Fuggetabout Cathay and U.S. bases. They're now double taxing Americans. The French pilots are suing them for the same thing, I believe. It's not the place it once was to work.

There will be no significant uptake and to think otherwise is dreaming.

Ask yourself where the type rated pilots would be found.

FAA increased the retirement age to 65. There is no retirement age in Canada. The only restriction in either country is the ICAO 'over/under' for international.

Most of the US majors have recently improved their contracts so why would a senior B777 Captain trade that to move to the Middle East and work twenty days a month. Similar story for eligible Canadian B777 Captains.

Sorry, I don't believe it will ever happen. The draw has always been from the low cost operators with non type rated pilots.

If they hire Americans to fly and support the flying, and pay a decent wage to do it, what does it matter which giant corporation gets rich?

Western airlines are a bit of a joke compared to the regions that you speak of, in terms of quality, product and service.

FO

Quote:
Western airlines are a bit of a joke compared to the regions that you speak of, in terms of quality, product and service.


I have heard that quote from a number of international travelers.

US Carriers better get their act together or they will look like the US auto industry a few years back.

They already do, don't you think?

The "rub" with ME carriers having U.S. bases is what of they just up and decided to close one or all of them. Then what? Move to the ME? Without a union or contract, they could pull the rug out at any time.

Well see how things go in the next few years as retirements increase and the 3 big Gulf carriers continue to expand their widebody fleets. All major airlines will feel the pressure.

From a cost perspective, you would think all 3 Gulf carriers would look for cheaper basing alternatives. Paying local taxes and being in compliance would be cheaper than offering villas and educational benefits, etc. It is hard to transplant entire families to the ME and expect them to stay - pilot attrition rates and new training requirements are costly too. Unfortunately, this is all about CONTROL and cost does not always factor in - and that is a shame.

If just one of the 3 big Gulf carriers got creative with hiring this could be a game changer for attracting and retaining the best pilots as they need them going forward. It makes so much sense - especially from a cost perspective in a tight labor market for experienced pilots. We can hope, but I won't hold my breathe...

Define "best". You would be surprised what "best" means depending on the country you're sitting in

How many unemployed typed and current 777 CA's are on the street?

All these airlines are playing the poaching game, they are not targeting unemployed and current 777 drivers, they are targeting the ones that might be ready for something new....., you would be surprised as to how many people are looking for change just for the sake of change, not really looking for something better, just different.