WestJet Mainline/Encore Hiring pool

[Rowdy]

Whats the rate of delivery of the Q's? Have they exercised the remainder of the options?

[URC]

Whats the rate of delivery of the Q's? Have they exercised the remainder of the options?

16 now. 9 more coming in 2015. 5 more in 2016. Total 30 by end of 2016. Plus 15 options (between 2015 to 2018), not currently excercised.

[loopa]

Will Encore expand in to the states? To give American operators a run for their money on popular routes like YYC-SEA, YYC-MSP, YYC-ORD, YVR-SEA, YVR-PDX... etc?

[twinpratts]

I heard 8 more before the end of spring.

[lostaviator]

An interesting little something... The Encore job posting for 2015 no longer mentions the ability to grow your career to westjet.

[DaveP]

Hi there,
The ability to flow is still there. The job description was recently re-written.

We just had two classes start here this past Monday on the 12th. One for Encore and one for WJ.
Encore is running monthly courses and our next westjet course isn't until May (50%flow)

The bulk of the Westjet courses aren't until mid to late summer as the 767 comes online. That's the plan for now subject to change as usual in this industry.

Again, our goal is 100% flow from Encore to WestJet.

I'm hoping we can achieve at least 50% flow for the remaining courses - Encore gets 8 of their 10 tails in the first half of 2015 so this might be accomplished without too much distress to encore (their big growth in the first half of the year and Westjets in the second half of the year)

There is some interesting growth coming imho.

Cheers!
Dave

[Krimson]

What kind of experience is Encore currently hiring?

[DropTanks]

Hi there,
The ability to flow is still there. The job description was recently re-written.

We just had two classes start here this past Monday on the 12th. One for Encore and one for WJ.
Encore is running monthly courses and our next westjet course isn't until May (50%flow)

The bulk of the Westjet courses aren't until mid to late summer as the 767 comes online. That's the plan for now subject to change as usual in this industry.

Again, our goal is 100% flow from Encore to WestJet.

I'm hoping we can achieve at least 50% flow for the remaining courses - Encore gets 8 of their 10 tails in the first half of 2015 so this might be accomplished without too much distress to encore (their big growth in the first half of the year and Westjets in the second half of the year)

There is some interesting growth coming imho.

Cheers!
Dave

Thanks for the info Dave! Glad to see the folks at Encore are seeing progression. What does this mean for the guys in the Mainline hiring pool? Will they all get used up before Encore flow goes to 100% Do the poolies still expire after 1 year? How many mainline courses are planned in 2015? Sorry if all this has been asked before.

All the best!

[DaveP]

Hi Krimson,
The experience levels seem to be steady for Encore so far. The average times for those hired in 2014 at both airlines was 3960TT for FO's and the direct entry positions for CA were 6200TT.(10 classes for WJ and 12 classes for WJE in 2014)

It's nice to see a 2014 up-tick in new ATPL licenses issued as well. Canada had 667 new ATPL licenses issues last year. Which is a good sign that a few more are getting their licenses....for a few years its been constant downward. Canada will need everyone!

As for the pool there Drop, I suspect we won't build the WJ pool very deep. the goal would be to utilize everyone in it.

Thanks,
Dave

[Krimson]

Thanks Dave!

[Justjohn]

It's nice to see a 2014 up-tick in new ATPL licenses issued as well. Canada had 667 new ATPL licenses issues last year. Which is a good sign that a few more are getting their licenses....for a few years its been constant downward. Canada will need everyone!



One big factor, I think, is the change in experience requirements for the ATPL. Specifically, the 2 for 1 credit becoming 1 for 1.

[dukepoint]

Hi Krimson,
The experience levels seem to be steady for Encore so far. The average times for those hired in 2014 at both airlines was 3960TT for FO's and the direct entry positions for CA were 6200TT.(10 classes for WJ and 12 classes for WJE in 2014)

It's nice to see a 2014 up-tick in new ATPL licenses issued as well. Canada had 667 new ATPL licenses issues last year. Which is a good sign that a few more are getting their licenses....for a few years its been constant downward. Canada will need everyone!

As for the pool there Drop, I suspect we won't build the WJ pool very deep. the goal would be to utilize everyone in it.

Thanks,
Dave

Pretty curious where these 6000+ hour Skipps and 4000+- hour FO's are comming from that would rather fly a Dash for "not much" than qualify/wait for a 737 or other position at a carrier with more advancement potential....????? I feel like I'm missing something rather significant here. I say that cuz WJ is still hiring off the street for 73 positions.....how are they sorting candidates?? What's wrong with these 6000+ hour guys? Anyone clue me in???

DP.

[DaveP]

Hi DP,
They come from all over (for both airlines) - I'm not going to go back and grab the specifics from their resumes however will add that we only plan on hiring 50ish for the 737 in 2015 (then subtract whatever comes from flow).
Don't forget that maybe they(the guys and gals that did go to WJE) don't want to apply or wait for WJ direct. Everyone has a different taste for what they like and what they do. I know lots of people that like being instructors, float pilots or like flying the dash at CMA. Whatever floats your boat.

Or, maybe they view it as - wait another 6 months and try to grab one of those few positions at WJ or try and get on with Encore -now- and not have another 80 or so pilots ahead of me on the seniority list.

Again, who knows the reasons they apply.

Cheers

[Diadem]

Pretty curious where these 6000+ hour Skipps and 4000+- hour FO's are comming from that would rather fly a Dash for "not much" than qualify/wait for a 737 or other position at a carrier with more advancement potential....????? I feel like I'm missing something rather significant here. I say that cuz WJ is still hiring off the street for 73 positions.....how are they sorting candidates?? What's wrong with these 6000+ hour guys? Anyone clue me in???

DP.

I think you missed this point:

The average times for those hired in 2014 at both airlines was 3960TT for FO's and the direct entry positions for CA were 6200TT.(10 classes for WJ and 12 classes for WJE in 2014)

Those aren't the averages for Encore, those are for all new hire pilots at the WestJet family.

[DaveP]

In addition to the above, the captain TT would be accurate for WJE as we (WJ) didn't hire any direct entry skips.
Cheers

[dukepoint]

Thanks for the info Dave.

Any concern about the Air Canada/Jazz flow-through program? I know it's a little early, and light on details, but any idea on how this may impact the supply of potential Encore or Mainline candidates?

Cheers, DP.

[AtlanticTour]

Hi DaveP -

A couple questions based on stuff you just said:

1. Was the flow from Encore for the WestJet Jan 12th class 25% or 50%?
2. Is it for sure that you'll be flowing 50% over from May?
3. How many pilots is WestJet planning on hiring this year? I've heard between 50-100 from some of my friends who fly for you guys.
4. Are the 767s necessitating any extra hiring in addition to what was announced already?
5. Is there an estimate for how long it would take somebody hired in the next 3-6 months at Encore to flow thru to WestJet. I would guess 6-8 years.

Thanks for your response. I'm considering putting my name in with WJE and want to be able to project realistically how things would go if I were there.

-Newf

AtlanticTour

We just had two classes start here this past Monday on the 12th. One for Encore and one for WJ.
Encore is running monthly courses and our next westjet course isn't until May (50%flow)

The bulk of the Westjet courses aren't until mid to late summer as the 767 comes online. That's the plan for now subject to change as usual in this industry.

Again, our goal is 100% flow from Encore to WestJet.

I'm hoping we can achieve at least 50% flow for the remaining courses - Encore gets 8 of their 10 tails in the first half of 2015 so this might be accomplished without too much distress to encore (their big growth in the first half of the year and Westjets in the second half of the year)
Cheers!
Dave

[loopa]

These are some really good questions that I believe a lot of people at Encore also probably wondering about tbh. Since anyone I've talked to in there doesn't seem to have concrete answers.

I've heard anything from 3-4 years max at Encore, to upwards of 7-8 years.

Best of luck with what ever decision you make. I know people that are both happy and upset there. In my experience however, the happy people outweigh the downers by a large margin. And the downers are downers because they didn't do their research before signing up.

[DaveP]

Hi Atlantic!
I'll try my best here, but I don't have all the answers.

1. Was the flow from Encore for the WestJet Jan 12th class 25% or 50%?
The January class was the min flow of 25%. We would have liked to have done more but the growth at Encore didn't allow for it. All hands were and are needed on deck. Once growth has stabilized, it should be fairly easy to accommodate the high flow. We will see if more a/c options are utilized.

2. Is it for sure that you'll be flowing 50% over from May?
Yes

3. How many pilots is WestJet planning on hiring this year? I've heard between 50-100 from some of my friends who fly for you guys.
50 ish is the plan for now. I'll bet there will be some minor changes before the summer schedule is finalized and programs like part-time are implemented. Take the total new hires and subtract any flow (so there will be limited off the street positions IMHO)

4. Are the 767s necessitating any extra hiring in addition to what was announced already?
Still waiting on finalized schedules and decisions on when the second and third machines come online. For example if the third machine is accelerated - yes - this will accelerate hiring. It is being considered. These decisions are well above my pay grade.

5. Is there an estimate for how long it would take somebody hired in the next 3-6 months at Encore to flow thru to WestJet. I would guess 6-8 years.
I have no idea on this one. Sorry. There are too many variables...lease returns, part-time program, retirements, fleet expansion and the economy to name a few.

I hope this helps.

Also, to answer duke point - I have no idea. I don't know if I'll ever have an answer to that question.

Take care,
Dave

[YOWFLYER]

I know this question must have been asked at some point, so pardon me for asking again.

Is WJML still hiring direct-entry co-pilots? I heard that at some point in the near future the route would be through Encore and work your way up through the ranks. When will this policy begin?

[lostaviator]

I know this question must have been asked at some point, so pardon me for asking again.

Is WJML still hiring direct-entry co-pilots? I heard that at some point in the near future the route would be through Encore and work your way up through the ranks. When will this policy begin?

It has been asked. In fact, most of the posts on this thread are in relation to that.

[DaveP]

Hello YOW
There are a few direct positions to be hired this year however my interviewed pool is large enough to cover the available spots for 2015.
I suspect not many more WJ interviews will be granted this year unless something drastic changes in the next month or so.
Cheers

[Hetfield]

I was in the pool for 1 day. It is a great place to be. Love my job and the peeps I work with.

[Canada340]

Hi guys/gals,
I do apologize if this horse has already been flogged to death, but I haven't been able to find an answer in previous posts.

The situation I'm in is that I don't think I can afford to go from my present position as a B1900 captain to Encore FO, but at the same time I don't think I have quite enough time to be competitive for a direct WJ Mainline spot. I'm somewhere in the middle.
I understand the D.E. Q400 Captain spots are now done, but on the Matrix that Dave P posted I believe I have more than enough "time on similar type" to be eligible for an upgrade at Encore should I get hired there. On the matrix it says 3000 TT/1000 DHC-8 or similar. I'm sitting between 3000-3500TT with 2000 hrs Saab 340 FO (listed on matrix as similar ac type) time and 500+ command on the B1900.
- Should I bite the pay bullet for a while as a an Encore FO and hope for a quick upgrade? How long would I be sitting right seat before I could expect an upgrade? While more direct-entry captain spots open up?
- Or should I wait a while longer to build up more time where I am to hope to get a direct Mainline spot eventually? I feel like that door is closing quickly though and I might miss it? Or are off the street hires to the 737 expected to continue for a few more years?

Many thanks

[mantogasrsrwy]

I'm surprised at dilemmas guys are having with Encore. 20 years later it seems like a no brainier to me. If you are thinking long term you suck it up and go to Encore. 6 or 12 months later you are a Q400 captain or AC has hired or pfo'd you. Either way you are at one of the two big games in Canada. You do realize even if you get into the mainline all the current Encore guys are ahead of you?