PIW or jump ship?

[scotylad]

Hey yall, long time lurker, first time poster. I’ve been through past forums, though times seem to change so fast that the details are outdated already.

I’m currently a prospective pilot in a “pilot in wait” position at a northern carrier. When I signed on I was expecting around 1.5 years on the ground. After recently speaking to management I’ve been told it’s now beyond two years as the company is rather fat on pilots, and still has a substantial list ahead of me. This has obviously made me rather demoralized as it feels that light at the end of the tunnel is getting dimmer and dimmer.

It seems silly to stay, but it’s always been a dream of mine since I was a kid to fly the planes that this current operator has. Plus, I can’t justify jumping to another company just to be told it’s another 2 years.

From what I understand is that since the big dogs aren’t hiring, the conveyor belt has pretty much stopped in place. Could this start up again anytime soon? For context I live in Manitoba, and have my CPL MIFR and IATRA, though rather low on hours at 270.

Yes, I know flight instructing is an option, however every school around has a very long wait list, which my school called “indefinite.”

If anyone has knowledge into industry norms now (past 1-2 years) on PIW times, or other bush/low hour opportunities I’d greatly appreciate the insight.

[co-joe]

I would certainly be sending out resumes and doing road trips when you can to keep building contacts. As winter sets in up north turnover can happen fast. The company under promising still leaves room for them to over deliver, I'd rather this than having them constantly say "maybe tomorrow". The only airlines not hiring right now are WestJet, and Canadian North, all of the rest have at least a trickle of hiring, Porter, AC, Jazz, and Encore are in full swing hiring, so the conveyor has not stopped. Think company, not aeroplane. Get yourself flying, leave on good terms.

[Me262]

Aircraft type means nothing. Any aircraft works, even a C150, if it gets you flying.

Stick to the current operator while you send out CV's to all others, for flying positions. Don't leave your current ground job for another ground job with a faster progression promise. But any flying position trumps any ground position, as long as they are legit.

[Red_Comet]

Unfortunately what's becoming clear is that there never was, is or will be a "pilot shortage". It's just the same old BS corps use to lower wages. Very few people got into commercial flying pre-COVID because starting salaries were absurdly poor. Ask airline pilots what regional starting salaries were like ten years ago. The funny thing is, even now with the salary increases, we're back to where we were then with the insane cost of living inflation.

Ramp jobs are genuinely a disgrace, and the fact that they are standard in Canada speaks volumes about our culture. Just ruthless exploitation of anyone and everyone for a quick buck. I wouldn't take a job you hate for an unwritten promise of a job you want somewhere down the line, but I have heard it working out for young pilots in the past.

But the days of hiring 250hr pilots are over from what I'm hearing. Even iATPL grads who were being hired upon graduation from reputable schools are now showing up for instructor training and dispatch work because regionals are back to hiring 1000+ hr 703/704 candidates.

Was good while it lasted, but like with anything else in this country, nothing good ever lasts.

[fish4life]

See if you can get a float rating done out west and start applying to every float operator you can find once you do. Keep your ramp job for now though.

[Me262]

Ramp jobs are genuinely a disgrace, and the fact that they are standard in Canada speaks volumes about our culture. Just ruthless exploitation of anyone and everyone for a quick buck. I wouldn't take a job you hate for an unwritten promise of a job you want somewhere down the line, but I have heard it working out for young pilots in the past.

Unfortunately this exploitation is far from going extinct until dinosaurs like TeePeeCreeper will finally get out of this industry with their redneck ideology, defending absuing new pilots by dangling the carrot. Him, Buffalo Joe, and their buddies can't disappear fast enough from Canada so we can finally catch up to EASA land.

[Tbayer2021]

Ramp jobs are genuinely a disgrace, and the fact that they are standard in Canada speaks volumes about our culture. Just ruthless exploitation of anyone and everyone for a quick buck. I wouldn't take a job you hate for an unwritten promise of a job you want somewhere down the line, but I have heard it working out for young pilots in the past.

Unfortunately this exploitation is far from going extinct until dinosaurs like TeePeeCreeper will finally get out of this industry with their redneck ideology, defending absuing new pilots by dangling the carrot. Him, Buffalo Joe, and their buddies can't disappear fast enough from Canada so we can finally catch up to EASA land.

It truly was great reading about all the northern operators crying on the news because they couldn't find enough pilots to exploit.

[‘Bob’]

Ramp jobs are genuinely a disgrace, and the fact that they are standard in Canada speaks volumes about our culture. Just ruthless exploitation of anyone and everyone for a quick buck. I wouldn't take a job you hate for an unwritten promise of a job you want somewhere down the line, but I have heard it working out for young pilots in the past.

Unfortunately this exploitation is far from going extinct until dinosaurs like TeePeeCreeper will finally get out of this industry with their redneck ideology, defending absuing new pilots by dangling the carrot. Him, Buffalo Joe, and their buddies can't disappear fast enough from Canada so we can finally catch up to EASA land.

What’s stopping you from going to EASA land?

Seriously.. just study your ass off like you never have before and spend the ridiculous amount of money to write all of your EASA exams, then go and buy your own 737 or A320 type rating, then go and compete against university graduate multilingual trust fund kids for your shot at Ryanair or Wizzair.

As bad as Buffalo Joe is, in terms of the effort an individual would have to put in to go EASA without help from mommy and daddy, it’s actually easier.

And just make sure you ask some of the pilots who are coming from EASA land to Canada why they are doing so.

There has been and never will be a shortage of 250 hour wonders willing to do anything to get a flying job. And just be glad you aren’t in the USA. The very high airline salaries down there are because most pilots never make it to the vaunted 1500 hours for lack of flying jobs in which to do so.

[digits_]

What’s stopping you from going to EASA land?

Seriously.. just study your ass off like you never have before and spend the ridiculous amount of money to write all of your EASA exams, then go and buy your own 737 or A320 type rating, then go and compete against university graduate multilingual trust fund kids for your shot at Ryanair or Wizzair.

As bad as Buffalo Joe is, in terms of the effort an individual would have to put in to go EASA without help from mommy and daddy, it’s actually easier.

And just make sure you ask some of the pilots who are coming from EASA land to Canada why they are doing so.

There has been and never will be a shortage of 250 hour wonders willing to do anything to get a flying job. And just be glad you aren’t in the USA. The very high airline salaries down there are because most pilots never make it to the vaunted 1500 hours for lack of flying jobs in which to do so.

This....

Careful what you wish for, you might get it...

[newlygrounded]

I would certainly be sending out resumes and doing road trips when you can to keep building contacts. As winter sets in up north turnover can happen fast. The company under promising still leaves room for them to over deliver, I'd rather this than having them constantly say "maybe tomorrow". The only airlines not hiring right now are WestJet, and Canadian North, all of the rest have at least a trickle of hiring, Porter, AC, Jazz, and Encore are in full swing hiring, so the conveyor has not stopped. Think company, not aeroplane. Get yourself flying, leave on good terms.

Canadian north is doing layoffs

[co-joe]

RTFQ man. I said the only airlines NOT hiring are WS and 5T.