What are the chances I could get a job in China?

[Student Pilot]

Hello all,

I'm Chinese-American, with citizenship in the PRC, but being naturalized in the U.S. I can speak Cantonese decently but not extremely fluently. I just started my flight training and am looking forward to an exciting career as an airline pilot. I know that China needs a vast number of new pilots to satisfy a growing aviation industry. What do you think are my chances of being hired right out of college? How soon do you think I could pay off my debt? What are the working conditions like in China? I am particularly eyeing China Southern Airlines because their largest hub, Guangzhou, is close to where a lot of my relatives are. Thanks for any information.

[Panama Jack]

From what I have been told, if you are hired as a Chinese pilot, you are pretty much bonded for life to your airline. Salaries for pilots are good by Chinese salary standards, but keep in mind that Chinese salaries are low in general and so are those of Chinese airline pilots on a world standard. The bonding keeps Chinese pilots in China, where they are owned by their companies, rather than going to companies like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.

[Student Pilot]

Oh, crap, I might have to reconsider. Does what you're saying hold true for the private airlines in China too?

[Student Pilot]

I'm definitely considering all options.

[noflow]

How soon do you think I could pay off my debt?

Your first mistake is going into debt for flight training.
Get your degree in something useful like finance so you have something you can fall back on outside aviation. Play your cards right and you can get a good job that allows you to pay for your flight training as you go.

If I wanted to live in Asia I'd probably set my sights on Cathay. A lot of other carriers don't pay well and work you pretty hard.

[Student Pilot]

Thanks, guys. All of a sudden India seems like an attractive option. :) And I don't know what other area to get a degree in. Flying is pretty much the only thing I want to do.

[Left Wing]

if you have 2000 hrs and ATPL, apply to CX you stand a v good chance with the new pro chinese management.

[Student Pilot]

Isn't it true that if you don't live in HK, CX pilots only fly the route between their home base and HK? I'd like to go to an airline that lets me fly everywhere.

[Amin]

Student pilot, if you want to fly in India as a first officer you need a TR + 300 or 500 hours on type (B737Ng, or A320).

A lot of people think it easy to go over there and fly with low flight time. But that is not the case for now, but it can change:).

Look at the various agencies and the requirments: ATPL license 1500 flight time and 500 on type.

The requirments might change in the future!!!

Good luck:ok:

[PosClimb]

Be careful about going to India to work as an FO.

I read a forum for Indian pilots and it was mentioned that there are huge numbers of Indians doing their flight training overseas right now in places like Canada.

And I mean "huge" numbers.

When these guys are done, out goes Whitey in a heartbeat to make room for the Indian national. The Indians are very nationalistic, and if they can replace you with one of their own, they will.

It was also mentioned that the Indians banks are no longer lending money for new Indians CPLs because there are so many Indians doing the training there is a concern they may not be able to find work and be able to pay off their debt.

India still needs Expat Captains though.. but for how long? Guess it depends on how quickly the Indians can be upgraded.

[purple head]

If you have a PRC passport, you could get a job with most of the private airlines in China and despite what someone else wrote above they are private and have no ownership from the government, that's just bull. The pay will be around 20-25,000 rmb/month after you become an FO, so should be enough to cover your training loan and leave you with +15,000 rmb. Depending on your extra training cost to the airline (not just a type rating, but also Chinese written exams <in English> 20 hours high performance training in something like a citation or a Y-7 and Chinese IR and CPL flight test) you would be bonded for about 5-10 years, but I know that this is going to increase quite a lot, but don't know the amount. You can of course leave and pay back the money owing depending on length of service at any time. Your situation would be very different to the Chinese pilots that were totally trained by the big state airlines and are bonded for life, or need to pay millions of rmb to leave. Your big problem is that you should be able to speak Chinese as that's a now (it did not used to be) a requirement by the airlines that I know that have taken foreign trained FO's.
Also life here is not so bad, in fact I would say I actually really enjoy living here at presen.t Sure the airlines have screwed (and I mean really screwed with lives) some people over, including me :ugh: (but also at times they have been very good and accomodating to me:D ), but then tell me an airline company in today’s world that hasn't at sometime said to its junior flight crew, ok turn round bend over????

[Student Pilot]

purple head, are you Chinese as well? I wonder if speaking Chinese would be a requirement just for Chinese ethnic pilots or all pilots, though I don't see why that would be necessary.

[guest27]

Hi Student Pilot.

Try to stay away from ANY Chinese companies as they will treat you as litter after you are well placed down there! Also STAY AWAY from SPECIALLY Chinese Crewing Agents as they are directly connected to the Chinese mob/mafia as well as several airlines down in China!
Believe me! I know what I am talking about!!

Take care!

What are you talking about? Can you try to be more specific please?

Guest27

[purple head]

No, not Chinese, but one of the very few foreign FO's in China. It's necesary because not speaking Chinese causes huge problems for the airlines. Also if you cant speak Chinese your restricted on which routes you can fly and a lot of Chinese ATC dont speak English very well. I know my company won't take foreign FO's any more, and the ABC/BBC or what ever Chinese that have come here must speak Chinese. I know of one other company that will take FO's but again you must be able to speak Chinese.If your a Captan its another story.

[mach2.5]

Hi there:

i had the same thoughts as you a few monthes ago, i have a chinese passport and willing to fly bigger stuff...

the problem is what do you really want, as to some other people already mentioned above...if you want to fly jets and dont care how much you get paid, dont mind living in a polluted contry, dont care if you have to work your ass off and being used as a slave....finish your trainning and try to apply....there are employment details on the major airline's web...in chinese.

i was offered to be an instructor last year in china, of course in GA, and i was so about to go...close to my family, childhood friends, good pay for an instructor....but after careful consideration and talking to all people who have been there to fly....they said its not worth it....and i agreed too after 95% of the people told me so.

its just for now, i wont go back,but who knows what i might do in the future, i scare myself sometimes...

nothing against china, it is a growing country with lots of great stuff going on, thats what you see when you are overseas. however, lots of thing you dont see, such as rubbish dump everywhere, the smell, the crap weather, the poor human rights, and most of all, if you have a plane crash, you probly have to walk to the airport yourself...as to no one cares if you live or die...and at the end of the day, you will get brain washed and think walking home after crash is a hero thing to do....

in summery, if you wana have a life, enjoy the sun shine, drive your done up boy racer car...have drinks with close friends any day, you are better off stay where you are....

let me know if you have any questions....

[Student Pilot]

The more and more I read this thread, the more and more I am dissuaded from groing to China. I have also temporarily suspended my training for now; I will now pursue a degree in another major and fly privately while being able to pay for it instead of taking out loans.

[UrlocalAZn]

you must be able to speak Chinese
what if you can speak chinese but cant write??

[purple head]

speak and not write.......hmmmm, not sure -sorry. ring the private airlines up and ask.

[co-joe]

what if you can speak chinese but cant write??

No problem...most important is being able to communicate, not necessarily on paper. But it would be a most added advantage as certain ops manuals and QRH stuff are in chinese.

[Arrowhead]

You should contact the Dir Flt Ops Capt Du at Air Macau. They have sponsored local Cantos for their A320 rating and then given a job. Worth a try.

[NewBreedflyboy]

I'm currently working on my Single Engine Instrument here at Scandinavian Aviation Academy, San Diego. We had three Indian Pilot student for the past 6 months now. One student who had just completed her Single-Engine Instrument and currently working on her Single-Engine Commercial is ready to head back to India after she pass the check-ride this month of Feb. Oh yeah! 15 Indian arrived 2 months ago just to let you all know and 15 more student on their way here. In addition, across from our flight school-There's probably the same rate of Indian student. Most of them are friendly and professional...:=