Which countries can we actually work in?
 

I read a lot of pilots going abroad to find work but apart from europe,where can we (British) actually work? Surely, you need residency or a work permit or something? Do these countries not favour their own nationals. I know people who do it but how is it done? Am I making too much of it? Could i apply to jobs in eg Ukraine or russia? Any help appreciated and excuse my possible ignorance or naivety!!

Alpha

That's a good question, I would like to know that as well!

Yup, me as well. Can a person that did all his trainig in the UK, get a job in another european country without problems or extra costs?

One of the basic things in the european union is the right to abode and work wherever you want. With the introduction of JAR-licenses that became true for pilot licenses as well, so in theory you can work anywhere within the EU. The problem however is that quite a few airlines or even country CAAs require a minimum level of the local language in addition to the usual level 4 english. Which is not a problem if you have to learn at least two (in some cases three) foreign languages during your normal school career as is the norm in many EU countries.

Depends which country and what your experence base is and what you want to do.

European countrys generally are ok but most mainland europe will have a local lingo requirement for low houred pilots. This magically disappears if you have a skill set that they want.

Outside europe generally they have some form of local protection for low houred pilots nicking local jobs. Again if you have a skill set they want you will get the job.

You will find expats in most country's and depending on the country will dictate at what level you will find them at.

First job cpl/ir/mcc no type rating or less than 1000 hours on type/class (when i say Class i mean TP/ Jet/wide body etc, you can get away with having zero hours on type but if you say have 4000 hours on a similar type in the same class and they need DEC's you won't have a problem if of course you are already a Captain) and you won't get touched. Sometimes the company will actually want to employ you but local rules and regs mean that you won't be able to convert your lic to a local one.

Your banging you head against the old problem of nobody will touch you without hours and you have no way of getting those hours.

So if I am born and raized in country A but I trained in country B (both eu) I can go back to A to apply for an airline without conversion costs and exams etc?

Mad Jock

I got 2500hrs TT of which 700 TP. Would I be able to take a job in eg Africa or Eastern bloc countries..or to be more correct...would I be allowed to live in these countries if i got a job. Pointless chasing jobs if there is no chance of me ever bein allowed to work in these countries. Im still confused!!:ugh:

Alph

Use Google or whatever search engine you like, look up the various countries requirements for visas and the like.

eg Botswana Note, this link may not be perfect but it's an example of what's out there.

@fabbe: exactly, except you may have to transfer your license to the local CAA, however that is not a real hard requirement, just makes the job of a future employer easier to renew the license for you.

alphaadrian that sort of hours would be the min starting point. Which type do you have?

Any company advertising in western agency's and or there advert's are in english will look after visa's and converstions etc.

But another thing to think about before you move is the fact that quite alot of the time you will be seat locked. And you will have next to no employment rights.

OK. I currently live and work in the UK (and have done all my life). What would arrangements would need to be made if, say I managed to get a job in the Netherlands for a Dutch based company in regards to tax affairs?

I would like to continue to live in the UK and commute around my roster. Would I still pay income tax/NI in the UK or in Holland?

It would be a bit of a nightmare to begin with but nothing that an accountant couldn't sort out.

You would be still resident in the UK so subject to UK tax and also working for a dutch company so subject to Dutch tax. There is agreements in place for this sort of thing. So you would proberly end up paying the greater amount of the 2 and have 2 tax returns to do every year. And you pay it to both country's.

That situation you really need to go to a tax guru before you even consider doing it. If you start out without a clue and try and sort it out later you can end up having to pay both sets of tax's and then having to claim back while you try and live on 30% of the left over pay.

You are lucky because you are from u.k

You speak the official language in aviation. Don´t cry

You think that you have disadvantages?....to be British....?

Thanks for the reply Mad Jock.

It sounds quite frightening having to pay two lots of tax to start with. :uhoh:

Anybody know where I could get some good tax advice from? Anybody been in a similar situation like to share their experiences. It would be appreciated. :ok:

I don't think this forum will give you much joy to be honest.

The biz jet might be a better place to start.

To be honest my exposure to european tax things was over 10 years ago now and alot of things have changed

Thanks for the heads up Mad Jock. I'll pop over to the BizJet forum.:ok:

Mad Jock

Thanks for the reply. My rating is the lowly J31. What do you mean by seat-locked? Bonded? Or no promotion to LHS?

Alpha

Mate I willing to bet you have been subjected to me as your Captain if you are J31 with 600 hours on type. Fat baldy curse scotsman ring any bells. My brit phone number still works if you have it.

Did you used to look after some rather famous serial murderers in a previous life? Which is why is quite liked flying with you cause you had something to talk about in the cruise.

Send me a pm and I will see what I can sort out. But I ain't promising bugger all.