State of the industry in the UK

[BizJetJock]

The are flight schools over there, there are air taxi companies, right?

Actually, no. This is why the CTC-type route started before it became the monster it is.
There are flying schools around, but compared to the number of f/o's the LCC's needed a few years ago there is an insignificant number of instructors.
The overheads of running an AOC in Europe are so high that it is virtually impossible to survive running aircraft smaller than BizJets, and the operators are mostly looking for higher experience in f/o's than the airlines do.
The end result is that the route that I and so many others used to get into aviation just does not exist any more in Europe, there are not enough light GA jobs to supply the airlines with fodder for the RHS.

[OutsideCAS]

there are not enough light GA jobs to supply the airlines with fodder for the RHS

And also sadly anyone coming from this background is also overlooked in favour of a new 200hr cadet who supplies an additional revenue stream for certain LoCo's.

[taxistaxing]

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? I'm aware of couple of instructors who have recently got jobs, one with Suckling airways and one with Whizzair . Both experienced guys with thousands of hours, and aged in their 40s.

I'm embarked on the modular route myself and wondering about options for the future (accepting at the moment there probably are none!).

[oompa loompa]

heading the other way...

I'm planning the opposite - my wife is American and we're thinking loading the wagons and heading west.

Hobbs1982: Any advice you might be able to give me? what's the jobs market like over there at the moment?

I have 2800h, 2400h on the RJ85, all RHS. And...before I get flamed - I didn't pay for the type; I just lucked out early on. Though I'm not sure I'm that lucky right now, given the dearth of operators of the type.

[His dudeness]

The overheads of running an AOC in Europe are so high that it is virtually impossible to survive running aircraft smaller than BizJets, and the operators are mostly looking for higher experience in f/o's than the airlines do.
The end result is that the route that I and so many others used to get into aviation just does not exist any more in Europe, there are not enough light GA jobs to supply the airlines with fodder for the RHS.

100% correct. I donīt (really) blame the guys who pay their way in, I blame the authorities. JAR and EASA could have made the licences last a lifetime. JAR and EASA could have made TRs paid compulsatory by employers. JAR and EASA could have stopped MPL.

Instead they aim to destroy any operator under 4-5 aircraft and head towards criminally long duty hours in order to save the airlines personell.

Now that is all in all what I call successful lobbying by the employers side.