Expectations
 

Im new here and hope this is posting in the right area.
This is my situation. Im 53 with FAA CPL/IR/ME, CFII with 2700TT
and 700 turbine. Im researching the possibility of converting to JAA/EASA.
Im a EU citizen, and would like to move back to Europe from the US.
Open to opinions or suggestions. Am I too old to expect any kind of employment. Would the investment of the conversion be a waste of time and money. I could stay here otherwise and invest it for a better situation here in the US. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...s/confused.gif

Hope I don't sound harsh but you face three obstacles........

Your age - Europe is full of younger folks looking for jobs in their twenties and thirties many with similar or better qualifications/experience.

Conversion to EASA licence isn't easy or speedy - as you note there is a cost to be factored in.

Type rating - if your 700hrs turbine is Challenger or Gulfstream you may get a corporate position but if, as I suspect, it's Cessna Caravan then..........

What languages do you speak? And in what country do you want to settle down?

Sadly your experience is actually an obstacle when it comes to airlines in the UK.
You are not a pay to fly cadet (you have not paid through the nose and have over 200hrsTT) therefore Easy and ryanair are non starters.
You do not have a useful type rating eg 737ng / airbus 320.

Age unfortunatly not comensurate with experience which will count against you

Your last hopes are regionals - eastern, loganair etc or specialist / air taxi
/ corporate.

Finaly time and expense required to convert.

When and if the economy picks up then maybe recruitment will as well which would make you better placed - crystal ball as to when that's going to happen.

US market would seem to be better in that time is more valued.

You are in flying heaven. Why would you want to move to flying hell?
Worse regulations, worse weather and worse job prospects. Thousands would trade places with you!

Thanks guys for being honest. The US is more favorable when it comes to
age and hours. I was hoping to be closer to family in Europe. The problem
here is finding jobs with a livable income to start.But I would have been happy to fly for a smaller company in Europe or even Middle East......

I speak Greek,Swedish and English.
Im open to small companies or even instructing...........

Those hours are in King Airs, CASA 212, EMB 110 and MU-2

The U.S is a dump for aviation. No better then Europe. So what if there is work, when they are all unstable, entry level jobs, where you can make more at Home Depot driving a forklift..

Sorry Strato, it was German i was looking for ...