Southwest Airlines pilot looking to move to Europ
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Southwest Airlines pilot looking to move to Europ
I've done tons of research and digging around but could use some fresh info and tips.
Current status:
Dual citizen USA/E.U.
10000+ hours, 2700 Turb PIC on turboprops.
Typed on 1900, SF340, B737 (classic/NG)
FO at Southwest, may be upgrading in a year.
Interested in moving back to Europe, Italy specifically, and would like to know what it's like flying there, and what the job market is looking like.
I am speak French and Italian but don't speak German.
I know I will most prob need to get FAA converted to JAA.
Thanks for the input!
Current status:
Dual citizen USA/E.U.
10000+ hours, 2700 Turb PIC on turboprops.
Typed on 1900, SF340, B737 (classic/NG)
FO at Southwest, may be upgrading in a year.
Interested in moving back to Europe, Italy specifically, and would like to know what it's like flying there, and what the job market is looking like.
I am speak French and Italian but don't speak German.
I know I will most prob need to get FAA converted to JAA.
Thanks for the input!
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For the 737: Ryanair are probably your biggest bet, massive expansion with Italy being key to it, Norwegian are also expanding in Rome I believe, depends on where in Italy you want to be exactly. You'll only need English for those two.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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I don't work for neither Ryanair nor Norwegian. But from my point of view it doesn't make any sense to leave Southwest for those carriers. Even if you might have a chance at getting in as a DEC you would be looking at 110-120K € max before tax. I assume that you already make more than that and pay less taxes in the US. So if you can upgrade in Southwest in a year you would only have half your salary here in Europe. Is it worth it?
And from your Ryanair salary you have to pay your medical, uniform, parking at the airport, hotac for simulators and much more! Even the water on board!
And remember that getting an EASA license needs a lot of studies for the written test!
All the best!
And from your Ryanair salary you have to pay your medical, uniform, parking at the airport, hotac for simulators and much more! Even the water on board!
And remember that getting an EASA license needs a lot of studies for the written test!
All the best!
So you're probably making $160k/year and shortly up to $200k/year.
Good luck finding any job in Europe that pays that much.
You'll be lucky if you start with half of that.
Don't forget the cost of living in europa-land.
You may be better off moving to Europe and commuting.
Good luck finding any job in Europe that pays that much.
You'll be lucky if you start with half of that.
Don't forget the cost of living in europa-land.
You may be better off moving to Europe and commuting.
You don't really mean that, do you? I agree that Ryanair is very far from being the best employer out there and I too would not wish to join them but I would never suggest that a transatlantic commute would be a better option. Maybe (!) if one is super senior in a US major on a long haul fleet doing two trips per month or so then such a commute could work longer term. However, commuting is never fun and money is not everything contrary to popular belief in America.
Get upgraded first and look at DEC after a year or two unless going to a legacy airline where getting on the seniority list is number one priority.
Many pilots in Europe would kill to work for a good employer like Southwest. Anti union, pilot hating Ryanair might be a shock to the system.
Many pilots in Europe would kill to work for a good employer like Southwest. Anti union, pilot hating Ryanair might be a shock to the system.
short flights long nights
I've done tons of research and digging around but could use some fresh info and tips.
Current status:
Dual citizen USA/E.U.
10000+ hours, 2700 Turb PIC on turboprops.
Typed on 1900, SF340, B737 (classic/NG)
FO at Southwest, may be upgrading in a year.
Interested in moving back to Europe, Italy specifically, and would like to know what it's like flying there, and what the job market is looking like.
I am speak French and Italian but don't speak German.
I know I will most prob need to get FAA converted to JAA.
Thanks for the input!
Current status:
Dual citizen USA/E.U.
10000+ hours, 2700 Turb PIC on turboprops.
Typed on 1900, SF340, B737 (classic/NG)
FO at Southwest, may be upgrading in a year.
Interested in moving back to Europe, Italy specifically, and would like to know what it's like flying there, and what the job market is looking like.
I am speak French and Italian but don't speak German.
I know I will most prob need to get FAA converted to JAA.
Thanks for the input!
You don't really mean that, do you? I agree that Ryanair is very far from being the best employer out there and I too would not wish to join them but I would never suggest that a transatlantic commute would be a better option. Maybe (!) if one is super senior in a US major on a long haul fleet doing two trips per month or so then such a commute could work longer term. However, commuting is never fun and money is not everything contrary to popular belief in America.
Present employer has Captains living in Hong Kong, Phillipines, Europe and commuting into their base.
And money doesn't buy you happiness but crying in a Mercedes sure as hell beats crying on a pedal bike.
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How is it a stupid idea?
If the guy/gal is fed up with the USA it's not stupid.
I am fed up with the UK and seriously considering the Middle East. Some would say this is a stupid idea but some say it's a great idea.
My friend works at Easy based in Italy Milan, he loves it. Work is hard but he loves Italy, great food weather and the property he has he would never get here in the uk, access to the slopes for skiing in winter mountain biking in summer and an awesome view.
If the guy/gal is fed up with the USA it's not stupid.
I am fed up with the UK and seriously considering the Middle East. Some would say this is a stupid idea but some say it's a great idea.
My friend works at Easy based in Italy Milan, he loves it. Work is hard but he loves Italy, great food weather and the property he has he would never get here in the uk, access to the slopes for skiing in winter mountain biking in summer and an awesome view.
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As a Captain or F/O?
Being transferred to MXP on the right seat in easyJet doesnt take much time, or can even be obtained straight away if you are lucky with the timing.
Current waiting time for Captains is anything between 5/7 years.
All subject to change, of course (see Air Berlin or Alitalia...).
Being transferred to MXP on the right seat in easyJet doesnt take much time, or can even be obtained straight away if you are lucky with the timing.
Current waiting time for Captains is anything between 5/7 years.
All subject to change, of course (see Air Berlin or Alitalia...).
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head in clouds.
Lets see how many European B-737 pilots would change places with you.
My guess that I'd be 100% of them.
If you need a break from ten legs a day, and never leave Texas.
Then maybe it's time to move on.
But pick somewhere better than where your currently at.
The barista at my local coffee shop asked me if her new hire boyfriend should leave Southwest for Fed-Ex.
I have the utmost respect for the whole Southwest organization.
But my advice was, YES.
That way you could be based in Germany and fly all over Europe and still earn top American wages.
Lets see how many European B-737 pilots would change places with you.
My guess that I'd be 100% of them.
If you need a break from ten legs a day, and never leave Texas.
Then maybe it's time to move on.
But pick somewhere better than where your currently at.
The barista at my local coffee shop asked me if her new hire boyfriend should leave Southwest for Fed-Ex.
I have the utmost respect for the whole Southwest organization.
But my advice was, YES.
That way you could be based in Germany and fly all over Europe and still earn top American wages.
Last edited by button push ignored; 5th Sep 2017 at 16:49.