Working in Europe?
 

I have a problem. I am a Danish citizen and am currently living in Denmark after a 4 year tour in the States and because I have been here for a year I have to turn in my Green Card.
Most of the companies in the States require you to have established authorization to work in the United States before applying, but if I reapply for a Green Card I have to move to the States withing 6 months after the application gets approved. In these days you are far from guarantied that you get an interview withing that time limit and there is even less guarantie that you have a job within that timeframe. On top of that every application for a Green Card is to say the least a hazzle.

What should I do? I don't see quitting my well paid job in Denmark before getting another as an option.

My wife is an American citizen and getting the Green Card is a formality, but quite a hazzle. Is it likely any of the companies will accept an application without work permit if I explain that I can get it pretty easy? Anybody else been in my shoes?

Work in Europe (for foreign pilots)
 

Hi All.

I've read LASORS etc. and know how to convert my ICAO license to a JAA/JAR (?) version. But I'd like to know if there's any chance anywhere in Europe or therabouts that work could be found? I've heard most airlines in the UK want you to be a resident first. To get that I believe it takes 5 years even if you marry a Brit. Is it the same elsewhere ? Could one find a good job in a country like Spain, Netherlands or Eastern Europe for example ?

It's not my be all and end all solution, just an option I'm investigating.

Thanks for any info.

you can get UK permanent residency immediatley if you marry someone with an EU passport. This (in my case) allows unrestricted work in the UK only though.
So I am not able to work anywhere in Europe. Most companies I've inquired with will not sponsor...but hey...each case is diff right?
:)

You need to contract an emloyment contracting agency such as PARC, Direct Personel, Brookfield Aviation. They can give you a great deal of information about work permit requirements, employment contracts, immigration attorneys... etc.

Thanks for the help guys

What are your credentials = ATPL?? and type. Hours: Total and Multi Crew Types with 500+ hours on type.

Old FAA instructors coming to Europe
 

Just wondering if there are other people out there with similar experience as me.

I have close to 2000 hours total time and have both FAA and JAA CPL MEP-IR licenses to my name as well as the ATPL(a) theory. However coming back to Europe after been working as a flight instructor for 3 years in Florida to continue my aviation career has proven to be a bit more tricky than I was hoping for.

I have as so many other pilots here been sending out a huge amount of CV's, trying to use my contacts and create a network but so far without much success.

Most of the responce I have received on my applications have been what you all must have experienced, that I need a Typerating with 500 hours on Type or so, but actually at one time i got the feedback that I had too much experience, which I found to be a bit funny, since all I want to do is fly and I guess experience must be a positive when one is looking for jobs, but then again I was proven to be wrong.

What I am looking for is really just to hear from other pilots coming from America with 1200+ hours to their licenses and what their experiences have been finding jobs in Europe.

Have you had to buy a typerating? If yes, did that help you getting the job?
Have you had contacts that have helped you to get you the first job?
Have you struggled like me?
Have you got experiences, good or bad that you would like to share?

My downfall so far must be that even if my total time is quite high only 80 hours of these are multi engine time. I know of at least one company that rejected me for that reason.

Thank you for your participation.:cool:

OK, I'm in the same boat.
ICAO CPL/IR
700 Hours Dash 8-100, 170 hours 737-200, TT 1200.

I unfortunately am not currently working due to a "fall out" with my previous employer, although they will give me a good reference stating "I resigned even though they strenously tried to make me stay as I was such a good guy etc" kind of thing.

I'm looking for a Euro (EFIS) Boeing FO Position. Do I need to convert? I am trying to avoid the JAA IR (and CPL) conversion, although it may be inevitable. I'd happily do a JAA classic or ng type rating though if I can get a job at the end.

Advice required!

If you get a job on type, I think you can do it for a year without converting providing you have an ATPL. This gives you the chance to do the exams and the flight test on your current type.

If you dont have an ATPL then you have to go through the whole thing except your physical training reduces to "discretionary" training for the CPL and 15 hours for the ME/IR.

I think you would need the full ICAO ATPL though. Do a google search for LASORS, the general rules for the UK CAA. I think you want section D. Alternatively email the CAA and ask them, give them all your details. They will probably point you towards LASORS.

You also have to get working rights and if you are Aus or NZ then this (last time I heard) has now reduced to 1 year work + 1 year travel.

ed, i was in the same situation. hang in there. it happened to me and im sure it will happen to you just be patient. i came to europe with close to 3000 hrs and 38 yrs of life experiance. im me for more info.

IMO the biggest hurdle you will have is the stigma attached by some people about Florida flying schools. Have you thought about instructing over here for a bit to build up contacts/experience over here?

You need to get time in UK airspace and do something other than instruction. Air taxi is the ideal. If you do not have the 40 multi PIC needed to do it, I'd suggest you buy some hour building to get it. Aerial survey is another alternative, but instruction? You have probably already done to much already.

Thank you so far fellow pilots.

As you already suggest, I have of course been thinking of getting back into flight instruction, since this would be my way into flying again. However I chose to have a good look around and see what is available out there first.

Now since people are talking about flight instruction and networking, it would be interesting to hear from pilots who actually chose to take this route. It would be interesting to hear what made them chose the FI course instead of maybe a typerating, and how being a flight instructor has helped them to land the first job with an airline or get a foot inside other commercial flying? Or maybe they do not feel it helped at all?

I do not really want to get into the discussion about paying for typeratings or all this debate, however just trying to reveal the opportunities the industry gives to people who have more than 1200+ hours, with a low number of Multi engine hours, by flight instruction.

It would be interesting to hear the stories from people who have had success with their choices, and from people that feel that they are a bit stuck, due to the increasing demand and competition from people who are paying for their training with the airlines to get ahead.

Again I would prefer if this thread could avoid to focus on the issue and debate of right and wrong of buying a typerating, only if that was the way to land the first job after being a flight instructor and getting 1200+ hours.

Once again thank you for your 2 cent.:ok:

Been around the world a few times the last 7 years, came home with FAA tickets and appx. 2300hrs and experience from different continents.

Hooked up with yank registered King Air and fly that every now and then, looks like there a quite a few N-reg planes and not that many experienced (read: with your kind of hours) pilots to fly them in Europe - insurance companies have their requirements, have you thought about the corporate scene??

Best of luck

Where can I find operators flying N-registered aircrafts in europe?

Becoming a Pilot in Europe
 

Okay I'm wondering what is the best route for a low hour pilot to take in Europe? Obviously he/she isn't experienced enough to apply for positions with major airlines....so what options does the low hour pilot have in Europe? Is flight instructing an option? If it is, how difficult is it to complete the required courses and find steady work?

Also, if a pilot has his/her CPL but its an American license, is he/she even qualified to apply for pilot positions in Europe? Woluld he/she first have to convert their licence to even be qualified?

What would your advice be to an aspiring pilot who's submitted hundreds of resumes for job postings he has no qualifications for?

Nothing? From anyone? Can someone at least point me in the right direction of where I might get my questions answered :confused:

Patiens, patients. It may take some time, to figure out what you are after
:8

considering every thread that you have started asks questions on behalf of your husband, i would see it as thread lethargy.

he needs to be asking some of these q's himself. you're not going to be at his interview. i hope he's produced his own CV, and it's not written by you too.

First thing is to check if he/you/both can legally work in Europe.