tom11011

Happen to just catch this.
NetJets Gets OK for Charter Ops in China | Aviation International News

How are the airplanes to be staffed? US pilots or ??

UCLAbruins

I think they'd hire anybody qualified. The problem is that they're gonna have a hard time hiring U.S, Canadian, Australian or any Western pilot willing to move to China to fly Hawkers, Citations, etc

If you wanna entice a Westerner to take a flying job in China, you're gonna have to offer him/her a good type (G-450/550, Global, Falcon 7X etc)

They will have not problems whatsoever hiring pilots to fly the long-range bizjets... As for the medium and light bizjets, they'd probably recruit from NJA and NJE

I'd love to go to China for a couple of years if they ask me.

filejw

I love China and visit regularly but two years?. Careful what you wish for, 90 day TDY maybe something to shoot for.

UCLAbruins

My buddy flew for Eva Air (taiwan). He hated every second of his life there. Yeah i've been warned about that before. However the flying would be awesome, get to see places like Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia, etc.

FlexFlops

I'd jump on it. They treat pilots very well there. Like it used to be in the USA. Still, I think a rotation is best. Nobody will last if they cant see their family and damn few will move there.

full of luv

Join the navy! Spent some quality time in Indonesia maylasia India Bangladesh Thailand Vietnam Pi and Cambodia. Even Mongolia. Ironically everywhere except china!

Kapitanleutnant

You are all missing one big fact about flying in China…. The Astronaut Physical that you will have to go thru each 6 months!!

As an expat, I have flown with many many FO's from Chinese airlines and from what I gather, it seems you effectively have to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of about negative 3, and the physique of a 21 year old Olympic Gold Medal Decathlon winner in order to pass!

If they want to find something, they keep giving you test after test to find it.

I've read on Pprune (Asia section) that one guy (American) had been fine for several years with the medical but one year his doctor "thought" he heard an abnormal heart murmur. After what he said were numerous ecg's, there was no evidence of this, BUT this doctor didn't give up and kept looking…. all the while grounding this guy while he searched (for anything?). The poster also said this doctor told him, "There is something wrong and I will find it". The poster who wrote this ultimately said the doctor did find something and he was grounded and lost his job at this airline but that it was very petty and the doctor simply had to save face by finding something. Will be the same way for biz jet pilots as well.

However, if you're in Hong Kong, the medicals are more for us mere mortals and non Olympic type bodies.

Believe me, I've heard more than once, this type of story from some fellow pilots I currently fly with who were there. The medicals are a nightmare….

I also believe it is one thing that will have to change over time if China wants to grow so impressively in the future, aviation-wise. Relax the medical requirements.

If you think about it, the pay at those airlines in China are astronomical…. but there's a reason they have to be that way… to attract qualified pilots. One ad I recently read was for a 320 captain at 241K per year!!

Just something each of us has to consider. It may be a short lived time or contract in China.

If you're a daily runner with zero body fat…. go for it!!!

Kap

FlexFlops

Im betting NJ will have that figured out. They will have their own doctors who are more American minded. Flying and living in China would be awesome. I'd jump on it.

EXPAT1

US Doctors will have ZERO chance in China. My bet however is Net Jets will just send crews over for month long rotations flying N registered aircraft and flying on US licenses/medicals.

The medicals in China are difficult but if you are patient most guys will get through them eventually. Don't quit your day job until you start your job here in China as there are many obstacles along the way. It is not uncommon to take 8 months to get checked to the line. I have 5 years experience here now and the biggest failure rates are BP, EKG, kidney stones,treadmill stress test and blood/urine tests. The blood/urine tests are very extensive and anything not in line with what a 20 year old Chinese military pilot standard has will be rejected. If you drink much or use much caffeine it can definitely affect your tests. I have to do 3 extra tests on my heart every 6 months now and it is almost getting unbearable. If you are patient and have a current job then the big money is here but at high costs. This is not a career job. It is a great place to make big cash fast for 1-2 contracts and then move on. You can pay off your mortgage, save for the kids college fund and build a big nest egg for retirement and then move on to something less stressful and more stable. You can live here quite cheaply compared to the Middle East and most companies offer commuting contracts which helps to get out of here for awhile and get you sanity and perspective back. There are currently other high paying corporate gigs and many airline style jobs but they are difficult to secure, just be patient and persistent.

FlexFlops

What I was trying to say is if nj puts a Chinese doc on payroll maybe they could persuade him to do things in a less intrusive way. No matter, I'm 50 and that sounds like way too much stress to me. There are too many other options in the world to deal with this stupidity. I adopted a little girl from China. Perfectly healthy she was but I didn't think we would ever get her through the physical so we could bring her home. The doc had one of those shiney discs on his head like you saw in the 50's.

I agree with your second sentence...they will not even need to see a Chinese doc.