French requirement

[beingcanadian]

I'd like to confirm if bilingualism is mandatory to become a pilot in Air Transat.
I can speak French but not like quebecois and not so fluently. I would like to know the expectations before applying.

[TeePeeCreeper]

You may want to re read the job posting. Your answer lies there.

[330heavy]

Not required, and we have pilots who don't speak a word of French, but it's nice if you know some, or try to learn. And since you say you know some you'll fit in, and will likely improve it.

[beingcanadian]

Well I heard from a lot of pilots, they won't even consider your application if you don't know French. It's like an unwritten rule.
One of my highly experienced buddies also said, "My name doesn't sounds French, of course they won't hire me."

[Tbayer2021]

Not only do you have to speak French but you best have a Chibougamau accent or else you won't get an interview.

[Inverted2]

It’s also best to drive an EV to the interview and have a Pepsi in the cup holder to show you are a true Quebecois. Bonus points if you’re pants are extra tight.

[itaserb]

French is not required. Whoever says it’s mandatory is lying straight to your face.

[beingcanadian]

Hahaha funny responses.
I'm gonna be eating French Baguette & croissants during my interview.

[flying4dollars]

Well I heard from a lot of pilots, they won't even consider your application if you don't know French. It's like an unwritten rule.
One of my highly experienced buddies also said, "My name doesn't sounds French, of course they won't hire me."

Heard it directly from Transat pilots? What does the job ad say?

[DanWEC]

Well when actual TS pilots tell you that there are plenty who don't speak French fluently, I'd perhaps be inclined to believe them over others, but hey, fill your boots.

[pelmet]

Probably more like....if you are not fluent, they will hire you if there is no other choice.

I understand that they were doing a lot of DEI hiring as well, especially before Covid hit, but others can confirm whether or not that was true.

[330heavy]

Probably more like....if you are not fluent, they will hire you if there is no other choice.

I understand that they were doing a lot of DEI hiring as well, especially before Covid hit, but others can confirm whether or not that was true.

Untrue to both. Those on the hiriing board, who I think have been doing a great job, are looking for a good fit with the culture at Air transat, competancy, someone who you can get along with on a 6-8 hr flight/multi day pairing, not just someone who checks the boxes.

While French is an asset, there's been certainly more and more English only in the last number of years. And I haven't seen any increase in DEI, and if there was, they certainly are good competant pilots, and that is said of pretty much everyone here. If anything, experience levels are much lower than pre covid, but that's true anywhere. And from what I've seen, those lower experienced ones have been pretty good as well.

TLDR; If you'll be a good fit here (regardless of language), you'll get hired. Just not much hiring at the moment, but expected to change

[pelmet]

While French is an asset, there's been certainly more and more English only in the last number of years.

Fits in exactly with what I said. For several years after Covid, there was a huge pilot shortage and they had no choice but to higher unilingual anglos.

And I haven't seen any increase in DEI, and if there was, they certainly are good competant pilots, and that is said of pretty much everyone here.

Uh-huh....

https://www.transat.com/en-CA/corporate ... -inclusion

But do they take the competent Dash-8 pilot or the competent type rated Airbus pilot?

"1. Employment
Air Transat has always been dedicated to fostering a workplace where people can grow, thrive and unlock their full potential. The renewal of our corporate identity in 2022 and the formalizing of our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) commitments reflect this pledge and are guiding us forward toward new horizons.

One of our goals in this regard, which is fundamental to how we do business, is to be better in touch with who we are as an organization. Bearing this in mind, we distributed a confidential self-identification questionnaire to all Air Transat employees between July 4 and August 4, 2023.

The following questions were included to help us gain a better understanding of the experiences and concerns of employees with disabilities:

Could we make accommodations that would make it easier for you to fully participate in your workplace?
If so, what are your suggestions?

An initial analysis of the data gathered through this questionnaire gave us a clearer picture of the situation at Air Transat with regard to people with disabilities. In an effort to ensure that these results continue to reflect the current situation, access to the questionnaire will remain open so that employees can edit the information at any time should their circumstances change.

Moreover, in order to promote the use of respectful language and demystify some of the concepts around inclusion and accessibility, a two-hour in-person workshop on DEI and unconscious bias was held for all Air Transat managers in the fall of 2023. An online version of the workshop was also made available to employees across the organization.

Finally, the Talent Acquisition team took a course in inclusive recruitment that helped us evaluate our human resources practices through this lens."

[330heavy]

And all that is standard these days at all HR departments. Check Air Canada, WestJet, etc etc. But no, lets try to angle the evil French/Quebec company hating on anglophones, because I know that's where you want to go with this. So you can stop there, because once again, it ain't true.

[pelmet]

And all that is standard these days at all HR departments. Check Air Canada, WestJet, etc etc. But no, lets try to angle the evil French/Quebec company hating on anglophones, because I know that's where you want to go with this. So you can stop there, because once again, it ain't true.

The DEI policy is not a language thing.

Unfortunate that you do not even understand that.

[DanWEC]

I have no idea where you're even going with this but you sound mad about it.

[330heavy]

He seems mad at francophones and anyone who isn't a white male apparently

[pelmet]

He seems mad at francophones and anyone who isn't a white male apparently

Just pointing out facts of Air Transat's hiring practice. As expected, the change the subject to being mad and the usual race card, even though they are the ones supporting race-based hiring, whether it is federally mandated or not.

Funny how when they say there is no DEI and you prove them wrong, the response is the usual bigotry card......again.

And all that is standard these days at all HR departments. Check Air Canada, WestJet, etc etc. But no, lets try to angle the evil French/Quebec company hating on anglophones, because I know that's where you want to go with this. So you can stop there, because once again, it ain't true.

It is an Air Transat forum and the thread is about the company.

As for speaking French being an asset, I agree and if I were hiring for the company, would choose that pilot over a unilingual pilot with similar experience.

[330heavy]

You claim facts of Air Transats hiring practice, but yet you have nothing to do with Air Transat. So which facts shall be more likely to be true. One who doesn't know, or an actual employee?

The DEI bit. No one that I know of was hired just because they filled the non white male checkbox. All have been qualified, and have good character. And still a good portion of those hired have been white males. We could probably even do better in that regard IMO. Again, we just don't hire to check off boxes like some companies. And again, there's been a lot more english only speakers hired over the last number of years. But do tell us that I am wrong.

edit to add-Also see your bias against DEI in another thread about the FAA plans to enforce merit viewtopic.php?t=231321 and another on DEI in aviation viewtopic.php?t=222924 NOTAMs viewtopic.php?p=1331750#p1331750 and that's just within the last year (no interested in digging further into your post history), all largely targeted against women. Perhaps take your opinions on DEI and women in aviation back to those threads and not here please. Because the women here are great pilots, and deserving to be here, same is said for everyone at Air Transat.

[pelmet]

You claim facts of Air Transats hiring practice, but yet you have nothing to do with Air Transat. So which facts shall be more likely to be true. One who doesn't know, or an actual employee?

The DEI bit. No one that I know of was hired just because they filled the non white male checkbox. All have been qualified, and have good character. And still a good portion of those hired have been white males. We could probably even do better in that regard IMO. Again, we just don't hire to check off boxes like some companies. And again, there's been a lot more english only speakers hired over the last number of years. But do tell us that I am wrong.

edit to add-Also see your bias against DEI in another thread about the FAA plans to enforce merit viewtopic.php?t=231321 and another on DEI in aviation viewtopic.php?t=222924 NOTAMs viewtopic.php?p=1331750#p1331750 and that's just within the last year (no interested in digging further into your post history), all largely targeted against women. Perhaps take your opinions on DEI and women in aviation back to those threads and not here please. Because the women here are great pilots, and deserving to be here, same is said for everyone at Air Transat.

Ho hum....another fake claiming I am targeting women because I believe in hiring by merit.

Same old frauds...they hire by gender and skin colour and then accuse others of misogyny and racism when people demand all be hired based on merit.

I'm sure the next response will be similar.

https://www.transat.com/en-CA/corporate ... -inclusion

Still remember the guy who ran out of gas........was the most qualified interviewee apparently and passed the background check. I guess he had that good character 330Heavy mentions(aside from a big jail sentence for smuggling drugs). Not sure the passengers were impressed with that one.

[DanWEC]

I think we all agree that there are few things more annoying than detached people that are all about virtue signaling....

Well, the funny thing about the term virtue signaling is that it doesn't define a perspective or direction, so it actually goes both ways.

The common denominator is that these warriors get all bent out of shape fixating on issues they've partially fabricated and exaggerated, but that they have no actual exposure to in the real world, because they're never actually standing in the same place with boots on the ground. They're always people on the sidelines, trying to sound like they're saying something important.

See where I'm going with this?

I'm trying to be polite before I decide to fully respond to your tasteless and uneducated comment above.

[pelmet]

I think we all agree that there are few things more annoying than detached people that are all about virtue signaling....

Well, the funny thing about the term virtue signaling is that it doesn't define a perspective or direction, so it actually goes both ways.

The common denominator is that these warriors get all bent out of shape fixating on issues they've partially fabricated and exaggerated, but that they have no actual exposure to in the real world, because they're never actually standing in the same place with boots on the ground. They're always people on the sidelines, trying to sound like they're saying something important.

See where I'm going with this?

I'm trying to be polite before I decide to fully respond to your tasteless and uneducated comment above.

Please....tell us what is tasteless and give specifics in detail about what is uneducated.

Doubt we will get that in a credible manner.

Or....just move on with the thread, as I think the French requirement question has been answered. I know in the older days, Transat put out ads where French was required. It appears that lack of that capability is no longer listed as a stand-alone, eliminating factor, as seen by it's hiring of unilingual anglophones. Speaking Frech fluently is beneficial, and understandably so. How it works out in the scheme of things during the overall interview process as compared to other candidates in no doubt very subjective and based on a multitude of factors(which aligns with my original statement of you not being chosen, unless there are no other choices - at least with similar experienced pilots).

Meanwhile.....now that the argument has been lost, they try to re-invent the meaning of virtue signaling.

Update #1: A week later and still no response from DanWec as to what is tasteless and uneducated. No surprise.

Update #2 on April 10/26:….And there you go folks. He responded below with a nothing post when called out about what he said above, proving the entire thing was just bs and therefore has zero credibility on anything he says. Notice the silly statements of not living on AvCanada, as if anybody LIVES on AvCanada. After his false accusations above, he then accuses me of having combative posts. Then he tries to do the Look Morally Superior by ending it with Have a Happy Easter. Judge for yourself.

A good reminder for you young folks about the kind of fake bs you will see, on the forum and in life. If you want to see straight-shooting posts in general, feel free to search through my posts on this forum.Lots of good safety ones.

Have a nice weekend.

[DanWEC]

I don't live on Avcanada nor do I have any desire to engage in all of your combative posts. Enjoy your Easter weekend.

[pelmet]

After updating my last post, I thought I would re-visit a little history with a thread from another forum.....

https://www.pprune.org/canada/203076-ai ... ilots.html

Meanwhile.......If the CEO of Air Canada is out on his ass......what are your chances at AT in a slow hiring environment? Maybe try and get a reference from DanWec and 330Heavy to improve your odds Good luck with that.

As if AT is not under pressure to follow the AC CEO line of thinking, probably from both the inside and outside.

But hey....With 330Heavy making it clear of his inside info on the hiring, he can let us know the specific language qualifications we are talking about of those hired this year. Don't expect that info to be given to us though.

Meanwhile, the language police are going after a bakery because its social media posts were in the wrong language.
https://montrealgazette.com/news/a-mont ... h-tiktoks/

[330heavy]

After updating my last post, I thought I would re-visit a little history with a thread from another forum.....

https://www.pprune.org/canada/203076-ai ... ilots.html

Meanwhile.......If the CEO of Air Canada is out on his ass......what are your chances at AT in a slow hiring environment? Maybe try and get a reference from DanWec and 330Heavy to improve your odds Good luck with that.

As if AT is not under pressure to follow the AC CEO line of thinking, probably from both the inside and outside.

But hey....With 330Heavy making it clear of his inside info on the hiring, he can let us know the specific language qualifications we are talking about of those hired this year. Don't expect that info to be given to us though.

Meanwhile, the language police are going after a bakery because its social media posts were in the wrong language.
https://montrealgazette.com/news/a-mont ... h-tiktoks/

WTF are you on about Pelmet? You link a thread from 20 yrs ago, and if you read through it, it confirms that pilots were hired without French, so isn't a hard requirement, and it's still not. Once again, nice to have, and yes may help put you above someone with same qualifications, and are a fit here. But hey, you know better, you hate minorities, women, and the French, so believe what you want. You ain't gonna change shit with whatever crusade you are on. So give it up and go touch grass as the kids would say.

And whatever "safety" posts you think you have is completely discredited by your racist, misogynists, arrogant posts.

So much for moving on from this thread like you posted above. Maybe find another activity while drinking?