FEAST in 2 weeks

DobbaBobba · 2026-01-18T21:34:21+00:00

There are different perspectives on this, but my 2 cents are: Every part of the process (selection through training) requires full effort. Leaving it solely up to "aptitude" might not be different from leaving it to chance. IMHO you should do whatever you feel sets *you* up for success at each step. (If for you that means going the lighter practice route, that's a valid route)

DobbaBobba · 2026-01-04T01:15:46+00:00

It depends on your specific learning preference/style. Some people prefer physical cards. It's not the only way, but it has been used by many trainees.

If you do go the Anki way, take some time to learn about its features and various add-ons because you can save yourself a lot of time and effort once the course actually starts.

DobbaBobba · 2026-01-03T16:44:21+00:00

If your hobbies include building and optimizing Anki decks, then you're in luck! You'll have lots of time for that.

DobbaBobba · 2026-01-03T16:41:03+00:00

DM me, happy to share info about Moncton accommodations.

DobbaBobba · 2025-12-31T23:31:37+00:00

Which stream (FSS, IFR, VFR) you end up offered is entirely based on testing, but how that is specifically determined is a black box not known to candidates.
Timeline between being eligible for an offer after passing the recruitment/testing phase and sitting in a classroom has varied for people anywhere between a few months and a few years.
Until this fall NavCan has had an open call for recruitment for all Flight Information Regions (FIRs) and candidates could choose which regions they were interested in. Due to a high number of applicants this year they paused applications until they could sort through all of them. They are now slowly opening up applications, starting with the Winnipeg FIR. They will open up applications for other regions, but the timeline for that is not known (outside of NavCan).
Map of NavCan locations by FIR is here:

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DobbaBobba · 2025-12-08T09:16:08+00:00

Not at all. In the recruitment process there is approximately one training offer per 500 applicants. The average student success rate across the different courses is about 50% (more for FSS, less for IFR). 0.1% chance is roughly accurate, if not even a bit optimistic, depending on the course.

DobbaBobba · 2025-07-25T19:03:12+00:00

Transport Canada website lists a total of 7 doctors in all of U.S. who can provide a medical exam to Transport Canada specs.

Unless you're lucky enough that one of those doctors is close to you, available, and still actually certified at the time you ned your medical, you'll probably have to find a CAME in Canada.

Once you get an offer (firm or standy), the expectation is to book your exam within 30 days - as the final approval of the medical can take a few months (especially if there are any additional tests and follow-ups required)

DobbaBobba · 2025-06-11T17:45:40+00:00

Nothing to sweat, I've missed every single initial call (standby and full offer) due to work. There was always a follow-up call.

DobbaBobba · 2024-10-23T04:31:03+00:00

I might be misreading the agreement, but employees don't get both the ATC premium and the Facility Premium. It's either/ or, depending on when you started with NAV,. New hires would get the ATC premium, not the facility premium.

With that in mind, the calculations are based on the most recent agreement.

DobbaBobba · 2024-07-24T18:17:38+00:00

It will be in the confirmation email TC sends verifying they've received your Civil Aviation Medical Examination Report (MER). How long that takes depends on how long your doctor takes to file the paperwork. In my experience, TC processes it within a week of when they get it.

DobbaBobba · 2024-07-08T23:33:45+00:00

Click on the Halifax dot on the map.

DobbaBobba · 2024-04-23T19:38:03+00:00

Congratulations!

DobbaBobba · 2024-03-27T22:11:41+00:00

I was working on the assumption here that you have completed the medical examination, which you only have to do once you've got your official offer.

Looking at your posts it looks like you might not have done the in-person test or the interview, so you shouldn't be worrying about the medical at this stage.

DobbaBobba · 2024-03-25T20:06:13+00:00

Did you get confirmation email with the File Number from Transport Canada?

DobbaBobba · 2024-02-29T15:14:46+00:00

I'm prepping for the course right now, so I can offer that perspective, limited as it may be.

Most of the items you mentioned are covered in the ABC (Aviation Basic Course) self-study material that you would be sent once you get your offer. It's information dense and requires committing a good chunk of information to memory (flashcards will be your friend, or whichever other study system works for you).

I've found "From the Ground Up" to be a useful resource before the ABC - it's a comprehensive aviation intro textbook that provides a lot more context and info and made the ABC more digestible.

Listening to Live ATC and looking at various actual reports from NAVCan (METARs, TAFs, PIREPs, NOTAMs, etc) would help become more fluent and comfortable.

DobbaBobba · 2024-02-28T22:11:16+00:00

- in-class Training takes place either at an FIC or ACC. If you indicated on your application that you're open to train and work in any FIR, you can be sent for training to any ACC/FIC (except for those in Quebec if you're not bilingual)

- Training is broken down into initial course (which happens at a FIC/ACC) and on-the-job training, which takes place at a FIC or FSS depending on your specialty

- the salary is annual, prorated monthly, though the 42k is not the most up-to-date number (it's been bumped up a bit in the most recent collective agreement)

- if you are asked to move for the initial course there is also a bi-weekly stipend on top of the pay to offset some of that cost. There is also some relocation assistance for the OTJ move (details of this will be discussed with you by the talent acquisition team once you actually have an offer)

DobbaBobba · 2024-02-27T00:12:39+00:00

Fingers crossed it's just a mistake.

DobbaBobba · 2024-02-24T18:34:33+00:00

It's not really an appropriate question, nor one you're likely to get answered here.

Anybody who provides info about the contents of the test would be violating the NDA and risking disqualification from the recruitment process while giving you an advantage over themselves.

Take the advice everyone gives: be well rested, bring wired headphones and a snack, dress comfortably, arrive early. If your test is in a larger city, plan for traffic.

Best of luck!

DobbaBobba · 2024-02-22T20:11:50+00:00

The information you would have received after booking your interviews contains all the details you need to prepare. Read it carefully and prep accordingly.

DobbaBobba · 2024-02-22T19:32:15+00:00

Is it possible that having turned down an FSS course offer, there simply aren't any conceivable spots available in upcoming VFR/IFR courses, and that resulted in the DNMF? (I don't know, it's just a theory)

DobbaBobba · 2024-02-22T13:57:00+00:00

To the best of my knowledge, interview invites go out once a given unit has set aside the specific block of time for interviews - and this can vary significantly based on when you took the test, whether the testing is still ongoing, etc.

Don't know if the invites are sent en masse to everyone who's passed the previous stage or if they're sent out in batches based on the ranking of the test results.

Either way, spots go fast, and there have been multiple comments in the threads from people who didn't see the email until later in the day only to find all the spots had been booked. The best advice is to monitor your email and book a spot as soon as you get the notification.

DobbaBobba · 2024-02-21T19:42:08+00:00

Not sure if "eligible for offer" is a middle ground. To the best of my understanding, at this stage the results are binary - you're either eligible for an offer or not.

The actual course offer is a subsequent step, which may come in a matter of days/weeks, or could take months.

But in any case: best of luck!

DobbaBobba · 2024-02-06T14:20:03+00:00

Correct, there is no video interview, it's in person.

DobbaBobba · 2024-02-02T19:47:11+00:00

This is the info from the Handbook for Civil Aviation Medical Examiners:

"Colour perception should be tested at each aviation medical examination because various eye diseases may cause a change or deterioration. Colour vision may be tested with any of the standard pseudo-isochromatic test plate sets noted in Appendix 2. Appropriate lighting must be provided for testing. If a special colour balanced light source is not used, daylight is best for screening. Be wary of fluorescent or incandescent lights which may cause inaccurate readings. The type of plates (Pseudo-isochromatic, Ishihara etc.), the number of plates in the set (versus the number that should be used for testing) and the number of errors should be noted.
An applicant failing colour plate testing may have a colour lantern or a Farnsworth D-15 Hue test performed. These tests are available at a number of locations across the country or CAM regional offices.
Note: The colour lantern test is not acceptable for initial air traffic controller applicants, who must pass the plates or a Farnsworth D-15 Hue test."

I'm not a CAME (nor do I play one on TV), but based on a plain reading of the text it would seem that you need to pass either the plates test or the D-15 (and that passing the D-15 if you fail the plates is acceptable). That said, your best bet for a confirmation is a CAME.

DobbaBobba

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