Originally Posted by
germanaviator
So, what do you think: Is it just a question of "when" not "if"?
I don't see any of the majors sponsoring work visas anytime soon but it seems to me that the regionals might be close. Wishful thinking on my part?
I hold both an EASA (EU) ATPL and an FAA ATP and have plenty of 135 and 121 (equivalent) time including Jet PIC.
I may be tempted to move to he US for a few years just for the experience. I think it would be great for the wife and young kids.
Why wouldn't regionals try to take advantage of experienced foreign pilots who may wish to live in the States for some time?
It's not like I would be taking a job away from a qualified and experienced US citizen.
I worked in Europe and learned how to fly under JAA (now EASA) rules. It's night and day different. Some things are better in the US and some things are better in Europe.
The door seems to have closed on me returning to Europe to work. I asked a buddy at LX and in spite of the shortage there it seems impossible for me to go back. They won't sponsor work visas there anymore. I was married then so it was different back in the 1990s and early 2000s.
I don't know how it would be with getting a work visa in the US but you really don't want to start at the bottom of a seniority list at a US regional carrier. Working in Europe was, for the most part, a vastly superior experience overall.
Believe it or not, the only things that are better here in the US are pay and training. The pay truly is better, at least at my company and with my seniority, over what I made in Europe. The other thing is training. The training and standards here, again speaking only of my current employer, are notably higher than they were when I worked in Europe. We had a bad safety and accountability culture at my carrier there (IMHO) but here (at my current airline) things are far better in terms of CRM and accountability.
Anyway that's a bit of a tangent. I think you'd be better off pursuing a work visa with a respected corporate operator (fractional) or a major airline. Regional airlines are, for the most part, dead end jobs and your family life will suffer. Many people in the US (myself included) hope the regional model is vastly reduced as it's nothing more than a B-scale in terms of pay and working rules but you fly jet equipment in the exact same markets as larger, major airlines. Working at a regional airline should never be considered a destination.