moving to canada need advice please

000pilot · Post by **000pilot** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 2:02 pm

Hello Gentlemen
I know this subject has been many times asked but it is tempting to ask it again to tailor my situation.(sorryabout that)
I just received my landing immigration visa.which i follow to become a permanent resident shortly(Vancuver area).
How long does it take to convert my license?
How is the job market looking in about 3 months from now? i'm even willing to consider a change in my career if neccessery such as corporate flying such as CRJ or Gulfstream or .... Not necessery bush flying.please don't take me wrong i'm willing to pay my dues to get to the market.
as of now i'm flying Airbus 300's and haveing ATPL w/5500 hrs.
I would appreciate any info and please don't hesitate to correct my thoughts to get a grasp of a REAL LIFE SCENARIO in Canada's aviation.
Have a safe flight for everyone.

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WRX · Post by **WRX** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 5:09 pm

I know a few people did license conversion from overseas, including myself.

one you get here, you will need to get Canadian medical ASAP, since it take some time(1-3 months). doctors' addresses for your area are in tc.gc.ca website or local flight school.

Then try to attend aerocourse and write INRAT(IR) and both ATPL exams from Transport Canada Office.

http://www.aerocourse.com/

you will also need to write PSTAR exam(pre-solo air law exams.) - from local flying club.

do a Initial multi-engine(group one) instrument rating flight test.

If you have FAA ATPL, it's much easier than this.

pm me if you need more help.

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:10 am

So, just because I don't know how the system works, how exactly did you get entry into Canada? We have lot's of unemployed pilots here who are looking for a job and they sure don't need any more competition.

Sorry if this offends you but I have a problem allowing outsiders into our country when there is still unemployment within our own citizens.

We have to learn to look after our own first..

000pilot · Post by **000pilot** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:39 am

Thank You Gentlemen (WXR & Twotter)for the response.However your response (Twottwe)was a bit less than a informative rather more preudgmental.
Oh no i don't get offended so easily.
I recieved my landing visa after 3 years and during this time i was being distanced from my Canadian wife.So i'm pretty sure that you know by now that it is a Spousal immigrant visa.
Second of all being a citizen & on top of it unemployed is a problem which is existing in every country.if go to other side of the Earth you will very quickly notice how a lots of Canadians getting employed even by the national & flag carrieres & when their own citizens sitting jobless.
After all IMHO it is a matter of qualifications and hardworking.
So if i come to canada not because i'm not haveing a job and trying for first time to breake in to the aviation industry; NO-exactly opposit- i have a job- and a heavy one.but i'm still willing to adapt my self to the new environment and learn .
When i only had a 1200 hrs & working 16 hrs a day -doing flight instructions and aerial and traficwatch and on top of it washing 2X kingairs paid my dues and i'm very proud of that time.
Getting into Airbus was not easy and getting out of it is not easy either.
happy flying [/i]

sorry for all misspelling.that too has to be a part of my learning process.

niugini · Post by **niugini** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:44 pm

Hi 000pilot

Welcome to Canada! This is a great place and generally good people. You come across some redneck mentality every now and than but that should not spoil your day. There are narrow minded and ignorant people anywhere right.

I was in your shoes a few years ago (except the heavy experience). Depends on where you come from you might have difficulty with the red security pass that you need for certain places in Canada. It can be a hassle to get that. Can you travel to the US without a visa? That might also be a holdup for certain jobs.

As soon as you arrive get your written exams done. I just got the ATPL exams out of the way. Very Easy and English is my third language. Also visit a Transport Canada office to find out about recognizing your time. The books mentioned before are good the course well… I wasn’t overly impressed but my expectations might be too high. I got my Canadian medical when I was still living in the bush so I was ready to start flying right away.

Again this country is fantastic and there are lots of folks with accents flying (might piss a lot of people off but hey accents can be sexy and they are jealous)

You’ll settle in no problem and I am sure you will find a job. Aim for the big players and work your way down from there.

Hope this helps. Good luck wherever you end up.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 2:56 pm

Twotter:

I just found out you are a red neck, but at least you are not a racist are you?

You better be careful here or next you will be labeled a racist.

bbb · Post by **bbb** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 3:37 pm

Shit disturber!

000pilot · Post by **000pilot** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:53 pm

Thank You all Gents for your time taking and replies. I appreciate it a lot.
fly safe

V1RotateV2 · Post by **V1RotateV2** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:45 pm

Welcome!

2 Years ago I went through the same thing. It is very easy and straight forward (assuming you have an ICAO ticket).

1) Get your medical done (1 hour and about $100). Find a doctor in TC's website.
2) Take your paperwork personally downtown, they will issue a file number within 24 hours. Then you are good to go.
3) Write INRAT, SAMRA and SARON exams. A lot of study, but nothing too out of the blue. The TC office in Richmond (Harmony building) is easy to schedule and very friendly.
4) Get your check ride done (can combine IFR and multi into one) but if you have over 50 Hs of multi recently, only the IFR is required. Double check with TC.
5) Take all your logbooks (meaning ALL, from the first hour of private training), license and checkride results personally to TC downtown.
6) Within a week or two you will have your ATPL.

If you need help, ProIFR out of the Delta airport is excellent, they do this conversions all the time. You can attend the seminars that prepare for the exams (3 days) and schedule the flying. You can also call TC, they were extremely helpful and gave me all the necessary info along the way. Ask them about a type rating transfer if you have a current one.

Expect to spend around 1.5 to 2K Canadian.

Market is hot, should be no problem to get a job, but expect something not that great for some time until you get "Canadian experience", most bigger companies like you to have a summer and a winter of flying done here.

Good luck!