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Old 29th Apr 2014, 14:20
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MartinCh
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: UK, US, now more ɐıןɐɹʇsn∀
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to START career, ie low timer, starting from scratch and no specialist skills in aircraft engineering to get foot in door or ex-mil stuff?
Strictly civvy?

Well, handful of Asian and African countries' nationals get sponsored by big companies or upon managing ANY CPL(H), get straight to copilot job offshore or similar. Some countries have companies offering 50% sponsorship of training cost and guaranteed spot (only not manageable if being total asshole and not passing all tests)

USA? Its great GA flying affords more jobs, but starting out can be tricky if not lucky or not having deep pockets to get hours up if not in often part time casual by the hours FI job or some scenics/photo flights. Great if you get in to military, after x amount of years get out. As flight crew, easy to convert to civilian ratings, if other duties, generous VA/GI bill/veteran benefits for 'retraining'. This alone keeps many schools ticking over nicely especially when unsecured private loans/credit were difficult previous years.

Canada? Nowadays probably the LAST place I'd like to be as freshly minted CPL pilot (100hr jock in TC system) due to all the obstacles such as insurance, having to move far from home to be 'ground crew' till having chance to fly a bit. Even R44 job shuffling pax around in S&L regime, asks for 500hrs or more. Yes, as higher experience pilot, it offers great variety if someone fancies stinkin' cold weather and being far from anywhere, but that's not the question.

NZ if you don't have cash and get most of the training paid for as government loan, then if no job due to having tons of newbie instructors and many jobs needing more experience, jumping to Australia and competing with local fresh CPL grads for R44 scenics/charter.

Everything's easier with enough money/funding options, being easy to get on with/fitting the bill for companies that may hire you, etc etc. Oh, and being memorable/standing out (in positive way) as well. Persistence and effort often required when things not going as smooth as expected/planned.

Various European countries, ie Spain, Sweden, Norway, UK, Ireland have starter jobs as copilots on multicrew twins, but due to the past credit/remortgaging funds availability and people spending TONS of cash out of desperation/to get ahead, the twin IR(H) has sadly become 'standard' hiring criteria, thus being 185hr helicopter CPL grad with no cash and paying for life/loan, isn't position I'd like to be in in Europe. Some limited copiloting on twin VFR ops in Spain, elsewhere not sure. Again, if anything, jolly flights in R44 afford some job opportunities.
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