Australian pilots can work for US regionals.
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 21
Likes: 17
From: Brisbane
Medical question between FAA/CASA
G’day
Hoping someone might have an answer or suggestion for me.
I’m Australian and initially received an ATPL in Australia and flew in different jobs here for years.
Then converted my licence to an US ATP in California about 15 years ago.
I flew part 135 charter and did required medicals.
I returned to Australia and in the time I’ve been back here have had a “renew by CASA only” condition placed on my licence.
It really should of been removed years ago and now it will take 3 months possibly to get that removed.
If I attended an FAA medical in Florida with my FAA licence will the Doctor care about my Australia CASA Class 1?
Im thinking of taking a job there.
regards HUD
Hoping someone might have an answer or suggestion for me.
I’m Australian and initially received an ATPL in Australia and flew in different jobs here for years.
Then converted my licence to an US ATP in California about 15 years ago.
I flew part 135 charter and did required medicals.
I returned to Australia and in the time I’ve been back here have had a “renew by CASA only” condition placed on my licence.
It really should of been removed years ago and now it will take 3 months possibly to get that removed.
If I attended an FAA medical in Florida with my FAA licence will the Doctor care about my Australia CASA Class 1?
Im thinking of taking a job there.
regards HUD
Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 382
Likes: 70
From: US via Oz, Honkers & Blighty.
You didn’t convert your CASA ATPL to an FAA ATP because there is no conversion process in FAA land. So, you did your FAA ATP flight test and were granted an FAA ATP based on flight time you gained in Australia. Therefore your FAA ATP is not based in any way on your CASA license and hence, an FAA AME won’t care about your CASA medical.
Best of luck.
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 794
Likes: 177
From: tossbagville
The FAA medical is a lot simpler than Austronaut land. But you still have to declare the same sorts of things you would in Aus.
If you were on medical audit in Aus you can expect the same issues and problems from the FAA, in some ways they are worse than Avmed.
If you were on medical audit in Aus you can expect the same issues and problems from the FAA, in some ways they are worse than Avmed.
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 481
Likes: 58
From: USA
G’day
Hoping someone might have an answer or suggestion for me.
I’m Australian and initially received an ATPL in Australia and flew in different jobs here for years.
Then converted my licence to an US ATP in California about 15 years ago.
I flew part 135 charter and did required medicals.
I returned to Australia and in the time I’ve been back here have had a “renew by CASA only” condition placed on my licence.
It really should of been removed years ago and now it will take 3 months possibly to get that removed.
If I attended an FAA medical in Florida with my FAA licence will the Doctor care about my Australia CASA Class 1?
Im thinking of taking a job there.
regards HUD
Hoping someone might have an answer or suggestion for me.
I’m Australian and initially received an ATPL in Australia and flew in different jobs here for years.
Then converted my licence to an US ATP in California about 15 years ago.
I flew part 135 charter and did required medicals.
I returned to Australia and in the time I’ve been back here have had a “renew by CASA only” condition placed on my licence.
It really should of been removed years ago and now it will take 3 months possibly to get that removed.
If I attended an FAA medical in Florida with my FAA licence will the Doctor care about my Australia CASA Class 1?
Im thinking of taking a job there.
regards HUD
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 655
Likes: 4
From: On the water
CPL with IR or ATPL with instrument privileges/rating and a valid verification letter.
From what I can see, going it alone without an airline you do not need to have passed a PC or IR renewal to take the practical portion of the check ride.
Can anyone else confirm that this IR currency fiasco is only a requirement of the E3 sponsoring airlines?
From what I can see, going it alone without an airline you do not need to have passed a PC or IR renewal to take the practical portion of the check ride.
Can anyone else confirm that this IR currency fiasco is only a requirement of the E3 sponsoring airlines?
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Australia
FAA verification letter is to verify you hold the license and ratings, whether you are current or recent is another story.
I recently had one verified myself even though I haven't done a PC for years.
Hence my question remains, is this an E3 airline thing?
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 264
Likes: 7
From: Here
As I said before, I've been over twice to the US without a current IPC but obviously with a verification letter and had no dramas whatsoever. This was about 2 or 3 years ago. Just ask them if it is an issue! Simple.
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Perth
Just got a job with a US regional.
E-3 Approved
Licence Verification requested (still waiting)
LCC completed
FAA medical booked
Talk me through the process of things that you have to do prior to entering the US and then prior to starting ATP conversion, Training in Sim and Aircraft.
Anyone who has also recently done all this what was the training process like? Moving process? Living situations? Work/Life balance? Culture? Ease of changing jobs in the future to other airlines offering E3?
E-3 Approved
Licence Verification requested (still waiting)
LCC completed
FAA medical booked
Talk me through the process of things that you have to do prior to entering the US and then prior to starting ATP conversion, Training in Sim and Aircraft.
Anyone who has also recently done all this what was the training process like? Moving process? Living situations? Work/Life balance? Culture? Ease of changing jobs in the future to other airlines offering E3?
Joined: Jun 2006
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 2,698
Likes: 792
From: 3rd rock from the sun
I went overseas with an expired IPC (because I was under an airline check and training system), the letter made no mention of the fact that the IPC was not current.
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 170
Likes: 8
From: rookie land
Just got a job with a US regional.
E-3 Approved
Licence Verification requested (still waiting)
LCC completed
FAA medical booked
Talk me through the process of things that you have to do prior to entering the US and then prior to starting ATP conversion, Training in Sim and Aircraft.
Anyone who has also recently done all this what was the training process like? Moving process? Living situations? Work/Life balance? Culture? Ease of changing jobs in the future to other airlines offering E3?
E-3 Approved
Licence Verification requested (still waiting)
LCC completed
FAA medical booked
Talk me through the process of things that you have to do prior to entering the US and then prior to starting ATP conversion, Training in Sim and Aircraft.
Anyone who has also recently done all this what was the training process like? Moving process? Living situations? Work/Life balance? Culture? Ease of changing jobs in the future to other airlines offering E3?
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 273
Likes: 53
From: Australia
Just got a job with a US regional.
E-3 Approved
Licence Verification requested (still waiting)
LCC completed
FAA medical booked
Talk me through the process of things that you have to do prior to entering the US and then prior to starting ATP conversion, Training in Sim and Aircraft.
Anyone who has also recently done all this what was the training process like? Moving process? Living situations? Work/Life balance? Culture? Ease of changing jobs in the future to other airlines offering E3?
E-3 Approved
Licence Verification requested (still waiting)
LCC completed
FAA medical booked
Talk me through the process of things that you have to do prior to entering the US and then prior to starting ATP conversion, Training in Sim and Aircraft.
Anyone who has also recently done all this what was the training process like? Moving process? Living situations? Work/Life balance? Culture? Ease of changing jobs in the future to other airlines offering E3?
Moving process? Pretty much the same as moving anywhere else but you can only bring suitcases. If you wear all your clothes on the plane you have more space for appliances..
Living situations? You can usually afford a big ski in ski out house with at least 5 full time staff. Or at least you'll probably be able to in a few more months.
Work/Life balance? Easy. You can get eye drops that fix the redness after a huge bender so the pax won't realize you're in the hurt locker.
Culture? Can you dodge a bullet, eat crappy bacon and plunge yourself into huge amounts of useless debt while paying an inflated lease on a Chevy Equinox? You'll fit right in. Oh and don't forget to pick a political side and not think for yourself ever again.
Ease of changing jobs in the future to other airlines offering E3? Yeah not hard but the chick at the visa counter usually needs a couple of buddy passes to smooth things through.
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 83
Likes: 54
From: Somewhere better soon
Anyone who has also recently done all this what was the training process like? Achievable unless your sim partner constantly quotes Top Gun.
Moving process? Pretty much the same as moving anywhere else but you can only bring suitcases. If you wear all your clothes on the plane you have more space for appliances..
Living situations? You can usually afford a big ski in ski out house with at least 5 full time staff. Or at least you'll probably be able to in a few more months.
Work/Life balance? Easy. You can get eye drops that fix the redness after a huge bender so the pax won't realize you're in the hurt locker.
Culture? Can you dodge a bullet, eat crappy bacon and plunge yourself into huge amounts of useless debt while paying an inflated lease on a Chevy Equinox? You'll fit right in. Oh and don't forget to pick a political side and not think for yourself ever again.
Ease of changing jobs in the future to other airlines offering E3? Yeah not hard but the chick at the visa counter usually needs a couple of buddy passes to smooth things through.
Moving process? Pretty much the same as moving anywhere else but you can only bring suitcases. If you wear all your clothes on the plane you have more space for appliances..
Living situations? You can usually afford a big ski in ski out house with at least 5 full time staff. Or at least you'll probably be able to in a few more months.
Work/Life balance? Easy. You can get eye drops that fix the redness after a huge bender so the pax won't realize you're in the hurt locker.
Culture? Can you dodge a bullet, eat crappy bacon and plunge yourself into huge amounts of useless debt while paying an inflated lease on a Chevy Equinox? You'll fit right in. Oh and don't forget to pick a political side and not think for yourself ever again.
Ease of changing jobs in the future to other airlines offering E3? Yeah not hard but the chick at the visa counter usually needs a couple of buddy passes to smooth things through.
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: The oldest state
Don't forget your TSA fingerprinting prior to the start of class. ( You don't strictly need it for Indoc or Ground School but definitely for sim.)
https://www.thupthupthup.com/fingerprint.htm
Best to come over with your Australian medical and IPC still valid.
PRIA forms.
FAA Restricted Radio Licence
Review the FAA ATP practice exams, Gleim or Sheppardair are good.
You need to do company pre-employment drug testing. Your company will nominate a lab for you to attend.
Social Security Number. When you arrive in the US, get it asap!
US bank account, you will need one for your payroll.
Moving and living in the US depends on you and your budget. Large cities are expensive, crowded, and sometimes sketchy. Smaller towns and regional cities are cheaper but you may have to commute to work.
Much like Australia, recruiting pilots will see straight through you if you start with a new company then bail then six months later. Show some loyalty to your new employer, after all, they are paying for your E3, ATP-CTP, Type Rating (bond free) and Accommodation. Most likely you will also be paid a Starting Bonus. If you leave early, you will have to pay the bonus back either pro-rata or the whole pre-tax amount, it depends on the company. If you really only intend to stay for a short period of time it would be best not to take the bonus check (cheque) at all.
Budget enough to get yourself a car.
Expect 5-7 days of company Indoc (Induction). Ground School and sims will either be AQP or an old-school TR with a jeopardy-type ride at the end. Any training failures are permanently recorded on your ATP license. You are required to disclose any training failures if you apply for another here job in the US. It will be picked up on PRIA anyway.
Training culture is different here. Come prepared, know your flows and scans, and memorize your emergency recalls and aircraft limits. Be humble, listen and learn from your instructors. Please don't invoke any Oztronaught "we did it this way" BS and you will be fine.
If you make it through training, company dependent, expect 50 hours OE with a check airman.
You may then be placed onto a reserve schedule, or you may be able to hold a bidding line depending on the company. Either way, you will normally be paid 75 hours of credit plus per diems (tax-free) if you fly.
Good Luck!
https://www.thupthupthup.com/fingerprint.htm
Best to come over with your Australian medical and IPC still valid.
PRIA forms.
FAA Restricted Radio Licence
Review the FAA ATP practice exams, Gleim or Sheppardair are good.
You need to do company pre-employment drug testing. Your company will nominate a lab for you to attend.
Social Security Number. When you arrive in the US, get it asap!
US bank account, you will need one for your payroll.
Moving and living in the US depends on you and your budget. Large cities are expensive, crowded, and sometimes sketchy. Smaller towns and regional cities are cheaper but you may have to commute to work.
Much like Australia, recruiting pilots will see straight through you if you start with a new company then bail then six months later. Show some loyalty to your new employer, after all, they are paying for your E3, ATP-CTP, Type Rating (bond free) and Accommodation. Most likely you will also be paid a Starting Bonus. If you leave early, you will have to pay the bonus back either pro-rata or the whole pre-tax amount, it depends on the company. If you really only intend to stay for a short period of time it would be best not to take the bonus check (cheque) at all.
Budget enough to get yourself a car.
Expect 5-7 days of company Indoc (Induction). Ground School and sims will either be AQP or an old-school TR with a jeopardy-type ride at the end. Any training failures are permanently recorded on your ATP license. You are required to disclose any training failures if you apply for another here job in the US. It will be picked up on PRIA anyway.
Training culture is different here. Come prepared, know your flows and scans, and memorize your emergency recalls and aircraft limits. Be humble, listen and learn from your instructors. Please don't invoke any Oztronaught "we did it this way" BS and you will be fine.
If you make it through training, company dependent, expect 50 hours OE with a check airman.
You may then be placed onto a reserve schedule, or you may be able to hold a bidding line depending on the company. Either way, you will normally be paid 75 hours of credit plus per diems (tax-free) if you fly.
Good Luck!
Last edited by Abroad145; 20th June 2022 at 14:24.
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 231
Likes: 45
From: In the soup
Looks like Red Wing Aviation is doing a a webinar on Thursday 23rd at 11am AEST. They're advertising captains and FOs. Here's the link to the zoom meeting.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86770496632#success
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86770496632#success
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 62
Likes: 12
From: AUS
Be interesting to see if anything comes of this. Think it's the first time someone from the ALPA has written directly the DHS about E3's.
Fellow Spirit ALPA Pilots,Today, ALPA President Joe DePete and I sent a joint letter (attached) to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas addressing the misuse of E-3 visas. The MEC is concerned that Spirit is seeking to misuse this "specialty occupation" visa designation to artificially suppress pilot compensation and displace qualified U.S. workers.
The MEC has spoken to management time and again about our concerns over attrition and offered solutions - namely opening Section 6 negotiations early to improve our pay rates and work rules to allow Spirit to attract and retain qualified U.S. pilots.
The Company has chosen not to pursue contract improvements through bargaining at this time, but instead is investing its time on a recruiting trip to Australia in July, with the intention of filling open pilot positions through the E-3 visa program.
Over the past several years, some U.S. airlines have attempted to use this E-3 visa scheme to avoid market pressure to improve wages and working conditions, exploit labor standards, and undermine collective bargaining. The SPA MEC and the full weight of ALPA National stand firmly against this anti-labor scheme.
In our letter to Secretary Mayorkas, we asked him to adopt past agency decisions as precedent establishing that airline pilot jobs are not a "specialty occupation" and coordinate with the Department of State to ensure that E-3 reviewers apply that precedent consistently.
We will continue to watch this issue closely and advocate not only for the jobs of all Spirit pilots but for all U.S. pilot jobs.
In Unity,
Captain Ryan P. Muller
SPA MEC Chairman
The MEC has spoken to management time and again about our concerns over attrition and offered solutions - namely opening Section 6 negotiations early to improve our pay rates and work rules to allow Spirit to attract and retain qualified U.S. pilots.
The Company has chosen not to pursue contract improvements through bargaining at this time, but instead is investing its time on a recruiting trip to Australia in July, with the intention of filling open pilot positions through the E-3 visa program.
Over the past several years, some U.S. airlines have attempted to use this E-3 visa scheme to avoid market pressure to improve wages and working conditions, exploit labor standards, and undermine collective bargaining. The SPA MEC and the full weight of ALPA National stand firmly against this anti-labor scheme.
In our letter to Secretary Mayorkas, we asked him to adopt past agency decisions as precedent establishing that airline pilot jobs are not a "specialty occupation" and coordinate with the Department of State to ensure that E-3 reviewers apply that precedent consistently.
We will continue to watch this issue closely and advocate not only for the jobs of all Spirit pilots but for all U.S. pilot jobs.
In Unity,
Captain Ryan P. Muller
SPA MEC Chairman
Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 382
Likes: 70
From: US via Oz, Honkers & Blighty.
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: UK
They need 1000s of pilots at all carriers. I can’t see the government stepping in and stopping E3’s because a LCC is hiring maybe 20 or 30 FO’s. The Biden administration is so inept. They let 10000 illegal immigrants in weekly I don’t think a few Aussies are going to cause a stir. Plus we have reciprocated visas with our government. You’ll be a 10 year captain before this gets traction