There is a HUGE misconception amongst some folks in foreign countries that because there is a large amount of hiring going on that it's easy to find a major airline job in the United States. There is also a misconception that some foreigners feel that their training and rating system is superior to the FAA system. That US airlines are going to be tripping over themselves to hire these foreign candidates due to their "superior" training.

That is NOT how it works. Keep in mind that the average candidate that is getting hired at legacy airlines has a 4 year or higher university degree. Has either a military background or has in the 5,000 to 10,000 hours range, with heavy turbine PIC experience.

Coming over here with no green card, no university degree, and no serious PIC turbine experience and getting snagged up by a U.S. Legacy carrier is a pipe dream. If you are counting on your Australian ATPL to buy you any special credit in the hiring department you need to think again.

What you could do is come over and get a job with regional and build experience. But you'd better be working on that 4 year university degree at the same time as you simply are not even remotely competitive without it.

As far as commuting back to Australia while doing all that. As we say here in the states FAGEDABOUTIT! You won't even be making enough money to BUY a ticket home on your limited days off and almost nonexistent vacation time.

I did fly with one Aussie here at UAL. He was a retired RAAF F-111 pilot who was married to an American girl. He is the ONLY one I've ever met at UAL though I'm sure there are several more.

What you are asking is possible IF you were willing to move to the USA, get a green card and basically start over with a college degree, a US ATP and taking a bottom feeder job to start with. And even then there is no guarantee that you will ever get to a legacy airline.

I am not trying to be mean or rude. But that is pretty much the hard cold truth of the matter.

PS,

I was hired in 1997 this was my third airline, my second major airline I had over 5,000 hours with lots of turbine PIC, DC-8 and 737 experience. I am now entering my 18th year of employment at UAL. If I were to bid the 747 right now I'd be in the bottom 1% and on reserve for the foreseeable future as an F/O. I won't be able to hold captain on the 747 until I am in my late 50's I am now 46 years old. The only base in which I could hold a line on the 777 as an F/O would be Newark and that would be a jr line. Just to put it in greater perspective.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.