Would be nice to hear from an expat f/o, if there is one there at the moment. If there is not, it will be soon-for sure. Just saw in an other thread that the rules for expat F/O emerged from Indian DGCA. About half a planet fits the profile. I mean:ugh: flying planet. Good luck to everybody and let's hope there will be shortages of pilots all arround, just like in India. Rises the value a little bit, ha?

You need to have a lot of money to be comfortable in India.
You also need endless patience and tolerance.
I went for a few weeks and was worn down by the time I left.
I can only imagine what spending a year or two would be like for a foreigner.
Don't get me wrong, there was lots to see and do but I was constantly seen as a target for a rip-off.

There are some nice ppruners there though - Bombay Duck for one, who showed me around his city for two days and made me feel very welcome.

So... what's the latest re FO opportunities in India? The agencies seem to have gone very quiet on this front; admittedly, of my 3000+ hrs only 100 or so are multicrew on the ATR but are there any expat opportunities in India?

The 'medium term' isn't too much of an issue... a 6 month contract would be fine!

The news from my agency is that the F/O requirement is being put on the backburner and then will be reviewed.

So no holding your breaths, because a dead Ppruner is no good to anyone!

and its GANDHI for chrissake and nobody gets command at 1200 TT but maybe 1500TT!!

wrong Info!
 

Flying Tiger seems to be anything but one! Facts are screwed up! DGCA does not permit anyone to fly an aircraft weighing more than 5700kgs AUW without an ATP.Minimum requirement for ATP in India is 1500 Hrs.your 1000 Hrs on type are worth it only if you have an ATP.secondly,know the facts about your country beforee tom-toming yourself as Mr.Know-All! :=

NO TO TSUNAMI AID (flying tiger)
 

LYING Tiger should keep up with the NEWS.
Yes India refused Manpower Aid (dont want transparency)....but held their hands out for the Money...their share of the world Bank initial Tsunami relief of US$528.5 million...and that was the tip of the Iceberg of world aid.
Little to show for it today.

US Age 65 will change things
 

Since age 65 became U.S. law a few days ago, conforming with ICAO, it would be safe to assume that the pool of current/qualified U.S. pilots now employed, would effectively shrink to zero regarding any expat flying...they will stay at their respective airline in the U.S...even those past sixty (like me) are now reemployable so long as we don't claim any past seniority rights. My point is that the pool of available expat pilots (particularly wide-body capt's) just dried-up, which should increase the bargaining position of those still in the expat game; contract renewals should become very interesting. Current AI 777 Capt class are virtually all over-60 U.S. former 777 Capt's. None would be there, if not for former age 60 limit.

ALPA
 

I have no personal knowledge here but I assume that ALPA contracts require an age 60 retirement so it may still be a few years until the age 65 rule fully takes affect.

The new law addresses that specifically; airlines are required to make the change with the pilot representative entity, to include any benefit adjustments or ramifications. Many U.S. carriers dumped their entire pension obligation on the government in bankruptcy court, so many alpa contracts have no specific retirement language relative to age. The law is effective on 13DEC07 and implementation is mandated at 30 days. I agree with you that it is, probably, a great time to be a lawyer.

last I checked the requirement was 1500 hrs tt on type for initial command on 737/320.(~june)