A few things. The merger might mean the end of our schedule dropping / rebuilding ability which is probably the best in the industry. That very thing is keeping a lot of people here.

ORD, DTW and DFW are due to be shrunk quite considerably. That will kill upgrade times in those bases and boot some people out. All three of them are also major hubs for major airlines, which all (at the moment) have faster upgrade times than Spirit. It's pretty easy for someone living in one of those bases to bounce.

The majority of people leaving are FOs which means they need to make new FOs before they can ramp up the upgrades. So as it stands, no one is upgrading quickly anymore unless they can convince new FOs to stay, they are not doing much to address this, which is making more FO's even more keen to leave.

Spirit Airlines also looking for A320 Pilot - First officer (They will provide E3)
See the ad on Seek AU A320 First Officer - No type rating required

Spirit Airlines is the largest Ultra Low Cost Carrier in North America with a current fleet of more than 170 Airbus aircraft and planning to have 293 aircraft by 2027. Due to increased demand and growth, Spirit is actively recruiting Australian nationals under the E3 visa. This position with Spirit allows for you, your spouse and children under the age of 21 to obtain an E3 visa and migrate with you to the United States.

• Spirit will cover the full cost of your FAA ATP conversion
• Spirit will cover the cost of your A320 type
• Spirit will provide the necessary documentation for your E3 visa

This is a full time position leading to an eventual command. Our most junior captain has been with Spirit for less than 4 years. If you are successful in the interview process and offered a contingent offer, the Spirit team will help arrange your visa, license conversion, FAA ATP written exam, FAA ATP, and A320 type ride.

We understand that moving to the US on the E3 visa is a big step. As such, Spirit will run a webinar using Microsoft Teams with our E3 specialist providing answers to the many questions ranging from remuneration, benefits, license conversion, visa processing, captain upgrade, followed by open Q & A.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard the term ‘command’ used in the USA. Must have been written by an Aussie for Aussies. You’d get some funny looks if you were on an overnight and said, “I start command training soon”.

Well...that's a pretty clear statement.

Here's the original ad:

https://www.seek.com.au/job/56726972...b7b0cd29ca0967

If you meet the minimums (I don't) and don't have comittments in Australia you'd be stupid not to apply. 320 f/o with command in like 5 years.


Also random question: Is there anything that could stop the cargo carriers from offering positions that enable pilots to live in Australia by offering lines commencing in Australia or Asia?

First of all the list is not very long. Secondly, plenty who must be offered a chance to go back, will never go back for a variety of reasons including already being employed.

Of course not. Up until recently FedEx had a base in Hong Kong. Although there are no Asian / Australian bases at Atlas, many Australian pilots have chosen Atlas because the potential to commute from Australia is much higher.

Can you get your FAA medical in Aus without holding a current CASA Class 1? Or without an FAA ATP/CPL?

Yes and yes.

The biggest problem with this is having to comply with Australia’s onerous and horrendously complicated employment laws, not to mention tax laws. Unless it makes financial sense to do so, no airline would choose to open an Australian domicile. Personally, I wouldn’t expect it to happen any time soon.

This Ravn ad appeared at the top of the stack today. Reading between the lines, it's aimed at E3 candidates who've been flying in a US Part 121 operation for the magical 1,000 hours that allow a captain spot. So, "...air carrier experience..." must be Part 121 ?

"...2500 hours in a fixed wing aircraft, of which 1000 hours will be multi-engine turbine flight time, and 1000 hours total flight time will be air carrier experience..."



https://jobs.flightglobal.com/job/14...mpaign=general

Here’s an idea. Because CASA is all about safety an all. …. It would make sense to have the same Part 121 requirement here……

Casa doesn't need that requirement because the time to wait for any sort of desirable command is about a decade. :E

:D................................................

Although, you will find DEC into these jobs that are below acceptable conditions.... that is the point.

You do realize that even the regional pilots in the US are banking more than most Aussie mainline pilots?

LCC…
 

The LCC like Spirit, JetBlue, Frontier etc most definitely are banking more than most Aussie mainline, airline salaries in Australia considering cost of living here are basically for a better word..absolute CR@P!

US 10 year Regional Captain at PSA (one that is taking Aussies according to previous posts) on about $140k AUD. Some bonuses but the biggest ones are if flow through to AA.

Mainline Oz? Well dependent on carrier and fleet but with 10 years service you’d be making more than that.

The ignorance, arrogance and stupidity of Australian, skygod pilots. When was your last improvement of conditions?

How long does it take to command in a jet in Australia/USA?

What is the per hour rate at Qantas, Virgin, Spirit, AA, UAL, Delta, what's your min guarantee?

What do your reserve/rostering rules look like? Can you swap trips? What are the rules surrounding roster building?

What does your super/401k look like after 10/20/30 years? Can you retire at 50/55/60 in Aus v USA?

What did the top FedEx/UPS Captain/FO earn last year, 2 years ago, 5 years ago?

Can you commute? Is your commuting company supported? Do you have KCM in Aus?

What does your seat lock look like? What are the rules surrounding seniority and seat lock look like?

And more importantly, do you own your RV6/7/8/9/10/14 prior to retirement?

Sadly No.

a 737 VA as a 10 even 15 +yr FO does not have that high a base -Prior to Bain yes, circa base $157K year 3 FO. Let alone makeup the last 2 years of lost income. Weren't US pilots paid continuously during Covid.
​​​​​​$130,065 VA 55 hrs MCG - $175.50 hr productivity

Good questions, but you forgot the most important one...

What does your seniority do for you in reverse? Last I heard A380 capt was the most senior position in Aus, yet they got booted out first when the **** hit the fan...