Living and Flying in Europe, advice sought.

[aclark79]

Hello all, this is my first post here, so be gentle.

I'm an experienced pilot in the NW United States, with a little over 3,000 hours experience in logging and firefighting. I have long line and mountain time. I've flown a variety of helo's, but the majority of my time is in Jetrangers.

When I was in University, I spent a year in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh. I've basically decided that I'd like to change venues and live in Europe again, for a couple of years at least.

My question is thus: Is it possible to get a job as a pilot in Europe (doing pretty much any type of flying), or are the licensing requirements way too much. My Chief pilot thinks I should just find a contract job in the Middle East and just live in Europe as an ex-pat. I don't know what all the requirements are for flying in Europe, and if it’s easier to fly UK or continent, and then how easy those requirements are to meet. Complicate that by the fact that I only speak English fluently, (I doubt scots gaelic will get me very far outside of the highlands and islands).

Any advice or opinions are appreciated.


edit: that better...

[Thomas coupling]

Provided you convert your licence(s) to JAA equivalents, you'd be in with as much chance as anybody else with that much experience/background.
But first you need to either
(a) brush up on your spelling, or,
(b) learn to use a spell checker:ooh:

Good luck