Kiwi boy looking for work...

[Dances_With_Clouds]

Hi all,

I'm 24, currently working in New Zealand flying a Piper Aztec, as the Senior Line Pilot and Base Captain for the Sunair Aviation Freight Division and Palmerston North Base.

I'm thinking of moving to the States to look for work mid to late next year, and was wondering what type of work, if any, there is avaliable over there for someone with my experience.

Total 1700
PIC 1500
Multi 890
Multi PIC 750
Night 475
IF 170 (Actual and Simulated, no ground time)
Instructing 305


- NZ Multi Engine Instrument Rating, ADF, VOR, ILS
- C and D Category Instructor Rating
- NZ CPL
- Basic Gas Turbine
- Parachute Drop Rating
- Aerobatics Rating

Type Ratings

- Cessna
152
172
177RG
206

- Partenavia
P68

- Piper
PA-38
PA-28
PA-32
PA-23 (PA-27)
PA-31

- Socata
TB-10

Any advise or help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

D_W_C

[Trolle]

D_W_C:

Well, if you don't have a work permit for the U.S. I am afraid it is impossible or nearly so for you to come and work in the U.S. Now, let's assume that you do have a permit, do you have FAA certificates? If not, then you will have to convert, which actually means take the written, oral, and practical exams for instrument, commercial, single and multi. A private license will be issued with no exam, but that doesn't do much good it you want to work. So, let's say that you have both the work permit and the FAA licenses, many people do as they may have trained in the US in the past.

Your hours may be a little on the low side but there are still jobs out there which you can compete for. It really depends on what kind of flying you want to do. Single-pilot neight freight, well that's possible since I think you meet the requirements (have to check that though). You could instruct, if you get your FAA instructor licenses. You are competitive for a regional position flying an RJ or turboprop somewhere in the country. Although, you have to remember that there are a lot of pilots in the US who are furloughed, plus the bunch that are finishing their training. So, they are all lining up for jobs and you'll have to compete with them. However, many regional, not major but feeders, are recalling their pilots. So, there is some growth in the middle of the industry pyramid. There are probably jobs available doing other less mainstream work, such as flying jumpers, pipeline patrol, fish spotting, bush flying, etc. Those are harder to find info on and I don't know any good sites.

Hope that helps.