Entry level job overseas?
 

I just wrapped up my CFI and CFII, and have just started putting out resumes at colleges and flight schools throughout the US. I've heard that hour requirements for regional airlines are easier in some countries overseas, and was wondering if someone with some experience can provide some specifics.

I'm hoping I can go abroad as soon as possible (to instruct, or to fly in some other capacity) without the usual hour building.

Can anybody point me in the right direction?

That used to be true, but now most positions seem to require time in type. I am also quite willing to work overseas. However, with 1140 total time and 290 multi, I can't seem to find a job overseas.
My goal has been Cathay Pacific. Though I meet the requirements listed on their website for the Second Officer program, I hear that they actually want 1000 hrs of turbine time. Obviously one can not go there after instructing for two years. My point is that it seems like we need to keep our noses to the CFI grindstone and do our best until the market recovers. Maybe then we have the opportunity for turbine time.
Good luck.

There are no rewards without sacrifice, the right direction for you is to change your mindset

Perhaps I wasn't clear. I'd be happy flying charter or flight instructing outside of the US as well. I just don't know whether that's really possible.

I'm not looking to skip the time building, I'm just excited at the possibility of working abroad.

DanR,
You might want to check out www.climbto350.com, I've seen several postings there for flight instructor jobs in China and elsewhere in Asia, as well as in Australia. Something to look at... although I have no personal experience with any of those jobs.
Good luck!

Your major problem will be gaining the right to work in these countries. China is about your best bet. Even then you will need to convert your certs which will take some time.

Options I see as possibilities for you:

1) Flight Academies in China/India/UAE: I hear stay away from Pan-Am China...might check and see if there are others...Dubai Aerospace University and some place in Abu Dhabi were paying tons of $ to pro instructors last year...not sure what the reqs were but might as well check it out...

2) Canada: Not sure what their situation is up there, but they might still have a few foreign students training up there due to somewhat easier Canadian to JAR conversion process...look into Moncton Flight College and some other ones...an ATP is easy to convert FAA->Canadaian, but not sure on instructor certificates

3) I heard of some Cessna manufacturer-owned flight school in India...some Cessna test pilot from Wichita was trying to get me to go instruct for some huge amount of money in India on brand new G1000 172s...10 month contract...I have no idea if that's still going on...and flying initial PPL students around in rural India might not be the glamour you're seeking in an overseas flying experience

4) Africa--the wild west of aviation...not too many people know who is hiring or what they're looking for unless they've actually been there in person...people have gone there and come out (or not) with time on everything ranging from a 402 to a 742...I'm too tired to think of any companies right now, but there are some South African flight schools of good standing over there, and a few NGOs/charter co's with good equipment that might be good places to get on the ground and network from there...you could maybe check out Interair or Transafrik but in this day and age even they probably have type-rated candidates turning in resumes...there are rumors of cabbies in London with 2000 hours of time on 73s who still can't find jobs....go figure

5) This is probably what I'd do in ur shoes: find a US military aero club on base in Germany or Korea and get a job instructing there...you'd have to do an additional PT job of some sort to get status/SOFA card to be on base, but there are always jobs like cafeteria, bartending, med tech, etc. to be had...they have N-reg planes and decent payrates usually...you'd be training US servicemembers on well-maintained equipment...decent gig...if you're extremely interested let me know and I might be able to point u in the right direction...too tired to put up any details right now...

Wow, thanks a lot.

I appreciate the information, and it's nice to have some hope that somebody is hiring right now.

As for the countries I'm considering, one requirement is that my girlfriend be able to use her ESL certification to come with and teach english. It doesn't have to be guaranteed, but that's something that I would think would be much easier in Brazil, India, etc than in someplace like Germany. As for Dubai, the pay sounds nice but I don't think a 23 year old woman is going to be comfortable trying to find employment there.

Any specifics at all that you can give would be greatly appreciated, even just a name I can google and work from there. I'm looking to send out as many resumes as possible.

Thanks again for responding.

-Dan

100% Dead ON!!!!! Thanks for posting

100% DEAD ON!!!!!! Thanks for posting.