Air Taxi / Corporate Flying in UK on an FAA CPL/IR

[Charlie Zulu]

Good afternoon everyone.

Firstly I believe it would be wise to detail a little bit about myself. Started learning to fly five years ago after finishing university and completed the PPL course within a year (four years ago now). Back then it was a CAA course, the JARs were just kicking into motion. To that has been added a Night Rating and a total of 400 hours to date (about 130 of those in the Western and Eastern USA).

Now, the time has come when I have had to decide shall I continue down the IT career path or go professional with flying. I have decided on becoming a professional pilot. Please read that doesn't automatically mean an airline career, for me the airlines will be applied too but my main ambition and the reason for going down the professional aviation career path is to fly corporate jets / turboprops / pistons.

My first port of call will be the USA next year with my FAA CPL and IR courses booked with the Multi addon to follow. Soon afterwards I will be completing a CFI course. I should have around 500 hours with an FAA CPL / IR / Multi & CAA PPL / IMC / Night / Multi by next summer.

Upon my return and before the FAA CFI course I will be starting the study for my JAR ATPL ground exams (the first module) and will take it from there....

Anyway after this long description of what I am intending to do, my question is, "What would the chances be of a British (26 yr old) FAA CPL / IR / Multi with 500 hours qualified pilot gaining a position in an air taxi firm here in the UK or Europe?"

I know I won't be able to fly for hire and reward unless the aircraft is on the N Register (as at this point I won't have a JAR CPL / IR) so my real question is, "Do many corporate / air-taxi operators here in the UK register their aircraft on the N Register or on a countries registrar who accept FAA licences?".

I believe my first "job", if this would be possible, would be an air taxi firm with equipment such as Cessna 421s, Piper Navajo's etc... my believe is also this would be adhoc work and would be on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week with pay being directly related to flight time?

Sorry for the length of the post, but finding information about corporate flying isn't as easy as airline work. Apologies again in advance.

Would anyone know of any good websites which has information for would be corporate pilots?

Best wishes and thanks in advance,

Richard.

[AMEX]

Hi
The company I work for uses the kind of plane you mention and is based in the SW not far from CWL.
Unfortunately we fly G reg A/C and our mini requirement is 1000 hours PIC, 150 or so twin time.
Quite a few N Reg aircraft in the UK but many operators (such as Hamlin jet from LTN) will ask you to hold both licence (FAA and CAA).
As you may also know, the JAR has rendered the prospect to get an air taxi job more difficult than before, with the 700 hours rule to allowed to operate in such environment.
I am sure there are possibilities for you to get a job with an FAA ticket but your chances of success will be down to how well connected you are.

Very keen to work in a good corporate department I have come to the conclusion that airlines jobs are much easier to achieve.
Probably because for a start, the number of pilots hired by the airlines are much greater than by the GA operators.

No doubt you have seen it but Netjets, the big mama in the GA industry requires for its European OPS, A JAA ticket, 1500 hours TT, 500 Hours Multi.
Valid in whichever aviation industry you elect to go for, network as much as you can and the earlier the better.

Good Luck