Advice needed
 

I left the regional industry in the united states for greener pastures over seas, and so far the experience has been great. I told my girlfriend that I would just do this for 1 year, make great money, and return when this "pilot shortage" starts and make my way to a respectable major airline. My problem is I finally know how it feels to work for an airline that values my skill, and compensates me for it, and now I am having second thoughts. I will never see this kind of money ever again in my career in the United States which is a depressing to think about. I spend 6 weeks working over seas, and get to spend 3 weeks off, with a paid round trip ticket to my gate way city (PHL).. Or any city of my choice. I take home between 15-18K a month for flying a very easy schedule.

With the state of the airline industry in the US, Legacy carriers continuously getting larger RJ's by relaxing scope, and allowing more flying to the regionals making movement virtually stagnant for the foreseeable future, is it worth it to still try? Are their any expat pilots that made a full carrier working as a contract pilot? To legacy pilots, do you see the movement of flying back to mainline pilots even a remote possibility. Will other airlines reduce 50 seat jets and replace those routes with less frequent bigger a/c like delta is doing with these 717's? With the reduction of flying from legacy carriers, and potential furloughs from large regionals, I see no changes to this industry in the near future. I hope I am wrong.. Any advice is, as it always will be, greatly appreciated.

I would love to go fly overseas. Is your company hiring? Btw Delta pilots are actually about to vote in favor of relaxing the 76 seat scope. The trend is NOT turning around.

Care to share where this "Eden" exists?;)

Be careful about you tax free income over there. The limit is more like 6000/mo tax free and you must file or lose it.

I believe a pilot shortage over here will mean even more demand overseas so if you like it over there, I'd stay. I have 14 years to go here but am always looking for a lucrative way to duck out early and spend the last few years making big money overseas. I'm optimistic this will be possible in 10 years.

please provide start-date of said pilot shortage. We all want to know

If you are referring to the foreign income tax exclusion, you'd be incorrect. It's a moving number but last year it was about 93k that you could claim tax free. There are a couple ways to file, but it doesn't sound like this guy is claiming expat status. In which case you are on the hook for the tax man.

Warning: my glass is decidedly half-empty when it comes to a "career" as a US airline pilot. That being said...

Sounds like you have a great job. Consider yourself lucky. I think your observations on the US pilot industry are on the money. Summary: it sucks, and it's getting suckier (new word - look it up).

Even if The Great Pilot Shortage does materialize, the government, the unions and US airline "managers" will find a way to screw it up in terms of any benefit to the pilots themselves. Also, as stated above, if it does materialize, I would think it would do nothing but improve your position overseas as all those dissatisfied with their foreign jobs run to the good ol' US of A, only to find out they had it pretty good in Country X.

Sounds like your pay and QOL are pretty darn good. I don't think US pilots place much value on job satisfaction; it's all about the money. If you're at a place where you're happy going to work and they value your contributions and professionalism as a pilot, I think that means a lot, even beyond the almighty W-2 number. I'm sure those places still exist here and there in the US market, but they are getting fewer and fewer. Continued mergers and acquisitions will go a long way toward further embittering pilot groups. Just ask NWA guys, TWA guys, AT guys, U/CAL guys, etc.

Hope it works out for you - sounds like you're in a good spot to sit back and consider the options.

How old are you SkyTrash?

I've been overseas continuously for 10 years now, and about 14 in total dating back to 1995. I'm in the States on vacation right now ( I know I should be out doing other stuff instead of posting on APC ). Just taking a break from that stuff.

I've ridden 4 sectors on Delta this trip ( FF miles ), so at least it wasn't non-rev. I have to say that I really hate going to the airport in the USA. It is such a pain in the butt to fly domestically. I think I'd shoot myself if I had to fly domestic U.S. again. That said, I really like being back in the U.S. this trip. I think it's the first time I've ever felt this way. I'm not really certain why that is, perhaps a combination of reasons.

The point being, it is incredibally difficult to make a career out of overseas flying. There will come a point in your life where you'll want to be back "home". I've harped on this point more than a few times. I have consistently states that 10-15 years is probably the limit.

When you hit that point you need to have an "escape plan". I went overseas this time with a couple of "escape plans" in mind. One of them has come up, maybe a little earlier than I wanted. Another is out there as well. They're not easy jobs to get into, but they are the best options for an older guy to finish up a career with.

If you decide to stay overseas make sure you have an escape plan for down the road. Then work to make yourself qualified for that plan.


Typhoonpilot

I believe working overseas is the way to go if you fly in a regional in the US and are willing to "pay your dues" for career advancement. I took a LTLOA and came looking for jobs in Europe, but nothing. Fast forward a year later and I'm about to finish my JAA written tests (last 2 Thursday), but even with that it's tough(not current anymore, and NOT willing to pay for a type rating). Not very happy having to go back to the US to get current, AT ALL, but it is what it is.

So if you are lucky to be making good money and the flying isn't hard, I'd stay and make an exit plan to move on later when you get tired of it.

Cheers!

Ahhhh girlfriends and the piloting career, it always tend to tilt in the way of the career (at least in the younger years) or she becomes an aviation trooper because it takes a special kind of companion in life to support the aspirations of a pilot.....! can't tell you what to tell your girlfriend but about the state of the industry, you are well aware of the answer.