Originally Posted by
Thumb War
A question for the guys who are over there - what position in Australia would you trade your spot in the US for, or if you already had it, would you not consider going to the US?
For example if you had a JQ command? JQ 78 FO? QF mainline LH FO? Mainline command?
I’m trying to gauge how high up the Australian aviation tree you’d have to be before you decided the US wasn’t worth it anymore. Personally I think it’s a no brainer for many, but the decision gets trickier the further you’ve advanced.
Not that I can answer from a USA perspective but to provide an Australian one.
Am a somewhat senior A320 FO - I’d hazard a guess at ~5 years max to command, 787 FO within next 2 years (unless I wanted Sydney which would be right now).
I and at least 3 captains I fly with are seriously looking at Spirit and Atlas at this stage. And to an extent Breeze but not properly done the figures.
Would make more at either after 4 or 5 years there as an FO than I ever will as a Captain where I am. If I somehow managed to score a green card (don’t think wife would approve of me marrying into one..) then the opportunities are endless. Even if I didn’t, once you have an E3 approved with a company there’s a few extras you can move into with it in hand (Frontier for example).
Life isn’t all about money, but we’re getting to the pointy end here. Do I want to do it for the rest of my career (~30 years) and be pushing !!!! up an industrial hill every few years? I don’t think so. I love the job I do and the people I work with, but is that enough to satisfy me the rest of my career? Also probably not. My logic is I better strike while the iron’s hot. Then if it all doesn’t work out I’ll try my best to return to the back seat of some QF metal.. or even return here, honestly don’t feel like at this stage am giving up all that much to give it a crack much to many of my colleagues chagrin (an Australian narrowbody command opportunity, you’re nuts!!!)
QF Captain or long haul FO I wouldn’t be going anywhere. I’d be pushing 45+ by the time I even had a look in at those positions though.