4: YEG
ATC 6: YYC

Now to consider what site you are most likely to get sent to first is simple; how far north is it? How many people want out of that site through the bid process? How short is said site? This doesn't mean the site is less desirable but there are numerous sites that are isolated relative to major urban centers in the country. You make good money doing ATC but no sense living somewhere you can't spend it. YZF, YXY, and YMM are the three most likely sites to be posted to purely on location and likely staffing challenges. (YBW tends to rate a higher chance due to staffing).

The answer to your question exclusively relies on the future. Before you're even sent to a site, your release from that site is pending a basic course 3 years into the future sending a trainee there and being successful wherever you qualified.