NCR757dxr

For years I've wanted to be a pilot in Japan. I have loved Japan since I was little and was fortunate to have been an "airline brat" able to go many many times. I figure it will be a natural fit.

Since I just joined this forum, I decided I would finally ask "how to do it." I know a little bit about the process from the years of research but that is pretty much it.

I could easily finalize a B767 or B737 EFIS type rating but I do not have a great amount of TT. What are my options? I really would like to do this but don't know where to start. I know the type rating will go far but don't know a reasonable number for TT.

Air Japan and Air Do are two I've always kept an eye, yet I know there are others out there with the types.

Thanks

Typhoonpilot

My opinion is the expats in Japan are in for a rough few years ahead. JAL furloughed all their expats a few years ago. They also laid off Japanese pilots. Those Japanese pilots will probably have first chance at any future openings.

Future openings is a big question mark after the earthquake and tsunami. I expect to see quite a few more lay offs in 6 months to a year as the downturn in Japanese tourism and outgoing finished products will create a sharp decline in needed aircraft movements.

I wouldn't be rushing to buy a type rating for a job in Japan. Without time in type the ratings are pretty meaningless.

Hope I'm wrong about a downturn and layoffs, but I wouldn't be rushing to take a job in Japan right now.



Typhoonpilot

NCR757dxr

I'm sorry, I meant to word my final sentence as a question. Some sort of list would be amazing!

Thanks for the reply, say everything went back to normal tomorrow and even got better. What would the minimum TT be for me to even think of this type of flying?

LostInAsia

Published mins are 3000tt, 1000jet and a jet PIC type rating. They are hard mins and cannot be waived. A 767 type is not required here and in my opinion would not be a good idea. If you come here typed, you will be put on the short course and they expect more of you since you are already typed.

Morale at AJX is at an all time low due to the way the merger between AJV and AJX has been handled. However, the are still recruiting but having a hard time getting people to come.

ANA and JAL are totally different situations. ANA has been financially stable for a long time where as JAL was totally mismanaged for just as long. Lots of JAL pilots have landed at Skymark and it seems that ANA has no interest in bringing them here. Probably because of the very stark differences in corporate cultures.

The impact of the earthquake and nuclear situation remains to be seen. Impossible to tell until we know how bad gets. The loads last week were pretty low, but no where near as low as SARS. They seem to be picking back up this week though.

NCR757dxr

Any others with lower time or should I start out looking elsewhere? I've seen some in the Far East/China that are only asking for 1,000 to 1,500 TT. Right now money and/or QOL isn't that high on the list for me and I don't have much, if any, strings tying me down at the moment.

I just saw a thing on Air Do and it sounds like they have a lot of senior guys who go there to live out their final few years of flying, so I guess I can put them on the back burner.

Thanks for the info, hope it gets better.

The Dominican

I don't know of any pilot that have joined here with less than 5,000 hours, I don't mean to be discouraging but this job opportunities are for experienced pilots and I agree with Lost in Asia, getting a type without hours is a waste of your money and might actually work against you.