Hey guys,

I'm currently in the left seat on an Airbus for a LCC in Europe. Prior to that I flew for 2 regionals in the U.S for a span of over 7 years.

I've been updating my airlineapps regularly and keeping everything up to date. But lately it's been crossing my mind whether the fact that I'm flying outside of the U.S is hurting my chances of getting back. I want my next move to be my last (hopefully) but lately I've been thinking whether I should reevaluate my strategy, and questioning whether being here is maybe hurting me.

How has United or the U.S majors or Legacies been with hiring guys from abroad? Has anyone any information or experience in regards to that? Is it possible they prefer to take guys actively flying in the U.S only? Anything to share? Thanks for any info !

 

Current 121 seems is what Delta AMR and UAL along with PRIA records within the last 5 years to be a must ..

 

I know a dude, that I used to work with that was flying 737s down in Australia for the better part of 5 years before getting hired here. So, it is possible....

 

Additionally.....most carriers use a point based system. Are you...

1. A minority?......+ 1 point

2. A female?..........+ 1 point
3. Female and minority?.....+3 points(compounding effect)

3. Agender/ Bigender/ adrogynous/hermaphrodite?....+5 points

4. Transgender.....+ 7 points

Female and minority and sexually confused?....a shoe in!!!!

How can I be so callous and bigoted?....I just look at the pictures of the roll out of UAL new uniforms.....are there any male, white pilots at United.....or I look at heartwarming pictures of Delta with their heralded CEO in the pictures.....if you are playing "Where's Waldo", you will be searching a long time to find a male, white pilot in the pictures.

So my point is , by the time you fill the diversity slots, the political appointees(flow agreements), the military pilots.....well the pool has certainly dwindled from the 30 pilots per class and the competition for those remaining slots becomes much stiffer(it's a numbers game). If you add up all the pilots on APC who are potential move up wannabe's there are over 30,000 pilots. Some of those don't wannna move up, aren't competive(DUI, failed check rides, no degree etc).....but every 4 years a pilot enters the rj world and 4 years later he is competitive for a 35 year gig at a legacy.....unlike most, I predict there will never be a pilot shortage.

All kidding (sort of) aside.....all the stuff you have read here(UAL, AMR, DELTA forums) applies. IT IS DAUNTING.....but the legacies are hiring.....from what little you shared about yourself.....I would surmise that you are only just now becoming competitive.....hopefully you have been networking with all your buds at your previous RJ gigs in the states and have numerous letters of recommendations from them.

I would guess, if you're looking for solace on the APC forum, little will be forthcoming. There is very limited traffic that reads these forums, combined with the fact that there are very few people that fit your demographic, i.e., overseas, LCC, limited civilian career who have been hired by the legacies because statistically there are just not that many.

It appears you are looking for somebody to tell you what to do with your life (what makes you most competitive). Nobody knows. Even the hiring department doesn't know. You may get one human resource hiring rep that applauds your enthusiasm and determination to get 'er done. Another recruiter may think that you're too hard to deal with (scheduling interviews, and...and...and...). Who knows what they'll think. I will say, my guess is there are very few pilots at the legacies that mimic your pathway. Not because it's not a reasonable approach, but more because very few people have taken this path. Again, it's a numbers game.

My suggestion, which is not worth much, would be to continue what you're doing because you are getting PIC time. The other approved solution is to come back to the RJ world or Spirit or JetBlue (but as you well know, you would be at the bottom as a FO. Additionally, that would be another stepping stone and you said you wanted (hopefully) one more move to the legacies.

As I alluded to at the beginning of my post, hopefully you've been reading these forums and know the squares that need to get filled, i.e., 4 year degree, letters of recommendation, professional application reviews, a clean flying record, competitive PIC/Total time, safety stink, Assistant Chief Pilot, Chief Pilot, Recruiter, mentor, Line Check Airman, community service. Since you didn't bother to provide any more information when you're the one looking for input does not give me warm fuzzies. Hopefully you completed your application, or made yourself competitive, with more zest.

 

I’ve heard of and personally know a guy hired directly from one of the ME3 carriers. I wouldn’t sweat the abroad stuff too much.

P.S. who peed in Buck Rogers’ Cheerios?! Geez man

 

I see BA gave you the ray of hope that you were looking for.....best of luck

 

Gosh McNugent.....nobody peed in my Cheerios. I was simply trying to paint as accurate a picture (from my perspective) as I could. As an outsider, the hiring game isn't as simple as 2-3 classes a month with 30 pilots per classs- "I must be getting close"....It is easy to get discouraged if you "think everybody is getting hired, why not me?". It may be difficult for Stoki to get info from abroad, and I was trying to paint as accurate picture as I could.....he is not my wife....when asked, "does this dress make my butt look big", I don't have to sugarcoat the truth. If I were in Stoki's shoes, I would value a realistic assessment more than someone blowing smoke up me 'ol arse. This is not Little League....we quit getting participation trophies long ago.

Stoki was looking for input, I gave him input as how to be the most competitive......you gave him a story about a guy you know that "just won a lottery"......a ticket to the legacy bigs is like winning the lottery....but instead of the "MegaMillions Lottery" you can "game " the Legacies hiring. If it seemed I was discouraging Stoki's efforts, let me clear. I wish him the best of luck, it certainly can be done, might not be easy because it's a numbers game..... if he's around 30, white, male, non military, non furlough recall, non flow, parent not currently a United pilot, he would be the plug in any of the recent classes. That was what I was trying to say. It's a numbers game. Keep pressing, making yourself competitive, keep yours apps updated regularly (i.e., every two weeks), fill the squares, and don't get discouraged if it takes awhile.

PS. McNugent, Just curious if you disagree with anything that I wrote in my original post or you just didn't like the "tone"

 

I’ve recently flown with three people who came from Emirates.

 

Thanks for the replies and input. I didn't put too much info in as I didn't want to distract from the main question.

I'm sitting on almost 7000TT with just about 1000 PIC on the bus. Just. recently got promoted to Chief Pilot of my base. Total of 3 type ratings, 4 year degree , with honors, and a clean record. Have 3 internal recs with UA. Done the professional app review.

Flew with the regionals all over the US , Canada, and Mexico, and here in Europe all over also.. Lots of good experience in and out of some small uknown towns with poorly equipped airports in Eastern Europe and the Caucus, some Middle East flights and North Atlantic.

I figured a different path rather then just being another RJ driver with thousands of SIC hours (as upgrade was ways away for me after my regional lost a contract) wasn't the best path, and this would help me stick out, but now sometimes I start to question that. Like was posted earlier, you see all your friends getting on and it raises questions.

I'm not shocked I'm not getting called. I'm just curious if being out of the U.S is harming me rather then making me stick out is all. And was curious to see if any guys from abroad have been having luck.

 

I doubt the international is hurting you. One guy in my class was flying in Japan and before that was Singapore I think.

Edit- try and get more recommendations.