noob question

[sissyphus]

The wife tells me that she's considering a career at NavCan. Something she's always been interested in.

So here we go. I'm based in YWG with a certain amount of mobility around the country. I know the training is done in Cornwall. I know there's ywg centre here in town.

What are the odds that upon successful completion of the IFR training that she would be based in the peg?

I know there are some positions like victoria harbor that are impossible to get due to seniority, but how desirable is ywg?

If she does her on site training in ywg, how much time is spent in cornwall?


Thanks, and be easy, i'm just a dumb pilot.

[bigfssguy]

There is no more training in Cornwal, well at least not NC training anymore. All trainign si done in the centers and in some of the alrger towers for VFR. If she wants YWG then tell her to only accept a training position in Winnipeg. Since the training is done regionally I believe you will eb offered a course in the center you are going to if it's IFR, For VFR towers some are doing the training in house such as YWG, YYC, YYZ etc. As for the smaller towers not too sure.

As for FSS i doubt there will eb any training anytime soon. There are significant cuts being made to FSS and may be lay-offs, unlikely (well hopefully) but possible due to closures and reductions in service hours etc. So FSS is off the board for the time being. Hope it helps, i'm sure some of the controller folk will correct me if i'm wrong or add extra if they know. Long story short trainign is in a state of flux right now with all the major changes recently so things that happen today may not happen tommorow.

[killer84]

Training is done in the center, for IFR or VFR. It will be done at YVR, YYC, YYZ, and YUL towers in the future. As for right now, if your wife applies in YWG, she'll be training at YWG Center. If she chooses IFR, she'll stay there. If she chooses VFR, she'll go somewhere in the YWG FIR (YQT, YWG, YAV, YQR, or YXE). Of those, YWG is the one that most often needs people. I don't know how much of a choice students will be given, or how often they'll be running courses.

[sissyphus]

Thanks folks,

We're going to go take a tour and ask about. I last went through YEG centre about 5 years ago on a tour and learnt a lot when there. I figure its about time for me to go through for a refresher of all the subtleties of ATC that we pilots take for granted.

Last question though, we've been looking around and have been seeing wide variations on the payscale. Some claim 50k to 100k as an average take. Whats a realistic number to expect from an IFR controller? Let's say first year and 5 years in?

[husky]

In YWG, 100k with minimal overtime. In 5 years, perhaps 20k more, again with minimal overtime.

[invertedattitude]

IFR - Over 125K my first year qualified... but I'm an OT whore.

[NJ]

Up north, well north of 100k in first year. 14 weeks off!

[futboler14]

IFR - Over 125K my first year qualified... but I'm an OT whore.

why am i a pilot?

[kevenv]

IFR - Over 125K my first year qualified... but I'm an OT whore.

why am i a pilot?

I too wonder why people want to be professional pilots every time I see discussions of pilot salaries and working conditions. A newly qualified controller with no "hours" starts around 90K in a center.

[NJ]

Often nobody hears or considers the job. Everybody knows what an Air Traffic Controller does, but doesn't know that it's one of the highest paying jobs that doesn't require a college degree. Plus the hours and benefits are freaking sweet. I'm glad I found this job before dropping 60k on flight college.

[Jerricho]

Any idiot can be a pilot.....

You have to be a special idiot it be ATC

[lilfssister]

CRAYONS!

[Jerricho]