State of the industry in the UK
I am not sure if this is the right place to post, if not mods please feel free to relocate.
Disclaimer: I fully understand that trying to predict the pilot job market is akin to staring into the crystal ball...
I am a Brit Abroad (in the good old US of A) with a FAA ATP and BE400 Type Rating. I am currently flying the Beechjet roughly 30 - 40 hours a month and have roughly 200 hours in type and 2500 total. I would like to return to Blighty at some point to pursue an airline career, but I am not sure when I should start the conversion process and how valuable my experience is.
I absolutely refuse to pay for a Type or pay for 'Line Training' and based on my limited research it seems that this is the prevalent way low experience pilots get their start. Without wanting to start a debate on the merits of such programs, I personally feel that they are a serious detriment to our industry. My hope is that with some jet experience I might be desirable at a decent operator.
I understand that EASA has now taken charge from JAA but it seems there have not been any drastic changes from the point of view of Flight Crew Licensing and the conversion of foreign licenses. I would estimate that it would take me 6 months to a year to study for and pass the ATPL writtens whilst working full time, by which time I would have 500 hours multi-crew time, negating the requirement to complete a MCC. However, it is gonna take at least another couple of years at this rate to get to 1500 hours multi crew. My understanding is that this means I must complete a formal Groundschool for the writtens (no big deal, I can do distance learning) and also means that I cannot take a skills test in the aircraft I am rated on (BE400). Thus I must do a CPL ME IR in a piston pounder, and my Beechjet rating will not be applied to my new EASA ATPL.
Would I be in a better position to try to get hired at an airline over here, get some time in a valuable type and then try to move over.
Thoughts please.
Thanks in advance...