AirWillie

I have just started flight training and college and like many, will be looking for a major airline career down the road. But I have to say that right now the future looks very uncertain. Before I started to take lessons I have always thought that i would try to work for a regional airline but after talking to a few people around the airport it is becoming evident that regionals are not the best way, eventhough I still want to go the regional route. The problem is that the alternate, corp flying and turb prop cargo flying don't seem appealing at all.

Then I started thinking what about out of the country jobs. When I was at frankfurt last year waiting for my flight, I remember an arriving China or Korean Air crew and I remember they were very young. The F/O looked to be 25. I looked at Cathai, Emirates, EVA air's website it is unbeliveable how low the time requirement is to fly a heavy jet plus it seemed like they encouraged other nationality pilots to apply. Why not fly a few years for an Asian airline after building time at a regional then apply for at a major u.s airline. Is this a sensible idea? Or should I just plan on flying for a regional? Or am I just over reacting and that the regional is still a good way to the major right seat? Man, should have gone the military way but parents wouldn't support it.

Marchetti

"The problem is that the alternate, corp flying and turb prop cargo flying don't seem appealing at all."

You're right! It is not very appealing. If it was you would never find a job. That is why most airlines that are hiring right now require 1000 hours Turbine PIC. I flew Lear Jets for 6+ years in various unappealing jobs until SWA called. We had very good pilots who would quit because they could not handle some aspect of the job. When they were hired they would talk about how they could not wait to upgrade to get the precious PIC Jet time. Then they would get mad at the company, quit, and go work for AE or ASA. All they do now is talk about how great the schedule is. When you ask them how much PIC time they have and when they plan for an upgrade they shut-up. The unappealing route sux but can sometimes get you to the goal faster.

Bocaflyer

Just dropping a line re the Emirates requirements, I have had many friends recently leave my Airline for Emirates, They require 10000TT for direct entry Captain, with 3000 PIC on large jets, the F/O seat not very easy either, with 4000TT and 2500 Jet time, on something they fly. A340/330/310/777. I must admit though, this 1000 PIC on Multi-Engine turbine planes that the better US carriers require is my personal thorn. Drive me insane actually, I have 4000 Hours SIC on A320's, but according to minimum requirements I dont qualify for JB, that flies 320's??? Yet, some kid with 1000 PIC on a Beech1900 can apply??? I guess it depends on what side of the fence you are on, but fight a good fight and things will all work out for you in the end. Senior Captains I fly with tell me all the time that things have always been this way, demand is always fluctuating, right now it is low, it will be high again sometime soon enough. Some people are saying 2008 and later we will see a major shortage again as more kids are getting into IT jobs and the like.

Rama

Most foreign carriers that hire ex-pats like to see heavy or at least 737 size jets or better. The young guys you see are most llikely the ab-inito pilots hired of the street at zero time and put through an extensive training program-usually only for the locals.

Typhoonpilot

Being an expat pilot shouldn't be your goal. With a few excpetions it is something that people do after their home airline goes bankrupt or liquidates. I've often said that I would rather be an F.O. at a major in the States than a Captain at a foreign airline. I've done both so I know what I'm talking about.

To live overseas for any great length of time is very difficult. Very few people can handle the stress of expat living over the long term. It takes a very supportive wife and a good network of friends to maintain a healthy outlook.

Your idea to work for a foreign airline to gain experience could work, but most foreign airlines require significant experience to be competitive. With that kind of experience you should already be in a position to get hired by a U.S. major. I know the 1000 PIC can be a hold-up, but do whatever it takes to get it. As the saying goes, " go ugly, early ". Fly trash in the middle of the night. Live with a beeper permanently attached to your body. Fly for that insignificant commuter that only has Beech 1900s. Whatever it takes to get that 1000 PIC.




TP

AirWillie

Are you saying these are competitive or minimum because the times are lower at the website. 2500 jet time on something they fly? If you were already flying the 340/330/310/777 why would you go to emirates? Those requirements are kind of harsh.

Typhoonpilot

The minimum is 2000 multi-crew, multi-engined jet aircraft. That is a minimum and historically the people they hire have more than that. The reason for the high requirements is that upgrades have historically run around the 3 year point. I keep saying that the present new hires will not upgrade in three years, more like 5 to 7 years. For that reason I think EK recruitment will eventually come to the realization that they can lower the requirements because the new guys will have more time in the right seat to gain experience before becoming a captain.

Emirates gets a lot of guys current on type from second and third world countries where the pay and quality of life is much lower than it is in Dubai. These guys see EK as a path to a better life, both financially and lifestyle wise. EK also gets guys out of Europe chasing a quick command or a place in the sun ( especially for those from the UK ).


TP