The Dominican

Then we agree to disagree, in an environment such as EK, you will be exposed to all sorts of flying including winter ops, to be hired at EK to begin with most of the guys that are applying now already have extensive experience in the US domestic market, if two individuals that apply at let's say USAir come with 121 experience only and 121 plus international wide body experience, Who do you think have a better resume?
You are making the assumption that there will be a recovery in less than three years in the US airline industry and I think this is extremely wishful, with an AA bankruptcy, many regionals shrinking, even SWA alreading talking about how their employee costs are unsustainable, I just don't see how some openings in badly paid jobs that are springing up here and there will be sufficient to sustain a comeback.
As my first contract here was coming to an end, I did some exploratory applications to several companies (including the US) and I did get invited to interviews and some of my colleagues that are doing the rat race can't even get these companies to acknowledge that they received their application, I think that the concept of the preparation for the US domestic market will be trumped by command time on heavy wide body A/C's any day, besides the fact that your income will be tripled during the same time period

fullflank

I agree with the Dominican. I did phl-lga turn my second day of ioe at my regional (with ice). Have tons experience in lga dca atl etc. im sure most that are getting called from ek do too.

RemoveB4flght

Any of the major Europe airports match the weather and intensity of your average East coast larger airport.. I did the domestic multi-sector shuttle in the RJ and the Baby Bus and while the intensity can kick up, flying overseas introduced me to things that I would most likely have to be a 10 year legacy 777 FO to experience.. Screaming into an HF radio over remote areas, weighing options for a medical diversion over central Africa, plotting escape routes over desolate western China, ETOPS, the baffling ATC of the Indian subcontinent, metric altitudes and heavy accents in Russia and other CIS, flying a freighter version with associated cargo ops, plus flying and working with dozens of nationalities and personalities I wouldn't have otherwise been exposed to.

Does all this make me a better/more competent pilot? Not saying that at all... but I'll bet it separates my resume from the crowd.. and isn't that half the battle?

olympic

What is the policy regarding the training bond? Is it easy to request leave to go to the states just in case you want to interview with a carrier back home?

Readback

If you are talking competing f/o experience only, then I agree.

However, if you are talking about leaving an f/o job, taking yourself out of the list for command, to go to a wide body international f/o (and into the competition for wide body command) and at the end of 4-5 years you decide to apply for a legacy carrier in the US with nothing but f/o time. I think you lose to the person who stayed and flew RJ captain for a couple of years.

Let me make one thing clear, I think EK is as good as it gets in the Middle East. But there is no substitute for PIC time when it comes to applying for ANY flying job. I personally believe that US regional jet captain time will trump wide body international f/o time when it comes to applying to legacy US carriers (when they start to hire).

For those of you embarking on your expat career, I wish you the best of luck.

For those of you contemplating a change. I encourage you to study all the angles and look before you leap.

Typhoonpilot

The last time UPS interviewed for pilots they specifically targeted guys with international experience as a first choice.

That said, working overseas will disqualify someone for employment at Fedex.

So the experience will open some doors, but may close others.


Typhoonpilot

UPDRAFT

Dominican, the reason why you can't come back to the US is the exact reasons that I stated before. Your too old and make too much money to go to the bottom of a list, make no money and become a subordinate. no offense intended.

Whatever your view of US carriers may be, there are three undeniable facts:

-Gas prices are going up. We are at "peak oil". High gas prices will kill the RJ and hence frequency.
-Thousands will have to retire. whether its for age 65, or loss of medical or death. Legacy Pilots are getting OLD. An increase of age 65 will not happen any time soon because the FAA does not have sufficient data to justify the move.
-capacity has stabalize- planes are full, we are at supply/demand equilibrium.

Airlines are in the process of consolidation. There will probably be three legacy Int. carriers and half dozen LCC. this will bring back the profits. once the profits come so will salaries.

Call me optimistic but I have no reason to be, I am an expat. But, if I was still back in the US, I WOULD NOT LEAVE NOW.

Oh, a far as the experience thing.....as a UPS recruiter once told me "we rather have a BE1900 Capt. then a 747 FO." UPS would prefer heavy time but they won't touch you without the PIC time.

The Dominican

I come back to the US every month for 14 days, you are absolutely right in the sense that I would not come for what is paid now a days, I actually looked at some possibilities but I not only was going to take a severe paycut but I was going to have less days off to boot. And about the salaries coming back and the industry turn for the better, I have been hearing that BS since 9/11, the reason why I don't take one of the offers that i was presented is because after haven been in the merry go round one too many times, I don't believe in the "we are taking it back" any more that I believe in the inflatable rat. You want to believe that the promise of a healthy US industry will materialize? Maybe or maybe not, I dont think it will, I rather believe in healthy direct deposits.

fullflank

And if one was to be competely honest with themselves, unless your dad is the CP, or you have 3 recs from your squadron buddies, FedEx is a closed door anyways.

AirbornPegasus

So when you move to Dubai --- What is the primary stuff you take with you and what do you get rid of or leave behind. I have never made a move outside of the USA. I am thinking that if I go (Sim Scheduled) I want to be prepared for what I would have to get rid of, what I can expect that I would have to buy, and what I will need to ship.

I am currently planning on taking the company sponsored housing for the first few years, and undecided on the furnishings.