Australian pilots can work for US regionals.
Joined: Jun 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 2,237
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From: Eden Valley
About 5% of the Captains I flew with at the start of my career, in a now long gone, legacy-equivalent carrier, were Americans granted the above.
E3’s get nothing of the sort. The Republican thank you to Australia, sees a small number of a Aussie pilots use this specialty visa to fly for tier 3 carriers that Americans aren’t statistically interested in staying with. My company had a 22% attrition rate the first year I was there. Those who can make the majors or tier 2 cargo, waltz off, sometimes half ways through their initial training.
Your beer is terrible BTW. And I don’t want a Green Card so help yourself to your ladies.
And many of your green card holders come from country’s who have missiles pointed at you! I’d welcome a few E3’s if in your shoes. 🙂
Joined: Feb 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,689
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From: USA
Could you imagine Australians being recruited for a Direct Entry Command at United, Delta and American?
E3’s get nothing of the sort. The Republican thank you to Australia, sees a small number of a Aussie pilots use this specialty visa to fly for tier 3 carriers that Americans aren’t statistically interested in staying with.
E3’s get nothing of the sort. The Republican thank you to Australia, sees a small number of a Aussie pilots use this specialty visa to fly for tier 3 carriers that Americans aren’t statistically interested in staying with.
Nope, can't imagine Aussies being recruited for DEC at legacy US carriers because (1) We have strong unions with contracts precluding that, (2) FAA FARs require 1000 hours FAA Part 121 SIC time to fly as PIC in Part 121.
And US regionals are steppingstones and not designed to be career destinations. Of course most people just make touch and goes at regionals. But the E3 gave a number of young Aussies their first step up into airline flying with all their training paid for. This is a positive for those who got the opportunity allowing them to parlay this experience in other places (maybe even in the US in some cases).
It's difficult to make an apples-to-apples comparison between the two directions at play in the E3 story. 100% of it is beyond the control of any of us Little People. But maybe there's a small positive for a few young Aussies ?
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 391
Likes: 189
From: Houston
Your beer is terrible BTW
Walk into most US supermarkets and you will have trouble picking one. Spoilt for choice.
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 80
Likes: 3
From: Somewhere
G'burg,
Nope, can't imagine Aussies being recruited for DEC at legacy US carriers because (1) We have strong unions with contracts precluding that, (2) FAA FARs require 1000 hours FAA Part 121 SIC time to fly as PIC in Part 121.
And US regionals are steppingstones and not designed to be career destinations. Of course most people just make touch and goes at regionals. But the E3 gave a number of young Aussies their first step up into airline flying with all their training paid for. This is a positive for those who got the opportunity allowing them to parlay this experience in other places (maybe even in the US in some cases).
It's difficult to make an apples-to-apples comparison between the two directions at play in the E3 story. 100% of it is beyond the control of any of us Little People. But maybe there's a small positive for a few young Aussies ?
Nope, can't imagine Aussies being recruited for DEC at legacy US carriers because (1) We have strong unions with contracts precluding that, (2) FAA FARs require 1000 hours FAA Part 121 SIC time to fly as PIC in Part 121.
And US regionals are steppingstones and not designed to be career destinations. Of course most people just make touch and goes at regionals. But the E3 gave a number of young Aussies their first step up into airline flying with all their training paid for. This is a positive for those who got the opportunity allowing them to parlay this experience in other places (maybe even in the US in some cases).
It's difficult to make an apples-to-apples comparison between the two directions at play in the E3 story. 100% of it is beyond the control of any of us Little People. But maybe there's a small positive for a few young Aussies ?
In Australia the union didn't help matters but, in the unlikely event something similar happened in the US, I'm sure the airlines in question would place extraordinary pressure on the politicians in Washington to change the FAR requirement for 1000 SIC on 121 so Aussies and anyone else who wants a job can get one with the minimum of fuss.
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 987
Likes: 197
From: Mexico City
I really couldn't care less if the big 3 in the USA don't hire E3's. This is because even when working for what someone referred to as "low tier" US airline, they are much better to work for than the likes of Qlink/Jetstar etc.
I know this because of the 3 people I know who left the USA for an Airline job in Oz came back to the USA within 6 months. Now I also know people who went back and stayed but that was more because of pressure from family rather than job satisfaction.
I know this because of the 3 people I know who left the USA for an Airline job in Oz came back to the USA within 6 months. Now I also know people who went back and stayed but that was more because of pressure from family rather than job satisfaction.
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 192
Likes: 55
From: HK
You hang out in the wrong places mate. American beer, particularly craft beers piss over any Australian beer. It is virtually impossible to get a mainstream beer with 5% alcohol content in Australia now due to the prohibitive taxes. If you can, it will cost you.
Walk into most US supermarkets and you will have trouble picking one. Spoilt for choice.
Walk into most US supermarkets and you will have trouble picking one. Spoilt for choice.
Apologies for the thread drift lol
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 273
Likes: 53
From: Australia
I really couldn't care less if the big 3 in the USA don't hire E3's. This is because even when working for what someone referred to as "low tier" US airline, they are much better to work for than the likes of Qlink/Jetstar etc.
I know this because of the 3 people I know who left the USA for an Airline job in Oz came back to the USA within 6 months. Now I also know people who went back and stayed but that was more because of pressure from family rather than job satisfaction.
I know this because of the 3 people I know who left the USA for an Airline job in Oz came back to the USA within 6 months. Now I also know people who went back and stayed but that was more because of pressure from family rather than job satisfaction.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 387
Likes: 2
From: shoe box
https://www.reuters.com/sustainabili...es-2025-12-06/
Looks like some push-back from the unions now about the need to hire foreign workers due to crappy wages - sounds familiar.....
Looks like some push-back from the unions now about the need to hire foreign workers due to crappy wages - sounds familiar.....
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 59
Likes: 15
From: Cairns
There is also a misunderstanding that the pilots that the company is helping get on a green card are E3s (and for specifically Allegiant, H1Bs) already on property. No new pilots will be hired.
No airline is hiring new E3s at the moment and in the foreseeable future (perhaps except Gojet for a select few Direct Entry Captains).
No airline is hiring new E3s at the moment and in the foreseeable future (perhaps except Gojet for a select few Direct Entry Captains).
Joined: Feb 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 118
From: USA
https://www.reuters.com/sustainabili...es-2025-12-06/
Looks like some push-back from the unions now about the need to hire foreign workers due to crappy wages - sounds familiar.....
Looks like some push-back from the unions now about the need to hire foreign workers due to crappy wages - sounds familiar.....
"The union declined to provide the letter needed for the permanent labor certification application submitted by the airline. A Labor Department-issued permanent labor certification allows employers to hire foreign workers to work permanently in the U.S."
I'm certainly not schooled in this visa process but am surprised the union is officially tasked with providing wage certification to the government as part of the process. I'd expect this to be done by the airline company since they're the one paying said wages.
Joined: Dec 2025
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Perth
DPE FAA
Hey Team,
Im looking for a FAA DPE in Indonesia or Thailand to conduct a CPL flight test, and a ME endorsement.
If anyone knows anyone let me know.
Thanks
Im looking for a FAA DPE in Indonesia or Thailand to conduct a CPL flight test, and a ME endorsement.
If anyone knows anyone let me know.
Thanks
Last edited by McTwist; 4th May 2026 at 11:02. Reason: Change in subject
Joined: Jan 2018
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From: California
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 231
Likes: 45
From: In the soup
The legacies have slowed hiring due to delivery delays, and all of the LCCs are losing money and shrinking right now. Spirit unfortunately on the verge of collapse doesn't help either. Because of this, regional airlines have recovered their staffing levels, while schools continue to pump out CFIs ready to jump on RJ FO jobs.
That doesn't necessarily mean the E3 path is dead, but if it is ever to spool up to how it was it won't be anytime in the near future.
My guess is that we are returning to a more normalized version of career progression, vs the meteoric rise through the seniority lists we've seen the last 5 years.
That doesn't necessarily mean the E3 path is dead, but if it is ever to spool up to how it was it won't be anytime in the near future.
My guess is that we are returning to a more normalized version of career progression, vs the meteoric rise through the seniority lists we've seen the last 5 years.
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 306
Likes: 4
From: In a pipe in the upstairs water closet
The legacies have slowed hiring due to delivery delays, and all of the LCCs are losing money and shrinking right now. Spirit unfortunately on the verge of collapse doesn't help either. Because of this, regional airlines have recovered their staffing levels, while schools continue to pump out CFIs ready to jump on RJ FO jobs.
That doesn't necessarily mean the E3 path is dead, but if it is ever to spool up to how it was it won't be anytime in the near future.
My guess is that we are returning to a more normalized version of career progression, vs the meteoric rise through the seniority lists we've seen the last 5 years.
That doesn't necessarily mean the E3 path is dead, but if it is ever to spool up to how it was it won't be anytime in the near future.
My guess is that we are returning to a more normalized version of career progression, vs the meteoric rise through the seniority lists we've seen the last 5 years.
United is taking delivery of 100 A321/B737 narrowbodies and 20 787s this year alone. Hiring is projected to be about ~2000 in 2026 and ~2500 in 2027. Not sure how you determine that to be a slow down in hiring.
Joined: Feb 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 118
From: USA
This is about as accurate a source of US hiring info as you'll get:
https://www.fapa.aero/pilot-hiring-history
https://www.fapa.aero/pilot-hiring-history
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 231
Likes: 45
From: In the soup
UA were slated to hire ~2500 in 2026 and revised it recently down to 1600, due to deliveries. I didn't say there was no hiring or no deliveries, and neither does UA represent the hiring trend of the entire market. I would also argue that compared to the roughly 10,000 pilots per year that the majors collectively hired even just 2 years ago, that 2026 will be a far more normalized year.