zondaracer

https://www.scribd.com/doc/273231452...side-Down-pdf#
Read this, it’s called Flying Upside Down and it’s a book written by an expat pilot that went to China.

Sliceback

Just looking at salaries is a poor way to pursue a job. The number of U.S. who are competitive in the U.S. and choose to fly in China instead is a very small number. Very small. Probably one in thousands, especially for guys starting out.

If you can get your PPL now I’d recommend knocking it out. Knock off as many core courses as you can. I’ve recommending going the flying route first and getting your degree while at a regional airline. With some general courses knocked out, and an ATP, you can get an online from an aviation college fairly easily (60-80 credits?) while flying for a regional.

The path to the majors in the U.S. takes 8-10 years. By going to the regionals first you might knock off two years. The additional two years at the end of your career are worth over $450,000 per year and perhaps over $600,000. It takes that long from leaving the starting gate to being really competitive. The pilot supply shortage might reduce that time.

I wonder, and worry, about people that think they’ve discovered a secret way to rapidly become rich, or get into a big airliner. And if you get a flight academy slot at one of their flight schools you’re looking at years with that company or having to repay them. Why not get the experience on your own and have the freedom of choosing where, and for whom, you work vs. being stuck with one company?

PT6 Flyer

Xiamen has a number of students training at AeroGuard (at Deer Valley Airport). I suggest you walk in the front door at AeroGuard and just start asking questions. But I want to repeat that I think they would only hire a low-time pilot from Chinese citizens in China who speak fluent Chinese. And, are you ready to follow their strict rules? Students must live in the apartments near Deer Valley Airport and are not allowed to travel anywhere or drive a car! (A shuttle van takes them to and from the airport.)

Yokota (not Yokosuka) has a Flying Club. Is there any way you could get posted there and take flying lessons there?

I want to change something I said earlier. If you were already a qualified pilot in, for example, a B-777 or A-340, I am sure any airline in China would love to hire you, without a four-year degree, and without learning Chinese.

I highly recommend you read that book Flying Upside Down mentioned earlier in this thread. It is very accurate.

Macchi30

You misunderstood what we were talking about. We were specifically referring to an aeronautics/aviation flight technology/professional pilot degree.

PT6 Flyer

I think you should first start with the private pilot textbook by a company called Jeppesen:

https://www.amazon.com/Private-Pilot.../dp/0884872386

This book is a textbook that focuses on the fundamentals of being a pilot, and you need to learn these fundamentals first.

The add says you can pick up a used copy for as little as $3! Does Yokosuka have a thrift store? A used book store? There might be one in there.

Read that book cover to cover. Then let us know if you have any questions. (This is how I first got started as a pilot many years ago.)

You have also asked where to do flight training. Choose a place that has nice weather. If you choose a place that has bad weather, you may find yourself spending many days when you are unable to do flight training because of bad weather (wasting time and money).

misterpretzel

The 4 on, 2 off schedule can be brutal. Go visit the Piedmont airlines threads and ask them about how 4 on 2 off is (vast majority of their schedules are built like that).

If you were to stay in America, you would be making only slightly less per hour, but will work significantly less. There are wide body captains in the US on reserve who make over 200k a year and literally never get called (read: don't need to go to work)

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

Skyjumper

I think you misunderstood the message I tried to convey. I'm not telling you to Drive 1000 miles in any direction. All I was saying is to do some research in and around your installation because I know other places in Japan that have aero clubs and maybe they're might be one close by. As for whether you should wait because its part 61 or 141, get your PPL part 61. You can knock it out at your own pace and you will probably have it way before you return. It doesn't really matter at the beginning which you start training. If you intend to couple it with a degree, getting your instrument rating and Commercial single 141 would be the route to go.

PT6 Flyer

I did part of my flight training at Yokota Aero Club and I was not active military. No problem. They were happy to take my money. I flew their 172RG and they were VERY happy to take my money. (But this was before 9/11 so maybe things have changed.)

martinlodijo

Yes! I am currently reading it right now. In PPRuNe forum where others have read it, say that Capt. Duke experience was awful because he flew for Tianjin Airlines which most compare to flying for Spirit Airlines. That's why for now I'm leaning specifically for Xiamen Air which I haven't seen mentioned in the book yet.

I look forward to finishing it so I can draw my own conclusions. So far I already expected that being an American living in China would be an extreme culture shock regarding privacy concerns and limited access to the internet.

martinlodijo

Yes after talking to multiple people on this forum I'm considering focusing my attention more on getting my PPL and working my way up to each rating. I'm not sure if pursuing an Aeronautics degree will help me get closer to my ultimate goal but until I can start flight training I'll keep myself busy with taking core college credits that can be transferred towards my flight training like math and english. I know that because of the 1500 rule to fly for airlines is going to take me about 3 to 4 years with over $300,000 worth of flight hours. Flying for a regional airlines is most likely what I will be doing for the first 2 to 3 years, we'll see where the industry takes me. I wouldn't say that I expect to get rich quick flying for Xiamen in China because I'm sure by the time I'm able to get qualified to fly B-777 or A-340 their hiring requirements might change where they'll no longer have the need for foreigners to join but it is a goal that would be interesting in trying to achieve. I'm sure that if I achieve those flying experiences I'll have more options to fly for multiple airlines closer to home for over $125,000/year.