Hi, everyone!

I'm new to the forums here. I'm 16 and am currently enrolled in a four year aviation course at my high school. I will most likely have my private by the time I graduate.

I want to fly for an airline based in Japan but I don't know what steps I need to take to get there. I've been researching, but a lot of the information I've found is outdated. Does anyone know the procedures and requirements for flying for a Japanese airline such as ANA? Or perhaps what school and education I should get to help with it?

Thank you!

Are you Japanese?

GF

No, I'm American.

I cannot answer all your questions, though I might provide some useful insight. 100% the students I met at the ANA Ab Initio Academy were Japanese. They are also hand picked to fit an extremely specific mold. The selection process is much more rigorous than anything I've ever heard of for a pilot position. Good Luck!

Thank you for your insight. I have made sure that Americans can fly for ANA though before I posted my questions. There are some in the foreign section of the forums. I believe that JAL only accepts Japanese people though.

Macman, It seems you are fairly serious about investigating this possibility. Would it be too presumptuous to inquire as to the attraction of the Japanese airlines?

Historically Japanese (and other Asian) airlines have hired US pilots on a contract basis through one of a few contracting agencies. Not sure available that is for the Japanese companies anymore.

Those contract western pilots are not "regular" employees...I think they have a typically five-year contract which can keep getting renewed as long as they need you. To become a regular employee would probably be very hard indeed for a westerner.

But you typically need time-in-type, probably captain time.

I have loved aviation for quite some time. I have also loved Japanese culture for a while, too. I wish to better my Japanese and there is no better way than immersion. I think having the opportunity to work from Japan doing something I love would be great. My view could change, but at the moment it stands as is.


I see. Thank you. Do you know how one would go about getting a contract through one of those agencies? (After plenty of hours, that is.)

Join the military and fly F-15s out of Okinawa. I will watch you from the nearby A&W.

Give them a phone call. Or try google.