Do I go overseas or stick with SA?

[SA242]

Hi guys,

Im 21 this year with round 105hrs so still on the starting line at the moment I am doing a degree at the moment so that will keep me busy till the end of 2006. During doing the degree I have been doing my Com. After that I really dont know what to do. I have dual SA and UK citizenship so I can work in either place. I enjoy the UK too (dont ask me why....) so the wx and that kinda thing isnt a prob. Its the market for new pilots im interested in...are the opportunities reasonable there?? The decision now is do I stay in SA or go to do a JAR ATPL in the UK and fly there? I dont need to redo the COM JAR subjects thank goodness. will need to redo some of the hours though regarding IF in JAR airspace and then the ATPL subjects to get the JAR COM with frozen atp. Any help appreciated!!:ok:

[I.R.PIRATE]

This is MY opinion. You are a very lucky chap. If I had the right to live in the UK, I'd be gone in a sec. At risk of sounding so un-PC, and negative. If you wanna stay in SA, you might as well go live in COngo, or Angola, and practise so long.....its coming. The future for new pilots in SA is bleak, get out there to a real first world country, where you are judged purely on your merits.:cool:

[silverknapper]

Being in the UK I have to say it's not so sweet here. Supposed to be picking up, still a lot of unemployed guys here though.
If you can get in on any bush 206 flying I'd stay there. The experience will be invaluable, and getting a JAA licence here is all about jumping through many hoops, at great expense.
Who told you you wouldn't have to read the JAA subjects. As far as I know that is crap. You can be validated for a year here, after that you have to do all 14 exams. I know many blokes who have had to do that, some with 1000's of hours jet time.
Me, I'm trying to get over there. Did my PPL there and loved it!!!

[SA242]

I.R pirate, that is wat almost all the pilots in airline have told me. I have many friends flying up in Africa and a couple in Afganistan and Bagdad through South African contracts with Air Quarius etc. They are there for months at a time. (my last mate arrived back in Jan after 6 months non stop in Sudan....). He was tired to say the least.

Silverknapper, I actually spoke to a DE in uk for JAA so the info is definately correct. Hes well known in SA circles as he specialises in helping SA guys get full JAA licences, not just validations...anyway the story gos that if you complete your SA COM you can go to the UK and go straight into ATPL ground school and....yes.....write the 14 subjects. You just wont have to write the COM JAA subjects if you already have an SA com. U do however (and this is the crap and expensive part) have to redo quite a bit of the flying there to aquire a proper JAA IF rating but it is less flying than if you were beginning an IF rating from scratch with no knowledge at all over there having not done one in SA.

Thanks for the help guys:ok: .....im going over to UK again soon so wil do a bit of scouting around to see wats happening....

[Solid Rust Twotter]

SA

Wouldn't worry about UK comm if I were you. Just pass the ATPL subjects and flight test and start operating as a comm pilot. When your hours are in line with the requirements you'll just be upgraded to ATPL status.

You'll probably be able to get work in Africa on the strength of a validated JAA fATPL so no worries there either.

[lionco]

The airline industry has started to hire again here and I would recomend you get your JAR licence ASAP. Re IR. If you hold a SA Comm IR you are only obliged to do 15 of the 55 reqired IR training hours. You may however require more than that to pass the IR flight test.
Been there done that. Feel free to PM me.
Lionco

[MAINROTOR]

Stick with SA!

Why does everyone want to leave...? I would much rather take the African sun shine that the UK rain.

SA is such a wonderful country! Stop whining guys (I.R. PIRATE) and try to make your country a better place! :ok:

[126,7]

Some of us had to go overseas in order to have enough cash in our pockets to pay the house and send the kids to a decent school. Sure SA is a great country, but you need some money to really enjoy it. I come home for my holidays and they are the best ever. Viva SA!
PS. You really appreciate SA once you live abroad. It is such a pleasure to get off that aeroplane and actually see the sun. Europe is so murky most of the time ......

[south coast]

Quote: If you hold a SA Comm IR you are only obliged to do 15 of the 55 reqired IR training hours.

that is not entirely correct, if you hold an icao instrument rating you only have to do hours required for a flight school to sign your 170a, a mock instrument flight test to take the actual test.

i have done it, and in reality, 15 hours is probably a good estimate as to what one would need to pass the test as it is slightly different from an sa instrument flight test.