Captain Mark Guilfoyle

Captain Mark Guilfoyle

Airbus A320

"I would say, though, to any kid who finds him or herself looking up at the sky, that you should imagine yourself up there. If you're willing to work for it, becoming a pilot is a dream that definitely can come true."

Mark flew on airplanes a lot as a child, but didn't pursue his private pilot license until he was 19.

Growing up in Montreal, I went to go airplane watching at Dorval Airport as often as I could. I continually shifted my gaze skyward to see what type of airplane might be flying overhead. From the start, I loved the sound of airplane engines (especially jet engines first coming alive). I even love the smell of the fuel and feeling the heat of the exhaust.

If you haven't guessed already, I really like airplanes!

Both of my parents worked for Air Canada. Neither was a pilot, but we were on planes all the time. I was bitten early by the travel bug, and have never lost my fondness for travelling to new places, and discovering new cultures, cuisines and people.

I've been an Air Canada pilot for twenty years, so now it surprises nobody when I tell them how much I love planes and travel. But when I was younger, I never really thought that a career as a pilot was even a possibility.

Then, in my late teens, I bumped into an old friend who happened to be getting his pilot license. It only dawned on me then that I might possibly find a way to fly for a living.

I was 19 when I started pursuing my private pilot license. I then went to Mount Royal College in Calgary for a two-year diploma program in aviation, and got my commercial license. It took a lot of time and money just to get to what is really the starting point for commercial pilots. I had the basic license, but barely any real-world experience.

Like most pilots, my first job was not exactly a flying job. Small airlines know that most newly qualified pilots are looking for flying time to land a bigger, higher-paying job. They'll hire you to load, fuel and clean planes, promising you that you might get a flying job later on. These jobs typically paid about $1000/month – not much when you've spent close to $50,000 to get your license!

Companies that fly airplanes that seat 20 or more passengers require pilots to have an Airline Transport Pilot License. You need 1,500 flying hours to get your ATPL, but Canadian Aviation Regulations allow only 300 flying hours in a 3-month period. As many small northern companies fly only during the summer, it can take many years to hit 1,500 flying hours. And then, you're at the bottom of the pile again: a newly minted ATPL pilot, with no large-aircraft experience.

The path to becoming an airline pilot is not as easy as it seems. You have to love what you do in order to stick it out. I would say, though, to any kid who finds him or herself looking up at the sky, that you should imagine yourself up there. If you're willing to work for it, becoming a pilot is a dream that definitely can come true.

"Both of my parents worked for Air Canada. Neither was a pilot, but we were on planes all the time. I was bitten early by the travel bug, and have never lost my fondness for travelling to new places, and discovering new cultures, cuisines and people."