Application Advice

[The_Broon]

With Air Canada recruiting again, I'm hoping I might finally stand a chance, but was looking for any advice you guys might be able to offer. I know you can't sit here and say "yes, of course you'll get a job" but before I spend a fortune on PIC building or license conversions etc... I was looking to see if you thought it might be worth it.

I started training in Canada (I hold a Canadian PPL) but left for Europe when I ran out of funds. I have my Canadian Permanent Residence and am married to a Canadian. I mention this just to stop people thinking I want to take Canadian jobs from Canadian pilots. Really, I want to return to where my family feels is home!

I was recruited from flight school straight onto a B757, which means my PIC time is low (160 hours). I have a JAA ATPL, and now a MIddle Eastern ATPL, with type ratings and experience on B737, B757/767 and A330. I'm sitting at just a little under 3000TT, with about 80% of that time in the right hand seat of the above jets. I tick many of the AC requirements, including the commercial/jet/glass cockpit experience, and a Canadian Class 1 Medical. I just don't yet have the Canadian license (CPL/ATPL).

Having contacted TC, they advise me that they will not recognize PIC/US time logged outside of Canada, so I can either convert to a Canadian CPL now, or build 90 hours PIC and covert to the Canadian ATPL. I'm currently operating the A330 with Qatar Airways and averaging 90+ hours per month as a First Officer, so building 90 hours in a Cessna 150 without interfering with my flight time limitations would take quite some time to accomplish.

Obviously I understand that Air Canada's minimum requirements are a CPL and 1000TT, but I'm guessing that's not even close to being competitive. So I'm looking for some advice from anyone who is closer to the action, or who may even be able to point me to a contact within Air Canada that could give me advice beyond "apply online if you meet the requirements".

Essentially my concerns and questions are:
With that kind of experience and only a CPL, is Air Canada likely to even look at my resume, or is the ATPL essential to be competitive?
Is it worth spending the money on gaining the PIC time, or wait it out for another 3-4 years for command in my current airline?
Is there any chance at all of being recruited as an F/O onto the B767 or A330, or is it more likely to go either longhaul relief pilot or F/O on the EMB175?

Anyone "in the know" (or anyone else with an opinion for that matter), please feel free to provide any answers or advice as you think best. I'd also really appreciate if anybody can share a phone number or email address for recruitment where I might be able to ask these questions directly to AC. Contacting them directly is my next step, and I've even considered contacting the ACPA. I'm just desperate to move my family from the desert back to Canada, and don't want to miss an opportunity while AC are recruiting, while at the same time don't want to waste time getting the CPL when it would do me no good to be competitive anyway.

Sorry I've ranted on a bit. Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

TB

[Martin Tamme]

With that kind of experience and only a CPL, is Air Canada likely to even look at my resume, or is the ATPL essential to be competitive?

During the last round of hiring, only two people got hired without an ATPL; however, they had already filled the requirements, and were on the verge of getting their ATPL. I don't know of anyone who's been hired without an ATPL over the past decade and a bit. Doesn't mean it can't happen; I just haven't seen it.

[Jercules]

The B

I was in a similar situation, bit the bullet, did the ATPL and was called for an interview shortly after. I had the PIC time though. Good luck getting home.

[Dave Grohl]

Is there any chance at all of being recruited as an F/O onto the B767 or A330, or is it more likely to go either longhaul relief pilot or F/O on the EMB175?

TB

No chance of a new hire going wide body FO...those are senior coveted spots. New hires typically go to the Embraer or relief pilot 767.

[The_Broon]

Cool, thanks for all the responses. Would anybody happen to have any contact info for the recruitment department - phone number or email?

Thanks again,

TB

[yycflyguy]

http://www.aircanada.com/en/about/caree ... ilots.html
http://aircanada.taleo.net/careersectio ... detail.ftl

[The_Broon]

Yes, thank you. I have those websites and have began completing an application. Just thought it would be helpful to speak to a human somewhere...automated websites just never seem as helpful or knowledgable!