Pilot Shortage

[Dumb Pilot]

I am starting to get pretty curious about some of these foreign outfits. I know about Emirates, FlyDubai, and Cathay. Do you guys know of any other carriers that would be worth looking into? Is there a website or anything out there that would be a good resource for finding out about other carriers? I have a family and I am mostly interested in jobs like Emirates that allow you to live abroad with your family.

My recommendation is to target some of the head hunter agencies first, the world of contract/foreign airline flying is vast and plentiful (if you have the correct background) start by posting your profile in companies like PARC, Rishworth, Wasinc, CREW (a google search will give you a starting point for crew leasing companies) it will take you a little while to do so because airlines abroad want specific times, like they want PIC/ IMC and SIC / IMC times separated so you will have to do a little homework. Once you are a member and your profile is posted, you can scroll thru literally dozens of jobs for which they do recruit for, there are a lot of resident contracts but there are some commuting contracts as well. Apply to the jobs you are curious about even if you don't meet a specific requirement like "500 hours on type" right now it seems that if you are an experienced pilot and have time in anything larger than lets say a 737 (I see that in your profile you have the md-80, is this PIC time?) they will look at you, the Middle East and Asia is where the most growth and the better terms and conditions are right now.


Good luck

 

[El Duque]

Thanks a lot, I'll check these out. I haven't updated my profile in quite a while but yeah my md-80 time is pic.

 

[ualdriver]

My recommendation is to target some of the head hunter agencies first, the world of contract/foreign airline flying is vast and plentiful (if you have the correct background) start by posting your profile in companies like PARC, Rishworth, Wasinc, CREW (a google search will give you a starting point for crew leasing companies) it will take you a little while to do so because airlines abroad want specific times, like they want PIC/ IMC and SIC / IMC times separated so you will have to do a little homework. Once you are a member and your profile is posted, you can scroll thru literally dozens of jobs for which they do recruit for, there are a lot of resident contracts but there are some commuting contracts as well. Apply to the jobs you are curious about even if you don't meet a specific requirement like "500 hours on type" right now it seems that if you are an experienced pilot and have time in anything larger than lets say a 737 (I see that in your profile you have the md-80, is this PIC time?) they will look at you, the Middle East and Asia is where the most growth and the better terms and conditions are right now.


Good luck

Holy crap. PIC and SIC IMC time? Does any airline guy log that anymore? I'd be screwed if I had to figure that out

 

[atpcliff]

MD-80 PIC time (glass and big jet) is good. I met the mins for EK, but was never called, and was told that while DC-9 met the mins, they really wanted glass....they said if I got MD-80 PIC time they would call for sure.

Also, many intntl places want P1 US time. That is when you are acting as the Captain under supervision. So, if you are in Capt upgrade, that is P1 US. Also, if you have a PIC type rating, and you are actively flying the aircraft that leg (as the SIC), then that is P1 US of the captain. Some of the apps I filled out asked for P1 (PIC) day/night/cross country, P1 US day/night/cross country, P2 (SIC) day/night/cross country, etc.

Good luck!
cliff
GRB

 

[fareview]

EVA Air now hiring again...good place for RJ guys to get heavy time.

fv

 

[atpcliff]

Sri Lankan Airlines is also hiring, and hiring expats both for capt and fo.

cliff
GRB

 

[Varmint]

Sri Lankan Airlines is also hiring, and hiring expats both for capt and fo.

cliff
GRB

I think they are hiring A340 guys, right? If so, I wonder if they are taking on some of EK's retiring A340 airframes. I heard that EK was having problems unloading those things.

 

[ualdriver]

All these big, international airlines with anticipated "pilot shortages" would have to do is open a pilot domicile or two in the US. After that, they would have all the pilots they could ever want, especially if they continued offer compensation packages anywhere near what they offer overseas. He11, just having a car to come pick up a pilot at home would probably generate a full HR inbox of resumes

 

[LongBeachTrijet]

All these big, international airlines with anticipated "pilot shortages" would have to do is open a pilot domicile or two in the US. After that, they would have all the pilots they could ever want, especially if they continued offer compensation packages anywhere near what they offer overseas. He11, just having a car to come pick up a pilot at home would probably generate a full HR inbox of resumes

I think that a good part of the reason that the pay is high is because fewer people want to make the required move, thus less applicants. If US bases were opened, then there would be more applicants and the compensation would go down. Simply put, supply and demand.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

He11, just having a car to come pick up a pilot at home would probably generate a full HR inbox of resumes

The little perks make a big difference don't they?

Rarely an MEL (I average about one or two MEL's per year)
Plenty of fuel on arrival
Always a clean cockpit
Motivated cabin and costumer service personnel
Never waited for ground crews to park us (not even once on the past 5 years)
Never waited for ground transportation anymore than 10 minutes (95% of the time they are already waiting)
They run a flight crew oriented operation, you ask for more fuel, different route, whatever it may be and they just go and get it done for you, that is it!
They dry clean your uniforms for you
They just don't bother you on your days off
Business class commute and you get to keep the miles and that brings many other perks once you get Diamond status.

I know not all the jobs abroad are good and that working overseas is not for everyone but there are few of us that actually enjoy it

 

[ualdriver]

I think that a good part of the reason that the pay is high is because fewer people want to make the required move, thus less applicants. If US bases were opened, then there would be more applicants and the compensation would go down. Simply put, supply and demand.

I would agree that compensation would likely go down. So they could kill 2 birds with one stone. They'd have plenty of pilots to fly their aircraft AND they could pay a lower total compensation package. Seems like a win-win for foreign airline management.

I would bet that whatever total compensation package they would end up offering would still likely be better than United's or US Air's, for example.

 

[ualdriver]

The little perks make a big difference don't they?

Rarely an MEL (I average about one or two MEL's per year)
Plenty of fuel on arrival
Always a clean cockpit
Motivated cabin and costumer service personnel
Never waited for ground crews to park us (not even once on the past 5 years)
Never waited for ground transportation anymore than 10 minutes (95% of the time they are already waiting)
They run a flight crew oriented operation, you ask for more fuel, different route, whatever it may be and they just go and get it done for you, that is it!
They dry clean your uniforms for you
They just don't bother you on your days off
Business class commute and you get to keep the miles and that brings many other perks once you get Diamond status.

I know not all the jobs abroad are good and that working overseas is not for everyone but there are few of us that actually enjoy it

Well, I hate to say it because me and mother United are not friends right now, but a lot of the stuff you list above is true for our international operation as well, or at least what I see. Well, not the "flight crew orientated operation" part

Domestic United, however, is an entirely different world.

 

[ualdriver]

The little perks make a big difference don't they?

Rarely an MEL (I average about one or two MEL's per year)
Plenty of fuel on arrival
Always a clean cockpit
Motivated cabin and costumer service personnel
Never waited for ground crews to park us (not even once on the past 5 years)
Never waited for ground transportation anymore than 10 minutes (95% of the time they are already waiting)
They run a flight crew oriented operation, you ask for more fuel, different route, whatever it may be and they just go and get it done for you, that is it!
They dry clean your uniforms for you
They just don't bother you on your days off
Business class commute and you get to keep the miles and that brings many other perks once you get Diamond status.

I know not all the jobs abroad are good and that working overseas is not for everyone but there are few of us that actually enjoy it

Hey, I assume your an ANA guy by your avatar. Why does ANA need foreign pilots to fly their jets? Don't they make their own pilots?

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Hey, I assume your an ANA guy by your avatar. Why does ANA need foreign pilots to fly their jets? Don't they make their own pilots?

I fly for an ANA subsidiary yes, the growth at mainline ANA coupled with their retirements and their current hiring numbers has them in a deficit, hence the need to hire foreign crews

 

[Freight Dog]

I would agree that compensation would likely go down. So they could kill 2 birds with one stone. They'd have plenty of pilots to fly their aircraft AND they could pay a lower total compensation package. Seems like a win-win for foreign airline management.

I would bet that whatever total compensation package they would end up offering would still likely be better than United's or US Air's, for example.

Yes! We can also give away our loyalty bonuses and replace it with the insanity called a seniority list and seniority-based pay. We can also take a very small additional 2% pay cut to get fine representation by ALPA. God only knows how we could ever survive without them.

Experienced with plenty of PIC time on type? Sorry, experience really doesn't matter - only date of hire matters, and that's worth $25 per FLIGHT hour.

Then we can also do the whole "regional" second class citizen thing too where we'll have pilots making less than my Ukrainian FA.

Yes!!! How could I forget.... then we can also have 1960's trolly dolly hotties - yes, the very same ones from the 1960's with never-failing ability to hip check you every time they traverse the aisle. God help you if you ever ask for a Coke or a plated meal!

God bless the USA... :laugh:

 

[pilotyip]

Yes! We can also give away our loyalty bonuses and replace it with the insanity called a seniority list and seniority-based pay. We can also take a very small additional 2% pay cut to get fine representation by ALPA. God only knows how we could ever survive without them. God bless the USA... :laugh:

What a happy pilot without a union, how can that be? Isn't that against the laws of nature?

 

[Freight Dog]

Fly because you like to, if you are in it for the respect, prestige, recognition or money you may be disappointed.

... and that is the problem is in this country for professional pilots.

Yes, I fly "because I like to":

- when I'm at home
- gliders, small GA planes or experimentals
- when it is purely for my enjoyment on my own time, and dime.

Never mix business with pleasure...

 

[pilotyip]

... and that is the problem is in this country for professional pilots.

Yes, I fly "because I like to":

- when I'm at home
- gliders, small GA planes or experimentals
- when it is purely for my enjoyment on my own time, and dime.

Never mix business with pleasure...

Then do you experience disappointment in your chosen profession?

 

[ualdriver]

Yes! We can also give away our loyalty bonuses and replace it with the insanity called a seniority list and seniority-based pay. We can also take a very small additional 2% pay cut to get fine representation by ALPA. God only knows how we could ever survive without them.

Experienced with plenty of PIC time on type? Sorry, experience really doesn't matter - only date of hire matters, and that's worth $25 per FLIGHT hour.

Then we can also do the whole "regional" second class citizen thing too where we'll have pilots making less than my Ukrainian FA.

Yes!!! How could I forget.... then we can also have 1960's trolly dolly hotties - yes, the very same ones from the 1960's with never-failing ability to hip check you every time they traverse the aisle. God help you if you ever ask for a Coke or a plated meal!

God bless the USA... :laugh:

Ummmmm.....OK.

 

[Freight Dog]

Then do you experience disappointment in your chosen profession?

You know... in 2008, I would have said yes. But now that I've 'seen the 'light' and actually make a much better living than I ever could flying for a US airline, I have to say no.

It's actually pretty sad that one has to leave the US to make a good living as a pilot.