Will having an JAA ATPL harm my chances with an airline?
 

May sound a silly question to ask but I have always been flying bizjets (Citation Excels mainly and learjets as an F/O) for private operator with strong roots in GA. I am now going to unfreeze my ATPL in the next couple of months as I already have 3000hrs, so im not exactly inexperienced.

Question is that i'm thinking about going into an airline such as Easy for example. With no airline/ heavy jet experience do you think by having a JAA ATPL it will actually harm my application for a job as an F/O? I am under the impression that most airlines consider someone with an ATPL to be a senior F/O and therefore pay them more. Question is does this happen in reality? Do these airlines therefore like to take people with just a frozen ATPL as it costs them less, unless you already have alot of experience in airline ops and heavyjets to offer them, unlike me.

cheers!

If you succeed in your application to easyJet and you have an ATPL, you WILL go straight in as a Senior First Officer.

As you've got no experience on heavier types, your only way into the company is via the TRSS scheme. You will earn less money than a direct entry pilot joining the company with a type rating or more relevant experience, but you will be on a higher payscale then the 2-stripe F/O's.

Thanks for the reply. Question is will the airlines be willing to take me on knowing they have to pay me more even though I know nothing of flying for an airline or flying an airbus for example? Or are they more likely to take the guy with the "frozen ATPL" who will save them 10k because they can pay him less to start with?

I'd doubt that very much.

Having an ATPL is a display of experience however you look at it, and you either meet the CAA's requirements for ATPL or you don't!

Most airlines like to recruit a range of experienced pilot's from ab-initio cadets to fast jet military pilot's. Bear in mind, both of these types of applicant have zero experience of 'airline' operations, but that's why you have line training.

I'd say you have as much chance as the next person when it comes to this.

All the best :ok: