Difference between posting options

[krimynal]

Hi , yesterday i was told that if i wanted to become a pilot in the search and rescue , i should be posted in Gander ( Newfoundland ) , Comox ( B-C ) and Greenwood ( N-S ).  The question i have is pretty simple , did anyone here was posted or is currently posted in these locations ? If so how's the life over there ? I know that Gander will probably gives me the best chances to fly for search and rescue , but how's the life on the island ? My girlfriend family and mine is from Quebec City , is it hard for them to come visit ?

Thanks allot

 

[krustyrl]

WestJet has regular flights right into Comox.

 

[krimynal]

Thanks for the info , ill look into all those air carrier to see how you can go from Quebec to either one of them .

If anyone is actually posted there or been there , i would love to know , I'm from a big city ( toronto ) , and right now Quebec city seems really small .... So I'm not sure how I'll cope with Gander and Greenwood ....

Thanks for the help ! Always appreciated

 

[Sf2]

You have a myriad of milestones to achieve before you should start thinking about postings.

One step at a time.....

 

[krimynal]

I know , I just want to know the difference between all of them , I know there is many things I have to do before thinking of going that way , but im somewhat of a positive thinker and I always put the picture of where I want to go , and then I aim towards it.  Its just the way I am !

hehe

 

[bridges]

You have a myriad of milestones to achieve before you should start thinking about postings.

One step at a time.....

On the other hand, if he thinks he might be miserable in a limited # of locations afforded a particular trade, now's the time to ask the questions.

Thanks for the info , ill look into all those air carrier to see how you can go from Quebec to either one of them .

If anyone is actually posted there or been there , i would love to know , I'm from a big city ( toronto ) , and right now Quebec city seems really small .... So I'm not sure how I'll cope with Gander and Greenwood .... 

Big cities & small communities each have their pros & cons.  Personally my QOL went up when I left the city, and my cost-of-living went way down - but I'm close enough to access the cultural amenities so that's a major factor.  It depends on the person - some people like small towns.  Some people think they won't, but end up taking to it like a duck to water.  You just never know.

Hopefully someone living there or working as a SAR pilot will add to this discussion.  :nod:

 

[krimynal]

On the other hand, if he thinks he might be miserable in a limited # of locations afforded a particular trade, now's the time to ask the questions.

Big cities & small communities each have their pros & cons.  Personally my QOL went up when I left the city, and my cost-of-living went way down - but I'm close enough to access the cultural amenities so that's a major factor.  It depends on the person - some people like small towns.  Some people think they won't, but end up taking to it like a duck to water.  You just never know.

Hopefully someone living there or working as a SAR pilot will add to this discussion.  :nod:

Thanks for the answers , to be honest I have some family member that lives in small communities and I envy them so much.  They seem so peacefull and relaxed compared to people in big cities. I spoke with a retired SAR Tech ( he is now a recruiter at my local recruiting center ) we spoke for about 20-25 minutes yesterday about the way to become a SAR pilot , the road ahead of me , etc.  We did spoke about posting , but didn't go any deeper then that

Next month I have an open door at RMC St-Jean and he's coming along , he told me that he wanted to spend time with me during the bus trip to get there so we could speak more about SAR and everything around it ( he is really passionate ) But I figured if someone on the forum was already doing this job , and living in these places , they could help me out a bit more !

Thanks

 

[dimsum]

I'm not a SAR Pilot, but I'm from Toronto and was in Comox for 2 years.  Personally I loved it, but it's definitely a different lifestyle; you won't be going out to any major events unless you drive/fly to Victoria or Vancouver.  That being said, the community is tight-knit and if you like the outdoors, Comox is pretty much the perfect posting.  The only downside that I could think of is that housing prices were/are pretty steep (cheaper than Victoria/Vancouver, but still pretty expensive considering where it is.)

 

[dimsum]

And just in case no one has said it yet, you don't get recruited as a SAR Pilot specifically.  You go in as a Pilot, get streamed for either Multi-Engine (Hercs/Buffalo) or Rotary-Wing (Cormorant) and if you get a SAR position, then you go to a SAR squadron.  If there aren't any SAR spots when you get your wings, you go into another community, so keep an open mind and put SAR as your preference, but don't expect it 100%.

 

[krimynal]

That's what the recruiter told me yesterday , he said "do your classes , get your wings , when you will be doing the end of your classes , you will be asked if you want either way jets , helicopters or multi.  If you choose helicopters you have more chance , then you can apply for a SAR posting , and cross your fingers to get it."

I wanted to go helicopters SAR or not , but he told me I had to apply and hopefully I would be able to do it.

Thanks for clearing it out !

 

[Sub_Guy]

Having lived in Gagetown, Halifax, Greenwood, Toronto, Petawawa, Victoria and Comox.

I would have to say that Comox/Courtenay is best place to live.  Sure housing is expensive, but it is not that much more than some of the crazy prices I have seen in Greenwood (a place that has next to nothing to offer).
We have everything we need right here in the Valley.  The one big negative is that damn ferry.

 

[krimynal]

I'm not a SAR Pilot, but I'm from Toronto and was in Comox for 2 years.  Personally I loved it, but it's definitely a different lifestyle; you won't be going out to any major events unless you drive/fly to Victoria or Vancouver.  That being said, the community is tight-knit and if you like the outdoors, Comox is pretty much the perfect posting.  The only downside that I could think of is that housing prices were/are pretty steep (cheaper than Victoria/Vancouver, but still pretty expensive considering where it is.)

I do enjoy outdoors , I'm doing rock climbing , kayak , hiking , jogging , etc.  So yeah I really love outdoors , and that's one thing I really don't like in big cities , you can't really take a walk and go up a mountain or something like that.

As far as Comox goes , i heard that BC was very expensive , can you compare it to Toronto ? Is it in the same league or it's allot more ?

Thanks for the info

 

[krimynal]

Having lived in Gagetown, Halifax, Greenwood, Toronto, Petawawa, Victoria and Comox.

I would have to say that Comox/Courtenay is best place to live.  Sure housing is expensive, but it is not that much more than some of the crazy prices I have seen in Greenwood (a place that has next to nothing to offer).
We have everything we need right here in the Valley.  The one big negative is that damn ferry.

The Comox base is located right on the island right ? Is the weather nice or it's always raining ? ( from what I've heard it was really the big issue in Vancouver )

 

[bridges]

We have everything we need right here in the Valley.  The one big negative is that damn ferry.

I.e. to Vancouver?  How long is it?

Different people need different things... for example, I need a 2nd-hand bookstore.  Fortunately, my current town of 2500 has one.  No more bakery, sadly...  :'(    Anyway, each to their own requirements. 

 

[krimynal]

I.e. to Vancouver?  How long is it?

Different people need different things... for example, I need a 2nd-hand bookstore.  Fortunately, my current town of 2500 has one.  No more bakery, sadly...  :'(    Anyway, each to their own requirements.

Where are you posted right now ?

 

[bridges]

Where are you posted right now ?

Ottawa-area.  It's a big area, & a long commute from the country but well worth it.  I like seeing stars at night.  :nod: 

 

[krimynal]

I miss seeing those stars outside .... everytime  I go into my family and I have a chance to sleep there, I just go out in the middle of the night , breathing fresh air and watch those nights , where you can see everything , it's just awesome !

 

[Sub_Guy]

The Comox base is located right on the island right ? Is the weather nice or it's always raining ? ( from what I've heard it was really the big issue in Vancouver )

Yes it is on the island.  Now onto the rain.  This is a pet peeve of mine, everyone always says it rains here all the time.  Wrong.  From October - Mid Feb, March the clouds to roll in and it is wet, almost like a constant drizzle, not consistently pouring, you don't get to see the sun, sometimes it disappears for weeks.  Once the clouds leave though, we don't see rain again until late September/early October.

http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/winners/intro_e.html

I.e. to Vancouver?  How long is it?

Different people need different things... for example, I need a 2nd-hand bookstore.  Fortunately, my current town of 2500 has one.  No more bakery, sadly...  :'(    Anyway, each to their own requirements. 

1 Hour to Nanaimo (30 minutes or less if you are CDN_A), and depending on what terminal you want it is either 1.5 hours or 2 hours across.
Different people do need different things, it is hard to find something that is missing from Comox/Courtenay, although I am sure someone will point something out.

 

[eurowing]

But the traffic on the island is hideous! Here in Campbell River I had to wait for 7 cars so I could turn left yesterday...7!!!!  What's worse is that on this mornings seaside walk... , the sun was in my eyes and I passed by 5 people and they all said "Good Morning"!  Very suspicious I say. 

 

[bridges]

But the traffic on the island is hideous! Here in Campbell River I had to wait for 7 cars so I could turn left yesterday...7!!!!  What's worse is that on this mornings seaside walk... , the sun was in my eyes and I passed by 5 people and they all said "Good Morning"!  Very suspicious I say.

;D  You're right... no good can come of that kind of thing.