Are there any western European airlines hiring North Americans? What about KLM, DLH, BA and AF?

Thanks,
fsi

If you can qualify for a work permit there is Ryanair and Easyjet, both in Europe. You can check with Brookfield Aviation regarding Ryanair, and contact Easyjet directly. You will need a current type rating in the B737 for Ryanair and A-319 type rating for Easyjet.

To get on with LH is pretty difficult! Mostly they only hire the pilots who went through the "Lufthansa Training Program"! There is a possibility to be hired as a "ready entry". Check out here Sorry, it is German but I couldn't find it in English! I'm not sure if they hire Americans. You defenitly got to have a permission to live and work in Germany.
I hope that helps a bit. I don't know about AF, BA and KLM though...
Just as information: I am US-citizen living in Germany. I have the German citizenship too so I wouldn't have the problem of being able to work here. I want to apply for the "Lufthansa Training Program" when I am finshed with school. If that doesn't work out, I will go back home to the USA and try it there... Lufthansa is defenitly a great place to work at though as far as I know. I know some LH-pilots and they say it is great! Good airplanes (The fleet is only about 7 years old in average and is even going to be partly renewed in a couple of years), nice employees (I can confirm that one myself) and decent pay!

Thanks guys...doesnt LH have a Training Program at GYR in Phoenix? Does anyone have info for that school, I think its called APTP but Im not sure, and I havnt found anything on the internet under that name.

on my computer, i just right clicked and it had an option of translation.

edik

In order to be hired in Europe you need to get a JAA ticket which is no picnic. I moved there in 99 and got all my tickets then. It is very expensive and complicated,and HIGHLY competitive due to to the Lufthansa, KLM, and numerous other airline pilot programs. I know the school you are talking about, used to work there; ATCA, Phoenix, AZ. Contact Lufthansa for info..
In order to get a staying/working permit in Germany ( or western Europe in general ), you must have either a wife, or a work contract.
I lived there for 5 years ( in Holland and Belgium) and I got pretty tired of the ridiculous rules and fees associated with aviation so I came home 2 years ago.
I wish you luck, there are many wonderful things there, but oh so complicated compared with the relative simplicity we are graced with here.

They do! But I'm not sure if you can just go there by paying. I think you have to be a one of those that are chosen for the sponsored training program. Maybe somebody else could tell you more about it. As I said, I'm not sure how that works with training in Phoenix.

To work for Ryanair, a JAA certficiate is not required. A validation is issued by the Irish Aviation Authority. This means you must keep your FAA certificate valid while you are obtaining your IAA/JAA certificate.

You don't have to sit for the 14 exams right off the bat... you have 18 months to complete the exams.

You will have to submit to an IAA/JAA medical which takes about a day and $800.

You will also need an immigration attourney to help you with the work permits which is a requirement to work in Europe.

It's not impossible, but it is expensive. However the pay is well worth the investment.

You can call some contracting agencies about such programs.

Captnjs, do you know how to find these agencies? I am an AF pilot who used to live/work/fly in UK. I have a definite interest in getting back there to fly commercially, but don't know really how to start the conversion. It sounds like you know a good first step.

About the conversion... contact Oxford School of Aviation. They can answer your questions regarding the JAA certificate.

Brookfield Aviation is the primary contractor for Ryanair. They are located in Surry England.

If you have a right to work in the US, you can get a direct entry job with Ryanair. If you have substantial jet PIC time, you may qualify for a direct entry captain position. You will have to pay for your own type rating on the B737-800 at a Ryanair approved training center.