Overview of the Canadian Aviation Industry and how a new pilot get a start in aviation

A pilot’s career is a stepping stone process in Canada. We are blessed or cursed (depending on your opinion) with a large general aviation segment. It’s a blessing because pilots gain experience as they move up the ranks of the aviation industry. It’s a curse because if the pilot wants to fly jet aircraft are expected to gain experience with smaller aircraft first.

From the public perspective it’s an excellent system, because pilots gain experience on smaller aircraft and then work their way up into larger aircraft.  Passengers want their pilots with grey hair (experience) and the flight attendants young goes the saying.

The term general aviation generally means smaller aircraft  (2 seat to 18 seat). Canada is a huge country by geography with a small population. We have many small towns and communities. A small  town doesn’t get serviced with a large jet, maybe it gets service with 19 seat turbo prop airplane. For am example of the different types of commercial operators checkout our types of Canadian Aviation Organization Page

Operators hire based on attitude and flying skills.  A operator wants a pilot who is safety minded, is easy to get along with, who can fly well, cares about the company and it’s customers, and treats it’s equipment well.

Pilots for air taxi/commuter operators often get hired for “ground positions” like fueling and loading first. When a opening happens they can move up into the flying positions.

Flight Instructing is also valuable because the flying time is all pilot in command. Only become a flight instructor is it’s something you really would like to do.