starting out in canada

[action jackson]

here''s a question for all you seasoned pilots out there...and im sure you must get this a lot, but please bear with me.
Just wondering how low time pilots just out of flight school build hours. In the states it seems like evreyone gets their cfi, is it the same in canada?
Also is it worth while spending the extra money getting night and insturment ratings, or would an employer pay for them if the need came up?
One final thing...can anyone reccomend a good school
(preferrably in BC)
Any help would be great!!!

 

[Winnie]

Action Jackson
In Canada the term would be Instructor, since CFI here means Chief Flight Instructor

It is impossible to start out as an instructor here, since the requirements are 250Hrs PIC in HELICOPTERS before you are allowed to start instructing. Something our Stuck Wing brethren don't need to! Another thing too is that you only need 100 hrs to become a CPL holder!! It seems most people are able to find work, sweeping a hangar floor, or running dispatch, or cleaning helicopters etc. Ant that eventually gets them into the position, where they get to fly more and more.
Well that was a rant
Night rating are not totally necessary, since most operators do not operate at night (or so I believe) and from the start you'll have to get a night rating AFTER you get your license if you get an Abinitio CPL. The Instrument rating is something most pilots wait with, but I don't think any company would pay for it. If you don't already have it, most companies will eventually give you a Turbine endorsement, if you prove yourself loyal and hard working.

 

[Rosco]

AJ,


Try Dick Wood with Valley Helicopters out of Merritt, BC.

1-250-378-6261.

Cheers,

R

 

[canook pilot]

Lie

 

[MINI]

100 hr.pilots instructing in the USA.That explains everthing

 

[Flinger]

- "It seems most people are able to find work, sweeping a hangar floor, or running dispatch, or cleaning helicopters etc"



A friend of mine did a study for Canadore College about 6 years ago. Their best estimates put only about 40% of heli grads into industry, with the other 60% never getting in. This was a study of all of Canada, not just their school.

 

[LongRanger]

Flinger be by''.....email coming your way buddy. If you don''t get it call me Wed. evening.

Mr. Rideout (AKA LongRanger)

 

[412driver]

contact Gerry at BC Helicopters. he''ll help you out.

ph 604 850 7711

[email protected]

 

[cap]

Flinger ---- until we have that 'pilot shortage', I don't even know how that percentage gets work. As long as people keep showing up with the money, there'll be people ready and willing to take it. The Law of Supply and Demand will always reign supreme and that's why some haven't found a job 3-5 years after obtaining their CPL. This ain't nothing new at all....it's been going on for the last 35 years at least. I've been waiting to see that pilot shortage since 1960. I'm told that I should be patient because it is just around the corner when the old guys retire. I guess there hasn't been any amount of pilots retire since then.

 

[Winnie]

To MINI
There are nobody that starts instructing in the states at 100 Hours, since you need at least 150 to get your CPL, but then again what is 50 hours. Well that was the route I took, and now I''m here, teaching young prospecting canadian helicopter pilots, and it seems to work out fairly well!

 

[downwash]

What''s he mean ''seasoned pilots''? Watch it, fella! But then, I think CTD''s got some garlic powder on him, and 407 Driver sounds a little salty at times.

As said elsewhere ''action,'' for me it''s the driver who demonstrates the best attitude and ability that gets the job. I don''t care if he can teach, fiddle, or fart ''gynormous.'' The better he can do what we need, the better he is for us.

 

[CTD]

Garlic powder? Jeez, maybe some dry rub, but NEVER garlic powder. Sir. Hey, She-TD says I can fart gynormous - got a job for me?

Hey Punk, I have a stat for 'buddy who did the study'. I trained with 7 others, and was the only one to EVER turn a blade after. And that took over five years of trying. Finally, my charm and good looks got me hired

- just in the nick of time.

 

[Canrotor]

Yes..give B.C Helicopters a look,but i hear they have quite a waiting list to get started...possibly looking for more instructors.

www.bchelicopters.com

Canrotor.

 

[DGP]

Here''s somemore stats...I trained at Canadore with 50 guys way back when...maybe 12-15 guys actually got flying...of those...3 were KIA...and there may be 5-8 guys still mixing the sticks...at the Canadore reunion last fall they said that around 1400 pilots had trained and 189 guys-gals showed up for the reunion and a lot of those guys-gals weren''t flying anymore.One of my buddies that showed up said he was the only one from his class that got a job and we heard that a lot of classes never had one get a job...that''s pretty sad stats.

 

[CTD]

Punk,

Maybe that''s because you are a loser.

In addition, you can''t drink.

BTW Irish Descendants in town soon for ''Tulip Festival''. And what happened to the ''Piles''?

Drop me a line and let me know about your search.....
CTT