aircanada_addict

Hi,im 14 years old,and I live in the United States,and when I graduate from university I would like to immigrate to Canada ,and become a pilot with Air Canada,(this has been my dream since I was a small little kid,why I dont know,it has alot to do with Tom Green, and Airplanes,particularly boeings,airbuses,and embrears),anyways,I read on the Air Canada website that to fly for air canada, you must meet the following:
1000 hours total fixed wing time
Transport Canada category 1 medical certificate,and vision
Canadian Commercial Pilot license,with current instrument,and muti-engine rating.
and
Canadian Citizenship, or permanent resident status.

My questions today are:
1.How many days is 1000 hours,and how do I get a 1000 hours TT,or rather how long will it take me to get to a 1000 hours, and does a majority of it have to be in a muti-engine aircraft?

2.If I have an American private pilot license,can I convert it to a canadian PPL, and from that go to a canadian commercial license.

3.What kind of degree is recommened for an Airline Pilot? I was thinking about Aerospace Engineering, with a foucus on atmospheric flight(aeronautics).

thanks,
xavier

PS:when and if I do become a pilot with air canada,how do airlines usually assign pilots to aircraft? Air Canada, in a few years, is getting the 777 and 787,and I would like to fly thoes,if I go up to my,uh,superior, and ask to be put on the 777 or 787,or embrear 170/190,will I get it? or do you start small, and work your way up the aircraft ladder?

rickair7777

1. An airline pilot might fly 1000 in one year, but it would probably take 18 months. Most non-airline professional pilots usually somewhere between 100-500 hours/year.

Most airlines require 100-1500 hours multi-engine. However, very few airlines hire at the published minimums, for US major airlines, you normally need 3-5 times the minimums.

Usually, in order to get hired at a major airline like Air Canada, you would pay to get all of your commercial and flight instructor ratings, then work as an instructor in small airplanes for 1-3 years, then work at small airlines or corporate operations for 6-12 years, THEN get hired at a major airline.

Unfortunately it is easier to get an airline job in the US; I fly with several Canadians who came here because there were no opportunities at home. It is usually almost impossible for US citizens to get pilot jobs anywhere but the US, Asia and some third world areas.

2. Conversions between US and Canadian licenses are not too hard (unlike European licenses).

3. Any engineering degree would be great.


Aircraft assignment is by company/union seniority. Assume that you will start in smaller, low paying airplanes. 777 pilots usually have grey hair (if they have any left at all)

Linebacker35

Right now all new hires are going to the embrear. Right about now pilots with 1995 date of hire can hold the left seat of the A320 in either Toronto or winnipeg. The upgrade time used to be alot less back in 2000 when there were A320 captains with only like 4 years. The most senior base for aircanada is Vancouver by far, followed by montreal and Toronto, with Winnipeg as the most Jr Base(only for A320). Lots of fighting between the AirCanada pilots and the former canadian pilots. The AC pilots actualy voted down getting the 777's and 787's in protest. Untill the government forced the pilots to accept. The FA's treat the Pilots horrible at aircanada because they believe they should be valued more and PAID MORE than the pilots. Which they took air canada to court a few months ago and said the flight attendents should get paid the same as their male counterparts(pilots) and the government sided with them. Have not heard anything since. Other than the pilot groups fighting and the stupid FA's, Air Canada is one of the best airlines in the world. All the newest planes, lots of routes, good pay, good conditions.
Goodluck

ps Im doing the opposite of what you are doing, I plan on moving to the States and one day working for United or Continental.

ERJ135

Why was there protest over the 777 and 787?

Linebacker35

They were trying to screw the company over for not treating them fairly in the senority issue.

Well the AC pilots got their senority screwed when the Government forced aircanada to take over canadian airlines(they were within days of total colapse). In 2000(before all this) there were A320 captains with 1996 date of hire's who would be able to hold the 767 left seat in only a few years more. Just imagine working at a major for less than 10 years and being a 767 captain. So after the merger, the AC pilots had to take a BIG paycut while the canadian pilots got a big pay raise to even out their salaries. The Canadian pilots basicly almost got date of hire too. So they had 737 FO's becoming A320 captains, well those original A320 captains got bumped down to the right seat to baby sit these brand new captains from canadian.
So ACPA(AC pilot union) has been fighting this unfair senority list for 6 years now.

The AC pilots tired of being ignored by the company, decided to show their power. So to show Air Canada that they meant business the Original Air Canada pilots voted down the Order.

Taylor0289

Hey Linebacker, I'm currently 17 and i'll be graduating in 2007. Like most young people on here I plan on becoming a pilot(preferably with AC someday). A close friend of the family who fly's for AC thinks I should go to Seneca College in Toronto and do their 4-year aviation degree programme and get my ratings there. Have you heard much good about Seneca? With all the new Embraers and with a load of retires in the next 6-7 years, i'm guessing it's a good time to try to get on with Air Canada with so many new positions. I just hope that by the time I graduate from Seneca(If I go that route) and do whatever CFIing or work for a regional to get more hours, the doors won't close with Air Canada.