The Air Canada OTS thread

[av8ts]

If they made it a requirement then none of those quality pilots would get hired. As I it stands right now, many do.

[Black_Tusk]

I think he meant to remove it as a requirement. As of right now it is not. That allows them to hire the non diploma'd pilots, many of which are still getting hired but after people with degrees. Don't worry, the way things are going these days they are going to run out of pilots really fast if they only hire with degrees. Lots of quality pilots at all the Express carriers without them that would make good hires for mainline. I'm sure it will come.

[Jimmy2]

Has anyone that got the 'good email' from AC also applied and received an interview offer from Jazz? I applied to Jazz also and can't even get an interview with them despite greatly exceeding their requirements. I wondered if HR from AC let Jazz HR know that they sent me notice of a potential phone interview.

[BingBong]

That would not happen nor would any of those individuals who make these decisions have the time to play that game. Two separate companies...two separate HR departments.

[schnitzel2k3]

Anyone getting a response from AC now that we're nearing the 9-10 month-ish mark?

Anybody get the feeling this may very well be extended until 2018?

S.

[Jimmy2]

I'm kind of giving up on the 'good email' and am looking elsewhere. I've got a couple of 705 interviews coming up. One is a PML carrier and one is not. If I get pooled at both I'll have a tough decision to make since PML will ruin my OTS chance but no PML means no guarantee of an OTS interview. Does anyone know around how many years it's taking for people to go from the bottom of the PML list to the AC interview right now?

[dashtrash1]

I can only speak for Jazz, but it's kind of hard to say right now.

AC only renews the PML once per year, so if you miss out on the deadline you'll have to wait a year unless AC wants to renew it sooner.

Guys on PML V2.0 have started to get in person interviews (DOH from Jan 2015 to ~November 2015 from the sounds of it) this month.

Hope this helps a bit

[Black_Tusk]

Apparently Jan 2016 have been getting called for the online thing.

The PML is yearly as per the release, but it also says "as needed as per AC demand" so they can open it up anytime they are running short on candidates.

[Jimmy2]

Thanks. Might as well just go to the PML carrier then if it's only a year to get an interview with AC. It might be that long for OTS anyways. Plus I'll be a stronger applicant with 705 experience.

[skypirate88]

Apparently Jan 2016 have been getting called for the online thing.

The PML is yearly as per the release, but it also says "as needed as per AC demand" so they can open it up anytime they are running short on candidates.

They are at least into April 2016 DOH doing the video interview

[Elessar_44]

Thanks. Might as well just go to the PML carrier then if it's only a year to get an interview with AC. It might be that long for OTS anyways. Plus I'll be a stronger applicant with 705 experience.

Well, this may be good news or more confusing news for you, but I also received the email last April stating "we would like to contact you within 12 months, etc etc", and last night before bed received this email from AC HR:

Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your recent application for the position of Pilot.

We are delighted to invite you to proceed to the next step in our process; an on-line video interview. To start your interview, Click Here.

The interview will be used to assess your competencies and your language proficiencies. We would ask that you answer the questions in the language that they are being asked.

We wish you well throughout your interview process with the Talent Acquisition team. Thank you for your recent application.


I have not yet done the interview or clicked the link, so I really don't know much more than that! But it was good to hear something from them. Very excited!

[JBI]

Well, this may be good news or more confusing news for you, but I also received the email last April stating "we would like to contact you within 12 months, etc etc", and last night before bed received this email from AC HR:

Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your recent application for the position of Pilot.

We are delighted to invite you to proceed to the next step in our process; an on-line video interview. To start your interview, Click Here.

The interview will be used to assess your competencies and your language proficiencies. We would ask that you answer the questions in the language that they are being asked.

We wish you well throughout your interview process with the Talent Acquisition team. Thank you for your recent application.


I have not yet done the interview or clicked the link, so I really don't know much more than that! But it was good to hear something from them. Very excited!

Thanks for the information. Did you indicate that you were bilingual on the application? Just curious as to whether they are looking at bilingual candidates at first.

[Topoff]

I've done the video interview. Standard pre screen type questions with some situational stuff about your experience. I'm not bilingual.

[Lemon]

Do you know how long you have to complete the video interview once you get the email?

[Elessar_44]

Thanks for the information. Did you indicate that you were bilingual on the application? Just curious as to whether they are looking at bilingual candidates at first.

Anglophile only here.

I've done the video interview. Standard pre screen type questions with some situational stuff about your experience. I'm not bilingual.

Was it just taped answers? The email made it seem like it wasn't directly with another person on the other end. Also just curious with approx. how long it took you? Want to budget enough time for it. Thanks Topoff!

[infiniteregulus]

Interesting. I wonder if the video interview is only for OTS guys? I haven't heard of PML guys getting it.

[dashtrash1]

Yeah the PML guys are doing the video "interviews" as well.

Pretty straight forward...you answer prerecorded questions, the majority are yes and no, with a few situational questions at the end, took about 15 minutes.

[Jimmy2]

Thank you Elessar_44. I guess this changes everything. Though I still plan to do my interviews. I've read of people being in the pool at Air Canada for 3+ years. Does anyone know if it's still that long of a wait to get a ground school if your interview is successful?

[livinlife]

The guys that were in the pool for 3+ years were guys who interviewed pre-fly past 60, pre-PML, all these things changed while these guys were after being interviewed and told, all was good stdby for course date. I don't think the plan was to ever hold guys for that long. If you have a shot at the online video interview, DO NOT apply to a feeder. You will end up in this exact same spot but only 3-4 years down the road, do the video, wear a shirt and tie and kill it.

While I get the reason to hire from the feeders( to get people to actually go to work at the feeders) I don't know how they plan on continuing this practice, almost every airline is planning lots of hiring the next few years, why would AC make it cost them overall twice as much??? (training for big red, and replace the guy they just took from Jazz, sky etc. )

Why not hire off the street wether it be from the smaller, Bearskin, Perimeter, PAL, Calm Air guys or directly from the competition? One shot training and also hitting the competition in the pocket?? I believe you will see this trend in the coming months. Thats just my opinion,I fly with guys all the time who are also wondering whats the best way to steer there kids to get on here, most are getting a minimum of a 3 year diploma, and aiming for a 705 seat as quickly as possible.

Good luck to all, its a great place to work!

[Jimmy2]

When do you actually join the PML system though? You can still apply, interview, and be pooled at a PML feeder without being part of the PML right? I would think you only join that list once you accept a ground school.

[livinlife]

I would hold off on any kind of process with a feeder, if u have that video interview.
Hurry up and complete it already and hope for the best. Don't over think it, they want you to be successful.

[fruitloops]

When do you actually join the PML system though? You can still apply, interview, and be pooled at a PML feeder without being part of the PML right? I would think you only join that list once you accept a ground school.

Once you join the feeder you must make a request to be put on the feeder PML. Feeder PMLs are submitted/updated to AC periodically. However, once you start employment at the feeder, if you get called for AC interview via OTS route and AC learns you are currently at an AC feeder, they won't be able to hire you due to their agreements with feeders. So that's the risk there.

I've posted this 'GUESStimate" before on how long I believe it will take to get an AC interview based on feeder turnover/hiring/seniority. I think it might be worst case scenarios - some numbers are not accurate but ballpark. Given hiring is proportional across carriers in the agreement now with jazz in 2.0 wave really company attrition is the only variable factor across the cpl carriers. PS after successful AC interviews it's common to wait another 6-12 months in pool in order to catch a ground school opening.

[gtanorth]

When do you actually join the PML system though? You can still apply, interview, and be pooled at a PML feeder without being part of the PML right? I would think you only join that list once you accept a ground school.

Once you join the feeder you must make a request to be put on the feeder PML. Feeder PMLs are submitted/updated to AC periodically. However, once you start employment at the feeder, if you get called for AC interview via OTS route and AC learns you are currently at an AC feeder, they won't be able to hire you due to their agreements with feeders. So that's the risk there.

I've posted this 'GUESStimate" before on how long I believe it will take to get an AC interview based on feeder turnover/hiring/seniority. I think it might be worst case scenarios - some numbers are not accurate but ballpark. Given hiring is proportional across carriers in the agreement now with jazz in 2.0 wave really company attrition is the only variable factor across the cpl carriers. PS after successful AC interviews it's common to wait another 6-12 months in pool in order to catch a ground school opening.

Interesting view - nicely done, I would add a rejection rate that will decrease your time waiting on the PML. Of course, it also points to the reality that not 100% of pml pilots move to AC. Note: once successful on the pml there is very little pool time (maybe 2 months) as opposed to OTS at least from what I have been seeing.

[dhc#]

In the end, even with all the fancy calculations, your best bet is to have that 4 yr degree under your belt to get noticed by AC otherwise its becomes a big financial gamble going to an express carrier.

[fruitloops]

Interesting view - nicely done, I would add a rejection rate that will decrease your time waiting on the PML. Of course, it also points to the reality that not 100% of pml pilots move to AC. Note: once successful on the pml there is very little pool time (maybe 2 months) as opposed to OTS at least from what I have been seeing.

Very good point the sheet assumed 100% hire rate - here's another one with a few more guestimates - ballpark numbers folks don't take them to heart! I think sky and jazz have a little hiring standards than GGN and EVAS so thats why i put in a variance in there.