WestJet Flight Operations

Welcome to the WestJet Group, it is plane to see you are perfect for the role. Once holding a regular line, all pilots have an equal chance at bidding on attributes such as pairing length, destinations, layovers, days off and report and release times, regardless of seniority*. You’ll also be able to drop, trade and pick up flights with ease using our trade system.

The WestJet Group has, and always will be, defined by our people: passionate, friendly individuals who go above and beyond in everything they do. It creates an atmosphere and culture that ensures our guests, and WestJetters alike, love where they’re going.

Next Steps

You've signed your offer letter, what happens next?

Approximately one week prior to your start date, you will receive an email from our Crew Services team with your new hire package. Within that package, it will include:

  • Schedule of your training
  • How to enroll in WestJet's Savings Plan* (WSP)
  • How to access the Pilot Team site after day 1
  • Information on all the Leaders within the Flight Operations function
  • And a list of contacts that support Flight operations, to answer any of your questions
  • Included in this site is other helpful information for your first day. This includes:
  • Location, directions and maps WestJet Campus (Fred Ring Building)
  • For those driving, please part in Visitor parking until you have obtained your WestJet ID and Parking lot access.
  • Campus Facilities
  • Dress code
  • A headshot photo is required A.S.A.P in order for your company ID to be distributed on Day 1. Please review the How to apply for your WestJet ID page and send to sandy.pece@westjet.com when complete.
  • Training accommodations (airfare, hotel, transportation) if applicable are all below.
  • Aircraft grooming procedures
  • RAIC information and how to apply through the Pass offices.
  • Airport Employee parking and how to apply after your first day
  • Welcome Aboard Orientation details

After that, your Manager of Line Operations will reach out around your first day to introduce themselves.

* You will receive access to the internal site on Day 1

Contact Information
 

Pilot Training Administrator:

Sandy Pece
(403) 444-6279
sandy.pece@westjet.com

Pilot Training While in the Initial Program:

B737Initialpilot@westjet.com

Crew scheduling (24 hours):

403-444-6134 or 1-877-693-7853

Fam Flights requests to:

pilottrainingrecoveryteam@westjet.com 

Along with: name/employee#, date you wish to take your FAM flight, and the flight/flights you are requesting. 

Flight/hotel questions or concerns:
crewtravel@westjet.com

Vacation questions/concerns:
crewvacation@westjet.com

Pay questions/concerns:
crewpay@westjet.com

For sick calls/unable to train/fly:
Call Crew Scheduling: 403-444-6134 or 1-877-693-7853

If you are not a Pilot, but within Flight Operations, your onboarding will look different. Please reach out to your leader for further details.

Training - Travel


Training

Below is a tentative schedule of what you could expect to see in your first couple of weeks in ground school – *** please note that these schedules are tentative, and subject to change. ***

Procedures Training:

  • 4 days of procedures training

Simulator Training:

  • 3x FMS Trainers (FMST)
  • 6x Fixed Based Sessions (FBS)
  • 6x Full Flight Sessions (FFS)
  • 1x PPC in the Full Flight Simulator
  • 1x B737-MAX Return to Service Training (MAX RTS)

Line Training will consist of approximately 50 hrs of Line Indoctrination flying, followed by a Line Check.

6 months after the Initial PPC, expect to do a recurrent PPC. After that recurrent training will alternate between Line Orientated Flying Training (LOFT) and PPC training events every 6 months

If you have any questions about Ground School footprint or Sim footprint please reach out to: pilottrainingcoordinators@westjet.com


Welcome Aboard Orientation:

As a part of your onboarding, WestJet offers a program called Welcome Aboard. Welcome Aboard is a three-hour introduction to the mission, vision, values and culture of WestJet.

The class is designed to welcome and connect our new hires with WestJet in a virtual, interactive way. You will learn about where we’ve been, where we are, and more importantly the part you play in where we’re going.

You can expect an engaging virtual session, filled with media, activities and great discussion that will educate, motivate, and ignite their cultural spirit.

For this class we utilize the Micrsoft Teams Platform. Please find a how to get started document here.

Week 1 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
  Travel to YYC Day 1
Welcome
Day 2
CRM
Day 3
Emergency procedures
Travel home Day off Day off
Week 2 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
  Day 4
Home based training
Day 5
Home based training
Day 6
Home based training
Day 7
Home based training
Day off Day off Day off
Week 3 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
  Travel to YYC Day 8
B737 systems
Day 9
B737 systems
Day 10
B737 systems & operational training
Day 11
Operational training
Day off Day off
Week 4 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
  Day 12
Operational training
Day 13
Operational training
Day 14
Maintenance
Travel home Day off Day off Day off

Restricted Area Identification Card (RAIC)

All WestJet pilots may obtain a RAIC in YYC, YVR, YEG, YWG or YYZ. We recommend alignment of the RAIC with your assigned base, however, should one of the other three bases be more convenient, that is permitted. In consultation with TC and the Pass Offices, requires all WestJet Flight Crew to hold a RAIC from either YVR, YYZ, YEG, YWG or YYC without exception.

Transport Canada regulations are such that you are required to obtain a RAIC prior to operating a flight for WestJet, and failure to do so will result in the inability to fly. It is the responsibility of the Pilot to apply for and maintain their own RAIC, and to coordinate with the designated requesting authorities to have paperwork signed off.

Please note that it is your responsibility to meet all RAIC holder requirements including return of the RAIC to the issuing Pass Office for any leaves over 30 days, and to coordinate RAIC renewal applications through the same Pass Office. See below for base specific RAIC information.

Note: Pass Offices currently require appointments to submit RAIC paperwork. Please ensure that you have booked an appointment with the Pass Office with sufficient time to have your RAIC processed.

RAIC and Parking information can be obtained through the Crew Support Coordinators at all three bases, at the following contact points below.

For more general information please visit the Restricted Area Identification Card page

YYC/YEG Crew Support Coordinators

crewsupportcoordinators@westjet.com

403-444-6225

YYZ/YWG Crew Support coordinators

yyz.csc@westjet.com

YVR Crew Support Coordinators

yvr.csc@westjet.com

Electronic Flight Bag

Electronic Flight Bag (iPad), are given to each new employee on day 1. There will be an IT representative to support set up on your first day. If you are moving from Encore to WestJet, your current EFB will be reset of all information.

Work Environment

With an unwavering commitment to Safety Above All and the track record to prove it, the WestJet Group has attracted some of the best aviation professionals from around the globe, providing outstanding support and leadership for our pilots.

Growth and Development

In operation for over two decades, the WestJet Group is an award-winning Canadian success story. With ambitious growth plans, along with more aircraft and routes being added around the globe, there’s substantial opportunity for advancement across the WestJet Group’s different airlines. It’s why many pilots choose to fly with us for their whole careers.

Health and Wellbeing

Inkblot

Inkblot is a fantastic tool WestJet has partnered up with in our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), to provide confidential counselling and information to you and your family.

You will receive access within your first 30 days of employment. If you require access immediately, please reach out to your Leadership team or Training instructor.

Vacation

You shall be entitled to a paid annual vacation as outlined in the Collective Agreement. The timing of vacations shall also be in accordance with the current Collective Agreement.

Fit to Fly program

WestJet, recognizing that all crew members commute to work using various forms of transportation, is now placing parameters around commuting as a fatigue management tool to help maintain crew member fitness for flight.

Ensuring that crew members are fit to fly when on active duty is a joint responsibility between WestJet and the crew member. From a company perspective, Crew Planning ensures that all scheduled activities include sufficient time free from duty during and between pairings to allow crew members to obtain adequate rest, time for personal hygiene and time for required nourishment. During "day of" operations, these responsibilities shift to Crew Scheduling.

Crew members, in turn, are required to use the rest periods provided to obtain the necessary rest to be fit to fly when reporting for duty. If a crew member is required to commute for two hours or longer, the projected commuting time must be added to the scheduled Flight Duty Time for that day, and if the total time exceeds the limitations outlined in this Policy, appropriate alternate actions must be taken.

Pilot Recovery program

The Pilot Recovery Program (PRP) is a confidential program to assist and support pilots who struggle with substance use. The approach of the Pilot Recovery Program is both preventative and therapeutic.

Access to this program will be provided to you after Day 1.

Union

WestJet Pilots and WestJet Encore Pilots unionized in 2017 and are both represented by ALPA. Air Line Pilots Association. The body representing WestJet and Encore pilots. The Encore ALPA group has dedicated representatives for both bases and ranks, as well as other committee chairs that cover specific areas such as commuting, negotiations, training, safety, etc.

WestJet Dispatchers unionized in 2018 and are now represented by CALDA.

Boeing 737 and 787 re-integration

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