Hello,
I always had the dream of becoming a pilot and I am very happy that I am now almost done with my EASA CPL with frozen ATPL. I am doing the training at the European Flight Academy (Lufthansa Group), so I will very likely get a job on an A320 or A220 pretty soon after completing flight school. However, I have been thinking a lot about moving to the US and I would love to work for an american carrier (especially United or Delta but others would also be fine). Unfortunately though, I don’t think I have real chances to ever work there.
So, there are a few problems and I am not sure if there are solutions. I would probably work for one of the Lufthansa Group airlines first and then fly for an airline in the US as early as possible. The problems are the following (please also tell me if I am forgetting something):
1. Getting a Green Card - I don’t have any family in the US so my chances of getting a Green Card are not great, right? From what I have read in my research, the airlines wouldn’t be able/willing to help me getting it and I don’t have any university degree or “real” work experience. I started the training right after doing my Abitur which is more valuable than US high school degree but of course not as good as a university degree. So for now, I think the only way of getting a Green Card would be to win the Green Card lottery which is obviously very unlikely as well. I would also consider going to university and doing a bachelor in aviation management (because I am also interested in that topic), but that would not really increase my chances, right?
2. Requirements of the airlines - at least, this is something that should eventually be possible compared to point 1: I obviously also need to make it through the airline’s selection process. Do you think the major US carriers would accept someone with only 1500 hours on jet airliners? And I am still very young, I would also have to wait until I am 23 to apply for a job. The latter isn’t that bad though, that would only be about one year after getting my ATPL and having 1500 hours on an airliner.
3. FAA licenses - I could convert my EASA licenses to an equivalent FAA license. But would I have to do that even before applying at the airline or could I also wait with that until I get accepted?
4. Non-US flight school - even though Lufthansa’s flight school has a very good reputation, I could imagine that US airlines prefer people who have been flying in the US before. If that is the case, could it be helpful that Lufthansa is doing part of the training in cooperation with United and I have therefore done 6 months of my training at United Aviate Academy in Arizona?
5. Pilot demand - I have read quite often that the demand for pilots in the US is decreasing. In addition, I imagine that the number of applicants is pretty high and people flying for a regional carrier affiliated with the airline (e. g. Endeavor) and pilots with more hours than my 1500 - 2000 will be preferred.
I am sorry for writing such a long post - I just have soooooo many questions
. I’d be very glad if someone could help me. I am especially worried about not being able to get the right to work in the US - so if anyone has some advice regarding my first point, that would be especially appreciated!
Many thanks in advance!!!