WestJet Mainline/Encore Hiring pool

[Joe Blow Schmo]

The tunnel with the light at its end seems to be getting longer. You can only defer gratification so long until the gratification loses all of it's value. I'm in a good spot but if I were a few more rungs down the ladder I wouldn't go for encore: it's simply too long of a wait to go to WJ and not nearly lucrative enough. Instead I would focus on getting the best lifestyle 703 job out there. Home at night to see the kids, and enough time off to have some fun. There's a lot of smaller companies paying over $100k now. The downside is no travel benefits.

If I was single, I'd do whatever I could to get a type rating and head overseas for a few years, save my money and come back to Canada living on a shoestring and spend my days climbing and skiing.

Overseas isn't the moneymaker it was a few years ago. The only big money now is in the DEC contract jobs. The biggest money is in China but there are decent paycheques in other countries in Asia too. Those jobs also come with hard work and no job security. In order to get those jobs you need to be a current Airbus/Boeing captain. I'm out of touch with the Canadian aviation scene, but who offers the quickest route to get there? Canjet? Sunwing? Transat? Cargojet? others?

If overseas is your goal, target the route that gets you that A/B captain position the quickest. Keep in mind that it is usually a one way trip though. It's very hard to come back to Canada once you've left. There aren't very many DEC jet jobs in Canada so if you want to come back you'll be back in the right seat of the WJE Dash 8 or flying medevac rotations in a BE200.

The new reality in Canada with being forced to go the WJE/Jazz to get to WJ/AC sucks for those in the industry who have been working towards getting hired directly, but for those just starting out it's not the end of the world. It just means you have to decide on your desired career path very early on and stick to it. If you want to go to the airlines you need to get your hours and get on with WJE/Jazz while you're still single and in your early 20s. If you can do that you'll likely be a WJ737 captain by your mid to late 30s or on decent pay at AC or Jazz by then.

It seems like AC and WJ are moving closer to cadets. They're not hiring 0 experience guys yet but they're taking younger and lesser experienced people and feeding them through the regionals. If this works out for them I could see them trying out cadets. The rest of the world is doing it after all.

[Texan1256]

[It seems like AC and WJ are moving closer to cadets. They're not hiring 0 experience guys yet but they're taking younger and lesser experienced people and feeding them through the regionals. If this works out for them I could see them trying out cadets. The rest of the world is doing it after all.

That's why when the doo doo hits the fan with automation, crews are thundering in at places like San Francisco because the basic skills of flying hands and feet and navigation are becoming less and less proficient. Does Canada want to follow that track? Just food for thought.

[Joe Blow Schmo]

[It seems like AC and WJ are moving closer to cadets. They're not hiring 0 experience guys yet but they're taking younger and lesser experienced people and feeding them through the regionals. If this works out for them I could see them trying out cadets. The rest of the world is doing it after all.

That's why when the doo doo hits the fan with automation, crews are thundering in at places like San Francisco because the basic skills of flying hands and feet and navigation are becoming less and less proficient. Does Canada want to follow that track? Just food for thought.

The question is not "does Canada want to follow that track?", the question is: "Does airline management in Canada want to follow that track?"

The answer is: Yes, if it's cheaper.

[flaps1]

Anyone get a call for the April/May Encore GS?

[airspeed250]

That's why when the doo doo hits the fan with automation, crews are thundering in at places like San Francisco because the basic skills of flying hands and feet and navigation are becoming less and less proficient. Does Canada want to follow that track? Just food for thought.

If you are referring to the Asiana flight, the pilot flying had over 9,800 hours, most of it in airbus aircraft. He only had ~50 hours in the 777. He inadvertently disengaged the auto-throttle system and nobody in the cockpit noticed the airspeed decaying on approach. I do not see how more hands and feet time are going to prevent an accident such as this. Being alert and more time on type would probably have been better. I'm sure pilots of the recent 737 CFIT had a ton of hands on flying under their belt, but in a similar situation, did not react quickly enough to a situation going wrong.

[Texan1256]

That's why when the doo doo hits the fan with automation, crews are thundering in at places like San Francisco because the basic skills of flying hands and feet and navigation are becoming less and less proficient. Does Canada want to follow that track? Just food for thought.

He inadvertently disengaged the auto-throttle system and nobody in the cockpit noticed the airspeed decaying on approach. I do not see how more hands and feet time are going to prevent an accident such as this. Being alert and more time on type would probably have been better. I'm sure pilots of the recent 737 CFIT had a ton of hands on flying under their belt, but in a similar situation, did not react quickly enough to a situation going wrong.

Airspeed 250 you've exactly supported the point I was trying to make, hands and feet include x-check. Two or three experienced and qualified pilots cannot simply "not notice the airspeed on approach." Airspeed is life. My point was, when the automation isn't doing what you want, shut it off and fly the plane. This skill, is becoming watered down with modern aircraft and modern pilots.

[jjj]

If you are referring to the Asiana flight, the pilot flying had over 9,800 hours, most of it in airbus aircraft. He only had ~50 hours in the 777. He inadvertently disengaged the auto-throttle system and nobody in the cockpit noticed the airspeed decaying on approach. I do not see how more hands and feet time are going to prevent an accident such as this. Being alert and more time on type would probably have been better. I'm sure pilots of the recent 737 CFIT had a ton of hands on flying under their belt, but in a similar situation, did not react quickly enough to a situation going wrong.

Airspeed 250,

Don't try and parallel Asiana 214 with the First Air 737 CFIT. It's offensive.

I want to puke.

JJJ

[airspeed250]

Airspeed 250,

Don't try and parallel Asiana 214 with the First Air 737 CFIT. It's offensive.

I want to puke.

JJJ

jjj, sorry, I was not trying to imply disrespect to either crew. I fly a cessna around so I should probably stay out of this thread. My one and only point, and poorly made, is high time can lead to complacency, especially in an automated environment where very little goes wrong. A lot of hands on flying time/skill might not matter if you do not realize a deteriorating situation quickly enough, or work well as a crew to remedy it. Easy to assume things are working the way they usually do. It is human nature. Sometimes a low time / new guy who questions every little thing can be the safest person.

[av8ts]

Both of those crews flew perfectly good airplanes into the ground. I think that's a parallel

[jjj]

Both of those crews flew perfectly good airplanes into the ground. I think that's a parallel

Both of those crews flew perfectly good airplanes into the ground. I think that's a parallel

I was feeling better after airspeed250's last post.

av8ts's post has me shaking my head.

Hey av8t, the 911 terrorists flew some perfectly good airplanes into the ground too. Nice little parallel there. I think you'll agree that such a comparison does nothing to move the discussion along. Get my point son? Thanks for chiming in.

Have a nice day.

JJJ

[Krimson]

What does any of this have to do with WJ hiring pool?

[Texan1256]

Yeah, I was just gonna mention, this Thread got waaay off topic. Back to Westjet and Encore hiring stuff

[loopa]

I believe the last question before the tangent was asked was by flaps 1.

Anyone get a call for the April/May Encore GS?

[skyclear350]

<Raises hand> April GS...I interviewed at the end of January.

[FlyingMonkey]

Anybody get a call for GS with little or low multi time? Any PC12 people get a call?

FM

[Krimson]

What are the upcoming Encore GS dates? Any rough number on the size of the Encore pool?

[Tacoma]

2 Boeing classes in May with 50%flow from encore.

[loopa]

What are the upcoming Encore GS dates? Any rough number on the size of the Encore pool?

Not sure if this info helps, but there are people who have been in the pool 3-4 months (and I'm sure longer) that are being pushed down further by new poolies as it seems the experience in the pool has gone up drastically. Some say it's due to recent lay offs, and a lot of experienced folk applying as a result. Not sure if that tid-bit is true, but I hear a lot of people circumventing this around.

It does however seem though that a lot of guys in the 2000-25000 hour range (anything between navajos to 705 F/O's) are being put into the pool too. The pool isn't a job offer, so from a company perspective it doesn't hurt having an abundance of qualified people so that the best suited can be selected. I don't know if this is in fact how it's done, this is just speculation on my part. I've also heard the version where everyone in the pool gets utilised, just that it's a matter of time (unless you do something to sabotage your chances after being placed in the pool, like bugging them too much or change of behaviour at work, etc). Personally I'd like to believe the latter is correct and that they put you in the pool because they want to hire you.

Either way, good luck to everyone in the pool - the wait hurts but I believe it will be worth it in the end!

Sorry I couldn't answer your question directly. Hopefully someone with better info can chime in Krimson.

[CanadianEh]

I find the whole hiring pool thing is a pretty piss pool way to treat people if it's being used as described. A pilot should always be put into a hiring pool because of the qualifications they have at that time, not the prospect of future hours to be gained. With the whole shitshow that is going on with Air Canada's hiring pool where people are waiting years, I think it's being abused to the point where people in the pool get disgruntled before even starting.

[Speedbird114]

Has anyone been notified of a May ground school for WJ yet?

[metalpedal]

How long does it take before you get an answer after an interview? Do they send out the PFO's fairly early?

[TedStriker80]

Speedbird - got a call on Thursday for a May GS

Metalpedal - It was about a week between the interview and the email saying I was accepted to the pool. I would guess there are a lot of variables that could make that wait vary though.

Best of luck!

[metalpedal]

Congrats on the ground school Ted!
Did they make you go through a criminal record check before the call?

[Lateralus]

Speedbird - got a call on Thursday for a May GS

Metalpedal - It was about a week between the interview and the email saying I was accepted to the pool. I would guess there are a lot of variables that could make that wait vary though.

Best of luck!

Ted was that for WJ or Encore? Just curious as I have a friend in the pool for WJ waiting for a course date. Congrats and welcome to the family.

[DropTanks]

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