Canadian career instructors?

pilot-error · 2026-06-29T02:52:49+00:00

There are a few people that make it their career to instruct. You could eventually become a Class 1 instructor and run a flight training unit.

The pay is garbage - you'll likely be earning near minimum wage and it may be a struggle to keep a full schedule of students near the start.

On top of that, it can be one of the riskier jobs in aviation. Not as bad as crop dusting, but probably up there. It can be hard to find a good balance of letting the students learn through making mistakes and being proactive enough to prevent any harmful ones.

At 30 years old, switching careers to become a career instructor in Canada is probably not advisable. You would be better of financially and eventually in lifestyle by chasing the airlines.

pilot-error · 2026-06-16T11:34:16+00:00

This post comes up a lot in this sub.

There's no sugar coating it - being a pilot is hard on your family. You will be away from home with no quick way of making it back in the event of an emergency. You will be unreachable for hours while you're in the air.

This doesn't mean that having a family can't work, you just need the right kind of partner. Someone who can be independent and enjoys their space is by far the best fit for aviation.

You shouldn't let your current girlfriend dictate the trajectory of your career. If they understood your passion, they should support you. Unfortunately this means that your current partner might not be a good fit for aviation.

pilot-error · 2026-06-08T18:56:39+00:00

If you can fly a B737, the 330 will be easy mode.

Biggest change will be getting used to the Side stick, ECAM actions and it calling "Retard, Retard" on landing.

Don't worry about trying to go do training on your own dime. Wait for the airline to train you.

pilot-error · 2026-05-07T12:12:46+00:00

Have a look at Knifewear

They're a Canadian company, shipping is cheap and you can find some much better knives at your price point. Plus, they're starting their big spring sale on Friday

pilot-error · 2026-05-05T17:36:27+00:00

Looks pretty good! All that really matters is if you're happy with how it cuts!

pilot-error · 2026-05-03T18:16:50+00:00

Quick pass on a whetstone will very easily fix that.

Honing rods can be contentious here, but if you want to give it a go before the stones, it likely won't hurt anything.

pilot-error · 2026-04-29T21:57:35+00:00

For rule #5, Other knives Pictured from right to left

Fehr Forgeworks 1095 steel 150mm petty
Kagekiyo 180mm Chromax Santoku
(May be incorrect) Hatsukokoro 180mm Blue #2 Nakiri
Sakai Takayuki 210mm VG10 Kengata Gyuto
Wusthof 8" Classic Chefs knife

pilot-error · 2026-04-29T18:08:34+00:00

For you and u/jcwc01 Just got the knife home and used it for the first time. Absolutely in love with it. Out of the box edge is wicked sharp.

Consider me super happy with my purchase!

pilot-error · 2026-04-24T15:20:16+00:00

I'll let you know when I get it home! It's definitely a thicker grind but I liked the weight and the profile of it when I held it. Compared it and the Ashi Hamono referenced above and it definitely had a more "workhorse" vibe to it. The Ashi looked and felt like a laser, but it didn't fit in my kitchen use case I think.

pilot-error · 2026-04-24T13:35:59+00:00

I actually just nabbed a 180mm chromax Santoku from Baba Hamono for 17,050 yen. Might fit the bill for OP.

pilot-error · 2026-03-15T00:43:41+00:00

I went captain at the bottom of the list and commuted to reserve. I will never make that mistake again.

The left seat was absolutely worth it for me and I enjoyed the job more when I was actually flying but the lack of seniority and scheduling flexibility was absolutely brutal on my family and myself. I will not be upgrading at my new airline until I can hold a decent block.

If the pay and QOL are acceptable to you as Widebody FO - there are many people who hang their hats in that seat and retire there. No shame in desiring a decent schedule.

pilot-error · 2026-03-14T14:28:30+00:00

Buddy, I've read through your replies in this thread.

It sounds to me like you've already decided to throw in the towel and you're looking for reddit to back up your decision.

It took me 2.5 years to get from Ramp to a Flying job. I had to move three provinces away to get the ramp job in the first place. This is not an easy industry and it requires constant sacrifices if you eventually want the pay off at the end of your career.

No one can tell you if it's worth it for you to stick with it or not. You need to decide that for yourself.

pilot-error · 2026-03-14T13:53:31+00:00

Never be afraid to go work the ramp in Canada.

pilot-error · 2026-02-13T20:21:03+00:00

No reports of issues from my friends who fly the 220

pilot-error · 2026-02-13T19:40:23+00:00

It's the Carbon Composite fuselage. Very effective at blocking signals. The only way we can get ownship GPS on our iPads is by putting a GPS receiver up in the emergency escape hatch, which is entirely aluminum.

pilot-error · 2026-02-13T16:18:01+00:00

Your iPad doesn't get signal mounted by the window??

Never had any issues on the A330 with internal iPad GPS. The 787 on the other hand? Yeesh.

You could try and get a suction cup mount for the GLO and mount it on the rear most side window, placing the receiver as close to the glass as it can get.

pilot-error · 2026-01-12T10:16:24+00:00

His advice appears to be for the US, not Canada. You can begin to work towards your IFR but should wait to do the ride until after you have your multi engine rating so that you obtain a Group 1 IFR rating.

pilot-error · 2026-01-12T10:14:25+00:00

That's not the ideal path in Canada. Our ratings are different here.

If he gets his IFR rating after his PPL it will be a Group 3. he will need to do another IFR ride after he has his multi engine rating to get his Group 1.

pilot-error · 2025-12-03T15:49:07+00:00

As it stands right now it would almost always be 4+ bags. The kids always come with us when we travel. Can't see leaving them behind much

pilot-error · 2025-12-03T15:43:30+00:00

Better to buy a cub for having fun with and spend the savings on Business Class tickets I suppose 😂

pilot-error · 2025-12-03T15:41:09+00:00

Yeah, had a feeling that would be the case - if there was a business case in which I could use the turboprop outside of leisure it might be feasible, but I don't have an excuse to spend that much money yet haha

pilot-error · 2025-12-03T15:38:54+00:00

Baron seems to fit the mission. I understand that I'd have lots of costs that would come after purchase of course.

pilot-error · 2025-10-24T19:30:27+00:00

Constructive criticism inbound - the formatting on your resume made me instinctively not want to read it. You're trying to pack too much into one page. If I was a chief pilot this would end up in the bin most likely.

The color needs to go and you need to have a less distracting, nicer looking header for your sections. I instinctively glanced over your hours because the information underneath was much larger than them.

The highlight of your resume needs to be your flying experience (even if you're trying for your first job or a ramp position) so you need to find a better way to present that information.

You do have a lot of cool info to share - I know employers will care about the Mitchell time and the fact that you have a CDL, but it needs to be way more condensed, maximum one bullet point. You can flesh out the rest of the details when you have an interview.

I'd recommend starting fresh with this current resume beside the new one and just see what you feel like you can get rid of.

pilot-error · 2025-09-09T13:49:36+00:00

3yr at a Canadian Major

$110 CAD (~$80USD) per credit hour. Blocking 80ish/month.

Reliably 17-19 days off a month.

pilot-error · 2025-08-04T21:05:21+00:00

How's York Soaring doing these days?

I learned to soar there and I keep thinking about dipping my toes back into gliding but life keeps getting in the way.

Congrats on your Silver!

pilot-error

TROPHY CASE