Considering Sweden
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Join Date: Nov 2007
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Considering Sweden
hello guys and gals,
I currently live in the USA and recently married a Swedish gal. We are deciding what is best for our future. To be honest with you guys, we cannot see ourselves moving to another part of the USA besides where we currently reside, NYC. We believe the Swedish work rules, living standards and social services are far better than even the best benefits/service in the USA. I do know that the aviation industry has taken a downturn through the entire world but what are my chances of converting my licenses to JAA and to find a job flying in Sweden. I have an FAA ATP with approx. 5000tt and a PIC type in an E145 and an SIC type in an E190. Im bilingual (English, Spanish) but Im trying to comprehend Swedish (very hard because I cannot associate it with neither English nor Spanish).
How can I convert my licenses? How are the jobs in Sweden? Thank you for your feedback.
I currently live in the USA and recently married a Swedish gal. We are deciding what is best for our future. To be honest with you guys, we cannot see ourselves moving to another part of the USA besides where we currently reside, NYC. We believe the Swedish work rules, living standards and social services are far better than even the best benefits/service in the USA. I do know that the aviation industry has taken a downturn through the entire world but what are my chances of converting my licenses to JAA and to find a job flying in Sweden. I have an FAA ATP with approx. 5000tt and a PIC type in an E145 and an SIC type in an E190. Im bilingual (English, Spanish) but Im trying to comprehend Swedish (very hard because I cannot associate it with neither English nor Spanish).
How can I convert my licenses? How are the jobs in Sweden? Thank you for your feedback.
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Check out City Airline! (City Airline)
Your time on the E145 can come in handy!
Your time on the E145 can come in handy!
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Flying-jobs in Sweden are scarce these days.
That said,...once you have finished up your exams for the JAR-FCL, things might have picked up a bit.
As pointed out earlier, City Airline (GOT-based), are looking to expand.
Initially it will be with a couple of wet-leased Mad Dogs, but most likely, they'll try to use their own hardware as soon as possible.
You would be expected to live in Gothenburg, I s'pose, since it's a local establishment.
I'm pretty sure they'd be interested in hearing from you. Give them a call! They're a nice bunch, from what I've gathered.
That said,...once you have finished up your exams for the JAR-FCL, things might have picked up a bit.
As pointed out earlier, City Airline (GOT-based), are looking to expand.
Initially it will be with a couple of wet-leased Mad Dogs, but most likely, they'll try to use their own hardware as soon as possible.
You would be expected to live in Gothenburg, I s'pose, since it's a local establishment.
I'm pretty sure they'd be interested in hearing from you. Give them a call! They're a nice bunch, from what I've gathered.
Move across the pond.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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It will take almost one year to convert and what do you do in the meantime . Flying jobs in Sweden not that great , the again saying that Ryan are moving in that direction
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Reivax is quite correct I'm afraid. Insider POW, the local expat rag in English is full of whining stories of hopelessness and despair, no matter the qualifications or experience. Without a solid knowledge of the language, both written and spoken, all jobhunting efforts in situ appear predestined to fail on an unseen scale. Most of the working immigrants came here with the job already prearranged, at least in some form - that is unless you're going to seek asylum, which is a bingo ticket.
At any rate, trying to get a flying job in Sweden you'll always be up against scores of natives and fellow Scandinavians (give or take same culture, mutually intelligible lingo) currenly out of job and stashed away elsewhere in the industry or abroad, all eagerly waiting for something to happen (like SAS to start hiring) for years already.
However I did not mean to sound discouraging... Scout the battlefield well beforehand, CV them, call them, have contacts established and paperwork sorted out before you come. Or else, be prepared to be self supporting for at least 2 years after your arrival whilst grappling with the language and the JAA ATPL conversion.
At any rate, trying to get a flying job in Sweden you'll always be up against scores of natives and fellow Scandinavians (give or take same culture, mutually intelligible lingo) currenly out of job and stashed away elsewhere in the industry or abroad, all eagerly waiting for something to happen (like SAS to start hiring) for years already.
However I did not mean to sound discouraging... Scout the battlefield well beforehand, CV them, call them, have contacts established and paperwork sorted out before you come. Or else, be prepared to be self supporting for at least 2 years after your arrival whilst grappling with the language and the JAA ATPL conversion.
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Since you intend to get a flying job you have to, as you said, convert your licenses. That will take some time, but it can be done when you put some money into it.
PM me if you want to know about some schools for doing that.
If you are to learn the language you have your wife as reivax said. And if your out a lot and scouting around and talking to people, maybe doing some parttime studies in swedish you may be able to make a conversation by the time your licenses are done.
The job market is indeed very tough! I wish you the best and PM me if you want some more information.
PM me if you want to know about some schools for doing that.
If you are to learn the language you have your wife as reivax said. And if your out a lot and scouting around and talking to people, maybe doing some parttime studies in swedish you may be able to make a conversation by the time your licenses are done.
The job market is indeed very tough! I wish you the best and PM me if you want some more information.
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Hi I am FO on the CRJ and was looking into the job marked in SWE.
my rating FAA ATPL/JAA 4000 TT time. Current US and Nor passport.
Feel free to email me. Thank you my friend.
my rating FAA ATPL/JAA 4000 TT time. Current US and Nor passport.
Feel free to email me. Thank you my friend.
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Donvag, Finncomm Airlines will operate two E170 aircraft in the near future and they are maybe expanding their E170/190 fleet later next year. FC:s base is HEL (an hour's flight from Stockholm) in Finland. FC has had non-Finnish speaking pilots in the past and may be interested in your Jungle Jet experience. Finnish Commuter Airlines Ltd - Contact information
Currently Finncomm's fleet consists of eight ATR 72-500s, four ATR 42-500s and one E170. They fly mostly domestic routes in Finland but has also some international destinations; for example Norrköping, Tallinn and Vilnius. At the moment Finncomm is the fastest (and only) growing airline in Finland.
Currently Finncomm's fleet consists of eight ATR 72-500s, four ATR 42-500s and one E170. They fly mostly domestic routes in Finland but has also some international destinations; for example Norrköping, Tallinn and Vilnius. At the moment Finncomm is the fastest (and only) growing airline in Finland.
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Foreign pilots with Finncom have been on contracts only, a friend of mine from Fly Niki amongst them. You would be expected to learn Finnish.
Finnish CAA will only validate a non JAA ATPL for 1 year with a JAA initial Medical. Validaton is NOT renewable thus you need to complete all 14 JAA ATPL subject exams add LPC (Licence Proficiency Check or sim check as you know it in US) in the type you fly to be issued an JAA ATPL
Further you need to obtain an ICAO language assesment to level 4 standard. FAA english proficiency does not give you credit.
Hardest part would be your right to work status. As your better half (assumption) is Swedish, this will allow you to apply for a Schengen D-visa or temporary residence permit, that is valid only for work and residence in Sweden. It does not allow you to work in any other Schengen country.
With the present situation with unemployed pilots around Europe, getting a sponsor is virtually impossible.
My recommendations: Find out about the FAA-JAA conversion. Get it done early in the game. Obtain your Swedish temporary residence permit. With that you are legally eligible to work, study and live in Sweden. There are ways you are also allowed to work elsewhere in Europe but the process is too complicated to explain here. We have ust gone through this with my wife, a non-eu citizen so it's all fresh in memory.
Finnish CAA will only validate a non JAA ATPL for 1 year with a JAA initial Medical. Validaton is NOT renewable thus you need to complete all 14 JAA ATPL subject exams add LPC (Licence Proficiency Check or sim check as you know it in US) in the type you fly to be issued an JAA ATPL
Further you need to obtain an ICAO language assesment to level 4 standard. FAA english proficiency does not give you credit.
Hardest part would be your right to work status. As your better half (assumption) is Swedish, this will allow you to apply for a Schengen D-visa or temporary residence permit, that is valid only for work and residence in Sweden. It does not allow you to work in any other Schengen country.
With the present situation with unemployed pilots around Europe, getting a sponsor is virtually impossible.
My recommendations: Find out about the FAA-JAA conversion. Get it done early in the game. Obtain your Swedish temporary residence permit. With that you are legally eligible to work, study and live in Sweden. There are ways you are also allowed to work elsewhere in Europe but the process is too complicated to explain here. We have ust gone through this with my wife, a non-eu citizen so it's all fresh in memory.
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Judging by the standard of english demonstrated by some holding FAA ATP and an "English Proficient" annotation, I think it is a splendid idea not to give any credit for this.
I worked with some Chinese students that had an FAA CPL and they certainly did not posess ICAO level 4 standards.
I worked with some Chinese students that had an FAA CPL and they certainly did not posess ICAO level 4 standards.
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Donvag, being swedish I can only say that the earlier replies regarding the swedish aviation market is correct. Having worked abroad for a number of years I now realise that there are better places than the Peoples Republic of Sweden. The Aviation market in Sweden is a disaster at its best, full of bitter old men and infantile CEO's. Tell your wife she'll have to do without the midnight sun for a couple of years and move south. But whatever you do... do NOT move to Finland. Unless you are a Columbia professor with a taste for linguistic adventure, you're fu
ed!
ed!
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Correct!
SCANDINAVIA consists of Sweden, Norway and mainland Denmark.
The NORDIC COUNTRIES consists of the above mentioned + Iceland, Finland with its self-governing island of Åland, and the Danish self-governing islands Greenland and the Faeröe Islands.
Many finns belive they are scandinavians, but they are not!
SCANDINAVIA consists of Sweden, Norway and mainland Denmark.
The NORDIC COUNTRIES consists of the above mentioned + Iceland, Finland with its self-governing island of Åland, and the Danish self-governing islands Greenland and the Faeröe Islands.
Many finns belive they are scandinavians, but they are not!
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First I fully agree that the aviation market in Sweden is screwed. The infatile CEO's with ever changing family names to avert attention and connection to their (and family) previous escape's are know in the North. Then again Finland is not much better. Having a CEO with gargantuan management experience in running a petrol station is hardly better now is it? 
For what it is worth, the market in Sweden is a lot bigger than in Finland.
As for our language, it is not Hungarian not even half just grammatically related. I do not understand a word of the latter while being fluent in the first. Good mate of mine describes me as a half russian speaking a mongolian dialect
But it is a difficult language and for someone wanting to work in Finland, a must unless it is a Thomas Cook Scandiholigania and then one will be able to get by with any of the Scandinavian languages.
Being Scandinavian? No way. We are Nordic. Any Finn who is confused enough to think he is Scandinavian has either had too many red top mushrooms or Koskenkorva. The saying is: Swedes we are not, Russians we will never be, so let us be Finns.
Good luck on job hunt for everyone.
Hälsningar fron Esbo och Åbo
For what it is worth, the market in Sweden is a lot bigger than in Finland.As for our language, it is not Hungarian not even half just grammatically related. I do not understand a word of the latter while being fluent in the first. Good mate of mine describes me as a half russian speaking a mongolian dialect
But it is a difficult language and for someone wanting to work in Finland, a must unless it is a Thomas Cook Scandiholigania and then one will be able to get by with any of the Scandinavian languages.Being Scandinavian? No way. We are Nordic. Any Finn who is confused enough to think he is Scandinavian has either had too many red top mushrooms or Koskenkorva. The saying is: Swedes we are not, Russians we will never be, so let us be Finns.
Good luck on job hunt for everyone.
Hälsningar fron Esbo och Åbo
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Hi Donvag,
Sweden is much better in aviation market, If I wear you I would definately apply to Swedish companies. And they like pilots from states expecially with lot of flight time Good luck man!
ND
Sweden is much better in aviation market, If I wear you I would definately apply to Swedish companies. And they like pilots from states expecially with lot of flight time
Good luck man!ND
