Crew Leasing Companies

[Buford]

Hello All-

I've been looking for contract work worldwide and have found several crew leasing companies that I've applied with, but most seem to be slanted toward non-American licenses and experience. Has anyone ever worked for a reputable crew leasing company and could offer advice for a guy looking to go overseas on FAA licenses? Companies I've already looked into: Rishworth, IAC Global, Sigmar, and Qshell. Any others worth knowing about? Thanks.

 

[bafanguy]

Buford,


While I have no direct personal experience, I recently talkled with a guy who'd done two contracts with Parc and felt he was well treated in both cases and came away happy. Look at www.hollandcanadaline.com for info. They don't have a lot but seem to be OK.

Look on pprune.com for info. A lot of people comment on contract flying there. A recent post concerned Rishworth and 727 capt jobs...most of the comments were negative.

Good luck.

 

[b757driver]

You might also want to try Direct Personnel of Dublin, Ireland or Airborne Personnel. Both recruit directly for Air Atlanta Icelandic and have, in the past, accepted FAA licenses with a validation.

Having said that, you do need time and ratings on what they fly and be prepared to move bases (worldwide) every few months or so. I believe most vacancies are on the 747 (classic) as their 757/767s are going onto the G-register which will require a JAR license.

Hope that helps & good luck.

P.S. I heard that Parc are pretty good also.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Many have been happy with IASCO, HACS and WASAINC. Then again, many haven't.

 

[bafanguy]

IASCO has been around as long as I can remember but I have yet to hear anyone say they got a job through IASCO. You hear a good bit about the other leasing companies here or on pprune.


Anyone out there done recent business with IASCO ? What did they get for you ? I've had my stuff on file with them for a year, but then, I didn't give them much to work with !!

 

[typhoonpilot]

I worked for PARC on three contracts. I've also worked for a company that doesn't really exist anymore and they were the best. They were an off shoot of NATCO, the Northwest Airlines training center in Minnesota. I believe they survive in some form but don't do overseas contracts anymore, Crewsource LLC is the name, although it was AML when I worked for them.

The thing to remember about contractors is they are there to make money off of you and the airline. They will not back you up if they think it will rock the boat with the airline. They have little to no power to do so anyway.

I would choose an offshore contractor for tax reasons. With a U.S. based contractor you will get a 1099 form. Uncle Sam will want you to pay self employment tax and you have to prove why you are not required to do so. It makes it a pain to fight them on the issue. So much easier to not have the 1099 form.

My experience with PARC was mixed. They came in and under bid AML on the contract extension. They tried real hard to give us a substantial cut in base pay. When all 11 of us told the airline we would walk before accepting that PARC raised the base pay to what we wanted. What PARC offered in return was a vacation package as well as LOL insurance.

I signed with PARC for one year and then again for two more years. During the two year contract the Asian Economic crisis began and China Airlines plowed an Airbus into the ground short of the runway at Chiang Kai Shek airport. Our airline's load factors plummeted and our contract was terminated shortley thereafter. The airline gave us the one month notice required by the contract and there was nothing PARC could do about that. We thought they might have other contracts for us, but they were not interested or maybe they were still mad about the base pay issue.

Since then I have done a one week contract with PARC to ferry a couple of airplanes and that was a nice little paycheck and fairly well handled on their part.

IASCO offered me the five year MD-80 contract in Fukuoka in 1997. I talked to one guy at my present company who did it and he didn't have anything bad to say about them. IASCO seems to specialize in Japan.

I've heard mixed reviews on IAC Global and Best International.

Hope that helps,


TP

 

[CaptSeth]

Typhoon -

As my US carrier enters the maelstrom, I am wondering about the overseas circuit - but the starting pay for a direct entry capt. is unbelievable - and who would move to Singapore for 100G's? Anyway, how's the pay? Does it get better generally after that first year, or what?

 

[typhoonpilot]

Seth:

First of all, sorry about your company having problems. I hope they can pull through, whoever they may be ( ATA perhaps ? ).

To answer your questions/comments in order: I agree, Indians, So-so, and No.

Okay, now that I'm done being a wise guy I'll try to expand the answers.

I agree, the starting pay for direct entry captains is pathetic. It has been going down for quite some time. I believe I have written it here before but the primary reason I see is due to the great many companies that now hire non-westerners as expats pilots. It used to be primarily the English, Americans, and Australians competing for jobs overseas. They commanded high salaries and got them. As the former Soviet Bloc and Eastern Europe as well as other countries opened up, their pilots started competing in the market and the pay level that makes those people happy is much lower. So we are faced with guys who fly 767s for their national carrier who make $1000 per month competing with you for a job that pays $7000 per month.

My best example of a job that went downhill is the Nouvelle Air MD-80 contract in Tunisia. In 1997 that job paid $8000 per month plus housing. In 2002 I was offered that exact job for $4000.00 per month plus housing. Quite a big decrease over 5 years. There are similar stories everywhere. 767 Captain jobs in Japan used to be close to $16,000 per month. Heck, when EVA started they paid 767 drivers $14,000 per month, now they only pay around $8000.

With that said though, you need to look at the total package. My salary here is quite low but the total package makes it worthwhile. Remember that the first $80,000 or foreign earned income is tax free. That plus your normal deductions makes it so you won't have to pay tax to Uncle Sam until you are making well over $100,000 per year. Housing will be a big component of any expat contract as should any tax issues with the country concerned. A lot make you pay around 15%. Also bonuses, overtime pay, vacation, travel allowances, per diem, etc. You must look very carefully at the bottom line. Look at the living expenses of the country concerned; whether or not you need a car; education for children; and more.

My first contract was a base pay of $7500 per month for 75 hours of flying plus per diem. I went there thinking that was what I would make and not much more. Well, it ended up being a lot more because of the way the contract was structured. The point being, research the contract carefully and see what the bottom line per month will be.

I agree the Singapore contracts are crap these days. They have continually eroded as I have mentioned. SIA does most of their recruiting in India. That plus the Malaysians and Indonesians who go there tend to give them enough pilots. Singapore is a great place, though it would be tough to live there on $10,000 per month if you had to pay tax, rent, car, and education out of it. If it was $10,000 per month plus housing and education then it would be doable.

Pay does not get better after the first year on a contract job. It will only get worse. I have often said that the best your contract will ever be is on the day you sign it. The bean counters will continually try to take things away even during the duration of the contract. A renewal would likely be for less. Exceptions are Cathay and Dragonair as they are permanent jobs. Emirates has step increases and bonuses but they don't keep up with inflation.

Typhoonpilot

 

[ETOPS-787]

Hey buddy:


I agree with typhoonpilot. Things used to be much better in the past and now things are going downhill. I spoke with my friends at NAC, KAL and SIA and they gave the same feed back. As of SIA the current salaries/benefits are pathetic.

They picked up the salaries because they couldn't find enough pilots to take the job...even the locals. Have applied 5 months ago still waiting for a call....god knows when!!!
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[CaptSeth]

Thanks. I can't bear the idea of pulling gear for some cool-aid drinking moron between EBF and some other non-place, so it helps to have some info on what the climate is like.

A friend's father flew for both SIA and EK - when the SIA job was still worth having; he'd be shocked to hear what the money is like now. Some of the pay is not too different from what I might take home after a restructuring and concurrent contractual screwing, assuming it's non-taxable. If housing is involved, it may actually be worth it.

I am not sure that I can get hired by any Gulf state carriers, though. Ethnic background raises some questions as to the future attachment of my head under certain circumstances.

 

[El Bucho]

Look into ExpressJet Airlines (Continental Express). We are a crew leasing company with only on customer at the moment (Continental Airlines). We own nothing so the Pilots and FA's...

 

[b757driver]

El Bucho,

Sounds strange.....so, is Continental hiring then? If so, it goes against the grain. I have never heard of a US major using a crew leasing company. Maybe you are talking about a different Continental..? Please explain your statement.

 

[typhoonpilot]

Look into ExpressJet Airlines (Continental Express). We are a crew leasing company with only on customer at the moment (Continental Airlines). We own nothing so the Pilots and FA's...

It's best not to post when taking drugs .

TP