ExPat opportunities for guys with families?
 

I'm a CFI/CFII with a couple kids under 8 Yrs.
Wife an I have always talked about doing a couple years abroad if flying allowed it.

I'm at roughly 800 hours TT, and looking for the next job.

My question is this: Most of the expat jobs seem to be for young singles (Susi Air/Africa/Star Marianas) types.
Does anyone know of jobs similar to those that would be friendly to families? Also, what opportunities are there (obviously years from now) for foreign locations at a Legacy?

All input welcome, thanks in advance!

Coming from someone who is overseas right now, I'd advise against it. Best to to a regional and get to a legacy asap. You can spend all the extra coin your going to make on this career path on overseas vacations. Overseas jobs only made sense for Americans when opportunities at home were slim.

I would agree to this advice.

That said, you also asked for which legacy airlines have foreign a domicile. The answer is FedEx.


TP

Some of us want to work overseas solely for the thrill of experiencing it. Furthermore I reckon that it bears to be stressed that the projected massive hiring at the legacy carriers has not begun in full and may not come to pass ever if another economic downturn, natural disaster or terrorist attack goes down. Getting some heavy time over in China or the Middle East may help make one's CV competitive. I am at the regionals building time for a legacy, but if Emirates, Etihad or Qatar gave me a job today, I would be gone tomorrow.

If you have a wife and kids, get your time and go to a regional. If you still want to go overseas then try to get hired at one of the foreign carriers in Asia or the Middle East.

I was seriously looking at Copa in Panama when they were hiring expats with 1000hrs, but when I saw the FO pay and found out that the public schools down there were not the greatest, I determined that I wouldn't be able to afford it with a family.

Well....., the thing is that jobs abroad require some experience....., they have plenty of low time guys, it is experienced skippers that they need!

With 800 hours total time the chances to get a contract gig abroad are slim unless you go fly a Cessna Caravan at one of those operators in Indonesia or another one of those operators in Nepal, they hire low time guys but there is a good reason why people don't flock to those jobs, there are almost as many white crosses on those mountains than trees....!

As a side note.....! Both UCAL and DAL have trips that you can bid out of Japan, I know a few of those guys that bid those trips and they love it, one particular guy lives in Bangkok and bids those trips every month!

Does having 1700 TT, 600 AMEL turbine, four type-ratings and an ATP make me competitive for either Emirates or Etihad? I speak three languages too; I have heard that they like that.

From the EK website. I suspect EY will be similar. It does not appear that you meet their minimums yet.

If this describes you, and you have an ICAO ATPL (or USA equivalent) along with excellent English language fluency (to ICAO English level 4 or above) we would like to hear from you.

We will accept applications from pilots from multi-engine, multi-crew, turboprop and jet aircraft, including business jets, with a MTOW of 10 tonnes or more.

In order to be eligible to fly our B777 and A380 fleets we require qualified pilots to have:
at least 2000 hours flying an aircraft with a MTOW of 20 tonnes or more; or
at least 3000 hours flying an aircraft with a MTOW above 10 tonnes.

I have friends/acquiantances that are/were at Emirates, Qatar, and another corporate company. All bolted out the door as soon as their bond was up, one of my friends still has some time left on his. I've spent a good amount of time flying in the Middle East now myself, I can't say that I'd recommend it for someone with a young family. The only guy I know that tried it with a family lasted less than a year and I'm pretty sure if he goes back to said country he will be arrested. Ten days off a month (3-4 given on the road) will do that to you.

If did HAVE to live somewhere over here with a family, it would be Dubai or Abu Dhabi, nowhere else. Both cities are nice and flashy on the outside, but look a little closer? Rampant prostitution, outrageously expensive everything, lack or free speech, unbearable heat, and other huge cultural hurdles that you take for granted in the USA. Consider this, even in UAE, you are within driving range of ISIS and Al Qaeda controlled areas, not exaggerating. Make sure that wherever you work your employer will pay the full cost of private school for your children, it's expensive. The shiny jet smell/feel will wear off quickly here, especially if your family isn't happy.

Now for a young guy/girl that wants to party, see the world, and doesn't mind being worked like crazy then I'd say go for it. In truth (and I have contacts that have been at all of them except for Etihad) I'd say FlyDubai is the best deal right now.

And this is all just in UAE, I wouldn't recommend my worst enemy go to KSA, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Oman, etc. Nevermind bring the wife and kids.

That said, I also have the same bug you do and love the overseas travel and experience. When you have the flight time go for Japan or Korean Air, I've heard they have the best contracts right now. Or the better option is just get hired by a Legacy down the road and move to Japan, Guam, Philippines, St. Maartin, USVI, UK, etc. and commute from there for a few years.

Some of the airlines that are home based you can live overseas and commute...