FAA CPL or EASA ATPL to work in HK, please need help
 

Hi!

After looking over most of Pprune post, i'm still missing some information.
I'm looking for a reconversion in aviation. I want to be able to get a position as SO/FO in Hong Kong, Macau or China.
As i'm almost 27, i want to do it as quick as possible. Time is against me.

Some friends recommend me to do an ATPL others just a CPL.
I'm not really sure which road i should do.
Any advise would be great.

I was thinking to do one of those 2 roads:
I have an european passport.

1) FAA MEIR CPL
I read in some post and flight school it can be done in 8 to 12 months.
After my CPL i will just apply for every position in the region. But what i'm not sure, is how does pilot in HK do their ATPL? Before or After the 1500TT?

An option with this road, after applying to SO Position, is to convert my FAA CPL to an EASA ATPL.
Would it help me in any interview? or i would just waist time and money?

2)EASA ATPL
For economic and time reason i would start with an FAA PPL.
I would build my course such as below:
- FAA PPL: Around 40h flying
- EASA ATPL in Europe or in the US, not really sure yet. And not sure if i'm capable to do e-learning.
- FAA IR: Around 40h
- Hour Building: minimum 50h PIC on IFR + 80h as i need at least 250 hours to postulate to Cathay Pacific SO.
Go back to Europe:
- EASA PPL conversion to hang my CBIR.
- MEP
- CBIR
- EASA CPL

I think it would take me 18 to 24 months to get my ATPL.
I will have soon my FAA medical exam class 1. And will start to budget and check flight school.

I'm open to any info or anybody who is looking also to start a CPL can contact me

Thank you

The EASA licence is a better and more excepted licence. The FAA licence is, however, a lot easier and quicker to gain.

Same situation but mine is caas atpl or faa.

I am not sure how does Cathay for example, does it. Do they just look at the license alone with the hours or they really look at how hard is it to gain the license.

If just purely license i believe FAA far better way but really need some expert to advise.

Also which license, CAAS IR FAA, is more acceptable on a global scale like in asia or middle east?

Thanks

Hi guys,

There are a few things to consider. FAA makes it easier when it comes to academic studies. In EASA, the ATPL theory are 14 exams, even if everyone will tell you that you can get it, it's not a joke. The amount of time and study you will have to put in are considerable.

I don't believe that the EASA licence has a better reputation than the FAA one, but that's just an opinion.

if you consider the US for your trainings, the Canada is also an option, the full course is quite straight forward and affordable. Canadian licences are the easiest to convert into FAA.

Good luck to you.