I recently applied for a job in China. The contracting agency has requested that I get some official "letter" from a government agency or my Union on my flight time? I said this was highly irregular. Problem, I work in Japan and have worked in the US. They want flight time "letter" from both JCAB and FAA(Union). Anyone had this issue out there and what did you do? BTW, I have a stamp from my Japan company certifying my flight time there. That did not seem to impress them. Other than flight time amounts given to my Medical examiner on 6 month checks and the above. Why would the FAA or the JCAB have this information. My Japanese Chief pilot had never heard of such a thing. Anyone with some experience on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

Try a different airline or better contract agency. The foreign pilot office where I worked was horrendous. Just a bunch of kids, somebodies nephew or son in law. They knew nothing.

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about this other than apply elsewhere.

 

Thanks, I can't seem to find another contract company that will help with this airline. I will keep on trying.

 

Most Chinese airlines that deal with expats have come to realize that American airlines and the FAA do not normally certify logbooks in the same way many others around the world do.

A few options include adding a new rating or renew a CFI and fill out a detailed 8710, then request a copy from the FAA afterwards.

Another option would be if you have a friend who is a check airman having them put a statement in your logbook and having the statement notarized (stapling their business card might help).

When I came to China I had a friend who was the former chief pilot of the airline I was leaving write me a notarized letter with his old business card attached. The airline was happy with that.

Apparently some FSDOs will examine your logbook and include a statement to the effect of "This logbook book meets FAA standards" and that has worked for some guys as well.

Lastly, if you want to get really tricky, go to Staples and have stamp made. It can be very simple like just saying "certified" or have it fancier with a name and title. Make sure it is in red ink, the Chinese go crazy over stamps with red ink (must be impossible for a non-official person to get red ink in China). Stamp that on each page of your logbook (or just in the back) and scribble an illegible signature on it, or have a friend do it. Ultimately they are not going to check, no employer in the United States is going to answer questions about a former employee to some guy calling from China (unless they are the type who believe the emails they get from a deposed Nigerian prince). Ultimately they want something official looking that they can show to the CAAC which will justify the CAAC issuing you a license.

Good luck.

 

Ha Ha. Love the red stamp thing. There was a story of a guy who went overland from the UK to China back in the 80's, and all he did was carry a bunch of official looking university papers he and his friends cooked up with red stamps on them. He went EVERYWHERE, including Lop Nur, their secret nuclear testing ground!

 

If a decent contract agency like PARC won't do contracts with this company, it is best to go elsewhere. Trust me on this, this is like the tip of the iceberg. The airline you are applying to doesn't know how to deal with expats. You will be the test pilot and it probably won't work out well for you. If they apply for your Chinese ATP, it might be difficult or impossible to switch airlines. Ever.

 

Hahahah man i loved this, from someone flying here in china, perfectly said!

 

^^^^ all of the above are so true. When I went to the Middle East from China they wanted stamped logbooks too. I just used the Chinese stamp on my FAA logbook. Worked great.

 

If a potential future employer wouldn't even trust my signature after the "I certify the information in this log book is true and correct" (or whatever it says) I would look elsewhere for employment.

CP

 

Thanks for all the responses, Great Idea for the stamp. However, the company I am working with wants Letters? I don't understand what a letter from a government agency or something. I already have a stamp in my logbook and my last Chief just sent me a letter stating my flight time. I have just sent this to the contracting company. I hope that they take this for now. If not, its off to Kinko's or someplace to make a rubber stamp I go!