I'll bet you were real excited getting hired at that regional.

GF

 

Which is why the FAA must never ever allow these P2F scams to go ahead in the U.S. They also must not reduce the 1500 hour rule because then you will have pilots on 22k a year in mainline with regionals just P2F.

The level of entitlement amongst 19 to 24 year olds is at epic proportions in Europe now. They assume because they are licensed they are entitled to fly the A320/737.

None of them have any life experience or flight experience and would never bother going off to do charter work on Barons, King Air, Caravan to build hours and learn their craft as well as have to make all the decisions.

On top of that European pilots hands on skills are atrocious due to the fact they go from flight school straight to an automated jet. It is nothing short of terrifying.

The AF447 crash, Air Asia and so on we're due to pilots not being able to hand fly a plane.

 

Painting with quite a broad brush there Egg320, don't you think?

I fly for a big EU operator and my colleagues are from military, airline and G/A as well as some former cadets. They are good pilots and do have hand flying skills. Sure, there is a risk with highly automated airplanes that one loses those skills but if the operators are aware and encourage manual flying t stay current as well as including it in recurrent training programs, those risks can be mitigated. Many major airlines have run cadet programs with great success. They tend to work because just like in the military the selection and training are very tough and far exceed minimum legal requirements. Now, pay2fly is a different story together and I hate it as much as the next guy.

Anyway, all these points are somewhat beside the point here. It will be interesting to see if foreign pilots will be part(!) of the solution (along with significant pay rises at the regionals) of the looming pilot shortage.

 

Noone would come to the US. US regional pilots are the lowest paid in the world. Foreigners would simply earn more staying in their own counties than working in the USA for 22k per year. Why would they come here to starve? If the regionals paid them better, then I could see people coming here. But moving to another country while earning a very low wage is not an attractive move to these foreign professionals. Don't expect professional pilots to flock to the US like central american migrant workers do.

 

Actually I have been in the position of flying with a lot of Southern Hemisphere pilots in SA, Aus, NZ and then American and Canadians as well as EUropean pilots doing charter work.

From my experience European pilots had the worst hands on skills. I'm not saying European pilots are not good but their hands on skills are lacking compared to other regions.

Yes there are good mil pilots etc but let's face it European pilots feel self entitled and think it is their right to go from Oxford to easyjet with 250 hours, age 20 and no life experience.

However with regards to your question yes if you open the flood gates they will come. The P2F and 500 hours on type gave turned European pilots into jet time junkies because they can't get jet time.

They won't care about 22k, they will get 1000 hours jet which is he golden ticket to an airline in Europe, Asia, ME etc. once they have the 1000 hours then I agree they will jump ship in the U.S. With the regionals and go take an Emirates, Cathay job etc.

 

Another thing I noticed in Europe with this level of entitlement is European pilots feel charter work on twin piston, turboprops etc is beneath them.

They all have shiny jet syndrome and feel somebody owes them a 320 job instead of going to Africa, Aus etc and doing charter to build time like you do in the U.S.

If I was a chief pilot and some guy came to me and said he would pay for 500 hours line training he would never get a job at my airline. Those guys really are bottom feeders as far as I'm concerned as they are ruining the industry for everybody else.

 

Not really. They could use E2 visas.

 

Hmmm, I may be wrong but it seems you are somehow frustrated with Europe or Europeans. It has not been my experience that European pilots feel self entitled. Most guys I have ever flown with (including cargo turboprop ops, B737 scheduled pax airline and VIP work) did not come from Oxford or similar schools but from all walks of life and all kind of backgrounds including bush flying in Africa and flying Concorde for BA or aerobatics displays with the Red Arrows. And, I thought their hand flying skills were just fine for the most part. I have also flown with Kiwi, US and Canadian pilots and I thought they were just as good but not necessarily better.

Depending on the quality of the operation you worked for in Europe, your mileage may vary but I'm not sure your broad brush statements are justified.

 

I worked at a school in Europe and I found a couple who were entitled, but there was also a large number who did not feel entitled. Sure, there were quite a few that were overly optimistic on job prospects for low commercial pilots fresh out of training, but with the high unemployment and economic crisis, many quickly realized the reality of the situation.

Europe can be frustrating for a young pilot with little to no experience, but I think it is a large generalization to say that most young pilots in Europe feel entitled.

 

I have heard that republic airline has given letters to foreign students so they can get they work permits. A student can apply and get work permit as a part of "OJT-on the job training" for a year to up to two years or even more if they keep enrolled as a student, they can work on the side. But it's only couple of casees that I have heard about.

Also, Australians are legally allowed to apply for work permit under E2 visa, however the rules are quite difficult to understand. Would need an attorney to figure it out.

And if the rules do change based on shortage I'm sure they would be enough applicants maybe more then the requirement, just to get the jet time and many are unemployed in various parts of Asia who did come to US to get they FAA license. Most prolly they wouldn't have 1500 hrs, but they are many who would meet the requirement too.

It just depends how the Regional, U.S. Government, ALPA and the majors play that game.