BlueHarper

Hey all,

I'm a British 30-year-old 737 captain for a large low-cost in Europe. About 1500 hours PIC/4500 total on type. I've read through previous Europe to US threads but have a few questions not covered there.

My wife is American and she has been wanting to move back to the states, I'm not opposed to moving stateside, hard to get good Mexican food here! Because aviation is very seniority based in the US, the earlier we make this decision, the better.


I've inquired at FTI about converting my license and type rating, I've been quoted ~$13,500 for both 737 TR and FAA ATP or $5200 for just the FAA ATP. The course runs for approx. 2 weeks.

1. Is it worth the extra $7760 to convert my 737 TR?
With my hours, I am planning on trying to apply straight for the majors, I have heard that regardless of TR, you'll redo a TR with any carrier you land a job with.

2. Is the four-year degree requirement mean actually studying for four years or is it the equivalent of a Bachelors?
I am asking because I am currently studying for a Masters which is a three-year part-time course, I do not have a bachelors. I qualified for the course as I had sufficient "industry experience".

3. Whilst I was born and grew up in the UK, I am of North African descent, would this be an issue at all? (Assuming I passed all the regulatory FAA/TSA checks)
Whilst a touchy subject, I understand the USA's recent history with the ME and aviation and would like to be aware of any potential issues before I sink time and money into this.

4. Has anyone here made the jump from UK/European airlines to the US successfully?
If so, I'd love to hear about your experience, what to look out for etc.

Cheers!

Long Haul

In my opinion you need the ATP to get hired, but you don't need the type rating. A type rating helps you get an interview, and you have one, so list it on your cv and application. Keep in mind though, that if the course you are considering is in a light twin, you may find it difficult. I had a student long ago who was a foreign A300 pilot who wanted to get a US ATP, and he couldn't do it at our flight school, it was just too different to what he was used to. He would have been better off doing it in a simulator from the beginning. As far as I have read, the degree requirement is mostly a thing of the past now, but that shouldn't matter to you anyway; it doesn't cost anything to apply, so just get the ATP and apply wherever you feel like. They will tell you if you are qualified or not. In the meantime don't quit your current job. The immigration process for spouses is complex, but fair, so make sure that you start that process early and have a good understanding of the different types of visas and permits. As far as the airlines are concerned they don't care about where you are from, just that you have the right to work in the US and can speak English. Good luck!

rickair7777

I agree with Long Haul. You don't need it to get a job, and you'll redo it all anyway.

Also agree that if you've never flown a light twin in the US (or Canadian or Australian) system, you're going to need to do a lot of prep to get caught up on all that. In that case might be cheaper to just do the type.... fuel is expensive these days and the sim doesn't burn any.

There is a very slight benefit to having the type you're training on as a new-hire: they have a little more leeway on the checkride if it's not an FAA type or rating checkride... so if you have the ATP and the type, you could hypothetically screw up, and be allowed to try again. That's true for the ATP, I'm actually not 100% sure about the type.


But there's no guarantee you'd get assigned to any particular type as a new-hire anyway (although 737 is certainly fairly likely, especially if you actually want it).

The "four year degree" requirement actually has nothing to do with how long it takes... it's really a requirement that you have a BS or BA which is accredited in the US. Some foriegn degrees are accredited but many are not. IRRC the common 3-year foriegn undergrad is typically not accredited here.

For a masters, same thing, if it's accredited in the US then you can check the box for a masters. What might be awkward in your case is in the US if you check the box for a masters they will pretty much assume you have a bachelors, so be aware that might come up at an interview. But read the fine print about accreditation before you check the box for any foriegn degree.

No as long as you pass the background checks you'll be just fine. In fact you'll be better than fine...

1) They really value diversity right now.
2) They are not allowed to discriminate against green card holders, so in my observation unless the person is clearly not qualified they will hire all green card holders who apply just to avoid having to defend their reasons for not hiring such a person.

BlueHarper

Thank you both for your time and answers. In regards to the ATP certification, would it be possible to do it in a 737 simulator without a TR? Or is it a case of doing the final check ride in an aircraft you are rated on?

I haven't flown a light twin in eight years but I would also like to save almost $8k on a TR I do not need!

JohnBurke

I really don't think it would make much difference to go get a type. Right to work and the ATP is what gets you in the door.

US regulation and what it takes for an ATP in the US are FAR less stringent than the JAR/EASA jungle.

US accreditation for a degree isn't critical. If you have a degree in the US, employers want to see it from a regionally accredited institution, but if you have a foreign degree, then they do not expect you to re-do a degree in the US at a regionally accredited institution.

The degree requirement is fading away as a pre-requisite. It is still a "competitive minimum" at many employers, meaning that while the employer may not require it to apply or be hired, you still need to compete with everyone else who is applying for the job...and if they have degrees and you don't, that may be a factor in deciding if you can past the door.

Middle-eastern, nor northern african descent ought not be any kind of issue. If you have a right to work, you have a right to work, regardless of where you're from, accent, creed, religion, color, gender, whatever. I work alongside Palestinian, Kuwaiti, Algerian, and other pilots, and a number who have flown with foreign carriers. A friend was German airforce; his degrees are not from the USA. Another friend, a check airman, is british, and so on. I've flown with others from all over the world. I don't think your originating nationality, accent, degree, or overseas certification will hurt. Holding an FAA ATP will be what they'll look toward, with a right to work.

BlueHarper

Thank you for your input, I was fairly sure this was the case but it's always good to be certain and just ask outright, better to be sure than wrong!

rickair7777

You'd have to ask the training center. I'm pretty sure you could do the ATP ride and say "I don't want the type rating". But the level of performance and knowledge required for an ATP rating would be the same as for a type rating, ie you're probably going to have to pay for all the 737 training anyway.

The airplane knowledge required to do it in a light twin is pretty much read the POH.

If you're done before, it will come back quickly. Especially if it was in the US.