JammedStab - yes you do have to do the Japanese ATPL exams and convert to a Japanese licence and it would take at least 6 months as far as I know. But to be taken on for a contract with them through an agency, you need an ICAO licence with the 747 type rating on that licence, so my point was a 747 type rating gained at Eva would not qualify you to apply. NCA was just an example that, as far as I know, Eva will limit your options. That's not to say you won't be able to move on - just that you will have less options than you would if you had that type rating on an ICAO licence. As far as transferring the type rating to an EASA or other licence by doing an LPC etc, I haven't fully researched it but I think for any prospective applicant it is worth speaking to the relevant authority (depending which licence you hold) to find out if you would be able to put that rating on your existing licence.
As cosmiccomet said... ["I tried to do the same in Spain...but it didn't work, but many of my colleagues from Swiss and Portugal did it.
So If you hold an ICAO license you should try to keep it update until the moment you bail out from Taiwan..."]... it sounds like a bit of a gamble so it is worth finding out first what your situation is with regard to transferring the type rating. An EASA (rather than a JAA licence) is valid for life, so that would remain valid. A JAA licence is valid for 5 years I think. If it's a new type rating you get at Eva, that wouldn't be on your existing licence anyway so the only considerations are if you can transfer it to your existing licence and which countries/airlines will accept your type rating from Taiwan if you are applying for a job as a type rated pilot with them.
For any Eva pilots, I have a couple more questions:
- I read from another post that if you call in sick then your days off are reduced for that month by the number of sick days you take. Is that true? If so, that alone would be a deal breaker for me - not because I want to call in sick.
- What is this pilot dorm people talk about. Do all Eva pilots live there or is it a choice of the dorm accommodation for free or pay for your own place? I imagine the company accommodation would appeal only to commuters. Is there a choice of either a commuting roster or a roster for people who live in Taiwan? Is the commuting roster 8 consecutive days off per month?
- Can the company change your days off after roster publication?
- Are the 747s being phased out or will they be kept for the foreseeable future?
- Is there a chance of changing fleet after a few years there? Maybe 777?
- What is it like flying there as an expat? What is the initial and recurrent training like, is the training department made up of locals and expats, company culture, are the locals nice to fly with, is it a professional environment, good maintenance etc?
Thanks for any input. It seems to be quite hard to get much up to date info.