Questions on relocating from UK to USA and potential pitfalls…

[PIELORD]

Dear All

I’m hoping that you’ll be willing to take some time to share your views on some questions I have. I’m considering relocating to Florida, to further my flying career from the UK. It would be my aspiration to fly for a charter company or small airline flying to the Islands etc.Therefore being in a position to enjoy the Floridian climate and fly commercially without having to relocate all across the USA working for the regionals.

I completed all of my flight training in the USA and have FAA ratings and licenses. It would be my intention to work as CFI until I had gained the required experience to be eligible to apply to suitable employers. I can (hopefully) apply for a green card through marriage to my American wife.

My questions are; As I'll be a non US citizen would employers be discouraged by this? In addition to my first question, I have a Masters Degree in Business Administration, but do not hold a Bachelors or Associates degree, would this discourage potential employers? The third concern I have is that by time I have the green card and experience to apply for the type of work I mentioned, I would be nearly forty years old , again do you feel this would be an issue for employment?

I would really appreciate any feedback,



Regards

[TheBigD]

No green card, no job.
Age is not an issue. It's about your flying skills, personality, and contacts.

[fescalised portion]

Pielord

I took a very similar path to you.

I got all of my FAA certs in FL, then went back to the UK and applied for the greencard through marriage to my US wife (who lived with me in the UK). This process took a year.

We then moved to Boston and I started flying for a regional (American Eagle). The training was very good and it gave me some great flying experience, but dealing with reserve system and the crappy QOL was just not for me, so I lasted for a year and went back into aircraft maintenance down in FL. I really wanted to get back in the air again and after 3 years of putting my name out there to various different jet owners and corporations, I finally got the break I was looking for about 18 months ago. I started with a local company flying a Falcon 200 and have just been typed in a 604. My TT is 1200hrs and I am 41. I also do a bit of PT flying in a King Air 350.

IMO, there is a lot of opportunities out there, especially in FL. You just need to promote yourself and mix with the right people and it will happen for you. Jobs are available, but typically if it is advertised somewhere, then you will have a lot of competition for that position. Aviation communities, i.e. airports, are a close knit group. Everybody knows someone, who knows someone. You get what I mean? It takes time to establish yourself in these communities, but if you make a good name for yourself instructing, eventually you will meet the contact that leads you in the right direction.

[PIELORD]

Dear FP,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with me. I'm reasonably encouraged!

Dear BigD

I appreciate you contributing.

[Long Haul]

Not being a citizen will not count against you. As long as you have the right to work in the US, it doesn't matter where you were born. A Masters degree is better than a Bachelors, so you are in good shape there, too. If you wanted to work at the commuter airlines, I would say that they would prefer to hire someone a little younger, but they are going to be desperate for pilots in the coming years, in my opinion. The "flying to the islands" type jobs are very much "not what you know, but who you know" so I don't think that age would matter there at all.

Good Luck!

[PIELORD]

Thanks Long Haul ..I appreciate you taking the time to share your views.

[Catans]

Pielord,

All the positive comments aside the main problem still exists:

How are you going to get the right to work and live in the US? That is the first problem you have to work on, the rest will work itself out.

Operators will not train anyone who does not have the right to live and work in the USA due to TSA regulations. Also, keep in mind that no airline (FAR121 carrier) will hire anyone without an FAA APT.

[PIELORD]

Hi Catans

My wife is an American Citizen. So I would be applying for a green cardthrough marriage. I accept this is not a certainty; however the major issue I foresee is that she does not have a US income at this time. This is because she is here in the UK with me at this moment, and so would not meet the financial requirements for sponsorship.



I appreciate you posting.

[Catans]

Well then the major issue is taken care of, at least now you have a real opportunity to go to the US.

Good luck.

[RRAAMJET]

Hi Pie...
I'm a Brit living in the Keys flying long haul for one of the 'big 3'...

My advice:
You have a MUCH better chance than most I've seen here in the last 13 yrs in making your dream come true, because you've married a local.

Get a plan together: she needs to work with the Embassy to start your sponsorship, yes you need financial support proof. You need an ATP.

The good news: timing excellent, we have very few pilots younger than you (FYI), 74% retire in next 15 yrs. That's about 6000 in our airline alone.

Put a definative plan together and work it through. I see no major roadblocks for you compared to many here.

Cheers

[PIELORD]

Hi RRAAMJET

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and views. I appreciate it. It sounds like the move to the US has really worked for you!

I'll get cracking with your suggestions!

Regards