Hiring minimums
 

Hi guys,

Please forgive this newbie question.

I'm a British JAA airline pilot currently flying in the right seat on the Jetstream 32 in Europe. I've been flying for a European version of a part 121 regional for just under two years now. My total time is is about 1,200 hours, 840 of which are as an FO on the J32. I also have just over 50 hours on the Airbus A320, but the company I was with went bankrupt a month after I joined.

I'm getting married to an American next month and I'm going to be crossing the pond to live with her. Once I get the green card etc I'm going to be looking to get onboard with a regional at the first available opportunity.

My basic question is this; what are my chances of getting into a regional (ideally on an RJ) with the following times:

1,200TT
840 SIC Turbine
50 Airbus A320
890 IFR
150 PIC
Plus JAA Jetstream 32 type rating and JAA Airbus A320 type rating
JAA CPL, Instrument, Multi & FAA CPL, Instrument, Multi and ATP writtens

Many thanks in advance

I don't know how long it takes to get a green card but you might have a problem with just right to work status. But plenty of people flying around with no citizenship so it can be done. Your times look good, you can probably find work at a pt135 cargo operation if you don't hear back from the regionals.

Thanks for the reply. I have a friend (outside of aviation) who made a similar move after he married an American national last year. From applying for the green card to having it issued took just four months (Nov-09 til Feb-10), so we're hopeful that I can be available to work in the US by May 2011.

If I'm unsuccessful in getting into a regional in the US, then my fiance/wife might look to move over to the UK instead.

The way things are going here..ya'll might be better off going back to the UK!

My question is: How do I marry a British chick?

You should be competitive for most US regionals, you have significant turboprop time plus some turbojet not to mention ME. Total time is a little low in the current market but that is more than made up for by the turbine experience.

There are plenty of 1200 hour CFI's in the US who are desperately trying to acquire 200 piston ME.

Where are you moving to?

You'd be way better off flying in the UK--better labor laws, protections, and PAY and QOL...

If you do decide to come here, apply to Air Wisconsin and Skywest.

I agree. I hope you have researched the 3rd world rest rules, low pay and union ineffectiveness due to the RLA here in the US. Most of us would jump at the opportunity to work in Europe. You guys have it good compared to us.

The only issue with your times is your TT, but with your specific experience, most regionals would probably make an exception. Just get your right to work and you'll probably be fine.

Thanks for all your help and advice guys.

Cal Varnson: Are you sure you want to marry an English chick?! There's a reason I'm marrying an American! Our ladies over here can be an interesting breed, plus the teeth sometimes take some getting used to!

porqueno: I'm probably going to be moving to Ohio. My fiance lives about 2 hours from DTW and an hour from DAY at the moment, however, she can be relocated by her company if required to be near me.

It's funny that a lot of you guys are saying stay in the UK. Many people over here are saying the exact opposite. The European market is a mess. Our pay is pretty good admittedly, but tax is huge, in some places as much as 50%. The real kicker though is career progression. The market over here has been totally messed up by 200hr wonderkids paying $50,000 to $60,000 for the right to fly 300 hours in the RHS on an Airbus or Boeing. The right hand seat here is now just another seat that is making revenue for the airlines.

I'm stuck on the J32. In the past I would have been able to progress to a 737 or A320 from where I am now and then on to the really heavy metal in 10 years or so. Now the only option you have is to pay for your three or four months joyride on a Boeing or Airbus and then hope to be picked up by an airline in the Far East or Asia. There are only a handful of airlines that pay for type ratings now and even fewer that actually employ you as opposed to taking you on as a contractor. British Airways recently opened up their recruitment for five days to take on 30 guys, they received over 5,000 applications. I was turned down, but so were people with over 10,000hours on type!

In short, the market is in a mess in Europe too, just a totally different one!