Rnav

Since it appears the other Air Mekong threads have become sort of a ****ing match I want to pose a serious question to those working there and abroad on contracts. (And since they are posting hiring mins on their website off the street that's why I mention Air Mekong specifically as a quick way to get foreign experience).

With the apparent upswing in hiring at the majors coming up the next couple of years I've been thinking that working a contract job to get experience isn't such a bad idea. Get the experience and move on to a major(AA/DELTA/United) or cargo(FEDEX/UPS) when your qualified.

Questions:
1.) Does anyone know if the big boys look more favorable on the international experience I could gain flying an RJ vs. flying locally?

2.) If there is a 13 month contract and I'm offered a job(lets assume with one of the big companies mentioned above) if I leave EARLY will it hurt my future prospect that I left early for a better paying/dream job?

3.) If I got violated in another country while flying on a contract would that hurt my chances of getting the dream job? I only mention this since there was some talk about the possibility the locals in some countries could screw you over for some stupid reason and there would be no recourse?

Thanks in advance for any replies, RNAV.

HanoiHILTON

All valid Questions. Here are my take on it:

Is this "international" flying? Well I'm not sure! This is "international flying domestically in Vietnam". How's that? This experience will classify you as 1 level above some other RJ guy flying in the USA. (just my opinion) despite being in a communist country I still am entitled to my opinion, right?

If you break a contract I doubt they do anything if you decided that this is not for you. They can't come to the US to sue you for anything however you probably will get canned by ASA.

As for the FEDEX application, I am sure working here will be fine to apply to FDX. I know they have the requirement to live
In the US 5 consecutive years but since Vietnam has diplomatic relationships with America they will waive that requirement. I think the experience over here will no doubt enhance your chances of getting on with FEDEX since they have a crew base in Asia.

It's a win-win.

Rnav

I thought VN didn't have relations with the US? Hence some of the other posters I read were concerned with them locking people up and throwing away the key?

FDX has a requirement to live in the US 5 straight years??? I've never heard of that before. Anyone else verify this?

Still contract gigs like Air Mekong sound like a good way to get that international experience. Never thought that if you broke the contract internationally they can't sue you here. That's a good point if its true.

TonyWilliams

Well, I can speak from first hand experience that at least one of the "big boys", Emirates, doesn't care for CRJ's, and have in the past gone out of their way to specifically exclude CRJ experience (planes under 55 tonnes). They don't care where you fly the CRJ.

But, presumably, your "big boys" means US carriers. Certainly, I don't think it would be a strike against you, but to say that it provides value to Delta, for instance, I can honestly argue otherwise.

Flying in Vietnam, where presumably you never go into a mega busy airport like ATL/ORD/JFK, et al, or de-ice, or use exemption 3585 (or any US rule, for that matter). I don't see that as a plus. If they do, I couldn't answer.



You didn't live up to your end of a bargain. In a short interview, should that come up, I'd have one heck of a good explanation why that happened. And not because of a bigger, better deal. Otherwise, the only thing that they know about you is that you don't live up to your obligations that you voluntarily entered.



That may happen, but I'd worry more about JAIL than your future, maybe US job. I wouldn't worry about a tiny third world country's enforcement action affecting you much in the USA. Should that happen in a foreign, first world country... totally different story.

I'll relate a story from my expat foreign airline. The crew was arrested on landing for having an improper landing / overflight permit. Granted, they had no idea, and did not develop the paperwork. It was handed to them, and they flew it.

They were in jail for two weeks.... naked... both of them in the same cell.

Have fun.

HanoiHILTON

That is pretty much the only thing that keeps me up at night here in Viet Nam. Well....that, and the Viet honeys, of course. MI LUV U LONG THIME, ZU THAKE ME TU AMERICA BUY MI LOUIS VUITONNNN.

It's just different over here. There are no unions. There is no "innocence until proven guilty". The company will not back you up. I always wonder if I get fired from here could I go back to my last job?

YOU-ARE-ON-YOUR-OWN in this part of the world. If you do anything stupid at all in the flight. JAIL will be waiting.

That my friend, is pretty scary.

Maybe I AM being underpaid for the risks involved.

LostInAsia

Maybe???????

HanoiHILTON

maybe......

Typhoonpilot

Hope that helps,



Typhoonpilot

captjns

As posed by RNAV


From TP

Not to step on any toes here....

If you are flying on an actual foreign airman's certificate, statement may be true. If you are flying on a validation, in other words, you are given a permit to fly in a particular country after satisfying certain requirements such as an air law exam and possible medical exam then the statement may not be true. Under flying in a foreign country with a validation, you are still required to keep your FAA airman’s and medical certificate current. If a situation occurs where a violation is issued, the country has the right to notify the FAA of said violation. Does it happen??? Some instances yes… and some instances no. It depends on the sophistication of that country’s DGCA.

I’ve been an expat for the better part of 21 years. So, I am not familiar with the application process in the US. Your employment history will reveal the country(ies) you’ve been employed. And your prospective employer may send your current airline an information form for completion. With that being said, I would say that prudence would be required when completing the section of the application as it pertains to violations. You’re prospective employer or investigation firm may contact airlines you’ve flown for overseas. They may ask about violations that may have been issued.

Anyway, if you’ve been flying on a full license in a particular country and are violated for whatever reason, your FAA records would probably be clean. If flying on a validation, that country has the right to report any violation to the FAA. In any event the prospective employer you are looking to fly for may find out if you incurred any violations, through their back ground checks, irrespective of what type of certification you are operating under. So one needs to be very careful when completing the violation section of the employment application.

Before applying for a job back in the US, perhaps you may want to consider engaging a company that conducts back ground checks for pilots. Information gathered by them will be similar to the information gathered by the airlines’ investigating company.

Rnav

Thanks Tony, Typhoon and Capt for the info.

With all the hiring going on at the regionals guess its about weighing the pro's and cons of going overseas to fly a CRJ. At least if they paid more than what they are it'd probably be worth it. With the factors that you guys mention I'm getting the impression its really only worth it if I was making $$$ getting PIC and flying some nice equipment. I'm not sure that's the case with Air Mekong flying an RJ?

The one big thing that sucks is not qualifying for FEDEX or UPS(that and getting arrested and being buck-naked in a foreign jail like Tony said). With all the hiring predicted that would suck to go overseas and then not get hired with one of those in the coming years once hiring gets ramped up. Now that is a tough decision.

Thanks again for the responses.