Pilot Moving to US

[fuelsurvey]

Originally Posted by B2N2

Again, you have to see those in their context.
Were they hired ‘18/‘19?
Simply because it happened under a particular set of circumstances doesn’t mean it will happen under current market.

I'm a new hire still in training. There are new courses starting every few weeks with many new hires having only a few thousand hours in the right seat of an RJ.

our latest course had 6 no shows. Regional are offering their pilots big retention bonuses because everyone is leaving for other airlines.

Tons of hiring now. Get your applications in, you’ll find something very quickly.

[alfaro]

Originally Posted by Kenny

Like everywhere else in the world there are different “tiers” of airlines. I’m going to try to diplomatic and generic here but I’ll probably upset someone and I’m sure others will disagree. For the most part, Legacy airlines like United, Delta and American are considered to be at the top of the pyramid when it comes to where you want to get to. Then Southwest and JetBlue and Horizon followed by Frontier, Spirit….etc. You get the overall idea.

The same applies to the Cargo carriers. FedEx and UPS are at the top. Then Atlas followed by the rest. My friends at FedEx and Atlas have told me that the difference are the FedEx schedules. At Atlas you can be away from home for up to 18 days a month with days off, on the road. So, not really a fit for some one with small kids or a wife, they actually like.

Let me just say before there are howls of “But, but, but”. For some Southwest is a far better fit than a legacy and considered a much more desirable place to go. Also, in no way am I suggesting that if you go to any other airline than a legacy, you’re somehow not as good. We all have our requirements and you go where you want and where you get an interview.

Thanks Kenny, it's good the get the whole pananorma, obviously for someone just starting in US even with some experience could be difficult to find the right spot.

[alfaro]

Originally Posted by bafanguy

Things indeed have calmed down a little bit at DL and they needed to. This from the pilot recruiting page on the employee website acknowledges acceptance of foreign degrees. I'm not sure how long this has been the case but certainly as long as I can remember:

• Graduate of a four-year degree program from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Dept. of Education recognized accrediting organization.
• Degrees obtained from a non-U.S. institution must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. degrees by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

I have seen this before, I already started checking how to validate my foreign diploma. Thanks for emphasize this

[AAGpilot]

Originally Posted by alfaro

Hi, I would like your advise about what is the best way to start my pilot carreer at US. Got a greencard recently, hope to move to Miami.
Current experience FAA ATP -A320 , ICAO ATP PIC ATR 72-600 . Total Time +4200 ( Airline experience) , PIC Turboprop tt 2200. Time on Airbus a320 ( just the hours on SIM for type rating). Have a degree.
What is my best chance? Apply in a Regional, to the majors? or Cargo?
Thanks in advance for your comments.

I would say that you have a pretty good resume. If your degree converts, the engineering background will help too. (Yes that makes a difference in how your application is scored). If you absolutely want to live in South Florida then American, JetBlue, and Spirit should be at the top of your list. I’d imagine you’d get a call pretty quickly from the latter two. If they don’t, then as others mentioned, find some cargo carrier to hang out at until they do. Delta and United are great too of course but again, if living SOFLO is your goal then you would be committing to a life of commuting (which sucks).

Best of luck to you and your new adventure. Out of curiosity, where are you moving from?

[bafanguy]

Originally Posted by B2N2

Again, you have to see those in their context.
Were they hired ‘18/‘19?
Simply because it happened under a particular set of circumstances doesn’t mean it will happen under current market.

Are you suggesting pilots were harder to get in '18 and '19 than they are now so airlines would have been more inclined to consider green card holders back then in an effort to fill seats ? Not trying to pick a fight ( I'm too lazy to fight with anyone), just asking for your frame of reference.

[alfaro]

Originally Posted by fuelsurvey

I'm a new hire still in training. There are new courses starting every few weeks with many new hires having only a few thousand hours in the right seat of an RJ.

our latest course had 6 no shows. Regional are offering their pilots big retention bonuses because everyone is leaving for other airlines.

Tons of hiring now. Get your applications in, you’ll find something very quickly.

Thanks a lot, I was thinking about that, checking if with my experience will be able to skip regional even without 121 hours.

[alfaro]

Originally Posted by AAGpilot

I would say that you have a pretty good resume. If your degree converts, the engineering background will help too. (Yes that makes a difference in how your application is scored). If you absolutely want to live in South Florida then American, JetBlue, and Spirit should be at the top of your list. I’d imagine you’d get a call pretty quickly from the latter two. If they don’t, then as others mentioned, find some cargo carrier to hang out at until they do. Delta and United are great too of course but again, if living SOFLO is your goal then you would be committing to a life of commuting (which sucks).

Best of luck to you and your new adventure. Out of curiosity, where are you moving from?

Thanks for your comment AAGpilot, I'm moving from Honduras.

[fuelsurvey]

Originally Posted by alfaro

Thanks a lot, I was thinking about that, checking if with my experience will be able to skip regional even without 121 hours.

Several of the green card holders I’ve met here have zero 121 experience. The 320 time will be valuable.

[B2N2]

Originally Posted by bafanguy

Are you suggesting pilots were harder to get in '18 and '19 than they are now so airlines would have been more inclined to consider green card holders back then in an effort to fill seats ? Not trying to pick a fight ( I'm too lazy to fight with anyone), just asking for your frame of reference.

Not looking for a fight either lol.
What I meant was the hiring frenzy in ‘19 where they seemed to lower requirements by the day.
By the way for the US markets have a look here:
https://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/
Payscales, base info and all that good stuff.

[bafanguy]

B2N2,

My impression is that '21 and '22 will be no different than '18 and '19. Maybe be worse in spots ?

[B2N2]

Originally Posted by bafanguy

B2N2,

My impression is that '21 and '22 will be no different than '18 and '19. Maybe be worse in spots ?

Over the years Americans have become very adapt at being their own worst enemies.
With a vaccination rate stuck at 52%, TSA numbers still well down from ‘19, several states running at almost 100% ICU capacity.
With the uptick in travel being mostly Domestic I don’t see this “hiring boom” lasting very long.
Personally I think that this is mostly to make up for too many taking early retirement or other buy-outs.
Its a partial recovery not a growth.

[AAGpilot]

Originally Posted by B2N2

Over the years Americans have become very adapt at being their own worst enemies.
With a vaccination rate stuck at 52%, TSA numbers still well down from ‘19, several states running at almost 100% ICU capacity.
With the uptick in travel being mostly Domestic I don’t see this “hiring boom” lasting very long.
Personally I think that this is mostly to make up for too many taking early retirement or other buy-outs.
Its a partial recovery not a growth.

There are rumors circulating that American is trying to hire 2000 in 2022. That would be the most pilots any airline has ever hired in a single year (if in fact the rumors true).

[B2N2]

A number that big would have to be for the entire American Airlines Group including all their “regionals” and not just Mainline.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-ser...ines-group.jsp

[AAGpilot]

Originally Posted by B2N2

A number that big would have to be for the entire American Airlines Group including all their “regionals” and not just Mainline.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-ser...ines-group.jsp

No I’m talking about mainline AA. They’ve made it public that they’re hiring 1000 next year, but recently the rumor of 45 per week has started circulating. It’s an ambitious goal I agree, and there’s no official word on this so it could all be just a rumor.

[Kenny]

Originally Posted by AAGpilot

There are rumors circulating that American is trying to hire 2000 in 2022. That would be the most pilots any airline has ever hired in a single year (if in fact the rumors true).

The problem with a number that large AA, is where do they come from, in a relatively small amount of time? And the bigger problem, does AA have the capacity to train 2000 new-hires in a year?

[AAGpilot]

Originally Posted by Kenny

The problem with a number that large AA, is where do they come from, in a relatively small amount of time? And the bigger problem, does AA have the capacity to train 2000 new-hires in a year?

If history dictates, then about half will come from the military. As for the training capacity, I don’t know but I do know this:

The most AA has ever hired in one year was around 1000. At the time AA had 8 different types on the property. That’s a lot of bidding around by pilots. Today AA has 4 types with very little lateral movement occurring (eg. 737 to A320, or 777 to 787). That takes out a lot of training right there. Next, AA has recently gone from 9 month CQT cycles to 12 months, again taking out a lot of training events. Is all that streamlining enough to push out 2000 new hires in one year? Remains to be seen. Again I’d like to emphasize that the 2000 target is purely rumor right now.

[Sailvi767]

Originally Posted by bafanguy

I know that Delta hires green card holders...and no airline is fussier or snootier than Delta.

Delta has quite a few foreign pilots. Your qualifications put you in line for any US job. Get your apps in to everyone. Sadly the majors are very picky about the application itself so it’s best to use a interview prep service and get your app reviewed before submission. Spirit might also be a good fit for south Florida. Airlinepilotcentral.com is the best place for hiring info.

[bafanguy]

Originally Posted by Sailvi767

Get your apps in to everyone. Sadly the majors are very picky about the application itself so it’s best to use a interview prep service and get your app reviewed before submission.

Truer words were never written. But it's hard to get across on a forum just how important that application is. Every bit of punctuation, capitalization, data, syntax matters. Get help with it...the best money you can spend particularly if coming from a foreign carrier where things might be different.

[B2N2]

Yes I can reiterate that for applications at AA/DL/UA/FedEx/UPS that interview prep and resume audit are almost mandatory.
Ironically they want you to present yourself naturally and honest and yet every Prep Course company is run by former airline HR it seems.

[alfaro]

In your experience which one is the best interview prep service for majors? Is necessary for regionals?