Does working Ramp at Air Canada help to get a Pilot Job?

[Yoshi Bamboo]

Dear People,

I work the ramp at Air Canada, but have decided I'd like to fly those beautiful airplanes. The fastest way to get my ratings and get on my way is to do my ratings full time and leave Air Canada, but I could also do my ratings part time and continue to build a good employment record with the company (I only have about 3 months so far).

Assuming I have enough money to pay for my ratings without a part time job, is staying with the company for as long as I can and delay getting my ratings going to help me at all when I finally have enough flying hours to get an interview?

thanks!

[scopiton]

yoshi bamboo you're too cool
answer is no

[fortis risk]

No.

[JZA]

The answer to your question is NO & YES.

NO. As rule of thumb I would say no. The fastest route to employment with Air Canada as a pilot is probably to go out into industry and gain meaningful flight experience and apply when you meet the minimum requirements. I was once told by a member of the senior flight operations management team that "Air Canada has an un-official policy to not hire from with-in" ...not exactly a motivational statement to encourage hard work or dedication in the hopes of advancement.

Having said that...

YES. It can be done, and is indeed very rare....however I did it. I worked for AC as a Groomer...then as a Station Attendant for 12 years (all the while flying full time on the side and gaining experience) before I was hired by AC as a pilot. Although I had a near perfect attendance record and stong work ethic with good internal references it took a very long time to even get an interview. Despite the downside of possibly not being the fastest a route to the pilots seat, there are of course certain seniority benefits if you are able to go this route.

Nevertheless if you are just starting out as it sounds like you are..(and only 3 months into working for AC) I would recommend finding a full time flying job somewhere and building hours)

Good Luck to you.

[TyrellCorp]

The answer to your question is NO & YES.

Despite the downside of possibly not being the fastest a route to the pilots seat, there are of course certain seniority benefits if you are able to go this route.

I have a friend in the maintenance dept who has been trying to get an interview for a long time. He has the qualifications, but no joy getting an interview. Someone explained to me once that the seniority issue is the reason why they don't like hiring from within. Apparently it complicates things. Hope this helps.

[kilocharliemike]

I would have to say yes it does in an indirect way, my first flying job is a result of someone here at A/C pointing me towards their first seat. Plus the mutual/cashing out your shifts thing allows you to keep your benefits/seniority and supplement the poor pay you will receive at a first flying job. There are enough pilots on the ramp and in mtc to staff a small airline and alot of them fly somewhere full time, while selling or trading their shifts away. That flexibility cant be found anywhere else, plus you get your travel passes, good for road trips to visit potential new jobs. I know a guy who flies at First air full time, trades all his shifts out and comes back on his rotation off to work as a pax agent. Since Ive been here I dont know of anyone going from a below the wing job to a pilot job. But I know alot of guys who have found other flying spots through networking with people inside...they all had to start somewhere. I dont work on the ramp anymore, but I would keep the p/t shift you work now, fly/train/get a job somewhere with a light twin/or where you want to instruct full time and sell the shifts at AC if they conflict. Even if you dont get a pilot job at AC one day you will make very good contacts and find alot of good leads to potential jobs.

KCM