Encore interview request

[goingmissed]

Yeah I heard from a guy I know that is based in YYC that their most likely shutdown YYZ encore, too bad as it would have been a good starting gig.

It's a shame that the "the idiots out west [are] eating out lunch"

[Canadaflyer46]

Let's clear things up. Nobody knows what the plan is for hiring or upgrades other than the November bid has zero hires, upgrades, or transfers to Toronto... a move that is unprecedented at Encore while there is a noticeable captain deficit at the company and an even bigger first officer shortage in Toronto.

Are they closing the YYZ Q400 base? Nobody knows.

Why don't we know? Because management is hell bent on feeding rumours while providing absolutely no information of value other than "Swoop airplanes are flown by pilots too."

tl;dr: There is hiring, but the current hiring period of end of 2022 is looking like YYC only.

That one was eye opening. I also learned recently from mgmt that there’s no money to be made from widebody flying, and that even though our planes are full we still can’t make any money. Oh and let’s not forget ‘it’s free to train pilots’.

[LongBranch]

Let's clear things up. Nobody knows what the plan is for hiring or upgrades other than the November bid has zero hires, upgrades, or transfers to Toronto... a move that is unprecedented at Encore while there is a noticeable captain deficit at the company and an even bigger first officer shortage in Toronto.

Are they closing the YYZ Q400 base? Nobody knows.

Why don't we know? Because management is hell bent on feeding rumours while providing absolutely no information of value other than "Swoop airplanes are flown by pilots too."

tl;dr: There is hiring, but the current hiring period of end of 2022 is looking like YYC only.

Yeah I heard from a guy I know that is based in YYC that their most likely shutdown YYZ encore, too bad as it would have been a good starting gig.

Buddy around the corner say alot of things, one thing he probably does not say is that our current contract at encore requires to the company to fork out anywhere from a minimum of 50k upwards to 150k per pilot for a a base closure/ forced move. There not closing yyz for that reason alone, rumours help the management though. Pilots freak out, they start flowing to swoop/ mainline; voluntarily request a base transfer ext....

What is more likely to happen is they attrition down the base (flow, leaving, upgrades ext...), not allow new hires into it, not replace flowing pilots at the base, and relocate most/ all of training to yyc.

[kiaszceski]

So,

Encore Toronto base WILL shutdown if they don’t have enough manpower. Read between the lines: they will never improve wages, unless the numbers turns red but it’s gonna be too late.

No Gs until November due to training capacity. Read between the lines: apply to Flair or Porter or Jazz for the low timer. Other people apply to WestJet, Transat, AC, Cargojet for the others.

Happy Sunday!

[pirep]

In their press release they did say they are going to move encore out west and get rid of 10 Q400. Don't know what they're going to do with YYZ-based pilots, either offer them YYZ/YHM swoop or mainline?

Sucks for everyone in the pool, most are probably going to expire and have to reapply.

[kiaszceski]

In their press release they did say they are going to move encore out west and get rid of 10 Q400. Don't know what they're going to do with YYZ-based pilots, either offer them YYZ/YHM swoop or mainline?

Sucks for everyone in the pool, most are probably going to expire and have to reapply.

They can’t flow them out of seniority. However the company has always done what they wanted and the union had to grieve it.
It won’t be different this time if they decide to flow the yyz base. Which would make sense company wise.
I don’t think you’re gonna expire, however nobody knows how they choose their candidates from the pool.

[Roundel Randy]

From my interview nearly a month ago, they didn't know what was happening with the YYZ base other than it wouldn't be an immediate shutdown (maybe next Spring?).

They were looking for GS out to October. They were only hiring for YYC. And they were very interest in people that could upgrade to Captain quickly (have their PIC time, A's written, etc.).

[goingmissed]

From my interview nearly a month ago, they didn't know what was happening with the YYZ base other than it wouldn't be an immediate shutdown (maybe next Spring?).

They were looking for GS out to October. They were only hiring for YYC. And they were very interest in people that could upgrade to Captain quickly (have their PIC time, A's written, etc.).

Hmm, I wonder where they have a pool of people who have theirs ATPL and a bunch of Q400 time operating at the airports that Encore operates... It'll come to me!

[Roundel Randy]

About a month after my interview and a couple of weeks after my references were contacted, I've been notified that I am in a pool of candidates. Any idea of how long it might take to formally get an offer or have a G/S date?

[ellinas]

How long is the training?

[goingmissed]

About a month after my interview and a couple of weeks after my references were contacted, I've been notified that I am in a pool of candidates. Any idea of how long it might take to formally get an offer or have a G/S date?

No positions in YYZ in the last bid. They seem to be focusing on mainline right YYZ now.

How long is the training?

Six weeks.

[flyingpilot]

Any updates on hiring and ground schools?

[Navajo350]

Any updates on hiring and ground schools?

x2

I applied May 31 2022. On June 1, 2022 it said the application was in progress. Since then nothing. 1500+ and atpl.

any updates on hiring times would be great. Had an internal reference and all my friends inside said they need ppl

[FlyAlberta]

There an initial class of 6(?) that just started last week. Hiring on a hiatus for Sept to allow for catch up on a training backlog. Classes to fire up again potentially in Oct with plans for 1 class of 14 (if they can fill 14) a month.

Will be interesting to see how hiring goes with the likely cancellation of the PTA.

[PIC26]

Is there anything internally someone could share regarding YYZ base closure? Are new hires still being offered YYZ base still?

[goingmissed]

Is there anything internally someone could share regarding YYZ base closure? Are new hires still being offered YYZ base still?

No and no.

There's a chance (and a hope) that they may need to hire and upgrade in YYZ, but if the company is thinking about it, they are tight lipped.

Do be aware that the PTA cancellation clause has been activated and the vote to cancel it is ongoing. If it goes through, new hires on property on or after the beginning of December will not retain the benefits of the PTA.

[Apestogetherstrong]

Is there anything internally someone could share regarding YYZ base closure? Are new hires still being offered YYZ base still?

YYZ base will shut down officially 2024. However technically its going to shut down May 2023. They will start deadheading yyz pilots to yyc from next summer up until 2024. After that yyz pilots will have to move to yyc. Based on this there will be no hiring in yyz base (maybe a few upgrades). No need to apply to WJ Encore anyway. The pay is SHIT. You wont be able to afford anything. Commuting policy is gone so it will cost you a lot of money if you commute. We lost PTA so you will not have any seniority in mainline once you flow. Besides WJ mainline just lowered their minimums to 1500 so if you really want to join WJ, go to porter or any other company out there. Just avoid ENCORE. And join mainline directly at 1500

[itaserb]

Is there anything internally someone could share regarding YYZ base closure? Are new hires still being offered YYZ base still?

YYZ base will shut down officially 2024. However technically its going to shut down May 2023. They will start deadheading yyz pilots to yyc from next summer up until 2024. After that yyz pilots will have to move to yyc. Based on this there will be no hiring in yyz base (maybe a few upgrades). No need to apply to WJ Encore anyway. The pay is SHIT. You wont be able to afford anything. Commuting policy is gone so it will cost you a lot of money if you commute. We lost PTA so you will not have any seniority in mainline once you flow. Besides WJ mainline just lowered their minimums to 1500 so if you really want to join WJ, go to porter or any other company out there. Just avoid ENCORE. And join mainline directly at 1500

What if I want to join mainline from Encore, do I have to wait for the flow or can I simply apply on Westjet website there?

[goingmissed]

What if I want to join mainline from Encore, do I have to wait for the flow or can I simply apply on Westjet website there?

That's a very good question. If the PTA cancellation vote succeeds, the answer may change.

Currently flow is based on seniority. You cannot bypass others with higher seniority that bid to flow.

[doiwannabeapilot]

Is there anything internally someone could share regarding YYZ base closure? Are new hires still being offered YYZ base still?

YYZ base will shut down officially 2024. However technically its going to shut down May 2023. They will start deadheading yyz pilots to yyc from next summer up until 2024. After that yyz pilots will have to move to yyc. Based on this there will be no hiring in yyz base (maybe a few upgrades). No need to apply to WJ Encore anyway. The pay is SHIT. You wont be able to afford anything. Commuting policy is gone so it will cost you a lot of money if you commute. We lost PTA so you will not have any seniority in mainline once you flow. Besides WJ mainline just lowered their minimums to 1500 so if you really want to join WJ, go to porter or any other company out there. Just avoid ENCORE. And join mainline directly at 1500

What if I want to join mainline from Encore, do I have to wait for the flow or can I simply apply on Westjet website there?

I'm told you can simply apply.
But you can ask at the interview to double check.

[goingmissed]

What if I want to join mainline from Encore, do I have to wait for the flow or can I simply apply on Westjet website there?

I'm told you can simply apply.
But you can ask at the interview to double check.

Where did you hear this?

Flow is currently covered by the PTA. If you wanted to flow out of seniority, you would need to quit Encore and go through the hiring process again. There is very high risk of being PFO'd by the company for quitting.

[GetAGripen]

Looks like Encore is using CUT-E assessments for screening new applicants. Just wanted to bring it up since I haven't seen it mentioned around here.

[iamnumber1pilot]

Any update on hiring times?

[goingmissed]

Any update on hiring times?

Long enough for you to read the AvCanada forums and think twice.

It's quite possible that WestJet will regain it's glory, but it's also just as likely to implode into a hole after Onex sucks every available dollar out of the group and leaves to plunder another few companies.

[GetAGripen]

Any update on hiring times?

Application to interview request less than a week for me, video interview within 3 weeks. Will update.