Flying in Japan

[Lakz]

Hey guys.

For some reasons I wanna fly in Japan and I'm ready to do whatever it takes for it. I lived in this country, and I'm missing it to death.

I know that they do hire some westerns, but with thousands hours of jet time. And I'm a way far from it. I just got my CPL-IR-MULTI. I'm barely over 200 hours of flight time...

I know it sucks, and I'd be already pretty hard get any cockpit in the US with this experience. But since I don't really feel like becoming a CFI and bulding time that way, I'm wondering if there are any way for me to fly for hire in Japan as a "low time pilot". It could be skydiving, towing, traffic watch, or whatever else, I don't really mind as long as I fly.

First thing first, how can I convert my FAA licenses to JCAB?


Thanks for the help!

[crj705]

Unfortunately, I believe the answer is no. GA in Japan barely exists and the only way to get on with an airline "low time" is to be a cadet. And the only way to be a cadet is to be Japanese. All of the other jobs require experience.

Unless you can speak Japanese, the only way to convert your certificates would be to be hired by a company and have them walk you through the process.

There is nothing wrong with being a CFI. I did it and the vast majority of other people did it too. And being 100% honest, at this point Japan is an absolute no go.

Good luck with your journey though.

[Lakz]

Do you mean that there are no ways to do the written and flight test in English?

[crj705]

Sure there are exams in English (kind of...some interesting translations), but if you lived in Japan you know the process will not be as simple as just sitting an exam. Your biggest problem will be finding someone at the JCAB who speaks English to explain what you need to do. The only people who convert licenses here do so through their employers so I doubt you will find anyone at the JCAB that would know what you are talking about.

Even if you get the license, without a type or jet time, there are not any jobs available. Would be a lot of hassle and money for nothing.

[ratpoison]

at this point Japan is an absolute no go.

Can you elaborate on that crj ??

[jtr]

Alpha Aviation Co. Ltd.
10F, Mita Ars Bldg. 3-5-21
Mita Minato-Ku
Tokyo 108-0073 JAPAN
Tel:[phone]
Fax [phone]

[crj705]

When I said that at this point, Japan is an absolute no go, I mean that with the qualifications that he listed, there are not any jobs available in Japan.

There are jobs in Japan but they require more time that the OP stated. There is not any kind of significant GA here either so your traditional time building jobs like CFI, flying jumpers, checks, etc. do not exist.

If the OP wants to fly in Japan, I would highly suggest building your time in the US, fly for a regional and build experience. Being that the average age of the expats hired in Japan is, I would guess, at least 40 and the OP is only 21, then he has plenty of time to accumulate experience.

If you really want to spend the time and money to convert your license to a JCAB license then by all means go for it. But at this point though I don't see how it would open any doors here.

[Lakz]

Hmm, sodesuka...

This is absolutely true. GA barely exists in Japan. Once, I tried to rent a C172 in Chofu (near Tokyo), and the rates are insane! About $500 per hour. However, I've seen some skydiving clubs over there. Plus some US CFIs are teaching around airbases. I heard also that there a lot of aerial photography going on in Japan, and some light shuttle/cargo in remote locations.

Yes, I definitely need to build time. The point is that I don't wanna teach, not because I don't like it... More because I'd probably be an awful teacher. The other reason is that I'm young, and I wanna get out of the US. Live the adventure for a few years, you know. I'll have the rest of my life for flying in an airline.

That's why I'm looking for a way to make it more exotic. I know, sounds foolish...

[crj705]

You have your age listed as 21, so you still have plenty of time to make your life exotic. Summer is here now in the US so it is prime time for flying jumpers or banners to build some time. Take the first job you can get doing anything, and try to start getting airline time asap. Delta and Jet Blue are starting to hire again so hopefully there will be movement in the regionals soon.

Give it some time and before you know it, you will meet the requirements to apply to the jobs in Japan. I came out here when I was 26, but you will have to work your tail off before then in order to make it happen. As an absolute minimum, you will need 3,000 hours, about 1,000 of commercial jet time with a type rating.

If you can get on with a regional in the US, you will have good travel and jumpseat benefits and will be able to visit Japan as much as you want in the mean time.

When I was your age (God did I just say that??) I used my travel benefits to the maximum. If I had 3 days off, I was either in Central America or Europe. 5 Days off, Asia here I come. You experience in this career, and I guess life in general, will be whatever you make it to be. If you want to make your life exotic, I think you have options to do that while working on your goal of getting to Japan. Just be creative and enjoy it while you can.

[Lakz]

Thanks for those wise words, and your help.

I'll think about it, and maybe you're right.

Guam could be a compromise.

[crj705]

Fly Freedom Air - Flights, tours, cargo and charter services between Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan and Micronesian Islands

Might be worth a try..

[Lakz]

That's for sure, thanks for the help! I sent them a mail and a resume .

By the way, is that true that in Japan, the aviation grade 100LL is about $4/L or $15/G? If yes, this is insane.

[TokyoJoe]

Quote:
Once, I tried to rent a C172 in Chofu (near Tokyo), and the rates are insane! About $500 per hour.

Rates are slightly less insane if you a member of the flying club. If you fly more than 19 hours a year it's cheaper to join (315,000 yen p.a.)

People often club together to rent and fly a leg each - spread the cost. But it is expensive...

[PerG]

Job in Japan?

Hi,
New here and was also curious about jobs in Japan. Am a bit low on the hours myself. Only about 1600 and of that 1100 on a medium jet. Speaks Japanese, am half Japanese and was raised over there. So I would love to get a job over there. But as far as I know, you need a resident status. Or are there any other way of getting a job over there? Well, besides accumulating 1000īs of more hours? As far as I know, the minimum for ANA is 3000 TT, right?

[paradoxbox]

if you have a degree i'm pretty sure any airline will be happy to help you get a visa. it's not difficult as long as you have a degree. if you don't have one things get more complicated and employers will likely just start looking for someone else who matches their needs from the start.

if you're half japanese though don't you have a japanese passport in addition to your other passport?

[Lemon Drop]

All Nippon Airways (ANA)
ANA SKY WEB - About ANA

Various Contract Positions (Rishworth Aviation)
Air Crew Opportunities - Rishworth Aviation

Korean Air
CCL - Korean Air Recruitment Details

You don't necessarily have to waste any more time & money on license conversions, there are a ton of Asian airlines that are desperate for qualified pilots right now. They basically have no choice but to contract out their pilot positions to foreigners, and they don't care where you live (e.g., you can fly 737's for Korean Air, and live anywhere in Japan).

Just a heads up before you apply, I would generally refrain from saying things like this around other pilots

I don't really feel like becoming a CFI and bulding time that way

There is nothing wrong with the many varied alternatives to building time but when you say it like this, it just makes you look like a slacker/underachiever. I mean no offense at all, but just a heads up. There are a lot of lazy slackers & social-rejects flying airplanes around Asia. For whatever reason, they just dont "fit-in" at home but find their niche in Asia because the local culture/women simply dont understand that they are losers. Someday, you'll see what I mean.

Meanwhile, don't completely discount the notion of becoming a flight instructor because no matter how "awful" of a teacher you think you are, you might actually surprise yourself! Especially if you're really interested & passionate about flying. By the way it will make you a much better pilot too and your Japanese colleagues will respect & envy you. Good luck with the time building, hope the links above are helpful to you in the near future.

LD

[crj705]

Not to be overly blunt. But, there are no "beginner" airline jobs in Asia. They are all going to require experience unless you are a local and hired in as a cadet. The closest I can think of would be a CFI in China at a flight school.

[Farrell]

"By the way, is that true that in Japan, the aviation grade 100LL is about $4/L or $15/G? If yes, this is insane."

Are you sure you lived in Japan?
Elevated prices are the norm. I remember seeing watermelons for 5000 yen a piece in Ito Yokado! That's almost 50 quid.

The problem with Japan, particularly Tokyo is that unless your employer is paying your accommodation - you are going to be floored for expenses.

But the girls!........OH, the girls!!!!!!

Sigh!

[PerG]

The idea of living being expensive in Japan is a bit overrated. The fact is that yes, you can buy a watermelon that cost a fortune. But it is because it is flawless. If you want the same watermelon that maybe have a dent or a miscoloring, then the same would cost the same as everywhere else. And you can also get a decent meal for approx 5$. But I do admit the fairly expensive japanese food is really great :P
And as for my fellow half japanese, I am also trying to find out about jobs. Going through the recruitments agencies requires a lot of experience and it will be contract only and not directly working for the airline.

[The Dominican]

Are you sure you lived in Japan?
Elevated prices are the norm. I remember seeing watermelons for 5000 yen a piece in Ito Yokado! That's almost 50 quid.

The problem with Japan, particularly Tokyo is that unless your employer is paying your accommodation - you are going to be floored for expenses.

That is one area where I think the reputation is greatly exaggerated, yes the rent or purchase price of property in Tokyo is expensive but for the rest is pretty comparable to the U.S. Food is expensive if you go to specialty stores or stores located in certain "areas" that are infamous for their high prices but if you buy groceries at a regular supermarket it is actually fairly cheap and utilities are also not that bad. If you live anywhere outside of the Tokyo metropolitan area rents are comparable to the U.S. a good friend of mine is working with an airline based out of Nagoya and his rent for a 5 bedroom 2,000 sq. ft. home is 1,200 USD. I pay 70,000 Y (about $770USD) for a two bedroom 500 sq. ft.apartment in Nartita and my utilities run about $150 USD/ Month. I cook quite a bit so I am always in the grocery store and I have found that groceries here are not really more expensive than in the U.S. But then again they are pretty expensive in the U.S. as well.