ATPMBA
30th Jun 2002, 13:30
Does anyone know if a U.S. citizen with a frozen JAR ATPL H can work in the UK or other EU country by being sponsored by a helicopter operator, ex. Bristow, Scotia ?
Is there an age cutoff or too many flight hours a negative factor ?
buttline
2nd Jul 2002, 04:32
At the moment, the North Sea operators have a lot of nationals on the books and waiting in the aisles, but if they like you, who knows?
I believe that anyone who lives in the UK and has a work permit for 4 years or so is automatically entitled to residence, unlike the Green Card procedures. In fact, the best way in to the U.K. is to just sneak through the Channel Tunnel with the refugees.
However, as in the U.S., eligibility for a work permit is usually restricted to sectors where there are skill shortages (you've probably got a bettter chance as a nurse or teacher than a pilot!)
Talk to Paul Quick at Bristows or Alan Veale at CHC Scotia in Aberdeen for a definitive opinion. An easier route may be to talk to CHC in Canada and ask them if they ever do intra-company (internal) transfers to their overseas operations. Intra-company visas (L1s in the U.S.) are usually easier to obtain.
Alternatively, take a holiday to Ibiza, get yourself a drunken British chick (easy to find) and whisk her off to Vegas :-)