Moving to the US
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2014
Posts: 4
Moving to the US
Hi,
I’m a 38yo dual US/EU citizen pilot living in Europe and currently flying the PC-12 on a commercial (officially) multi-pilot operation. I’ve got both EASA and FAA licences (FAA SE CPL (no ME), EASA ME CPL). I’ve got 2400 TT, of which 1050 PIC, 70 hours ME, 800 instructing.
Given the job market and the opportunities there I’m thinking about moving to the US with the ultimate goal of working for one of the majors.
I’ve been browsing the forum quite a bit and I’ve reached the following conclusions (please correct me if I’m wrong on one of them.):
- I’ve got 0 hour under part 121.
- only a few regionals are hiring 0-hour like me.
- For revenue optimisation I should target regionals that don’t offer hiring bonuses before going to one that offers some once I get the hours (~500 or ~900 part 121-hours).
- It seems that when your application interest them you can get invited for interviews within a week or so, so I assume I should already be in the US before applying to any operator.
My questions are basically:
- which regionals are hiring 0-hour part 121 like me?
- Are there part 135 PC-12 operations that would allow me to build part-121 recognised hours? I assume that with 1100 hours on the 12 I would attract at least some attention from some operators?
It’s hard for me, currently outside the country and only in touch with a few US pilots to know where to start my research.
Thank you!
I’m a 38yo dual US/EU citizen pilot living in Europe and currently flying the PC-12 on a commercial (officially) multi-pilot operation. I’ve got both EASA and FAA licences (FAA SE CPL (no ME), EASA ME CPL). I’ve got 2400 TT, of which 1050 PIC, 70 hours ME, 800 instructing.
Given the job market and the opportunities there I’m thinking about moving to the US with the ultimate goal of working for one of the majors.
I’ve been browsing the forum quite a bit and I’ve reached the following conclusions (please correct me if I’m wrong on one of them.):
- I’ve got 0 hour under part 121.
- only a few regionals are hiring 0-hour like me.
- For revenue optimisation I should target regionals that don’t offer hiring bonuses before going to one that offers some once I get the hours (~500 or ~900 part 121-hours).
- It seems that when your application interest them you can get invited for interviews within a week or so, so I assume I should already be in the US before applying to any operator.
My questions are basically:
- which regionals are hiring 0-hour part 121 like me?
- Are there part 135 PC-12 operations that would allow me to build part-121 recognised hours? I assume that with 1100 hours on the 12 I would attract at least some attention from some operators?
It’s hard for me, currently outside the country and only in touch with a few US pilots to know where to start my research.
Thank you!
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2022
Posts: 856
There are no 135 pc12 operations that will allow you to build 121 recognized hours. Basically 121 recognized hours are operations that require an ATP and setp isnt that.
You need to get your faa commercial MEL and move toward an ATP at which point you will be competitive at a destination 121 job
You need to get your faa commercial MEL and move toward an ATP at which point you will be competitive at a destination 121 job
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2022
Posts: 429
Like Brickfire said, you need to get the commercial multi. A friend was talking with a regional recruiter who has commercial single only and they won’t interview him without it.
If you can also find a way to get the ATP on your own, you can most likely skip regionals and go to a LCC carrier like Spirit or Frontier directly. Good luck.
If you can also find a way to get the ATP on your own, you can most likely skip regionals and go to a LCC carrier like Spirit or Frontier directly. Good luck.
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2022
Posts: 856
Most are now captain constrained and hiring people eligible (or nearly so) for upgrade.
#6
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2014
Posts: 4
There are no 135 pc12 operations that will allow you to build 121 recognized hours. Basically 121 recognized hours are operations that require an ATP and setp isnt that.
You need to get your faa commercial MEL and move toward an ATP at which point you will be competitive at a destination 121 job
You need to get your faa commercial MEL and move toward an ATP at which point you will be competitive at a destination 121 job
Thanks for the input guys.
#7
I’m a 38yo dual US/EU citizen pilot living in Europe and currently flying the PC-12 on a commercial (officially) multi-pilot operation. I’ve got both EASA and FAA licences (FAA SE CPL (no ME), EASA ME CPL). I’ve got 2400 TT, of which 1050 PIC, 70 hours ME, 800 instructing.
Given the job market and the opportunities there I’m thinking about moving to the US with the ultimate goal of working for one of the majors.
I’ve been browsing the forum quite a bit and I’ve reached the following conclusions (please correct me if I’m wrong on one of them.):
- I’ve got 0 hour under part 121.
Given the job market and the opportunities there I’m thinking about moving to the US with the ultimate goal of working for one of the majors.
I’ve been browsing the forum quite a bit and I’ve reached the following conclusions (please correct me if I’m wrong on one of them.):
- I’ve got 0 hour under part 121.
1. Foreign 121 equivalent does not count for US 121 upgrade requirements. So you cannot come in as a DEC.
2. "Normally" in the US your SIC time in a two-pilot operation does count *IF* the OPSPEC requires two pilots, which is common in US 135. Even if the plane itself is certified for single pilot ops. In your case I'm not certain since it's a foreign operation, you may need to actually get a written legal opinion from the FAA (search their website in case it's been asked before). If the FAA allows that time, it's total time, SIC, etc, etc. If they do not allow it, it's not loggable at all, basically an airplane ride.
Regionals can only hire pilots eligible for an R-ATP or ATP. You'll need 1500 hours total, plus the other requirements. How many hours do you have exclusive of the PC-12 time, which may or may not be loggable for FAA purposes.
All of them are hiring zero-121 hour pilots, you dn't need 121 hours to be a regional (or any 121) FO. You need 1000 hours 121 to be a regional CA (some other types of experience also count but none of it foreign).
As a moderately experienced pilot with US citizenship, you definitely want to be in the US for career opportunities... it's way better than any place in the world right now, ease of getting hired, seniority progression, pay, and workrules.
#8
1. "121" means US 121 operator (technically 119 cert holder).
2. You do not need any 121 time to get a regional SIC job (or any airline actually).
3. You need 1000 hours 121 SIC to upgrade at a US airline, or to get hired as a DEC.
3a. You can substitute certain US 135 PIC, US 91K (fractional), or some US military time.
For you this is doesn't matter at al unless you want to get hired at a regional as a DEC. If you want to start as an FO like everybody else, all you need are ATP (or R-ATP) minimums.
What does matter is:
1. Do you have 1500 hours exclusive of the PC-12 time? If yes, and you meet the other ATP minimums, you can get a regional FO job now, and possibly a LCC major airline job right now.
2. If no, then you need to
2a. Verify, via the FAA, that your foriegn "135 equivalent" PC-12 SIC counts as FAA SIC/total time. I don't know OR
2b. Get a 91/135 job in the US and get your loggable time up to ATP mins. Good news, it's very easy to get those jobs right now.
#10
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2014
Posts: 4
Several issues to address:
2. "Normally" in the US your SIC time in a two-pilot operation does count *IF* the OPSPEC requires two pilots, which is common in US 135. Even if the plane itself is certified for single pilot ops. In your case I'm not certain since it's a foreign operation, you may need to actually get a written legal opinion from the FAA (search their website in case it's been asked before). If the FAA allows that time, it's total time, SIC, etc, etc. If they do not allow it, it's not loggable at all, basically an airplane ride.
2. "Normally" in the US your SIC time in a two-pilot operation does count *IF* the OPSPEC requires two pilots, which is common in US 135. Even if the plane itself is certified for single pilot ops. In your case I'm not certain since it's a foreign operation, you may need to actually get a written legal opinion from the FAA (search their website in case it's been asked before). If the FAA allows that time, it's total time, SIC, etc, etc. If they do not allow it, it's not loggable at all, basically an airplane ride.
I didn't know about the issue regarding SIC time in single-pilot airplane with a foreign operator but what about FAR 61.51(e)(1)(i):
Logging pilot-in-command flight time.
A sport, recreational, private, commercial, or airline transport pilot may log pilot in command flight time for flights-
Except when logging flight time under § 61.159(c), when the pilot is the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft for which the pilot is rated, or has sport pilot privileges for that category and class of aircraft, if the aircraft class rating is appropriate;
Wouldn't that cover my case? If yes, that means I could log all my PF time on the PC-12 as PIC under FAA (not PM time).Thank you for all the other inputs. Taking notes.
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