Qwmtn,

Interesting comments on life in the US.
I lived and worked in California and Nevada for a number of years, and I have got to say that you live in a gorgeous part of the country.

You are absolutely correct about nationality having nothing to do with how good a pilot one is.

Flying all over the US with a number of operators, I can recall some bloody good aviators and some interesting times.

Not to mention some of the most liberated women I have ever met!

Ahhh the good old days......

Just as an aside do you guys have a career path into mainline Continental?

Military aviation:
Lowest Kill ratio of 20 to 1 in aerial combat says it all.US pilots are the best(they have the best training,the best aircraft,the best everything).Up against their nearest competitor,the RAF,the kill ratio would probably drop to 5:1 but we're unlikely to ever test that theory.
Civil aviation:
Flying started here.We've been flying longer than anyone else on the planet.Our airlines are huge and our safety record is second to none.Licensing standards are adequate but you need much more than an ATP to get a real job stateside.Type-rating standards are the toughest;the 4 hour oral to gain a type-rating is far tougher than the multi-choice questionnaire favored by some.

Thats the generalization;in reality there are just good pilots,average pilots and bad pilots.And all countries have their fair share.

Tommy Turbine, Yes there is a "flow through" to Continental, but it was negotiated in 1997 and unless you are lower than #800 on the seniority list the flow through will probably expire before you get to flow through. I think it is up for re-negotiation in 2002, so who knows, anything can happen. CAL, COEX and SWA are the three great American airlines to work for. generally the people who work for these are happy to be there. That says a lot.

"Liberated women," ha!, yes, I totally agree. The totty is definately rampant, but as for having a nice cup of coffee and enjoying your homelife and your kids, this place is botz. Porn stars have their place, but I really don't want one for a wife!?

As for what Upgrade is talking about in terms of a "real" job you need more than an ATP in the US, I have no idea. I got hired as FO on the ATR 42-320 for COEX with 954 total time and 160 MEL. Commercial multi instrument/ CFI. I'd call FO for the 3rd largest short haul major airline (the US DOT defines a "major airline" as one with revenues over some large number and COEX qualifies) as a "real job..."

It's a great time to be a pilot.

WWW: Welsh pilots are Fabulously Flatulant.