UPFRONT AVIATION

01/02/2023

Where will 2023 take you? Upfront aviation has been quiet the last 3 years for a couple of reasons; I had an employer that was very private and of course COVID. 2023 - new employer - it's a positive thing- and new life back to the industry. You will start seeing more activity here as I figure out how to help aspiring pilots find their path and get hired into the industry. Happy New year to you! May it be filled with successes.

10/11/2021

It's happening. The slow growth of momentum needed to restart the industry. In the coming months you will see destinations and routes open up, and advertisements for sunny vacations as air travel slowly returns to pre covid levels.
This Air Canada video is great. It shows excitement and conveys a message of hope that we continue to trend in a positive direction. As Air Canada, WestJet and many other Air Carriers worldwide continue to bring airplanes out of deep storage and retrain ground crews, pilots etc please remember the downline effects of this pandemic.

I've been through various airports throughout this pandemic and it was spooky. The emptiness of these lifeless buildings was shocking to me as there was no noise. No one was shopping for a neck pillow or a forgotten birthday present. No one was shopping for lunch or a quick latte before boarding their flight. These sounds were gone because the businesses were closed placing many people out of work.

The downline effects of this pandemic don't stop there. How many employees in the shops and the fast food joints lost their jobs. How about the people that make 1000 sandwiches a day for the catering companies. The parking lot attendants, the fuel truck drivers and so on. So many people and lives affected. Some or all of these jobs will return with the increase in air travel.

I am happy to see many friends getting back to work and I am also happy to see people discover other avenues of empoyment besides aviation.

Let's all do our part and continue to safely return to work so we can all move forward with our lives. What would your video look like?

It's time to return to what we missed most, and the only thing we missed more than flying... is you. Air Canada on social media. Facebook: h...

07/13/2021

Here we go...... 30 jets confirmed and 50 on options. This is good news and definitely some light at the end of the tunnel of unknown length!

Porter Airlines could shake up the Canadian airline industry after announcing plans to launch jet service to destinations in Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean with an order of up to 80 new jets, some of which will fly out of Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

02/05/2021

For those who have used these tracks and procedures across the north Atlantic this is major news.
The fact that there is still 500 flights a day across the pond took me by surprise given the COVID situation. Anyways, happy Friday to you all and take care.

The dramatic fall in traffic we’ve seen across the Atlantic has given us a window of opportunity to do things differently, and to introduce things more quickly than otherwise might have been possible. So, we’re going to disband the Organised Track Structure on days where we don’t believe they ...

01/18/2021

The article didn't specifically say what changes have been or will be done to the plane or it's operation. I'm very curious what steps and/or additional equipment and training will be required of airlines like WestJet and Air Canada. Either way , this is good news for the industry and it's time they get back in the air and move people efficiently. To where, I'm not sure yet due to COVID. 1 step at a time.

Transport Canada has announced that it will allow the return of Boeing Max aircraft to service in Canadian airspace on Jan. 20, concluding the government's review process.

11/18/2020

This is good news! The Max is a good plane that fits the needs of many airlines around the world. Fix the problem and get them in the air again as they move more people per gallon of fuel than other narrowbodied aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued an order Wednesday that paved the way for the troubled Boeing 737 Max to carry passengers again, ending the jet's 20-month grounding.

09/27/2020

Perspective. This pandemic has crushed a lot of dreams and stalled careers or possibly ended them. For those that are struggling with the current situation in aviation you must be patient and ride it out. It seems every decade there is some event that decimates the industry. If you've lost/laid off/furloughed from your job, take the opportunity to pursue something different for the time being. Pick anything you'd like, just do it. Read a book, play a board game (settlers of catan👍), go for a run, learn a new language. Stay engaged and stay connected. We are all in this together, the industry will recover and we all will be flying again but it will take time. Peace, and be kind to one another.

05/20/2020

Long time no post! Like almost everyone on the planet I have experienced some weird stuff recently with Covid-19 and all related restrictions. For those that have been affected in the airline industry or those looking to get in this is a perfect example of what makes aviation a "cyclic industry". The industry went from bigger and stronger than ever before, with never before seen hiring and reported shortages to the complete opposite in a matter of 2 months. When 9-11 occurred the industry was deeply affected and procedures like security screening rose to the forefront of new measures going forward. What will the "new measures" be after the Covid-19 pandemic? I'm not sure if anyone knows for sure.

Here's my point. The industry will rebound. It will look different and will take time but it will rebound, be patient. Easy to say and not easy to do. Especially when you've been hearing that there is no better time to become a pilot! Do what you need to in the meantime. Earn money where you can and diversify your skills or learn a new trade. If you were in the flight training phase be sure to review the ground school material in your spare time. Do what you can to keep your head in the game and when the industry makes a turn you will be ready for whatever phase is next for you.

I always compare this industry to musical chairs. It's great until the music stops. When it stops, hopefully you a chair that you will be OK with for, potentially, several years. You are lucky to have a chair.

Stay safe, protect yourself from germs and hooefully see you in the skies soon.

11/20/2019

Here we go! First formal agreement in Canada and this is also what the future will look like. Any aspiring pilot should pay attention to agreements (cadet programs) like this. Read the fine print but this is an excellent step in solving several problems such as the shortage and the experience gap. Programs like this are in place at various carriers around the world such as Cathay Pacific. Exciting times!

The new all-Canadian cadet pilot training program called Jazz Approach comes with a conditional letter of employment from the airline.

10/29/2019

This is not surprising at all. The market is simply not there. With ULCC carriers like Swoop and Flair airlines coupled with destination suppliers like Sunwing and Air Transat (now owned by AC) snapping up people and their money, there is simply not enough market leftover in Canada. The only chance they had was to launch before Swoop and Flair got established in the market. What will the next proposed startup look like I wonder?

Canada Jetlines Ltd., the country’s new ultra-low-cost airline, is postponing its December launch and has laid off staff members. The company failed to secure $40 million in financing and as a result, lost two of its major investors. Initially scheduled for a December 17 launch date, the company w...

10/21/2019

Today enroute to CYYC we saw winds as high as 155 kts (287Km/h)! The green arrow on screen displays relative direction and computed wind velocity and this value was sustained for almost 30 minutes! No wonder it was bumpy 🤢