The United States has been awful good too me and for me. Here there was a logical progression from one license to the next. Anything was attainable with determination and money, which was attainable with dedication and hard work. Upward mobility was encouraged. Yes, there was a bad recession in the early 1980s in the US with very high interest rates, but there was always optimism. Call it the American spirit.
Whilst in England it was more a set a walls put in front of you, designed to slow down or stop your progress. Unless to went to one of the top two schools of CSE Kiddlington or Hamble you would not get a direct entry pilot job. And at a cost of 60,000 Pounds it may have well be a Million Quid for it was so unattainable. There was a 'boot strap' method, but a Commercial required 700 hours. I saw many flight instructors wasting the best years of their life looking up at 300' overcast.
It was like you were type cast at birth, and climbing the social ladder was forbidden.
Whilst England was gripped in the three day work week, miners strikes, peace marches and IRA attacks. The spirit of the people were broken. I had never felt so pessimistic about my future. I remember being a motorcycle dispatch rider in London one very cold and wet day in February crying my eyes out in a phone booth I was so lonely and depressed.
I'll use an example of a friend of mine. From Enfield, North London. Did very well in school. Very hansom and personable. Wanted to be a doctor. Went to interviews for medical school. When asked what his father did for a living, they were mortified when he replied that he drove a lorry for J.Sainsbury's. How dare a working class lad wish to enter his profession. He started crying uncontrollably on the train ride home at the thought of being a teacher for the rest of his life, which was his second choice. He now runs a very successful medical practice in the US.
Another example. Lad from Bristol wanted to be a RAF pilot. He went to Biggin Hill for the selection process. Did very well, but there were so many people for so few slots, that he didn't quite make it. On the way home he thought that is father was born in the US to British parents, but never really lived there. He applied to the USAF as a pilot and was accepted. He was a C-5 Galaxy commander before joining our airline.
And then there's me, a story that still amazes me. For only I know how truly mediocre I really am.
Misd-agin: Sorry old chap, don't understand your banter. I don't talk with a New York accent or use their slang. I get asked about three times a week where I'm from and have to do my best Robin Leech impersonation. He is a South London hoodlum who did very well over here with a TV show. I get a kick every time I watch CBNBC and see Stuart Varney on the TV. A Cockney clippie (bus conductor) who now runs a TV show about money. Reminds me of Reg Varney from 'On The Busses'.
Bafanguy: Who's really better off in the end? The person who truly loves aviation and spends his life doing what he loves. But there is something in the constitution of the US about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that rings true to me.
To the original poster of this thread, who wanted to know if you could go straight to the US Majors from Europe. I would say that even the US Minors are better than Europe. Jet Blue and Alaska are first class operations. Spirit and Frontier are still better than EasyJet and German Wings. Allegiant is better than RyanAir.