Originally Posted by
BlueHarper
Hey all,
Me and my wife will be visiting her family in California in January, we're looking at starting the spousal green card process on our return to England. I'm a 737 captain here with about 5k-ish hours on the 737, around 2500 PIC. I don't quite fully understand how the US airline T's and C's and lifestyle compare to the UK. I can see pay is better and some of the major differences are clear but there are a lot more variables such as cost of living/commute that don't exist in the UK market. I'd be interested in attending a roadshow or event where I can learn more about the lifestyle and ask questions. Is there anything going on in January?
Alternatively, if anyone has jumped from UK airline -> US airline I'd be very interested in a chat.
Obviously need FAA licenses. U.S. airlines require ATP minimums and ATP written to get hired.
Airlines call 1000 hrs 'highly competitive.' With 5,000+ hrs TT you're what they're looking for. With 2,500 hrs TPIC on a 737 you're REALLY what they're looking for.
In 2014 the major airlines had approx. 17,000 applicants and 1/3 (5,000) were 'highly competitive.'. The industry was hiring less than 5,000 pilots that year. IE they could require 1,000 hrs TPIC if they wanted. Now? August 2022 data 5,900 applicants, 1,500 'competitive' (500 hrs TPIC), 750 'highly competitive' whie hiring 8,000 pilots. So only 10% are 'highly competitive relative to their hiring demand.
You can bid any base, and seat, that your seniority can hold. Base to base transfers, if they are openings, can occur every month. New/different aircraft? Most airlines have a 2 year training lock-in. I had a 37 yr career - 10 type ratings, 17 type rating schools, 30 (?) bid status/base changes. Winter 777 pilot? Bid DFW and fly to Hawaii for the winter. Spring time bid back.
Commuting is a choice. YOU make that choice. Want to live in Colorado for an airline that doesn't have a Denver base? About 50% of our pilots commuted. But living in base is **MUCH** easier. You and your wife make that decision. You can jumpseat or you airline (priority vs other airline pilots - OAL pilots) or try commuting on other airline's. If no space in back you're eligible to jumpseat in the cockpit but now you're the OAL that goes behind the airline's own pilots.