Australian pilots can work for US regionals.
There will be numerous regionals that don't survive, just like some Airlines wont make it through in Australia. I hope everyone stays safe, but honestly from experience, get back to Australia. You are way better off being sick here.
And if you don't have a SSN/TSA the way things are winding down, you won't be getting it anytime soon. Could be months at this stage I'd dare say! XJT won't fare any better than the rest, being a WO is possibly going to be even worse for them given UA can pull flying a lot easier than a contractor.
So, just for those of us trying to keep a finger on the pulse, how many E3s at US regionals have gotten the axe so far ? How many feel it getting close ?
If you're out of a job, where did you go ?
This is all so terrible.
If you're out of a job, where did you go ?
This is all so terrible.
Any Australian pilot contemplating a job overseas in at least the next 12 months is probably being a tad optimistic.
Last edited by KRUSTY 34; 5th Apr 2020 at 09:36.
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If you want the most up to date info go onto the USA regional forums, airlinepilotforums.com, they discuss everything there often.
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Everyone works to progress up their chosen career ladder as best they can given the employment climate at the time.
I wish the E-3 visa with plentiful jobs was around 20 odd years ago when I was getting started. Back then with 1,500 hours I couldn’t even get into a piston-twin in Australia, now with 1,500 hours Aussies can go right into a Jet in the USA - so why wouldn’t they? The turn-around in opportunities is amazing and anyone would be mad not to capitalize on them. Criticizing people for doing so is idiotic. We don’t create the supply-and-demand employment metric, we can only position ourselves to gain from the climate at the time.
Not so many years ago, people in ‘my generation’ were criticized for buying type-ratings to boost their way up the ladder - so again, people in every generation seek to ‘cut-corners’ if they see it being to their advantage. That is a human thing, not a generational thing.
People who got started in the industry 20 years or so ago (like me) sometimes sound bitter towards the younger generation of pilots who do have far better opportunities than we had. But that’s life, suck it up! Just be thankful things are great now for all of us, and be happy for anyone who has good opportunities today.
I wish the E-3 visa with plentiful jobs was around 20 odd years ago when I was getting started. Back then with 1,500 hours I couldn’t even get into a piston-twin in Australia, now with 1,500 hours Aussies can go right into a Jet in the USA - so why wouldn’t they? The turn-around in opportunities is amazing and anyone would be mad not to capitalize on them. Criticizing people for doing so is idiotic. We don’t create the supply-and-demand employment metric, we can only position ourselves to gain from the climate at the time.
Not so many years ago, people in ‘my generation’ were criticized for buying type-ratings to boost their way up the ladder - so again, people in every generation seek to ‘cut-corners’ if they see it being to their advantage. That is a human thing, not a generational thing.
People who got started in the industry 20 years or so ago (like me) sometimes sound bitter towards the younger generation of pilots who do have far better opportunities than we had. But that’s life, suck it up! Just be thankful things are great now for all of us, and be happy for anyone who has good opportunities today.
A few months ago I saying how the positive job supply was an amazing turn around from the lack opportunities in the past, and so be happy for anyone capitalizing on this. I wrote that in response to someone saying Aussies on E-3 visas were cutting corners and should stay at home.
Now we have had another amazing turn around, and we’ve returned to the days of struggling for work.
The long term reality of aviation is a string of great years followed by a string of bad years.
For anyone who has not experienced a string of bad years, this downturn has probably come as something of a shock.
Anyone who started in aviation within the last 5 years (perhaps a little longer) had a much easier time finding work than pervious generations, and they enjoyed a lightening fast career progression compared to their predecessors. That is terrific, however I think it has left some vulnerable to the perception that their skills were going to be in demand all around the world throughout their career, and they imagined employers would be begging them to come to work until their dyeing day.
And so now it comes as a bit of shock for them to suddenly discover this industry can spit you out pretty fast, and we’re not the golden boys and girls that we may have imagined ourselves to be.
There is a lot of luck and timing in an aviation career and that is beyond our control.
What I wrote before referring to the good times, still applies now to the bad times, “We don’t create the supply-and-demand employment metric, we can only position ourselves to gain from the climate at the time.”
I won’t be surprised if we soon see people paying for type-rating, and basally working for nothing to get hours. These are the folk you’ll soon be competing against for work, and as much as they will be ridiculed by their peers, depending on your level of experience, you may have to join them or take a job outside aviation for a while.
Aviation will boom again in years to come, and then go bust again. Make hay while the sun shines, but don’t get yourself into a financial position of being dependent on a stable salary at any time during your career. Good luck!
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Not a surprise really, but the sun is setting at SkyWest.
Hello,
I am writing to let you know that SkyWest can no longer offer or renew E3 visa sponsorships. I know this is disappointing to everyone, as the E3 sponsorship has been one of our most successful investments. This is not a reflection on your performance or contributions to SkyWest, which have been invaluable.
We are ending the program because SkyWest can no longer demonstrate we are facing a labor shortage and need to recruit foreign pilots. In order to obtain an E3 visa, SkyWest must certify that the E-3 worker will not adversely affect the working conditions of U.S. workers, including their hours, shifts, and benefits. Due to massive unemployment caused by COVID19, SkyWest cannot prove that re-upping a foreign pilot on a new E-3 visa will not impact the hours, shifts, and benefits of a similar U.S. worker.
We want to give you this information now so that you can make future plans. When your work permit expires, SkyWest will place you on administrative leave for 90 days. This allows for travel and other privileges to remain intact. Employees can also pay for benefits through COBRA (medical, dental, vision only) during this time. Your employment will end after this 90 day period, but you will be eligible for rehire if immigration and labor circumstances change in the future.
This news is not what anyone hoped for but our team is committed to doing anything we can to assist you during this transition.
Sincerely,
I am writing to let you know that SkyWest can no longer offer or renew E3 visa sponsorships. I know this is disappointing to everyone, as the E3 sponsorship has been one of our most successful investments. This is not a reflection on your performance or contributions to SkyWest, which have been invaluable.
We are ending the program because SkyWest can no longer demonstrate we are facing a labor shortage and need to recruit foreign pilots. In order to obtain an E3 visa, SkyWest must certify that the E-3 worker will not adversely affect the working conditions of U.S. workers, including their hours, shifts, and benefits. Due to massive unemployment caused by COVID19, SkyWest cannot prove that re-upping a foreign pilot on a new E-3 visa will not impact the hours, shifts, and benefits of a similar U.S. worker.
We want to give you this information now so that you can make future plans. When your work permit expires, SkyWest will place you on administrative leave for 90 days. This allows for travel and other privileges to remain intact. Employees can also pay for benefits through COBRA (medical, dental, vision only) during this time. Your employment will end after this 90 day period, but you will be eligible for rehire if immigration and labor circumstances change in the future.
This news is not what anyone hoped for but our team is committed to doing anything we can to assist you during this transition.
Sincerely,
The sun has set everywhere in the US for Aussies sadly. Mates still there at a couple of airlines/cargo operators tell me they are being told (or are under the clear impression) that no more Visas will be forthcoming anymore due to issues getting government approvals. And that is for the ones who aren't furloughed come October.
Horrible times, leaving the US to unemployment and uncertain futures back here in Australia. I know for myself I had to pretty much start over again when I came back here and that was with a full time gig of which I am now stood down from.
I hope everyone lands on their feet, so sorry to hear this news.
Horrible times, leaving the US to unemployment and uncertain futures back here in Australia. I know for myself I had to pretty much start over again when I came back here and that was with a full time gig of which I am now stood down from.
I hope everyone lands on their feet, so sorry to hear this news.
LW et al,
This turn of events with visas for Aussies was fairly easy to predict as the extreme circumstances began showing themselves. But it's sad nonetheless to see it actually happening. I hope those affected will keep the forum community informed about they end up in this mess. It's hard to see a quick recovery from all the reaction to the virus.
This turn of events with visas for Aussies was fairly easy to predict as the extreme circumstances began showing themselves. But it's sad nonetheless to see it actually happening. I hope those affected will keep the forum community informed about they end up in this mess. It's hard to see a quick recovery from all the reaction to the virus.
The ones who came over on E3’s circa 2016/2017 are doing okay. They have enough seniority where they’re being largely untouched by potential furlough numbers, and probably keeping their captain slot.
Just depends on when you came over.
Just depends on when you came over.
I truly hope for the guys and gals there that something changes before then.
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The ones who came over on E3’s circa 2016/2017 are doing okay. They have enough seniority where they’re being largely untouched by potential furlough numbers, and probably keeping their captain slot.
Just depends on when you came over.
Last edited by Bodie1; 4th Jun 2020 at 08:21.
Sounds weird. A buddy of mine just had his E3 renewed about a month ago. Even if they furlough half the regional he’s at he’ll still hang on to his captain slot.
Another one had a new E3 issued just recently for a fire fighting helicopter gig.
Last edited by havick; 4th Jun 2020 at 04:29.
Given the current climate of unemployed airline pilots desperate for work in the US that is going to be a hard sell to make, don't imagine citizens will take it too well when they find out they are being furloughed so a temporary Visa holder can keep their job. He/she might have been lucky at whatever regional they are at to get paperwork done in time as the documents are usually issued up to 6 months before the actual renewal it's self, most probably well before COVID hit.
I'd dare say fire fighting chopper pilot is more specialty gig that doesn't have as many qualified guys as 121 pilots so that wouldn't fall under the same scrutiny.
I believe it only became a sweeping thing in the last 4 weeks or so via USCIS for guys trying in the future, in layman's terms the airlines essentially have to prove by renewing Australians they won't be taking a job a US citizen can perform or be disadvantaging locals.
Given the current climate of unemployed airline pilots desperate for work in the US that is going to be a hard sell to make. He/she might have been lucky at whatever regional they are at to get paperwork done in time as the documents are usually issued up to 6 months before the actual renewal it's self, most probably well before COVID hit.
I'd dare say fire fighting chopper pilot is more specialty gig that doesn't have as many qualified guys as 121 pilots so that wouldn't fall under the same scrutiny.
Given the current climate of unemployed airline pilots desperate for work in the US that is going to be a hard sell to make. He/she might have been lucky at whatever regional they are at to get paperwork done in time as the documents are usually issued up to 6 months before the actual renewal it's self, most probably well before COVID hit.
I'd dare say fire fighting chopper pilot is more specialty gig that doesn't have as many qualified guys as 121 pilots so that wouldn't fall under the same scrutiny.
Little solace for the ones about to get the bullet. At least some are still okay and might see out the other side of this.
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Sounds weird. A buddy of mine just had his E3 renewed about a month ago.
I just had a fresh initial E3 approved today in Melbourne with no issues. It appears that there have been no changes on the government side in relation to pilots being on the skills shortage list for VISAs at this stage.
C.C
C.C
Last edited by Captain.Crunch; 11th Jun 2020 at 04:24.
Forgive me if I should already know this about your circumstances but you mention recently getting an "initial" E3 visa. Does this mean you now have a job dependent on an E3 waiting for you in the US ?
A case of the bureaucracy lagging behind the reality perhaps?