UK pilots living abroad (commuting, health insurance, tax)

[High Viz Vest]

How long do you people spend traveling to work and is there a limit to the ammount of driving you can do without it affecting your duty hours?

I was told 1:30 is a maximum for a lot of companies is this true?

Thanks

[captjns]

Commuting nor travel to and from work is not included in your duty time.

[PRNAV1]

I was just wondering if many of you who work out of LHR live way out of the way?

Anything like 2hrs to get to LHR...?

If so, how is it?

Can it be done when you mainly fly short haul or is there ways and means around this?

[Rainboe]

I live 75 minutes out from LHR, 2 hours in bad traffic. I would not like shorthaul any further, and even that is too far for quality of life. Local accommodation will be essential- it is not fair on your colleagues to be knackered when you turn up for work, and exhausted during the day. It's not sustainable unless you stay much of the month nearer the airport, and there is talk the CAA is examining the fatigue aspects of living so far away. Most companies now require you to have an address nearer.

[Don Coyote]

I believe the CAA has the view that:

"Travelling time, from home to departure aerodrome, if long distances are involved, is a factor influencing any subsequent onset of fatigue. If the journey time from home to normal departure airfield is usually in excess of 1 hour 30 minutes, crew members should make arrangements for temporary accommodation nearer to base."

There used to be words to that effect in CAP371, it does not differentiate between short haul or long haul. This is probably why most companies use 1:30 for standby duties.

As Rainboe mentioned if you are doing shorthaul and doing that kind of journey every day your quality of life suffers and you are permanently tired. This affects both your work and home life.

[v1r8]

Gents -

Would it be possible for me if I join BA on the long haul fleet to commute to and from the US ?

I'm a Dutch guy, but my chick is 100% yankee.

Thanks in advance.
V1.

[captjns]

Originally Posted by v1r8

Gents -

Would it be possible for me if I join BA on the long haul fleet to commute to and from the US ?

I'm a Dutch guy, but my chick is 100% yankee.

Thanks in advance.
V1.

You need to ask the guys at BA about their policies on this issue.

[Shuttleworth]

It would be possible. The snag is that you won't have any control over your roster for the first six years or so. The proposition you make would only siut a more senior pilot.

[Hand Solo]

Depends where in the USA. If you want to live on the East Coast in one of the 777 destination cities you'd probably have no problem doing back to back trips and commuting to the USA and you'd probably even get home on some of your trips, albeit for just one night. If you want to live further west then I'd say forget it as a junior pilot.

In terms of shorthaul flying, 2 hrs driving is do-able but not pleasant. You'll need to bid for long tours to cut the driving down, which as a junior pilot will mean long, early tours over weekends, but it can be done. Many of the cabin crew commute from further afield on a daily basis.

[Banzai Eagle]

Hands Solo
Interesting thought - if V1r8 paxes in from the States will he be acclimatised or unacclimatised when calculating his FDP????

[v1r8]

HS -

I live in Denver, Co.

[Hand Solo]

I suppose Denver is doable, although I don't think you'd see too many of them on your roster, I think its a bit of a senior trip on the 777 (3 crew I believe). That said if you don't mind changing flights you could probably work it. Wouldn't fancy it myself!

[EASYOVER]

ANY advise or ideas regarding UK tax,living abroad.

I am looking for some advise regarding tax in the UK. I hear there are quite a number of good folk working for UK airlines (longhaul I assume ) yet living on the continent (France mostly). Can any body out there explain the tax advantage in this ( or is it to escape the weather and expensive housing ?) and if any how this would be achieved, when tax is deducted at source.Any good tips/leads will be appreciated.
Thanks

[Shanwick Shanwick]

Each case is different and everyone is liable, in one way or another, to pay tax in the UK.

I suggest you contact an accountant such as Wilfred T Fry for specialist advice.

[Fly3]

I can endorse Shanwick Shanwick's recommendation. Having lived and worked outside UK for over 15 years but with income still accruing there from various investments, Wilfred T Fry's tax division have saved me from the UK tax man many times. Their personal financial planning division is also ecellent. Check out their website.

[joniveson]

If you just want to know the basics take a look at www.abbeyinternational.com its the offshore side of Abbey National. They've got quite a good info booklet on managing your money and tax positions if you live overseas

[Mr Gammon Flaps]

UK longhaul pilots tax when living abroad

Hi there:

Would any UK based longhaul pilots that are living abroad eg France/Spain, care to comment on what they are doing regarding UK income tax. I once knew a couple of Virgin chaps that were living in France but were only paying minimal UK tax for the time that they were on the ground before doing a flight out of the UK.

I heard Gordie was going to close this loophole. If this system is still allowed, or if you are aware of any other good "schemes", I'd appreciate any tips or contact details of someone ie: accountant, that could advise me.

Many thanks

[millerscourt]

You surely don't think that those who are getting away with it are going to spill the beans!!??

Suggest you contact Wilfred Fry in Worthing for the latest method.

[cornet]

Anybody out there how can send me a PM about that?
Thanks in advance!

[Mr Gammon Flaps]

Thanks Millerscourt I'll give them a call. Have you used them before?