Moving to the states in mid 40's?
 

Hi everybody,
i'm in the process of getting married to an US citizen next year. Since all her family lives in Florida we thought about the possibility of moving from europe to the US.
My situation right now is being a captain on B 737 flying holiday flights. It's a very good company with good QOL, rosters and everything you could think of. So i have problems leaving that well paid job to move over to the states. One idea that i had was to go on part-time to be able to stay more days in the US. Kind of commuting to europe for work and still have more money on 75% part-time captains salary than struggling with a low first officers salary for quite a few years. Question is if i would do this in the long term given the fact i have to fly another 20 years. ( constant jet lag ).
That's why i came up with the idea of applying to US companies. I know i would be in the right seat seat for a long time again. But seeing all the retirements coming up in the next ten years how do you see the chances of getting a command back within let's say ten years?
I've seen the hourly pay here for first officers. But could anybody give me a rough idea of the yearly gross salary after 1, 3and 5 years?
On another note- i don't hold an university degree.
Thank you everybody in advance.

That last one is going to be a killer (no degree) for a lot of the Major airlines. That's going to condemn you to the Regionals or one of the charter airlines. Neither would be an attractive alternate to commuting to your European airline.

Check your PMs.

They do give leeway to non Americans without degrees knowing that there is a difference in schooling and growing up over there then there is here. I have a English friend flying at SWA with no degree. The difference in schooling and work history may trump having a vanilla four year degree decades ago from an American university.

I would apply at the majors first and let them make the decision.

As to pay look at the airlinepilotcentral numbers for first year, fifth and so on and multiply by 1000 which would be about 85 hours a month, give or take it's a probable average.

Moving to the states in mid 40's?
 

Did the same recently. UK 737 job to US. I learnt a lot in the process!

Although the US market is nothing like the UK, I'd still do it all over again.

I'd recommend Spirit if they are hiring to the FL base. The pay cut will be tough, but the upgrade time will be short.

So then, how would an Engineering degree (electronics/telecommunications) from a French grad school will be viewed by the US Majors? I hope at least as a 4 year US degree from a US college?

One more thing i would like to say is that if you are in USA with a Green Card, you are required to stay 180 days in a year in USA(physically present). If not they can cancel your permanent residency.

So this can be a hinder to commutibg plans to Europe.

Check out my charts Majors at a glance - to help answer some of your questions about pay.

Only Delta, Alaska and possibly Fed Ex (that I know of) require a 4 year degree (correct me if I'm wrong fellas.) I wouldn't let not having a degree discourage you - certainly your experience in the 737 will count heavily!

You are in no way relegated to the regionals with your quals. I disagree with Packrat on this.

Good luck! And welcome to the US!

Uhh Baron, you've already been hired by Delta, American, and United! They just don't know it yet, nor do you. Does that answer you question?:D You workin' 121 yet boy, or still just flirting with the idea? :D;)