Australian pilots can work for US regionals.
Evidently, Kalitta is hiring E3’s again. It’s guaranteed 14 days off, which I don’t think is contractual anywhere else? A new contract is due in the next few months. This could bump Kalitta up the desirability ladder for Australians. Loss of LAX-SYD flying to SQ is problematic, however, once new aircraft arrive for DHL, the route could resume. This is dependent upon having enough trained pilots I guess?
If the USA is your first jet, I’d recommend going somewhere to practice your new skills. Wide-bodies are sating for many an ego. But not for the proficiency in your new skill-set.
If the USA is your first jet, I’d recommend going somewhere to practice your new skills. Wide-bodies are sating for many an ego. But not for the proficiency in your new skill-set.
Last edited by Gnadenburg; 7th Feb 2024 at 10:10.
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So can I ask, in a general sense (in this anonymous forum world) what people think is the best expat airline(s) for Aussies atm considering the primaries of - days off/work/pay. Just curious ….. 🤨
17 days work straight and only 2 weeks leave a year doesn’t sound great to me……..
17 days work straight and only 2 weeks leave a year doesn’t sound great to me……..
I am yet to work a full 17 in a row bar during OE when I was getting smashed to consolidate in time.
2 weeks vacation, plus a few award days plus your off days, if you’re smart. Can get a month in a row off twice a year. Even in peak Australian periods that Americans don’t care about: post Christmas summer school holidays and Easter.
Agree Spirit is/used to be the best. I think the merger getting shot down may change things a bit.
Feel free to message if want to get into the nitty gritty.
I see that Allegiant still has a job post soliciting Aussies (also pilots from Chile and Singapore). But it requires an FAA ATP and doesn't appear to be taking people without FAA tickets. IIUC, this is a change ? At some point didn't they take Aussies with only CASA tickets ? The scuttlebutt is Allegiant is having a hard time recruiting so I'm surprised if they are hard and fast about the FAA ticket thing. Anyone with recent Allegiant contact/experience ?
https://jobs.lever.co/allegiantair/1...8-4457d07fdbad
https://jobs.lever.co/allegiantair/1...8-4457d07fdbad
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I see that Allegiant still has a job post soliciting Aussies (also pilots from Chile and Singapore). But it requires an FAA ATP and doesn't appear to be taking people without FAA tickets. IIUC, this is a change ? At some point didn't they take Aussies with only CASA tickets ? The scuttlebutt is Allegiant is having a hard time recruiting so I'm surprised if they are hard and fast about the FAA ticket thing. Anyone with recent Allegiant contact/experience ?
https://jobs.lever.co/allegiantair/1...8-4457d07fdbad
https://jobs.lever.co/allegiantair/1...8-4457d07fdbad
•Current FAA Verification Letter of Foreign License and Medical Certification
Nothing has changed. It listed all the different options. But as long as you meet the hour requirements to gain an FAA ATPL conversion you are eligible.
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Just had this from Allegiant, only a week after they asked for a verification report and I payed CASA $50 for said report.
“Due to changes in the airline industry and our business needs, we will no longer be offering H1B1 or E-3 visas to incoming First Officers.”
“Due to changes in the airline industry and our business needs, we will no longer be offering H1B1 or E-3 visas to incoming First Officers.”
Well, that's a pretty clear statement.
Not all carriers are slowing down their hiring. I’d say the the US is in a robust position. Can’t imagine the joy I’d have had the two times I lost my job at career airlines, being told like the FedEx F/O’s to go take a regional DEC position, with a 150K USD sign in bonus. Just for one minute grasp that as an Australian pilot!
Not sure why Delta’s slowing up? The did do this last year as they needed all training pilots to fly the line in a booming summer. Relatively speaking, the US is still on fire recruiment wise. Now we have shortages appearing in Asia.
Not sure why Delta’s slowing up? The did do this last year as they needed all training pilots to fly the line in a booming summer. Relatively speaking, the US is still on fire recruiment wise. Now we have shortages appearing in Asia.
Not all carriers are slowing down their hiring. I’d say the the US is in a robust position. Can’t imagine the joy I’d have had the two times I lost my job at career airlines, being told like the FedEx F/O’s to go take a regional DEC position, with a 150K USD sign in bonus. Just for one minute grasp that as an Australian pilot!
Not sure why Delta’s slowing up? The did do this last year as they needed all training pilots to fly the line in a booming summer. Relatively speaking, the US is still on fire recruiment wise. Now we have shortages appearing in Asia.
Not sure why Delta’s slowing up? The did do this last year as they needed all training pilots to fly the line in a booming summer. Relatively speaking, the US is still on fire recruiment wise. Now we have shortages appearing in Asia.
Majors are still hiring it appears, at a reduced rate without question. What is dead and buried is the E3 program basically everywhere. Sadly the ship has sailed on that one. Hope the current Aussies on Visas don't get shafted, certainly not a comfortable place to be knowing you are essentially expendable every time your Visa is up for renewal.
Fortunately no signs of any airlines shafting their current E3s. For example, Spirit's earliest batches of E3s are going through the renewal process now, despite the company's financial position and hiring status.
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Atlas, National and Kalitta are still doing E3’s?
If there’s a whiff of non-E3 renewals there will be an exodus out of some of the carriers that may actually need Australian pilots. Well, need them to the extent of not losing them all at once! These carriers would also know that as soon as the industry turns again, US pilots will leave for the Tier 1 jobs.
Nothing would surprise me these days. If you’re determined and resilient enough to take your career Stateside, you will have the durability to pick up your career and take it elsewhere if shafted. I’ve seen many do it and success is often rapid. Enjoy your amazing journey!
If there’s a whiff of non-E3 renewals there will be an exodus out of some of the carriers that may actually need Australian pilots. Well, need them to the extent of not losing them all at once! These carriers would also know that as soon as the industry turns again, US pilots will leave for the Tier 1 jobs.
Nothing would surprise me these days. If you’re determined and resilient enough to take your career Stateside, you will have the durability to pick up your career and take it elsewhere if shafted. I’ve seen many do it and success is often rapid. Enjoy your amazing journey!
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National is now only taking guys with an FAA ATP.
I reckon it is a great investment for Aussies on their leave to go get their FAA ATP. I know guys who had their FAA ATP done 20 years ago on a light twin, and who walked in to jobs in the US post Covid.
Whilst I would never say never, I don't see non renewals of the e3 happening. National has just taken on 3 more 747s and upgraded a bunch of E3 guys over the last 12 months.
DECs for a 747 don't grow on trees.
I reckon it is a great investment for Aussies on their leave to go get their FAA ATP. I know guys who had their FAA ATP done 20 years ago on a light twin, and who walked in to jobs in the US post Covid.
Whilst I would never say never, I don't see non renewals of the e3 happening. National has just taken on 3 more 747s and upgraded a bunch of E3 guys over the last 12 months.
DECs for a 747 don't grow on trees.
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Signs of a US hiring slowdown apparent. FedEx pilots told to go work for regionals, 200 UPS pilots given VR, Delta cutting recruitment in half.
Delta is cutting recruitment in half - to only 1000 pilots a year. This is primarily because they have reached the other side of their retirement wave. United and American have shown no sign of slowing down as their respective retirement waves haven't even peaked yet. Each are planning to hire 2500 pilots a year for the foreseeable future with American facing the greater amount of forecast retirements. Each still have strong orders on the books for expansion.
Boeing quality assurance and Airbus (through Pratt and Whitney engine) issues may slow hiring a smidge but it's hardly diabolical.
Last edited by Fuel-Off; 23rd Feb 2024 at 16:50.
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Just for some perspective, how would National fare if all its Aussies had to leave? The Israelis and Ukrainians wouldn’t be happy! The other cargo carriers have attrition levels Australians are not familiar with. And you still need pilots to upgrade quickly within a training institution, struggling to train for expansion and attrition.
Just so we’re clear, there is no cancelling/not renewing of E3 visas.
You cannot subvert the contract for the sake of getting rid of people via other means. Seniority still rules.
You must be treated as if you were a citizen/green card holder/any other employee. If a company tried to use the renewal of an E3 visa against you, they’d immediately be subject to unfair dismissal (or whatever its equivalent in USA land is called) without question. It is very clear in the E3 paperwork you sign with homeland security or whomever sends it, it is a lot of legalese in there but it’s all very important. You are not a sub set, lower tier of worker, you are not a temporary gap fix, a casual worker to deal with the ebbs and flows, you are not a migrant popping in. You are full time annd typically paying union dues. Aside from your ability to permanently reside in the country you are identical to everyone else on the list. That is it.
Feel free to message me if you wanna know more of how it actually works, I’m living it right now.
Just stop with this bs “E3’s mightn’t be renewed” mania. This isn’t Australia with their temporary workers rights or 457 visas which can be revoked willy nilly.
You cannot subvert the contract for the sake of getting rid of people via other means. Seniority still rules.
You must be treated as if you were a citizen/green card holder/any other employee. If a company tried to use the renewal of an E3 visa against you, they’d immediately be subject to unfair dismissal (or whatever its equivalent in USA land is called) without question. It is very clear in the E3 paperwork you sign with homeland security or whomever sends it, it is a lot of legalese in there but it’s all very important. You are not a sub set, lower tier of worker, you are not a temporary gap fix, a casual worker to deal with the ebbs and flows, you are not a migrant popping in. You are full time annd typically paying union dues. Aside from your ability to permanently reside in the country you are identical to everyone else on the list. That is it.
Feel free to message me if you wanna know more of how it actually works, I’m living it right now.
Just stop with this bs “E3’s mightn’t be renewed” mania. This isn’t Australia with their temporary workers rights or 457 visas which can be revoked willy nilly.
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But if the Qantas guys like dr dre stop coming in here to tell us about how stuffed we all are by flying over in America how will they feel better about their job turning to ****?
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I don't know enough about the nuts and bolts of visa issues to assert or dispute how they're handled. But doesn't the decision to renew any visa rest with the federal government in addition to an employer (both have to agree) ? Is it possible the government could refuse to renew even if an employer wanted to ?
ZFlyer,
I don't know enough about the nuts and bolts of visa issues to assert or dispute how they're handled. But doesn't the decision to renew any visa rest with the federal government in addition to an employer (both have to agree) ? Is it possible the government could refuse to renew even if an employer wanted to ?
I don't know enough about the nuts and bolts of visa issues to assert or dispute how they're handled. But doesn't the decision to renew any visa rest with the federal government in addition to an employer (both have to agree) ? Is it possible the government could refuse to renew even if an employer wanted to ?
“IF” it did happen, I doubt our visas would be ripped up and we’d be deported. More likely, E3 visas would not be renewed upon expiry meaning you’d have time to look for a new job.
In regards to termination by the employer, in short: they can, but they can’t. We’re employed under the same contract as local employees and have the same benefits and protections. If the company systematically started refusing to renew E3 visas, it wouldn’t happen without a fight.
Yes, there is risk to accepting a job that requires a visa. But working in aviation is inherent with risk. I genuinely believe that my job is more secure than any job being offered by any of the Australian carriers.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.