I was wondering what the current status (economic) of the airlines in France is like. I'm in college now completing a degree in professional aviation with a minor in French, so was thinking about working in Europe after the USAF. Thanks!

Je vous demande, comment sont les compagnies aériennes de France (dans un sens économique)? Je suis un étudiant d'aviation dans l'EU et je voudrais travailler en France après ma retraite du armée de l'air (USAF). J'étudie français (mon français est TRÈS mauvais maintenant, mais je vais devenir meilleur) aussi. Merci en avance!

well,

like everywhere else in the world, France is suffering from the costs of fuel and from the economic recession.

One of the things that is said to french students is the importance of their english level so they can work as expats, as the french pilot market isn't the best in europe.

If you're thinking of Air France, you need to know that you need to be fluent in french and need to be the holder of a european community or swiss passport.

If I were you I'd rather try the UK and avoid the taxman by living in France...

Good luck

Cheers

Thanks for the reply. Really, I don't care where I'm flying as long as the work environment is safe, I just wanted to work in France since I've always loved the language and culture since I was little. The UK sounds nice too, especially since I don't need to learn a second language. Oh well, hopefully the industry will get better. I've like 20-30 years until I'm in the airlines anyway .

Jordan,

You can work in one country and live in the other one...

Americans are used to travel long distances to go to work. This won't change much for you.

Just as an example I think that London is only 2 hours away from Paris by train. Perhaps even less.

Geneva is 3.5 hours away from Paris, again by train or 5 by car.

So you might even be able to work in your native language and enjoy the french culture, wine and cheese

Cheers

You can always go to Louisiane, there are still 7% of french speakers over there and you will still find lots of french cheese and wine to buy

More seriously, you'd better join the US navy/ US Marines so you will be able to apply to the best airline in the world: FedEx
They are likely to open a base in CDG for some of their lucky pilots.

I alreadly live in Louisiana haha . But the percentage of french speaking people here is much lower than you would expect, and I' ve only met one person who is a native speaker. I'm already planning at least a 20 year carreer in the USAF...but who knows, I'll just have to wait and see I guess.

I like the idea of working in France or living in France and working in Europe also,

I am 47 and holder of EU passport, Live in the US now - flying turbo props at the moment, not jet time but my total time is 3200, 1000 multi... My french is fine - more fluent speaking than writting.

Any ideas on companies to apply in Europe? I don't have the JAA yet...


Thanks !!!

In France : comment est ton Francais ??
Without speaking french , as close to impossible as you can get .
More generally you have the licence problem (like me ) .Depending on the types flown you might be able to get a validation (1 year ) if an operator wants to employ you on a specific type you are rated on . Otherwise (and anyway after 1 year ) : 14 exams ...to get your JAR (or EASA now ??) plus flight test ...
There's also a few N-registered airplanes lurking around if you can find contacts (hard I guess ) .
good luck

Mon français, ça va. mieux parle que écrit mais avec l'aide de l’ordinateur (spell check) ça marche,

Aller travailler en France, c'est juste une idée pour le moment mais je suis mariée avec une française et on pense rentrée un jour... Je vois qu'il me manque l'expérience turbine et gros avion, je pilot (commence maintenant ) un metro III 16000 poids maxime... mais c'est un ligne aérienne... je pense que dans un an j'aurai 1000 heur de vol dans cet avion, pas grande chose mais au moins ça me fera 4000 heures an tous, 2000 bimoteur. Je vais commencer a me renseigner pour la conversion a partir de ATPL

Merci !