Originally Posted by
Climb150
I wouldn't say it's over but there is a surplus of qualified pilots in the USA right now. Wait a while and it may change.
Yeah agreed. Talking to friends still holding out at the regionals over there, sounds like the number of US pilots in waiting for classes and interviews at every company that does (did) E3 Visas is insanely high so I'd say there is zero chance of it coming back in the foreseeable future. Even with the hiring the majors there plan to do, it will take a good while to shake out to the point they need overseas labor again to cover any flying.
And honestly, given the political and social climate over there I sort of wonder if any of these companies will even want to go down the E3 road during the Trump administration, risking the stigma of taking American jobs from Americans. When I left many years back there was already murmurings from locals and even some ALPA reps about the E3 program taking American jobs. All that being said, who the hell even knows whats going to happen a day from now let alone 6 months to a year. Anything is possible!