Firstly, apologies, I seem to be bombarding this forum with questions of late. I'm totally new to the US industry and have really appreciated all the help you guys have given me so far.

My (American) wife and I are at a real crossroads with what to do next for my career. We married three weeks ago and filed the I-130 for my green card almost immediately. My wife has a good job in the US (she's a pharmaceutical sales rep). I'm currently an FO for an airline in the Caribbean on the Jetstream 31/32.

My current company is small, and as such can be quite unstable at times in terms of scheduling etc. In theory I hold a line, but it regularly changes, sometimes with as little as 6 hours notice. I rent a place in the Caribbean and my roster is 23 days on followed by 10 days off. My wife lives in Ohio and I visit her on my days off. Things are further complicated by the fact that my mother has COPD and requires constant care (she lives in the UK). At the moment I go home to the UK for 6 days a month to take over her care from my sister who cares for her full time. I get paid reasonably well, I take home about $2,400 a month.

My current airline is expanding, albeit very slowly, but there is a good chance we're going to start flights to the US before the end of the year using AVRO RJ70s. I'm top of seniority in the right seat and if it does happen then I'll be the first to go on the Avro. However, it's a big 'if', there's a lot of talk and sometimes very little action here, typical of the Caribbean really.

Basically we're trying to decide whether I should stay, or whether I should leave when I get the green card and try for a regional. We've been told that I should expect to receive my immigrant visa by June/July. By that time I will have about 1,400TT of which about 1,100 will be on the Jetstream.

At the moment we pay two rents and for my flights back to the UK or USA, all of that basically costs about $1,500 a month as we get no travel benefits here.

Forgot to add that my wife has just been offered a transfer to Chicago in the summer if she wants it.

I'm just interested to hear what other people would do in my position? I don't have any contacts at any of the regionals so I wouldn't be able to rely on internal recs. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

Sounds like if you want to upgrade quickly then you should stay. If you value QOL more since it seems your wife won't move down with you then perhaps you should apply to XJT/ASA and be based in ORD.

 

A left seat won't come quickly here, they've just taken on 3 new captains and have already made it clear they'll bring in more off the street for the Avro when it comes.

 

Have your wife get you a job as a Pharm sales rep and get out... But seriously I'd try to get on with a regional and be based wherever you're living. Don't commute if it's possible when you're brand new.

 

Ya, move to ORD and your wife will have a real job while you work for a regional. ASA/XJT/Skywest have ORD bases, Eagle as well as others. You can jump to the UK fairly easy from ORD as well to help your mother.

Sounds like your current carrier is stringing you along with the Avro possibility, and if they can hire street CAs before you get a shot then that blows!

 

I'd hang in there until you get the green card, then quit, move to Ohio, and start working for a US carrier that allows you to live with her. Her job is your best source of income right now.

Or yeah, get a job as a pharm sales rep and get out of aviation all together.

 

My gut feeling is exactly what you say Flyby1206, it feels like my current company is stringing me along.

I'm just worried about the lack of an internal rec, even with over 1,100 hours on the Jetstream and 1,400TT I don't know if any one would look at me unless I had my resume walked in by someone.

 

Your current job will be enough to get you an interview. Have you applied to any regionals yet?

 

Not yet, still waiting for the green card to be issued, should be done by the summer. I'm leaning towards either Eagle or XJT purely due to the equipment as we're looking to move to the UK when we want to have kids. Ideally I'd get time on something I could transfer on to in the UK, those types being the ERJ 145, EMB 170-190, or Q400. That being said, there is a good chance we'll get really settled and won't want to move to the UK. It all really depends on the health of my mother.

 

Make sure you know what you're getting into trying to fly in the UK. FAA to JAA conversion isn't exactly easy, nor is the hiring process unless you're a naturalized citizen. I wouldn't be so apt to have your wife give up her career. Two decent sources of income is a fantastic safety net, and will allow you to continue to move up and survive the periods of lower pay as you move up in airlines.