RCAF looks elsewhere for pilots

[oldtrucker]

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-s ... htm#333423

I call total 100% complete BS they can't find Canadian aviators.
I bet I could come up with 10 Canadian commercial pilots that would fly for them by Tuesday afternoon.

[Even Steven]

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-s ... htm#333423

I call total 100% complete BS they can't find Canadian aviators.
I bet I could come up with 10 Canadian commercial pilots that would fly for them by Tuesday afternoon.

Meinzinger says only about 15 have made the jump.

[oldtrucker]

Meinzinger says only about 15 have made the jump.

There are probably 15 commercial pilots within 5 blocks of me, I should have said I could find 10 by Tuesday just in one corner of Rutland, never mind the rest of Canada.
I know guys that would drop everything for a chance to fly their equip in a heartbeat.

[Even Steven]

I know guys that would drop everything for a chance to fly their equip in a heartbeat.

Yeah, not everybody is ready to drop their life, talk their families into moving, move to the middle of nowhere where bases us, get pay pittance comparing to what they make flying commercially, lose 40 lbs to fit qualifications, pass the much stricter medical tests, and lose a chance to retire from a commercial airline by starting from zero somewhere else lol.

[oldtrucker]

get pay pittance comparing to what they make flying commercially,

What? Unless you're in with a airline, the pay actually really sucks. Make more as a truck driver
What does a F/O make with Westjet? 40-,50k? Back in the late 80's Time Air paid $1000/mo for F/O's....that's it. I know that's a long time ago but I'm just using it as a example of when I first got into the industry. Hell, if the military would take a old wash up like me....I'd jump at the chance. I could have my 3rd mid life crisis and have a lot of fun at it.
Just saying there are a lot of Canadians that spent a lot of money for the training and Canada could hire and train its own people that have already logged a few thousand hours.

[Gone_Fishin]

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-s ... htm#333423

I call total 100% complete BS they can't find Canadian aviators.
I bet I could come up with 10 Canadian commercial pilots that would fly for them by Tuesday afternoon.

Maybe Trudeau wants to hire some of ISIS's and Bin Laden's pilots to fly for the RCAF. You know, because he says these terrorists can be "a powerful voice" for other Canadians.

[featfan]

Oldtrucker, you could be like the guy in Independence day. And he saved the world.
Russell was the hero.

[Even Steven]

Back in the late 80's ...

Ok, grandpa, you should talk to people. Pilots with experience and flying larger planes make $100,000 + easily, some over $200,000. They're not jumping to RCAF lol.

Just saying there are a lot of Canadians that spent a lot of money for the training and Canada could hire and train its own people that have already logged a few thousand hours.

Well, their numbers show fifteen pilots who made the switch. Perhaps they know better as opposed to you, I have a hunch.

[OKkayak]

What does a F/O make with Westjet? 40-,50k?

For the first year or two, after that its climbs quite quickly.

Just saying there are a lot of Canadians that spent a lot of money for the training and Canada could hire and train its own people that have already logged a few thousand hours.

A few points:

- Its a big lifestyle change, not one that many are willing to switch to for various reasons like family.
- Age is another factor, as is health and other requirements. Not easy to get into the RCAF as it is into the commercial side of things.
- Seniority is another key, while most pilots at WS an AC are on reduced hours/wages, they are still being scheduled to fly and taking a second career could make them unavailable and jeopardize their seniority.

[
There are probably 15 commercial pilots within 5 blocks of me, I should have said I could find 10 by Tuesday just in one corner of Rutland, never mind the rest of Canada.

Why haven't they applied?

I know guys that would drop everything for a chance to fly their equip in a heartbeat.

Its not like one applies and you get put into a CF18, if you're lucky, you'll eventually get into a Buffalo or Herc.

[GordonH]

^^^ I also suspect not to many commercial pilots are necessarily into combat situations i.e family

[oldtrucker]

Buffalo

Okay....I'd be happy with that. So old and blind now I couldn't get a volunteer job as a navigator with CASARA

[oldtrucker]

Perhaps they know better as opposed to you, I have a hunch.

And it sounds like you know more about the industry than me....why don't you apply?

Betcha right here at the flight school in Kelowna there are a number of candidates that would pass all the military requirements, some would have a commercial multi IFR, some a ATR...just not the diversity requirements perhaps.

[common_sense_guy]

Oldtrucker, you could be like the guy in Independence day. And he saved the world.
Russell was the hero.

And if I remember correctly later in life lost his mind for real

[oldtrucker]

Oldtrucker, you could be like the guy in Independence day. And he saved the world.
Russell was the hero.

And if I remember correctly later in life lost his mind for real

Minds been gone for years and years now. Sometimes I miss it

I read another article on it, and they are talking about needing very high time as in 10000 hr plus people,and type specific in some cases... that pretty much has to be sourced globally. So no, these can't be sourced by going headhunting at Kelowna airport and looking cojo Joe that flies a Navajo.
And, here is the officer pay scale....it's not bad. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-nat ... ml#captain

[bob vernon]

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-s ... htm#333423

I call total 100% complete BS they can't find Canadian aviators.
I bet I could come up with 10 Canadian commercial pilots that would fly for them by Tuesday afternoon.

Isn't it the other way around? RCAF pilots get out as soon as they can after flying on large aircraft and go to a better paying job with a bigger pension from a private airline. It's about money.