In my Indoc about 14 months ago there were 3-4 guys that were 63

I’m flying in Africa, Single pilot, single engine, turbine, IFR... but not using my FAA License for that. However I did my last FAA check-ride / IFR renewal in November, in the USA, although it was just in a C-208 Simulator. I have a single /mulit-engine FAA license, and a current FAA medical.
I didn’t know there was a paper license, had the plastic one since 2005.
7,000 hours total time, but only 500 multi-engine / multi crew (twin otter).

That’s amazing they are taking chaps in the 60s! But I suppose the young chaps don’t stay any longer...I guess they just get some jet time and move on.

Thanks for all the info folks....I’ll look into it more after New-Year stuff get sorted!

I can't remember when they made the switch from paper to plastic but it was within recent years.

Sounds like you're good to go if you want to be regional bait. Your age is more likely advantage than hindrance.

Hi, Does anyone know if an Australian degree makes you eligible for the 1000TT requirement or only USA approved schools?
Emailed Skywest and no reply.
Cheers

Bumble,

Only THESE US schools are FAA approved to make people eligible for rATPs:

https://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/...ority_List.pdf

I'm not sure whether Envoy sponsors the E3 visa, but looks like things are getting desperate over there. Sign on bonuses are now up to $45K USD if you have previous airline experience.

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/n...g-bonuses.html

The majors will be hiring big time in 2018 so I guess the regionals are in panic mode now.

Last time when I spoke to Envoy they said they don't hire on E3s. It's a shame really as I saw them as a viable option.

Does anyone know if there are restrictions for Aussies being upgraded to Capt at all? I vaguely recall reading somewhere that Aussies may be held back or restricted in some way. I presume not, however would like to hear it from someone with a level of insight.

no restrictions on upgrades

I’m an Aussie working at Envoy (green card not E3). The union put the kybosh on E3’s at Envoy, I would have cleaned up on internal referrals otherwise.

No restrictions on upgrades for E3’s elsewhere that I’ve heard of at all. Perhaps you might be confusing the fact that Aussies on E3’s can’t flow through to mainline on the flow agreements with wholly owned airlines. Reason being even though the flow through is contractual, technically you’re starting with a new employer which requires a new E3 visa. No major is putting on or has the need for any E3 visa holders in the US.

Takes about 2-3 weeks, the hold up is usually at the CASA end. Also make sure you pay CASA the fee otherwise they will reject doing the verification.

As for the medical you need an FAA medical to get your FAA license, there’s a few doctors in Australia that can do your FAA class 1.

Bank of America are the easiest to deal with.

Has anyone got any recommendations for health insurance. You can get it after 60 days with Skywest but what about before this. I can get travel insurance, but was wondering if there was a cheaper option.

re FAA verification
 

The Verification is done by appointment with an FAA inspector who then approves it for processing which can take a few weeks.

Once its verified, an inspector usually issues a "temporary" and
then it can take months before the permanent licence or rating is mailed.

Ramjet

Ummmmm totally incorrect.

You only need to meet with at FSDO with a POI if you want a PRIVATE license issued on the basis of your foreign license. This is usually for people that want go on a flying holiday around the US without having to do a Flight test. Totally irrelevant to prospective Aussies wanting to go straight to an ATP.

In the case of going to work for a regional and going straight to an ATP, there is no need at all to have a Private license issued. all you need is the letter of verification of your license (as well as originals of your license) and the minimum ATP experience requirements. The only difference between a US guy with an FAA CPL and an Aussie going into the ATP license test, is the Aussie guy has to have the letter of verification in hand, that’s it!

Once you get the verification from CASA do you send that to the FAA for their verification, or show up for the FAA flight test with the CASA one?

None of the above.

You initiate the verification process by sending in a form to the FAA (it’s on their website somewhere), then the FAA will contact casa requesting your quals/records. CASA won’t release anything to the FAA until you you pay the CASA fee, funnily enough the FAA doesn’t charge you anything for the process.

Then all you need is the FAA letter (valid within 6 months of being issued) and your FAA medical to do ge Flight test. You obviously need your casa original docs and logbooks to verify aeronautical experience is met. These are provided to the testing officer on the day of your flight test.

This is in addition to any TSA requirements for Sim training or Flight training etc.

I went through the above twice in the last two years. Once to switch my Aussie helicopter ATPL to FAA rotorcraft-ATP and then again to switch my Aussie CPL/IPC to FAA-ATP-MEL when I joined a regional after flying firefighting helos for a summer when I first moved to the US.

Ok cheers Havick.
How long did the FAA take to request verification from CASA? If I send the forms simultaneously will that work? (The CASA form says it’ll be returned if there’s no request from FAA).

I think it took about a week before CASA received the FAA request. I would send in the casa form and fee payment a few days after submitting the FAA form by email. CASA will take your money but if you pay casa too early they have a 14 or 21 day rule where if the FAA hasn’t sent them the request you will lose your money and resubmit.

Of course they do... cheers.

Is anyone working for or considering heading over too CommutAir?
If so how do you find the company to work for?

xaos03,

Here's a link to some info if you haven't seen it already:

https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/commutair/

And...in post #378 of this thread, someone said Commutair told him they don't pay sign-on bonuses to Aussies. If that's still the case, it sure goes in the negative column.

Good luck in the hunt.

Cheers bafanguy. Been trying to do as much research as possible, including reading that thread on that forum.
You’re not wrong, although CommutAir has confirmed for me though the sign on bonus is paid to Aussies.
Just trying to see if there are any more positives to fill the positive column...

xaos03,

That's good news about the bonus. I didn't see how they could give it to some but not others.

At the regional level, the plus column needs as much help as it can get ! :D

Under the terms of the E3 visa they have to pay any recipient the same as they would a US Citizen otherwise they breach the terms of the labor agreement (i.e. importing cheaper labor taking away American jobs). This also applies to signing bonuses unless it relates to previous 121 or 135 time.

I think many of the regionals (excluding SkyWest) are very new to this - when I joined it was only SkyWest and PDT offering the E3 visa so many are still learning the rights and wrongs. If anyone experiences similar where they advise during the interview process that Aussies are not entitled to something that Americans are then it might be worth reminding them they can get in trouble for that as it isn't fair to Americans or Aussies doing it that way. If they are found to be underpaying Australians on the E3 they will lose their status which will then impact your employment and visa so it is doing all parties a favor reminding them of their legal responsibilities.

Capt Pay
 

Hey All,

So I can cope with the Co Pilot pay for a few years at a regional but was wondering if anyone could tell me what the light at the end of the tunnel is.

Specifically what is the base annual salary for a Captain in a regional?

I assume two years plus or minus six months for upgrade. Are those numbers about right.

V close to applying, numbers ticking away.

Thanks in advance!

PA

Depending on the state you live in, regional pay can craft a decent lifestyle here. Keep in mind no bond or type rating payment, thats all free at every regional. CA pay is $60 per hour min across the board and only increasing at the moment, some start in the $70's or $80's. Find a tax free state and after deductions your tax rate will be roughly 20% if that. Case of beer $20, gas $1.00 a litre if that.

Caution to the wind though...everything is great at the moment but the pilot industry is very cyclic. Always have a backup plan either in the US, AUS or anywhere.

Yeah copy the cyclical moves..... So that works out to be about $80k base, not too bad. But what are guys actually (and realistically) pulling in?

I saw Havick said $150k (in absolute extremis).

State income tax is something to consider in picking an airline for its bases. There are just a few states that don't have one:

"Seven U.S. states currently don’t have an income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. And residents of New Hampshire and Tennessee are also spared from handing over an extra chunk of their paycheck on April 15, though they do pay tax on dividends and income from investments."

https://www.bankrate.com/finance/tax...r-worse-1.aspx

If you sit on your butt as a captain and deliberately avoid flying and just pick up min guarantee you’re looking at about 75-80k.

Most regional captains probably averaging about 100k. If you monkey with scheduling and work the system maybe a little more. Some places add a retention bonus on top.

Someone hustling and being a check airman (not hard to become a check airman in the current climate), 120-150k, maybe more depending on the regional and what they pay when it’s critical coverage.

Time to captain is basically as soon as you can squeeze off 1000 hours flying part 121 ops. Plan on 2-3 months being checked to line at most regionals before flying 90-100 hours a month.

Thanks ks Havick for the info. Was hoping you were lurking in the shadows when I asked the question.

Obviously not taking the job to be a career cp so wanted to get ground truth prior to making the switch.

Happy to hustle...

By the way Endeavor just raised their rates by roughly 30% which is the new bar. Most regionals (except maybe Skywest) will raise their rates to match in the next 6-12 months

Do the regionals take into account time equivalent to Part 121 when considering upgrades?

Read the FARs in part 121. Tells you exactly what time can and can’t be counted towards the 1000 hours.

Generally speaking no time elsewhere counts except for turbojet pic if your flying is from anywhere other than a US operator.

Here ya go:

see FAR Part 121.436(a)(3)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/121.436

Do some regionals have their own upgrade requirements for hours flown for the specific company that would exceed the FAR criteria ? I think I remember something like that...I think...

SkyWest management just reopened pay negotiations only 7 months after the previous (extremely poor) pay deal was agreed (July 2017). This is due to Endeavor and particularly Republic getting substantial increases in the past 3 months. However SkyWest are run by investment bankers so don't expect Endeavor rates any time soon.

The next 12-18 months regional life will see plenty of movement, many including SkyWest are taking 'street captains' due to lack of guys on property meeting the 1000 hour rule.

Some do have their own requirements but that mostly gets waived because there’s no one to fill the seats at the moment and for the foreseeable future.

I have an interview with Skywest, basically anytime I want to do it.
Unfortunately it seems they don’t pay a sign-on bonus...still worth pursuing, or apply to another?

For an American, it would not matter what aircraft they got on, as they’d just flow onto a Major regardless. I figure for Aussies, we can’t go onto a US Major, so getting time on an aircraft that would lead to more opportunities outside the USA would be more important...I’m keen on the ERJ 175.

Messa has the 175, and pay a sign-on bonus, but I’m told to avoid Messa! Are they really that bad?
It seems they pay heaps more than Skywest, so surely they would be a better option?

MESSA SIGN ON BONUS:
$50,000 Sign-On Bonus

•$22,500 paid after the completion of training*
•$5,000 additional payment for pilots who currently have 500 hours of part 121 flight time in a CRJ, EMB145, or EMB175*
•$2,500 additional payment for pilots who choose the CRJ and currently hold a CL-65 Type Rating*
•$20,000 paid after the completion of Year 3*

If you’re set on the 175 then compass will assure that type. You mayyy get the 175 with Skywest as they’re flying them with Alaska branding now.

For quick hours/upgrade with average pay go Skywest, they also have a good choice of bases.

If you have any ability to get a green card down the track (family/marriage etc) then goto an AA wholly owned that has a flow through to mainline. The pay is reasonable and has the best travel benefits amongst all the regionals. Piedmont does E3 visas but they’re hugely backlogged in training so it’ll take you a while to get checked to line and start building hours towards upgrade.

Mesa is really the bottom of the barrel by all accounts, the fact they hire over the phone says it all. Apart from the fact they fly 175’s they’re comparable to skippers the way they treat their crews. Their pay is the bottom rung in the regionals.

If you can get in with Endevor with an E3 I personally think they’re the best regional (for the time being, until everyone catches up to their contract). They have the best pay, reserve rules and duty rigs (min pay per day etc). I have no idea whether they hire E3 applicants.

Thanks Havick...Compass advertise $73,000 for a first year FO. I can’t work out what Skywest pay in total..would you just go with the highest pays out out the two?
Time to Captain would be about the same with each, I assume?

Compass is less stable than Skywest as they’re a contract carrier just like Skywest. However compass has all their eggs in just two baskets whereas Skywest owns most of their own planes and have them spread out through a bunch of different carriers. Skywest is also larger so over time you will have more flexibility to move around bases etc and you will be more shielded from wins/loss of contracts and bases opening/closing on a whim. Pay at Skywest is probably less than compass in the short term but you will probably upgrade much quicker at Skywest and then make it back up.

Republic airlines is also a good option if they take E3 visas as they run exclusively 175’s for variety of carriers also. Upgrade times are a little longer but dropping.