Nice thought - but I find it hard to believe that there would be a need considering the deluge of US applicants they must have. But I'm not in a position to know...

Dont dismiss it that quick. I was recently down at Era in Lake Charles and there were quite a few non Americans there, English guy flying the EC155, a kiwi girl doing her conversion onto the S76 etc. Think I saw a total of about ten non americans there.

Was talking to Ed Washecka their CEO yesterday and he said they are about to start a recruiting drive as they are going to need around 100+ pilots over the next few months because of expansions etc. Might be worth contacting them, like the old saying goes, you have to be in to win.

Ned

Ned,

Was this after you had been at the Titty Bar for a few hours? Unless someone is going out of business down there....huge expansion just does not happen anymore in the GOM. I sure hope they do get to expand...and there is a shortage of pilots down there but with turnover that will always be the case. The cost of commuting is becoming an issue and fewer young folks are willing to live in Louisana or East Texas anymore.

Maybe the fact that "young folk" don't want to live down there is why they need to go on a recruiting drive...

What's wrong with East Texas?

SASLess - Who said they were expanding within the GOM :E

It takes a LOOONG time to get through the visa application program:* . not something that will happen soon I think. They will certainly look at you if you already have a visa, but not otherwise.:(

And how much would that sponsorship fee be?

It doesn't actually take that long to go through the visa application - if you're thinking of the H1B route. Can be expedited and completed within 14 days. I think the standard app. fee is $1k and expediting it is another $1.5K.

Does also depend on allocation of H1b's.

Have a lawyer contact if anyone wants it...

H1b
 

I think you will find that helicopter pilots do not qualify for the H1B visa. To qualify for that visa there are quite specific requirements. Here is a VERY brief guide:

There are 3 main requirements to determine if you qualify for an H1B Visa (specialty occupation):
1) theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge;
2) a bachelor's or higher degree (or its foreign equivalent) in the specific specialty; and,
3) one or more of the following:
- A bachelor's degree (or its foreign equivalent) is typically the minimum entry requirement for the position;
- The degree requirement should be in line with the industry or, the position is so specialized that the work can only be performed by someone with a degree.
- The employer company typically requires a degree (or its foreign equivalent) to perform the job function or,
- The nature of the job duties are so specialized that the knowledge and skills required are normally associated with the attainment of a bachelor or higher degree.


I think you will find that none of this is required to be a helicopter pilot, and as such means we are not eligible for that visa.

Where there's a will, there's a way...

If you have a degree, that's great, it makes it easier. Other than that, you can apply for recognition of prior learning. 3 years experience is equivalent to 1 year of a 4 year degree program. You'd therefore need 12 years experience or a combination of uni credits and experience.

It would not be inconceivable to use other skills in order to make your application for an H1b a specialist job. You'd need to use your imagination in combining your skills into a job which requires specialist knowledge but it can - and has been done. Whether that is appropriate in this situation - I couldn't say - but if they were willing to work with the applicant it is possible.

Green card lottery ( for information )
 

What do you mean by "excluded countries"?

These are countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States during the five years immediately proceeding the registration period.


Just seen this statement published for the first time on the consular web site.

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new...q_visa_iv.html

If your parents were non UK citizens and citizens of a non-excluded country you can still apply for the lottery program... (with a couple of caveats)

Hey Ned, never did ask where they're going to expand - couldn't be Alberta by any chance, could it? (Not that it's in the US of course...)

I think you may find a lot of folks from other countries are being trained or checked out in the GOM to fly for U.S. companies that are diversified in other countries. Not necessarily working in the states.
Also when some of the new guys get an initial VISA to do training its good for a certain period. They can work on that VISA until it expires. Listen to the Radios as there are many accents now working in the states.
Those that I have met are pretty good folks, Welcome....

Era expanding into Alberta?:rolleyes: Whatever next?:oh:

That might qualify as the most brilliant speculation ever posted on PPRuNe - and believe me there have been some crackers!:}

Cyclic Hotline

Why's that? Thought they supported the oil industry?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4649580.stm

i4iq - Not Alberta but a good thought. :ok:

Their plans are a bit further afield :E

PHI hiring
 

PHI announced that is plans to double the monthly hire to 16/month and have trained 100+ pilots by November.

Several reasons, reduce mandatory overtime, and provide vaction coverage.

Questions pop to mind Havoc....

Why use contractors to do "mandatory overtime"....that has never been an issue before...why now?

Vacation coverage....why now....it was never a problem before?

Why double the training pace....that many pilots leaving to cause this or is there some expansion taking place?

If there is turnover....as reported in other places that point the finger at the EMS side of the house as being a revolving door situation....why can the management not find a way to retain people and eliminate the need for additional training costs? Just where are all these pilots to come from? Is there no bottom to the well (as the Bob Suggs School of Helicopter Management endorses) or is the bucket hitting the bottom?

I would suggest the GOM companies for sure....and EMS outfits as well....have a retention problem....not a recruiting/training problem. When numbers along the lines of 30-40 percent annual turnover rate are publicized and a shortfall of about one pilot for every seven positions are known....that says something about the operators being out of touch.

Common sense tells us that each pilot retained is one less that must be identified, recruited, and trained. Maybe the US Helicopter industry could learn something from the US Trucking industry. Exactly the same thing happened there in the past few years but the trucking industry has come to grips with the problem by first admitting to themselves there was a problem.

The modern day HR movement is one impediment to success....and the idea that a file drawer full of Resumes means something is pure dreaming. When one weeds through the piles of Resumes....usually only one or two are of any value since the pilot has already found a job by the time you sift through the stack. Granted....a year or two down the line he might be free again but then he will send you another Resume probably. HR departments should not be doing the recruiting and hiring....that should be left to the Chief Engineers and Chief Pilots...while HR merely sees the necessary paperwork gets completed.

Hiring needs
 

SASLESS

A few notes about the subject and interesting enough the questions you posed are also what the union is also asking.

● Since our major challenge is staffing the medium/heavy aircraft, we have refocused our efforts on hiring experienced pilots who can quickly meet our customer requirements.
● Many of the very experienced pilots in the job market prefer working on a contract basis instead of as a full-time employee. Additionally, these pilots generally have aircraft qualifications for which we are in short supply (thus requiring less time to complete training), and can provide relief for business and customer requirements. This ultimately reduces the need for mandated workovers, and as an added benefit, their presence will eventually open up more vacation slots for our PHI pilots.

I am not sure of this is in response to the unions strike vote (pending release from mediation).