Ledchik,
It is my understanding that EK does not take direct military entrants you will need some airline time first. As for the FAA/JAA thing, go FAA, pretty much everyone outside Europe will take it and then you can work on your JAA as needed.
DF

 

Those example questions are the perfect indication of why the JAA liscense is such a bunch of BS. When I flew in Europe I flew with FOs who knew the answers to those questions but couldn't fly a visual approach. It's been my experience that Europeans spend waaaay to much time concentrating on the trees and miss the forest entirely. I'll bet the Air France guys knew their sink rate in FPM, MPS and MPH but they didn't know how to save the jet.

A foreign airline can hire you with only an FAA certificate if they want to go the extra mile and have your certificate "validated" by the local authorities. This validation will "liscense" you to fly their aircraft for a limited time. If they don't want to bother, either because they have enough qualified applicants or they just don't want to raise their profile with the local authorities, You will need a JAA liscense.

I'd recommend just getting the FAA ATP and get on with your career.

 

Higher Power is fine.

JAA writtens are extensive, but more tedious than difficult. I wouldn't classify the academics as college-level; some do have trouble, though.

Right-to-work is important, but not always essential. Turkish is hiring JAA license holders right now, for example. They're not hiring FAA, BTW. Asia and the Pacific take just about any ICAO. Yes, your license is usually validated; however, Japan puts you through a Japanese ATP school and issues you a license. This takes, I am told, about seven months.

Most hired overseas have some airline background, so I'm not sure how you're going to do being 100% military (as noted above). Some time in type will be required (100 to 500, at least), and for a DEC this must be P1 (actual captain time, not just FAA PIC). Of course, if somebody starts a C-17 airline, you'll be set!

Getting overseas is a good idea (in 1987 I chose to not make a career with Comair, for example - one of my rare good moves), and a disciplined, steady approach to the JAA writtens will get you through. Having both tickets won't hurt (except your wallet) and might help. You're going to have to get some time in a civilian airliner, though. Get your FAA, get hired somewhere, work on your JAA if you still think you need it... you get the picture.

Also, once you get your FAA ATP you can get a Canadian one as well - just get their medical and take a written or two. It'll do nothing for you without that right-to-work in Canada, but it is easy to get.

 

Led,

Not sure if you can get a PM yet but i sent you one. i have done the process you are asking about.

Lifter

 

+1

I recently completed the 14 ATPL exams. Definitely high school level material, but there is a lot of quantity. There were a few FAA ATP holders in my class and two Americans.

Probably the easiest and least costly way to get the JAA ATPL would be to do the 14 ATPL exams via distance learning, (if you hold an ICAO ATPL such as the FAA ATP, you can self certify for the exams and not need to enroll in a course, so you could buy second hand books from Oxford or Bristol and study on your own plus get a membership to one of the question banks).

Then, if you have a type rating on your ATP with at least 500 hours on type, you can take a flight test in the simulator with a JAA examiner observing, and you get the type rating on your JAA license. Plus you need to get an Initial Class 1 through a JAA AMS, not just any JAA AME.

JAA ATPL is a waste of money if you aren't using it. Also, you get the JAA ATPL and you go 7 years without keeping it current, you lose your exam passes.

 

Excellent information given here. I took a leave from my airline in the US and recently finished as a freelance candidate for the JAA written tests. Took me a year to complete and to give you an idea, without working and doing it at an easy pace.

You've got 3 years to do the IR part of the practical test to keep the written current.

Also, as a note on the material to study. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND (I cannot stress enough this part) you buy the OAA Media CBT's. That's what I did and honestly it is MUCH easier than books to retain the vast amount of material involved. The software is excellent, has practice questions found on the exams and is of high quality. A no brainer really. All you'll need when ready to take the test is a subscription to Bristol's question bank and you'll be set.

I always wanted to come back to Europe to fly (as I'm French) and finally came to realize jobs are very rare here in Europe. But hey, better have the JAA written and never use it than spend your whole life thinking you passed up a great opportunity...

Good luck and don't hesitate to PM for more info!

Cheers!

 

Lifter where in the world are you bro??

I got my FAA tickets first then converted to JAA .. instead of joining a ****ty US regional I did the full time JAA course and then got hired in EU.

 

Where did you get hired if I may ask? Did you pay for your type or were you already certified?

Cheers!

 

Free type rating...
check your pm's.

 

I'm on trip now. We have a 4 month Alitalia contract? What ab you?

Lifter