Thanks for all the replies.
I am married to a US citizen and currently hold a Green Card. I will be eligible for US Citizenship next year, which I will probably pursue as soon as I can. I learned to fly in the States and have spent the last 3 years or so trying to build experience and 'paying my dues'. I have something like 1000 hours of dual given, 500 flying bank cheques in a Bonanza, a year flying the PC12 at a fractional and the last 6 months in the Beechjet.
I certainly don't plan on uprooting without a job lined up, I am just trying to plan for the future. I like it over here and it definitely seems that the industry may be slightly better, but it is not home.
The FAA has recently required that any FO at an airline must hold an ATP starting summer 2013, meaning that the 200 hour airline pilot is a thing of the past. At the same time, our Age 65 retirements should have begun in earnest, so barring any great financial meltdown, it seems that demand might at least draw level with supply.
Was there not a similar extension in the retirement age in JAAland that should be coming to fruition soon?
I could probably get hired tomorrow at a regional airline flying E170/175s and build up some airline experience and get some >30 ton time (for Emirates etc). However, doing so would represent a significant paycut (close to 50%) and probably a decrease in quality of life. Would this type be worth anything in the UK?
Decisions, decisions