UPDRAFT

If you plan on going back to the States at some point......then this is not the time to go overseas:

- Hiring at the big boys will begin in a major way in 1 year.

- going to an EK will mean a three year bond. after the 3 years you will be real close to a widebody command and you'll see all your friends talking about it and you will get caught up in the frenzie. You get your command and you'll want to do 1000 hours. At that point, you'll be enjoing being a respected heavy captain so another 1000 hours. by the time it all wears off, your much older and going back to the bottom of a list making nothing will not be an option. Yet, you will want to go back home and the only way to do that will be through a commuting contract. Gone 20 days home 10 days, no insurance, no retirement, no union, no seniortiy, work christmas/new years, F#%k up...your canned no recourse.

So, if you see your self in the states in 3, 5 10, 15 years, then bite the bullet and stay where you are (unless your 20 yrs. old).

my 2 fils

The Dominican

Yeah! the shortage is coming, stay at your regional making $20/hour and then go to USAir and make $40. With AA on bankcruptsy and even regionals asking for concessions, I see why you are so upbeat about the US airline industry

fullflank

These are all legitimate concerns, but you have to consider other possible variables. What if the retirement age gets raised again, or even worse, done away with all together like in Canada? Not likely but could happen. What about scope? I know that pilots from majors on here are chanting "The line in the sand is drawn!", but what about AMR? This is just an opinion but I think their scope is on the way up soon. Further more, the contract they're going to get after all said and done will not appeal to me. How can anyone be so certain that other airlines won't be seccessful at relaxing scope without BK?

Here's what I know. US policy, as of late, has been very big business freindly, much of it at labor expense. Regionals like Skywest, Republic, Air Whisky etc, represent big business. Majors want bigger RJ's, regionals want to provide them. So what's stopping this holy metromone? Scope. Now to getting rid of it with the government as your tail back.

I know I sound very pesimistic, but I'm trying to look at the whole picture.

Now I'm also considering that EK could have a few bad quarters and all of the sudden, pilots take a 25% paycut overnight. Also a real possibility. It's a tough choice for sure, but if I learned anything in my short time in this industry, it's make the best decision with the best info you have, and never look back. Kind of like UPS pilots that left for US Air in the late 90's.

Readback

Bottom line, if you leave the US, you WON'T be going back. I GUARANTEE it!!

Typhoonpilot

Not true. I left the U.S. for an expat job in 1995. Went back in 1998, even though the pay was 50% less. I've been back overseas since late 2002 and just had an opportunity to go back. It was a really good one. I am passing it up for now for a variety of reasons, but it's out there if I want it in the future.



Typhoonpilot

Immigrant

You should write IF from big letter mate

RJSAviator76

It's unfortunate that the US airline industry is as screwed up as it is.

It's not as difficult to go back as one would think. I have several friends who were offered to go back home (corporate side). Here's what I've observed:

1) Some say they're OK with making less money. Are they? I've heard more than one comment saying - man, I sure miss/could use that paycheck overseas.

2) Some are all gung-ho about going back, go through the whole process of looking for a job back home and interview, get offered a gig, and when they see the salary offered - they are in the state of shock and decline to go back.

3) There are some who are truly sick of being abroad and they'd rather eat Ramen than be overseas. Well... can't help them.

4) And then there are those of us who make the best of what life brought us.

I'd love to go back to the US, but it's pretty tough to justify the kind of pay cut I'd end up taking just for the privilege of being back.

Personal opinion? There is a compromise - commuting contracts. There are some as good as 3 weeks on/2 weeks off or 1 month on/1 month off. Then you have the grind of 2 months on/1 month off or worse.

If I score a month on/month off gig, I'd be really tempted. But for now, I'm very grateful for what I have abroad.

The Dominican

I would argue that it is easier for somebody that has that kind of experience (wide body, international operations) to get a job in the US than somebody doing the 4-6 leg grind domestically, I recently got a job offer to fly a corporate BBJ with relatively good terms and salary, I turned it down due to the instability of corporate flying, there is no way that I will have as much time off nor control over my days off as I do now. Granted my situation is different than somebody who is living abroad full time but the international market will get pretty interesting in the next few years

Readback

TP,

I'm guessing the job you are referring to is flight instructor at Boeing. Good gig, good pay, and you certainly have the qualifications.

I was referring to an airline job in the US.

Readback

Disagree, speaking only about US airlines, you are usually going to the right seat of a domestic narrow body (yes, I said usually). 2,000 hours in the right seat of an international widebody doesn't prepare you for narrow body ops in busy US airports. Going to LHR, then to the hotel is far different than LGA-ORD-LGA in the snow and ice.

My comment was directed at those contemplating leaving the US for the money, then thinking they would come back to a major US carrier in 3-5 years. Won't happen IMHO, for the reasons stated by others above.