eightythree

I have recently moved to Sweden and will most likely have my FAA ATPL validated in Europe within the next two years. I would very much appreciate any information regarding realistic flying opportunities for being based in Sweden once I have completed the process. I have 2700 Total time, 700 turbine, 500 multi-engine but almost zero multi-crew time.

Thanks in advance.

jackx123

I doubt anyone will hire you unless you have a JAR. See below for conversion.


Aviation - Transportstyrelsen

eightythree

Thanks for the help. Actually, my question is more centered around what opportunities I can expect once I have a JAR. I have been in touch with several FTOs and am planning to begin the conversion process shortly but I guess I would just like to get a little clearer picture of what I will be getting myself into before I go all in. It is definitely not an easy or cheap process and I thought it might be nice to hear from some people currently in the business.

aozc

Well, at the moment the prospects of a job is horrible in Sweden francly speaking. Even worse if you don't speak Swedish. Most of the handling communication on the ground is in Swedish so most companies require a fluency in Swedish.

Most job openings have several hundred applicants per position and there are many well experienced chaps and girls waiting to go home so it's a tough market here at the moment, hopefully it will get better in the near future.

dg808c

I no longer fly in scandinavia but I would guess one of your best options would be DAT.DK or some kind of business flying. But it is a tough world in scandinavia so you could be wasting your money on conversion training......but I guess you already know this. I doubt the situation will improve in Scandinavia the next couple of years soooooo

to be honest there are a lot of guys just like you working as handler at crappy companies and at airports so make sure you can spend the money and get away even with no flying job.

sorry, but the facts I guess.

eightythree

Thanks guys. I appreciate you speaking the truth. It's not what I wanted to hear but definitely what I need to hear.

As I continue to learn Swedish and establish myself here would you happen to have any tips as to opportunities I could explore sans flying which would allow me to utilize my experience and stay within the realm of aviation?

daytrade

To begin with, welcome to Sweden! Good choice

I remember flying at SAA(situated in Västerås, about 1,5hr from Stockholm) that there were lots of english speaking students flying there. Some of them went straight on to instructing. I dont know if thats what you are intrested in, but with your experience you'd most certainly get a job if that's what you wanted. My experience of Sweden and swedes is that, in general, we are very openminded to english speaking people.

My personal opinion, from a former PPL- and CPL students perspective, is that it's only an advantage with an english speaking instructor, since most of the pilot jobs are found on the international market...

Commercial Flight & Aviation Training - Scandinavian Aviation Academy

FI-A

I second the above opinion. Sweden's pilot population is small and hard to get in to and your best bet would be to get involved with instructing at the above mentioned school. Regional airlines etc prefer their pilots to speak a scandinavian language whereas saa has lots of foreign students coming here, making your english skills valuable.