CFI41500

Wondering if anyone has heard of any opportunities flying abroad?

Soon to be furloughed regional FO trying to get a plan together before the market for pilots floods on October 1st. I recall a lot of Americans heading to the Middle East and Asia in 2001 and 2008.

I’m trying to figure out if there are any gigs abroad that don’t require essentially mainline competitive hours. Places willing to hire 1500-2000 hour pilots.

senecacaptain

the COVID situation is affecting jobs worldwide. I am sure a lot of Airbus/Boeing qual'ed dudes from Europe will be looking also.

Rightup

Airlines everywhere are already dumping pilots like there is no tomorrow, not to mention a legacy (SAA) has already collapsed and will not be the only airline. The ME3 are fighting to survive and expats are gone before the thought of laying off a local in the contract world. Best bet would be to find something in the US now.

wrxpilot

Unfortunately much of Asia is a parking lot right now.

Meep

You’re best bet is instructing or 135 freight.

LoneStar32

I keep getting emails for the border patrol looking for pilots. Just keep in mind that if you go for one of these government or contract jobs it is a very long process as there is a background investigation involved. On top of that there are usually some pretty iron clad commitments you need to serve before you can leave. i.e. at least two years.

rickair7777

.Gov flying would be the most secure for a while, and the pay's not bad (if you're not coming from a major).

But hurry up, all the mil guys in limbo will be applying and they have security clearances.

If you're bottom 10% or worse at an airline, I'd probably be job hunting, and then take a VLOA if you get an offer. All airlines should also have voluntary furlough provisions, so after 01 Oct you could do that and still keep your number for years.

That could also apply if you're concerned about getting pushed down to a junior QOL, even if you don't actually get furloughed.

rswitz

Would taking another flying job make one lose their seniority if they are furloughed? Ive heard this somewhere but not sure if its correct.

wrxpilot

No. That is incorrect.

rickair7777

Usually not.

There have been some employers who forced furloughed pilots to submit a resignation letter to the furlough airline... they would typically write the letter for you, make you sign it, and then mail it on your behalf.

There were also some airlines who just ignored those letters, and one or more have union contractual provisions such that you cannot resign while in a furlough, to protect against this sort of thing.

As far as seniority goes, it stays where it was relative to other furloughed and non-furloughed pilots. Your longevity usually stops, and then resumes once recalled but IIRC some airlines actually keep your longevity progression (so a 3 year pilot who is furloughed for two years would return as a five year pilot for pay, vacation, etc).

Now there is one way you can lose big-time seniority on furlough: Merger.

If Legacy A furloughs 30% and ULCC B furloughs 10% and then they merge, ALL furloughs will be stapled below ALL active pilots. So a 2015 legacy hire could come back behind a 2019 ULCC hire. It's important to make sure your airline doesn't merge while you're furloughed.