Looking for General Advice
 

I'm looking for really general advice about the directions I should be looking if I want to persue an airline job. Basically, I'm half way through grade 11 (one more year of high school), and haven't started any flight training. My high school courses have been aimed at an Engineering program, but I have also been considering commercial flying. I'm in Toronto ON, and realistically I would have to do my training in Canada, but I am eligable to work in the US, and wouldn't mind doing so.

My biggest question is, what sort of post secondary programs should I be looking at? I know that engineering is good, but it is expensive when combined with flight training, what about urban planning? What sort of degrees look good on an application?

My next question is where should I be looking for training? I have no interest in going into the military, so am looking purly at civilian routes. Any advice in this area would be great, I know of three flight schools in my area that have good reputations, but is there anything specific I should be looking for?

Finally, seeing how most airlines require some significant jet time to look at an application, I have a couple of questions. What is the best way to get this time? What sort of jobs and/or schools would get me some time on jets without previoues experience? Secondly, for the purposes of a job application, is time on a turbo prop considered jet time? Also, how realistic would it be to get a job in Northern Canada to build time once I have a commercial licence?

Finally, in terms of where I want to be headed, I'm interested in a job for one of the majors, but don't really care what country I'm working in, so what is involved in transferring Canadian training to the US or UK? Also, although it's not really a major, does anyone know anything about First Air? They seem like a company I might want to work for, although it is true that they are quite small.

Ok,

To answer some questions, from what I gather airlines don't care what kind of degree you have as long as you have a degree. You could have a degree in basket weaving it doesn't matter... I would choose something you enjoy like engineering, just in case you find yourself furloghed and in need of money.
To answer your question about jet time and turbo prop time. Jet time is not the same as turbo prop time. Jet time is when you are flying an aircraft that has actual jet engines or also known as turbo fan engines. The turbo props are jet engines but with props instead of the high bybass fans on larger jet aircraft. You usually start off flying a turbo prop like a Saab 340 or Beech 1900D. If you are lucky then might get a job flying an RJ but remember its the upgrade time to Capt thats important. The PIC jet or turbo prop time is very important. Most major airlines want at least 1000pic multi turbine time. If you go for the RJ look for a company that has a 2-3yr upgrade time. Thats reasonable. Others operators that have turbo props typically upgrade in 12-18months. So its all how quickly you want to get there.

To answer your question about choosing the flight school. Choose one you comfortable with that has a good reputation and good maintenace. You don't want have to set an airplane down in bushes because of careless maintenace errors.

Good Luck hope this helps


Chris

Also,

To answer more questions I don't know much about First air other than what on the APC home page. According to that they are furloghing. If you have no limits to where you want to go around the world. I would go to British, Luftansa, Air France, or possibly Emirates. I believe not sure Luftansa is the largest airline in the world. There are few international pilots on this forum they may have some more info.

Good luck man! Flying is pretty fun dont let people get you down especially some of the ones on this site. ERJ135 is right about the degree get it in something you enjoy other than "piloting" so you have a plan B. Something like ATC or engineering or bussiness would still keep you in the aviation feild.

Now here is the kicker...you need to decide what country you want to work in. A Canadian comercial certificate would require a conversion for US and prolly vice versa. I know many guys who have come down to work at the school I work at got the conversion and then went to work for an airline up in the northeast (colgan and express jet and a couple of others). Hope it helps.

Thanks for the advice, I would like to know how much is involved in getting a licence converted from Canada to the US, also, are European licences standardised through the EU, or is it country by country?