Aviatormar

Hi everyone,
I'm a US based regional pilot and was interested in all the overseas commuting contracts that exist. If anyone has any leads and the terms and conditions of any and all that exist that would be great!

The Dominican

There are quite a few commuting contracts available now and most of them are in Asia, most ( if not all ) jobs in the Middle East makes commuting just impractical. It would be counter productive to list ALL the contracts available since they vary from one another in commuting conditions and requirements, the best thing would be for you to post what are your times? What do you want to accomplish with a move abroad? (Are you looking at it as a long term career move, do you want to just make the most money until things pick up at home, quick command etc.) I don't mean to respond to your inquiry with questions but it would be a waste of time to start posting links to 777DEC positions that offer commuting options unless you have 500 hours on the 777 and your last flight was within the past 6 months, You follow? If you post your general experience level and what kind of life style, goals you would like, then it would be easier to point you towards realistic options.

Aviatormar

Thanks Dominican,
Your exactly right and that makes sense. Right now I'm only a regional jet FO here in the states (CRJ-200) but getting closer to upgrade. So I guess I would to stay here and get the TPIC first before I move onto something overseas. I would likely target any contract after reaching about 1500 TPIC. Long term I'd like to make as much money as possible (who doesn't?) for about 5 to 10 years and get a good life at home first going while commuting (I'm late 20's and would like to settle down by mid to late 30's). Then I'd like to come back to the states and pretty much only fly domestic trips and stay home. That is the general framework I'd like to work in.

BTW your post about the expat life was exactly something I was looking for. Thanks for all the posting you do, it's great to have someone who works overseas as vocal as you are.

The Dominican

My recommendation would be to get the TPIC time, you can then target either one of the regional jets contracts in China (they have rotations of 6 weeks on and 2 weeks off) the money is good but a lot of time away from home, IBEX on the CRJ is also a pretty good option, Air Japan as well (once you have the mins) is the better time at home that I have seen right now along with Korean Air, although if you would eventually like to upgrade then don't go to Korean. Keep an eye on the startups here in Japan, Air Asia Japan, JetStar Japan, those companies already have their first group of expats in training and they will open the floodgates on hiring outside of the JCAB rated guys very soon.

Good luck

Sliceback

U.S. carriers will start hiring like crazy shortly. Not sure I understand trying to get hired in 5-10 yrs, with thousands of guys senior to you, when you could have gotten hired when they did.

Phantom Flyer

Please make sure that you have a designated driver with you !

G'Luck Mate

EXPAT1

I agree with DP stay and get the PIC then move to Asia. You can look at later going to a CRJ job or a big jet which offers an upgrade like Air Japan. If you are willing to make China your home you will actually be home more than your fellow Ex Pats in other countries or even some US carriers. Most Chinese contracts are 6 week on and 2 weeks off but while working your 6 weeks on you will only work a maximum of 4 days as that is the CAAC maximum. You can plan on about 96 days per year on the 6/2 arrangement then about 80 days at home while working your cycle in between 3-4 day trips. You should get about 180 days per year at home considering you will have sims and other training also which will get you home part of the day while sleeping in your own bed. Remember the big caveat this is if you are willing to make china your home. Shanghai, Shenzhen, Sanya, Chengdu and a few others are all great cities but life gets better if you are willing to learn the language.

Aviatormar

Sorry it took so long to get back to you; life get crazy around the holidays right?
Anyways, my line of thinking is this (and please feel free to comment, I come to this site so my peers and those older and wiser then I can give me advice-afterall the motto of this site is "pilots helping pilots").
I'm a younger guy (28) and figure that I could head overseas and make more money sooner in my career which would boost me into a better position. With that being said, seeing what is happening at Pinnacle still furloughing over half it's pilot group if this TA is voted in, Delta openly saying that they over 400 pilots fat and having no plans to hire till late 2013, I figure that a the "hiring boom" wont be here till 2015. As of right now I'm only an FO, my upgrade only looks to be this summer at the soonest. That means before any real hiring happens I'll be just a junior captain and much lower on the qualification totem pole.

Then there is the money aspect of being overseas. Running some rough numbers and using Air Japan and Delta as my data, it looks like Air Japan comes out ahead by a pretty heft margin. Using 85 hours on the 737 at Delta at the 5 year pay rate (my line of thinking is that 85 hours is on the heavy end of pay credits for most major FO's) the total comes to $8700 dollars a month. Air Japan is paying about 9K, however his includes a paid commute, with the miles in your name. Also, correct me if i'm wrong Dominican, but he upgrade has been running traditionally at the 4 year mark at Air Japan (which I won't use to factor money into this equation, but who knows how long that'd take at Delta). Taking that into account after 5 years (which is the contract duration at Air Japan), just using base pay at Delta with yearly pay increases on the 737-900, the pay sum total would be $339,903, while at Air Japan is $540,000. So just keeping strictly on the FO pay scale Air Japan has a 37% base pay rate advantage over Delta just using base pay rates. I understand soft money comes into account, but that's a pretty big margin.

My last reason is simple. Adventure. I know this sound strange, but I still get a kick of going to my base and picking up the airplane and flying around, that's to the same airports for the last 5 years. I can't imagine the idea of flying to the other side of the world, and being immersed into a different culture, it's just a wild idea to me. I think it'd be pretty amazing to be able to see other parts of the world in a much more intimate fashion then just flying there and laying over. I'm young; I understand seniority is king in the United States airline world, but there is life outside of the airline (or at least they tell there is!)

Again, if anyone has an opposing view point (of if I just seem crazy) please don't hesitate to chime in.

Bigman

Both of those sentences require question marks.

Most airlines overseas utilize contracting agencies. Google them and call/register. None come to mind that are looking for first officers, and doubtful the pay for a first officer position would be worthwhile. I'd suggest waiting for at least 500pic.


rubber flooring

iflysky

Air Japan (ANA group) is hiring nothing but FOs. Second year pay is at 150K (inclusive of the commuting allowance). Of course maybe that's not enough for some