Flying in the US

[jr51xx]

Shnee,

You asked a question that is frequently asked by pilots of one country interested in transitioning to another. For the most part, the answers are the same.

First of all, in order to work in the new country, you must meet the immigration requirements that would give you the right to work in the new country. Next, all ICAO countries recognize the pilot certificates of other ICAO members. Recognition does not mean that you may fly as you like in the new country on your pilot certificate from your home country.

Each ICAO member has procedures that allow the holder of a pilot certificate from another ICAO member nation to be converted to that nation. In this case the conversion would be from OZ to the US and the FAA, like CASA, has procedures for this conversion.

The regulatory requirements for the conversion are available on the faa.gov website. The regulation needed is found under 14 USC 61. Part 61, by the way, will be the regulation in Australia as well once the pending regulatory changes take place there. FAA Part 61 details the requirements for all pilot certificates and provides for the conversion of ICAO recognized pilot certificates.

The procedures require the verification of your CASA certificate, the obtaining of an FAA medical (14 CFR 67) and the experience requirements for each level of certificate sought. Only issued CASA certificates will be recognized. Non-FAA test credits or courses will not be considered. If you meet the experience (flight hours) to hold the FAA certificate, then you may convert with a minimum of fuss by basically taking the written exams for Commercial and Instrument or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and then taking the appropriate flight tests. These requirements are very similar to the CASA requirements and fairly uniform among the ICAO member nations. If you do not meet the experience requirements for a particular certificate then you may take the additional training and then apply for the flight tests.

Once you have obtained the right to work (check out the J1 work visa program) and converted your CASA pilot certificate to an FAA pilot certificate, then you may have a fair shot at an entry level position. Actually, the new FAA certfiicates and the J1 visa program would enable you to remain in the US up to two years and work to "gain experience." Once the visa program expires, then you may not work anymore. But during that two years you could certainly flight instruct or do whatever work is permitted under that visa.

Flying in the US is diffent than in OZ and may take a little experience to get used to. I flew in OZ (ATPL ASMEL/Helo) and found the differences interesting. But view the differences as an adventure and check out the FAA website, then come over. We like and admire Australians and would welcome you.

Good luck!