USA vs EU vs Canada training/ career building advice
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USA vs EU vs Canada training/ career building advice
Hi guys! I am making this post just to seek some advice, opinion, and tips from people with experience and knowledge in the aviation world so I can try to make a better choice for my future.
So here is my situation. I am an EU citizen ( from Portugal) but, about 7 years I went out on an adventure and moved to Australia. Been living and working in Oz for the last 7 years and I think I finally am able to afford an old dream of becoming an airline pilot! During the last 2 years, I obtained a PPL with 127h in my logbook and now I am ready for the next step and go all in!
Price for a CPL+IR+ME and CFI are crazy high here in Australia and I would prefer to be somewhere closer to Europe and family, I think I lived enough in Australia I am ready for another adventure.
So I am considering the USA, Canada or Poland to finish my studies, but need some advice from more experienced people about which one to choose.
USA- PROS: Been searching a lot and schools are way more affordable and easier to train, lots of career opportunities, easier to build up hours, and from what have seen salary is better. CONS: hard to get a green card or be able to work in the country, and I don't know if I am being delusional but is it a possibility to work for a USA company but live in Europe? since there are flights between continents could I work in the US and make Europe I living place? it is common for pilots to do it?
Canada- PROS: Almost schools are as affordable as the USA, lots of amazing places to fly to, safe, easier to get a visa, and English as a language(most places) CONS: not sure about career progression, how easy is to build up hours there and progress into the airlines, salary is not as good as the USA I heard and the same problem is it possible in the future to live in Europe and work in Canada is something duable?
Europe- PROS: Close to home! In counties like Poland, the school prices are not so bad from what I have seen( almost every place is cheaper than Australia :P) but still more expensive than in the USA, CONS: due to so many different languages I have a feeling that the market is smaller and to be able to build up hours is way harder, even being willing to relocate to anywhere in Europe how hard is to get a chance in the airlines compared to the USA? it's easy with just English to move from airlines from different countries? how easy is it after training to find a job to build up hours if you are willing to do it all? and salaries are that much lower in Europe compared to the USA?
Sorry for the long perhaps confusing post but aim a bit confused myself and trying to find the best opportunity for my future while being able to stay close to family and mates. really want to hear some of you guys' opinions any help is welcomed cheers!
So here is my situation. I am an EU citizen ( from Portugal) but, about 7 years I went out on an adventure and moved to Australia. Been living and working in Oz for the last 7 years and I think I finally am able to afford an old dream of becoming an airline pilot! During the last 2 years, I obtained a PPL with 127h in my logbook and now I am ready for the next step and go all in!
Price for a CPL+IR+ME and CFI are crazy high here in Australia and I would prefer to be somewhere closer to Europe and family, I think I lived enough in Australia I am ready for another adventure.
So I am considering the USA, Canada or Poland to finish my studies, but need some advice from more experienced people about which one to choose.
USA- PROS: Been searching a lot and schools are way more affordable and easier to train, lots of career opportunities, easier to build up hours, and from what have seen salary is better. CONS: hard to get a green card or be able to work in the country, and I don't know if I am being delusional but is it a possibility to work for a USA company but live in Europe? since there are flights between continents could I work in the US and make Europe I living place? it is common for pilots to do it?
Canada- PROS: Almost schools are as affordable as the USA, lots of amazing places to fly to, safe, easier to get a visa, and English as a language(most places) CONS: not sure about career progression, how easy is to build up hours there and progress into the airlines, salary is not as good as the USA I heard and the same problem is it possible in the future to live in Europe and work in Canada is something duable?
Europe- PROS: Close to home! In counties like Poland, the school prices are not so bad from what I have seen( almost every place is cheaper than Australia :P) but still more expensive than in the USA, CONS: due to so many different languages I have a feeling that the market is smaller and to be able to build up hours is way harder, even being willing to relocate to anywhere in Europe how hard is to get a chance in the airlines compared to the USA? it's easy with just English to move from airlines from different countries? how easy is it after training to find a job to build up hours if you are willing to do it all? and salaries are that much lower in Europe compared to the USA?
Sorry for the long perhaps confusing post but aim a bit confused myself and trying to find the best opportunity for my future while being able to stay close to family and mates. really want to hear some of you guys' opinions any help is welcomed cheers!
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I think your biggest limitation will be the residence requirements… You can get a study visa in the U.S., but it is very difficult that they’ll give you a green card or an employment authorization. I’ve had multiple CFIs who had studied in the US but had to leave the country because they couldn’t secure a legal immigrant status. I’m not sure about Canada, but I guess it is a similar situation. The cost of becoming a commercial pilot in the EU starts at ~€60.000 in the affordable Eastern European flight schools, plus the cost of the type rating, but the European market is far bigger than the Australian one. I might be biased because I intend to build my career in Europe (I currently live in South America where the outlook for becoming a pilot is really bad), but I think your best bet would be Europe.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
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Affordability depends on what currency you're earning in and what currency you'll be learning in.
You say that you've been living and working in Australia, so off the bat, if you come to North America, you're taking a 33% hit to train in the US or an 11% hit to train in Canada when you convert your $AUS to $USD or $CAD. Going back and spending your money in Euros is even worse right now, with a 39% hit. You are better to find out what the difference in flight training costs are between these locations and Australia. Don't just look at the hourly costs or total cost in Australia and the other locations at face value; you have to take the exchange rate into account.
Australia, Canada, and the US have the same basic advantages and disadvantages when it comes to flight training. Training costs are expensive everywhere and are likely comparable when you convert to the local currency exchange rate.
Also, you say that you have the money to pay for the training, but have you also factored in living expenses? Back when I was flight instructing (admittedly almost 20 years ago now), I had more than one student show up, ready to train, without having factored in where they would sleep or eat for a year and a half. They'd tell me I shouldn't worry, that they'll be fine, and then a month later they're asking for a discount that was never given. If you have factored in your living expenses, great! If not, you're likely woefully short on the amount you'll need to do this full-time. I'd take what you're spending now on rent and food and double it if you're moving somewhere else. Living on the road gets very expensive, as you well know.
Finally, and I don't mean to be a tool, but did you complete the PPL flight test with 127 hours logged, or do you mean you have a PPL and have 127 hours logged? Those are two very different scenarios for which you may need additional funds. Admittance to the PPL flight test with 127 hours logged is about double what I remember nominating a student to their flight test, so either you took it piecemeal, or you required extra training - which is not a problem, but is something I'd suggest you factor an appropriate buffer above and beyond the bare minimums - about 50% is what I generally suggest to account for weather days or learning plateaus.
You say that you've been living and working in Australia, so off the bat, if you come to North America, you're taking a 33% hit to train in the US or an 11% hit to train in Canada when you convert your $AUS to $USD or $CAD. Going back and spending your money in Euros is even worse right now, with a 39% hit. You are better to find out what the difference in flight training costs are between these locations and Australia. Don't just look at the hourly costs or total cost in Australia and the other locations at face value; you have to take the exchange rate into account.
Australia, Canada, and the US have the same basic advantages and disadvantages when it comes to flight training. Training costs are expensive everywhere and are likely comparable when you convert to the local currency exchange rate.
Also, you say that you have the money to pay for the training, but have you also factored in living expenses? Back when I was flight instructing (admittedly almost 20 years ago now), I had more than one student show up, ready to train, without having factored in where they would sleep or eat for a year and a half. They'd tell me I shouldn't worry, that they'll be fine, and then a month later they're asking for a discount that was never given. If you have factored in your living expenses, great! If not, you're likely woefully short on the amount you'll need to do this full-time. I'd take what you're spending now on rent and food and double it if you're moving somewhere else. Living on the road gets very expensive, as you well know.
Finally, and I don't mean to be a tool, but did you complete the PPL flight test with 127 hours logged, or do you mean you have a PPL and have 127 hours logged? Those are two very different scenarios for which you may need additional funds. Admittance to the PPL flight test with 127 hours logged is about double what I remember nominating a student to their flight test, so either you took it piecemeal, or you required extra training - which is not a problem, but is something I'd suggest you factor an appropriate buffer above and beyond the bare minimums - about 50% is what I generally suggest to account for weather days or learning plateaus.
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Oh, and really finally....
I think as an industry we all need to take a step back and see the forest for the trees when it comes to the US. If someone is actively looking for a job this very second, I always suggest they go to the US. Take the opportunity to make up for lost time. But you're at least 2 years away from looking for a job. That's a 1/4 of the typical business cycle in aviation, which sees 7-10 year swings. We're about 1/2 way through the current business cycle, meaning you'll be looking for a job right when the cycle is due to end. I know everyone thinks the world is great for pilots right now, because it is. Amazingly so. But it was also very good in August 2001, December 2007, and February 2019.
You'll be finishing up right when the next industry downturn should begin. While I don't expect that there will be massive job losses, given just how short of pilots the industry is, pilot wages will suffer. They will suffer the most in the US as they are so off scale compared to the rest of the world. I wouldn't be too surprised if American pilots are taking a 30-50% haircut between 2025 to 2027. I know that's not great news, and is wild speculation. But it's wild speculation based on 23 years in the industry, two layoffs, and multiple pay cuts.
I don't say any of this to scare you off the industry, but rather as a reality check. This is a great industry to work in, and I don't often feel as though I am really working. But it is a business, and business does not care about your hopes and dreams, your future or your family. The earlier you learn this and plan your life for the unexpected, the happier you will be.
I think as an industry we all need to take a step back and see the forest for the trees when it comes to the US. If someone is actively looking for a job this very second, I always suggest they go to the US. Take the opportunity to make up for lost time. But you're at least 2 years away from looking for a job. That's a 1/4 of the typical business cycle in aviation, which sees 7-10 year swings. We're about 1/2 way through the current business cycle, meaning you'll be looking for a job right when the cycle is due to end. I know everyone thinks the world is great for pilots right now, because it is. Amazingly so. But it was also very good in August 2001, December 2007, and February 2019.
You'll be finishing up right when the next industry downturn should begin. While I don't expect that there will be massive job losses, given just how short of pilots the industry is, pilot wages will suffer. They will suffer the most in the US as they are so off scale compared to the rest of the world. I wouldn't be too surprised if American pilots are taking a 30-50% haircut between 2025 to 2027. I know that's not great news, and is wild speculation. But it's wild speculation based on 23 years in the industry, two layoffs, and multiple pay cuts.
I don't say any of this to scare you off the industry, but rather as a reality check. This is a great industry to work in, and I don't often feel as though I am really working. But it is a business, and business does not care about your hopes and dreams, your future or your family. The earlier you learn this and plan your life for the unexpected, the happier you will be.
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How could you consider the US an an option if you can't get a permit to work there afterwards? Just doing the training in the US does not guarantee that a potential employer will grant you a work permit.
And from what I've heard from the many Canadian pilots who wish to fly down south, it's seldom done.
So I believe Europe is your best option as you have what I assume is EU citizenship.
And from what I've heard from the many Canadian pilots who wish to fly down south, it's seldom done.
So I believe Europe is your best option as you have what I assume is EU citizenship.
