UK Military Pilot-US career advice
 

Hello,

Was hoping to get peoples opinion on what route I should be taking, here is the lowdown:

I am United Kingdom Royal Air Force Co-Pilot on a heavy 4 eng turbine jet. I will be moving to the USA in the next 30months as a civilian also eligible to work in the USA. I will have in the region of 1500hrs with 700-800 of it 4 eng turbine.

I already have an EASA CPL with ME/IR and 1st Class medical. I know I will have to do the CTP-ATP courses and exams. So far I think I have 2 options and looking for opinions on the following:

Speaking to a regional airline recruiter they would accept me with all of the above with a FAA verification and pay for the CTP-ATP, which obviously saves a bit of money, and gets me into the regionals, I know the pay isn't great, but gets me in the industry building hours and experience then hopefully in good position for majors if I still desire that.

The other option I was thinking of is doing the course privately using my own money and trying to apply to the Majors. Obviously they pay more but harder to get into initially and could still end up in regionals but having spent money on the CTP-ATP already!

Any thoughts/opinions on route I should be taking? I know initially regionals are pretty poor pay, but if you commit to them after a couple of years is it much better? Just like the idea of captaining a ERJ/CRJ/MRJ and being settled in one location (ideally Arizona/Texas).

Regards

IIAB

Don't pay for the ATP-CTP course.

Go to a regional, have them pay for the course, and use your job there to familiarize yourself with the way 121 airlines operate here. Apply for a major as soon as you can, but definitely start at a regional (many of them offer hefty bonuses now and almost all will hire you on the spot. You might be competitive for a major, you might not, but even if you are, you probably won't be hired right away. Working at a regional will give you a job that pays you while also making you more competitive for a major.

What threeighteen said. Go to a regional and get them to pay for your ATP-CTP course AND your ATP. With 1500hrs, you won't be competitive for a major right now. First year of at the regionals sucks, but has actually improved recently. Pay increases with longevity and especially with a captain upgrade and I know plenty of regional captains making six figures annually. The 121 time will make you more competitive for a major.