questions - type ratings and foreign work

[AndoniP]

So pilot jobs are pretty scarce at the moment, yet people are still gaining their fATPLs and type ratings.

I understand some of the anemosity amongst qualified and experienced pilots towards those who pay for their own type ratings. First question - do you think this is the way the industry is going to go eventually? Are more and more airlines going to let people pay for their own type ratings so that they don't have to fork out for it? From a business perspective the airline would save money wouldn't it? They can pay less starting salary as there is no TR to pay for, the employee is wearing that cost themselves.

So you have your licences and ratings and want to fly. Second question - are you generally looking in this country for work? Or are you also looking abroad - disregarding preference for hiring locals in foreign countries?

Just two small questions. Hope they don't seem too stupid.

Andoni

[Bealzebub]

So pilot jobs are pretty scarce at the moment, yet people are still gaining their fATPLs and type ratings.

Yes, but that is because there is no real correlation between training for a qualification and the ability to use it. Optimism often triumphs over reality.

First question - do you think this is the way the industry is going to go eventually? Are more and more airlines going to let people pay for their own type ratings so that they don't have to fork out for it? From a business perspective the airline would save money wouldn't it? They can pay less starting salary as there is no TR to pay for, the employee is wearing that cost themselves.

No, I don't think the airlines that seek out cheaper pilots to occupy the right hand seat, want you simply to pay for your own type rating. They are far more likely to want you to pay for your own type rating with that airline. If they are a TRTO or affilated with another organisation, that then becomes another profit centre. A low hour pilot rolling up on the doorstep with a type rating they have aquired themselves is unlikely to be of much interest to many companies. Notwithstanding the sales opportunity it may afford, many companies (particularly TRTO's) are likely to be very wary of training aquired outside of their own recognised sphere, particularly when it applies to low overall experienced pilots. This is going to be less about simply saving cost, and more about making profit.

Second question - are you generally looking in this country for work? Or are you also looking abroad - disregarding preference for hiring locals in foreign countries?

It is obviously important to look everywhere an opportunity might arise, but you should bear in mind that in many countries it is not simply a preference for hiring locals, it is often the law. Where foreigners are issued permits to be employed it is nearly always for skills where there is a chronic shortage of local qualified labour to fulfill the task. In all honesty there are parts of the world where such skills shortages extend to commercial pilots, but that is normally "experienced" commercial pilots rather than low hour low experienced pilots.

Despite that, opportunities do arise and sometimes in unusual places. All you can do is search them out.