Opportunities in the US
 

I'm an instructor/charter pilot in Oz with a job opportunity instructing in the US. Just wondering if there were many opportunities over there at the moment.

I'm thinking about going over there for a year or so, just for the life experience mainly, but if opportunities exist that would be a bonus.

Any information or advice would be appreciated.

Thankyou in advance.

In reply to your message, I would like to know if you are taking the job in the US, and if so what are the possiblities of myself filling your position?

I am currently a Grade 3 (Junior) instructor and would like an instructor/charter job, yours sounds ideal.

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Success is a Journey, Not a Destination.

Bullet,

When are you heading stateside? Where is the job? I am going there myself to san Francisco in a week.

My advice is don't get your hopes up about staying there working for too many years unless you plan to study or have a greencard.


http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif



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"..You must ensure you don't cross his nose, give him a shot at you. That is critical!" Malan

weasil,

I'm hoping to be over there towards the end of next month, in Colorado. I think I've got the green card all sorted out with my employer, so with a bit of luck I'll be there for a while and see what happens.

Good luck!!

I have spent the last year in the usa after moving there upon completion of my degree in australia. I am now flight instructing for an aviation college in the northeast, and am really glad i made the move.
It was hard starting out, the biggest obstacle being the big financial side of converting all my licenses over to the us standard.
I completed a us instructor rating over here which was relatively simple, and the us is in such an economic boom at the moment that you can almost pick and choose a flight instructor position anywhere, seriously.

The majors are hiring the most pilots they ever have, which is spilling down to the regionals and the flying schools. All regionals are hiring alot of pilots to make up for those going to the majors. People are being picked up with around 1000hrs total time and 150-200 multi, some going straight into Embraers and Canadairs.

So long as you have the right to work in the usa, i.e green card or working permit, i'd say go for it, the bullet, you won't be dissapointed. Alot of flying work around,(twin work is very sought after, as you'd expect, so that will be a little more difficult to find), and alot of progression to the regionals/majors.

Just make sure you have some savings behind you to start out!
If you've got any more questions, let me know
With regards to the message by Stiff Under Carriage, a bit tasteless mate.

Thanks abroad. That's given me a bit of an insight as to what it's like over there. I don't really have any idea what I'm in for over there, but nevertheless I'm still looking forward to it. I hear the US is very aviation orientated and just the sheer size of everything and the number of people and aircraft over there, must really be an eye opener.

I'll be hoping that the first job is a bit of a foot in the door and other opportunities may present themselves as I get to know more people. As I say I don't really know what I'll be doing, but I'm going to give it my best shot. Like everyone I'll be hoping for a bit of multi time, but I think just the experience of being over there for the year or whatever, will be something else.

I don't suppose you could tell me a bit about what's involved with converting licences etc. I have a Gr II instructor rating, CMIR, and 1000hrs. I've been having some trouble finding out exactly what's involved. I'd like to get as many of the US qualifications as I can, if you think it would be worth my while. Also is there anything I could get done before I come over??

Thankyou in advance for your assistance. It really is appreciated.

[This message has been edited by The Bullet (edited 13 January 2000).]

With your experience, the bullet, you shouldn't have a problem with the licence conversion.
I spoke to the faa a number of times, at length, about getting credit for my australian licenses and ratings. Unfortunately, no luck there, all they did was issue me a commercial single with the limitation that i couldn't take pax or cargo for hire or reward, just a private essentially.

Unfortunately for us we have to sit both the theory and flight exams for everything over here. The theory exams are relatively simple, compared to our australian ones.
The freedom of information act over here basicly means that the faa has to publish any question they might ask you in a theory exam. Therefore there are a number of companies that produce private, commercial and instrument rating question books. It's just a matter of getting these from a local flying school or pilot shop, studying, (learning the questions is probably a better term), and taking the theory test. The theory tests are done on computer and quite a few flying schools have these computer testing facilities. The tests will normally set you back around $70 american.
However, you need a sign off from an instructor saying that you are ready for the exam, just a formality really.

Once you have sat the theory exam you will be able to schedule a flight test with the local faa or an ato--designated examiner,de, they like to call here.
I would suggest finding a flying school or training organisation and explaining your situation to them. They should be able to help you out, and find an instructor to help you through the process. You will probably need some time in an airplane to familiarise yourself with the manoeuvres and procedures they like to see there, so you will probably have to fork out some cash, but hey do it with a decent company and you might get a job offer from them at the end.
To get ready for the flight test it is just a matter of getting to know the many 'differences' compared to flying in australia. It's not hard, just time consuming, and studying the FAR/AIM, (there equivalent of the CAOs, CARs and AIP).
Also the flight test formats are obviously a bit different, and the majority of examiners are big on the Practical Test Standards or PTS. These are performance standards published by the faa, and if you pick up copies of the pts for the licences your going for, they will specify the required knowledge and airwork standards you will need to meet. The pts are available from all flying schools, pilot shops etc..

Pick up a copy of the FAR/AIM and maybe the pts for commercial + instrument rating, and start going through their regs and way of doing things. Flying schools over there should be able to send them to you or take a look at sporty's pilot shop, not sure of the web address.

Don't bother going for your private, jump straight to the comm..i actually did the comm/instrument rating in one go. Flight instructors can basicly pick an choose there workplace here at the moment so i strongly suggest doing one, i'm not a huge fan of instructing but hey, it's a means to an end and i'm learning a helluva lot.
If you do decide to do one, don't bother with these $2-3000 courses you will see advertised here, it's a waste of cash and definitely not worth it. I suggest getting friendly with a decent instructor and you should be able to organise to do a rating for the cost of the airplane plus his or her lunch or a six pack each flight. Alot cheaper, and most of the expensive courses aren't worth the investment - your australian rating no doubt would have been more comprehensive.

Anyhow, hope that sheds some light on the topic for you, let me know if you need any more info. I went through the process last year and know how daunting and confusing it is!

Thanks again abroad, my employer over there is still wading through all the red tape involved with organising visas etc. I don't really know how long that will take, hopefully not too long. Once that's all gone through I'll be over like a shot.

If you've got the time I'd be interested in know how you went about getting visas and work permits, that sort of thing. Is it possible to head over there on a holiday visa intially and then apply for the working visa once I'm over there?? No one in my family and no one I know has ever done anything like this before, so its been a pretty steep learning curve for me this last couple of months!!

From reading you last posting, I take it virtually none of my Oz qualifications will count for anything over there, except maybe the PPL. Will I have to do the whole instructor rating course over there too, even though I've got the rating over here??

Once again thank you for your time. Your assitance so far has been a big help. It's good to be able to get info from someone that's recently been through it all!!

the bullet, with regard to visas, i can't really help you with information there. I am lucky enough to have an american mother, so i have dual citizenship. That's how i am able to live and work here.
I have heard through the grapevine that sometimes employers can organise visas and maybe even long term work permits, but can't really say much, i'm not entirely sure. Sounds like your employer will be able to work something out.

Unfortunately, based on our aussie ratings the faa will issue you with a restricted commercial--at least that's what they did for me, i'm not sure if they are still doing that. It's basicly useless--see my former post.
I haven't found any way around having to sit both the theory exams and doing the flight tests for their ratings. It's a real pain, but there's no way around it i can see. You will have to fork out some cash, no doubt, so be prepared--unless you can organise something with your employer. By the sounds of it they realise you don't have your american ratings, so maybe they would be prepared to help you in that regard.
Cheers, abroad http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif

Thank you for your help anyway. I'll see how I go with it all. At least I now know some of what to expect.

All the best with everything

The Bullet!!

Hey Bullet,
Best of luck with your attempt to move over to the US and fly over there... I too have been trying to do that for over a year now but can't get anyone to sponsor me for the working permit, even though I have considerable turboprop time. Any advice on whom to contact for this issue?
Well, anyhow the best of luck to you.
Jav

I finally got my visa this week. Under the terms of the visa I got I can do my commercial, instructor's rating etc over in the USA however you must not hold any license higher then a PPL when applying and then I can stay and work for up to 4 years as an instructor while completing degree studies part time.

I have spent a long time researching possibilities and everywhere I have asked I have been told that sponsorships are extremely rare in the States. You need dual citizenship or to be married to an ICU nurse who are in demand in the US because she could get you both a greencard.

Have you visited the visa site and read all the types of work permits available? Getting for a pilot would be extremely difficult I imagine having thoroughly read through the legislation and speaking to various officials at the Consulate in Sydney. Just applying for my exchange visa they wanted to know if I had ever expressed any desire to emigrate to the US or had ever applied for the greencard lottery. And I have to have a return date established before I arrive in the country.

I am leaving on wednesday and will continue to post on pprune so email me if you like to hear how I go.

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"..You must ensure you don't cross his nose, give him a shot at you. That is critical!" Malan

abroad,

when you converted your licenses to the US was there only the US$70 fee plus theory and flight tests or was there some greater expense

at the moment i only have an aust CPL (single engine) and hope to avoid the CFI route

I've seen some part 135 operators who look like targets for me

i intend to do my multi and instrument when i get there

is the instrument rating and night hours just a matter of paying the fee and passing the syllabus for we aussies looking at part 135

thanks

Jav,

The job I'm going for is instructing with a flying club of some sort. Virtually all the work will be instructing, but I'm hoping it might be a foot in the door over there for bigger and better things. I've heard progression in the US is much more rapid than here in Australia.

Since my previous postings, I've found out that the job actually has to be advertised over there for ten days first. Then they have to justify their reason for employing an alien (I prefer the term foreigner!!). So there's still only a chance I may get work. It seems they don't like giving work to those from "out of town!!" Whatever happens I don't think it will be easy.

With regard to turboprop contacts I can't really be of much assistance. It was a real fluke finding the contact I did. I wasn't really even looking. It's another one of those right place at the right time things!! Bet you've heard that one before!! I don't know of course, but I think you'd have to take what ever you can get over there, and try and organise something once you get a few contacts over there - at least that's what I'm hoping to be able to do.

weasil, congrats on getting your visa. I didn't realise you didn't have your commercial yet. I think it's a bit easier to get visas if you're headed over there to study/train. Good luck with it all. I'm sure it'll be a terrific experience and I'd be interested in hearing how it all works out for you.

Best of luck to everyone
The Bullet!!

huntsman,

The $70 dollars I mentioned was the usual price for sitting each computer theory exam at the local flying school.
The private, commercial, instrument rating, instructor rating, (CFI), instructor instrument rating, (CFII), and so on, all require their own theory subjects to be passed, which unfortunately means a rather large bill. (The multi-engine instrument add-on rating doesen't require a theory exam)

The flight tests will run up a large bill aswell. The FAA does flight tests for free, but you will find they are now only really doing the flight instructor tests and leaving the remainder for the local designated examiners.
To schedule these guys for an exam will cost you whatever they want, and usually it's quite alot, in the order of 100-250 american dollars--I got charged $250 for my multi-engine instrument rating add-on test, all before I had even started the engines.
So in terms of money required for licence conversions over here, make sure you have some saved!

With regards to the standards, I wrote in another of my posts above, the way I went about changing mine over.
Also put some money away for some flying hours over here, because they do things a bit different to we aussies. It does take some time to get used to their airspace, procedures and manoeuvres required on their flight tests.

With regards to 135 operations, I too wasn't very keen on doing an instructor rating, (very glad I have done so now), however the experience requirements for 135 ops are quite high. I haven't looked at the IFR requirements in any depth recently, but I do know they are still up around the experience required by CASA for the issue of an ATPL.
VFR 135 operations require a minimum of 500 hours total time, with various requirements on cross country, night time etc... I initially looked into doing some VFR 135 charter and fire patrols when I first arrived in the states but unfortunately I didn't have the time then.
I therefore decided to do an instructor rating, and built up my time to 135 requirements that way. I suggest you do budget for an instructor rating, because if you have a CFI over here you can almost pick and choose your workplace and more importantly, you will learn more than you can imagine about all things aviation. I didn't realise how little I knew about flying until I started instructing. Don't get me wrong, I still find it extremely frustrating at times but it is a terrific stepping stone to bigger and better things.

Anyhow, let me know if you have any other questions, cheers
abroad http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif

A potted guide to US work visas (no, I'm not a lawyer, but feel like one after having just married a US citizen!)

J1 for instruction work only..valid for 24 months (believe it can be extended).

F1 for academic studies, ie. 4 year college degree..which would be very expensive! Valid for up to 5 years I think.

H1b for Temporary work permit. Good if you have a Batchlors Degree (or equivalent) and 4 years relevant work experience. Valid for 3 years initially. Can be extended once only. Down side, you're tied to that company.

"Green Card" (actually blue and pink so I'm told!). Difficult to obtain unless you have immediate family in USA, loads of money to invest in a business or marry.

Well said britavia. I have a j-1 however the two year rule does not apply as i have registered the fact that I will be extending it to an f-1 with a 4 year validity. very interested to hear that it might be valid for up to 5 years...I have an interest in staying and and doing some more study for a fifth year.

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"..You must ensure you don't cross his nose, give him a shot at you. That is critical!" Malan

abroad,

by the time i get there i will have over 500 hours and will require the instrument rating and 25 hrs night to qualify for the day VFR 135 ops.

the reluctance to do the CFI is financial only. not enough cash to do all the endorsements/ratings.

as everyone here seems to see there is a lot of opportunity in the states to get things done sooner rather than later with regards to progression.

that's what i'm after.

you said previously that you converted your non-cpl to a real ( for reward) cpl.
how did that work?

email me via profile if you like

Weasil: My J1 was self-funded so the 2 year residency requirement didn't apply. Just got to get to grips with the INS for Permanant Residency thing now!

The faa issued me with a restricted commercial licence, with the restriction that I can not take pax + cargo for hire or reward.
To remove that restriction I had to do their commercial test, (both theory + flight).
These days, the faa aren't issuing these restricted commercials, so you can expect to do the flight + theory test.

I studied the PTS, (see above), and then did a couple of flights with an instructor to get a grip on their manoeuvres required for the test. Scheduled it, paid the DE fee and it wasn't a problem.

cheers abroad http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif