OZ PILOT IN STATES

[DESCEND WHEN READY]

Is there any way of getting work in Americaby converting an Oz CPL/ME and instructor rating. I would love to work at one of the flight schools or colleges and hopefully push for a regional.

GA in oz is very sick at the moment and I would imagine it is not to good there at the moment either. I hope everything works out for all you guys and gals putting in the hard yards. Things can only get better as they say.

Safe flying

[TALUFTE]

Easiest way into US is to marry an American.
Lots of aviation colleges to choose from at. One that comes to mind is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida. Go to www.erau.edu (http://www.erau.edu) for more info.
The Majors are the ones that are in the most financial trouble but still some opportunities for low time pilots. For instance check out www.ramairfreight.com (http://www.ramairfreight.com)

[GlueBall]

Unless you're a Green Card holder, check first with US Embassy/Immigration about pilot instruction/work visa. Since Sep 11th the rules have changed somewhat.

[411A]

Suggest you try CX, lots of Ozzies there...

[Skaz]

hey guys, south african, but got american girlfriend, so 1/2 way there! ha
um...right, some-one said embry riddle? possible to get instructors jobs there then is it?
Who is CX?
What is the jobmarket for the lower rungs looking like, instruction, charter, regional etc,
thanks

[747Dryvr]

CX is Cathay Pacific. The pilot group is a bunch of aholes. Never heard more a unprofesional group wine so loud in my life. My advice start somewhere else.

[TALUFTE]

Skaz,go to Embry Riddle's website - <a href="http://www.erau.edu" target="_blank">www.erau.edu</a> - and go to employment opportunities to see about CFI jobs. They have campuses in both Daytona, Florida and Arizona. Florida is basically one big flight training center. There are loads of flight schools to choose from. Basic rule of thumb in getting a job as a Flight Instructor is to have done your CFI ratings at the school for which you wish to work. So if you want to go to Embry Riddle to instruct then do your FAA conversions there and maybe you'll have a shot. Good luck.

[SonicVIPER]

I speak from experience... I'm a 21 y/o South African - came to the United States in Oct. 2001 to pursue a life long dream of flying here. Done all my training in South Africa including Instructors rating so it would only have been "a license conversion" I thought. I married my American girlfriend in Dec of 2001 and received my greencard in Sept. of 2002. While waiting for the greencard I painstainkenly converted all the licenses. Now I'm a multi & single comm with the FAA CFI and CFII certificates. Aint working out for me. I instruct at a flightschool in Orlando and I'm lucky if I log around 30 hrs per month. My friends in SA are all doing 100 per months as CFI's and some of my friends got turbine positions with around 300 TT. Now my sight is back on SA and I might return to my home country for a flight job. Jobs are VERY scarce here now. Unless you meet the FAA part 135 minimums of 1200 & 1500 TT you're not going to break into a charter operator - unless you're extremely lucky.

I'd be happy to supply info to anyone who wish to do license conversions and other immigration issues pertaining to pilots.

All the best.

<a href="http://www.FlightZone.cc" target="_blank">My website (www.FlightZone.cc)</a>

[IB6-UB9]

SONICviper,
You came to the United States in Oct. 2001 You married your American girlfriend in Dec of 2001 and received your greencard in Sept. of 2002.

Hmmmmmmm Living in the Future are we? <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

[ 10 January 2002: Message edited by: IB6-UB9 ]</p>

[SonicVIPER]

<img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">
Yeah, seems like you're right. My circadium calender hasn't adjusted yet. US arrival in Oct. 2000, marriage in Dec. 2000 and permanent residence in Sept. 2001
And to you all, happy 2002!

[druglord]

Hey buddy,
Just did what you're tryig to do. I wouldn't try to convert to a US license until I had ozzie ATPL minimums which are the same as the FAR 135 single pilot IFR minimums here. Then you can convert straight to a US ATP. Otherwise, you're looking at probably $8000US to convert because you'll need a US CPL ME and SE, plus IFR conversion, plus anything you'll need for a CFI conversion. On top of that, you'll need a green card. I got a job here within a week of looking for a job here in the US, but I also got one within 2 weeks in Oz. Keep trying in oz for the time being. It'll pay off if you're willing to wait around for one.

[SonicVIPER]

Hey mate
I think that you had it planned out pretty well. I'd suggest to anyone wanting to come to the US for flying to have at least 1500TT (CFR 135 mins rather) or an ATP, and then offcourse the mighty powerful Greencard. Validation is so much easier than converting through all the licenses. I took the long haul and I think I regret it very much. I agree with you that the market for your experience still exists. However, bear in mind that I am a low-time (500TT) guy trying to make a living as a CFI and now is not the right time by far. I found a job back in South-Africa that I'm taking to build time until things start to speed up here again.


<a href="http://www.FlightZone.cc" target="_blank">FlightZone</a> <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[druglord]

Hey sonicviper,
Yeah it's not much opportunity for work with less than 500TT unless you're lucky and can get some PT91 stuff. Otherwise you're stuck with instruction or with a bare CPL banner-towing or something crappy like that. It's probably equally hard to find bare CPL/CPC work here as it is in oz unless you've got an instructor rating, but I guess you're not getting much out of that either huh?

[CAVU]

TALUFTE

That's pretty irresponsible and unhelpful advice you are dishing out to someone who may travel thousands of miles and spend thousands of dollars for nothing.

Opportunities for people with low time at the majors? You can't be very knowledgeable of the aviation industry in the States. Even the regionals rarely have opportunities for pilots with under 1200TT and 100multi and most majors require 2500TT 500turbine as an APPLICATION minimum.

I continue to instruct and it remains saddening to observe the multitudes, even US citizens, duped into the belief that learning to fly and getting a job is a cinch. It is not, and only a small percentage that start flight training will ever make it to the cockpit of a major airline.

Descend When Ready

Ignore any advice that harps of the ease of attaining a professional flying job in the US. I can assure you they are as tough to get here as anywhere, maybe tougher. Also, as someone who has been an instructor in Florida, I can tell you that most jobs are horribly paid even at the major flight academies. If you come over, bring plenty of cash reserve and don’t plan on “marrying an American”. That could really land you in a mess.

[TALUFTEN]

Hey, take it easy CAVU. I should have written "The majors are the ones that are in the most financial trouble but still some opportunities for low time pilots IN OTHER SECTORS OF THE AMERICAN AVIATION INDUSTRY". I appologize for any confusion this may have caused to anyone who arrived at the same, albeit erroneous, interpretation. Entering the posted website should have clarified immediately any confusion. The posted website <a href="http://www.ramairfreight.com" target="_blank">www.ramairfreight.com</a> was meant to serve as an example of the opportunities out there for low-time pilots.
CAVU, next time just ask for clarification. It also seems that you are a little frustrated and that would be understandable given the state of affairs within the aviation industry since S11. Every sector of the industry, with the exception of medicine, is cyclical. Things are already starting to turn around.
I can appreciate the fear that a lot of americans have regarding job security during recessions, and I read a lot of that into what you say CAVU, however we must not forget that this is just a forum for discussion and the last time I checked it was an OPEN forum. I am not giving false hope to the Ozzie or others but merely pointing them in directions and arming them with a little more knowledge regarding immigration and employment.
Regarding marriages for greencards: it is not without its pitfalls but unfortunately it remains the only way for a foreign born pilot, who does not have a medical degree, a computer engineering degree or a million dollars, to get a greencard. Doctors, programmers9H1-B visa converted into greencard during 6 year stay) and wealthy, successful businessmen can obtain greencards very easily.
Hope this clarifies.
this was not meant to antagonize you CAVU but merely to clarify things. Sorry that I don't employ the King's English but sometimes you have to read between the lines and take things with a grain of salt.
Good luck with Instructing.