Pilot shortage in USA
 

It has been reported that there is a massive pilot shortage in the USA with as many as 20,000 pilots short by the end of this year . Some airlines are so desperate that they are recruiting pilots from Australia already . But it’s at present a long drawn out process , this will change .
I think that if will only be a matter of time until pilots are granted fast track visas to the USA . Southwest, united , American are cancelling flights all over the place due to a crew shortage .
something will have to give .

There is certainly a move within the US industry to lobby the Govt to approve fast track visas for qualified pilots. Understandably, ALPA is strongly against it, but ultimately the policy will be implemented. No timeline on it, but I wouldn't be surprised by the end of the year.

i want to but i only have icao cpl-ir

Jesus oriental flyer, your news is way out of date. They typically recruited only Aussies externally in the US on the E3B visa I think it is, but now there are options from any nationality, but it's better to be ex Cathay and 747 rated, obviously.

:ok:

Bring it on.

Let's give crappy pathetic a healthy serving of eggs, all over their chops.

Any US job is a right hand seat with right hand seat pay

> 45-50 y forget it

Part 135 operators I.e business/corporate jet, allow direct hire into the left seat. Plenty of jobs on offer with attractive schedules and basing options.

Not really. You would need PIC hours on type on a business jet plus possible a type rating. When you later want to join the airlines back to square one.

Not quite right STW. Plenty of part135 operators offer type rating to the right candidate to go straight to the left seat of a biz jet. Also once you have 1000 hours PIC under part 135, you are now eligible for direct entry left seat in the Airlines, part121. If your looking for direct left seat on a wide body, then that’s not going to happen but regionals and LCC’s are offering direct entry Captain with huge signing bonus, you need 1000 hours PIC part 135 or SIC part 121. They are desperate for pilots if you can get the right to work in the US, you’d start work tomorrow.

Ok, I stand corrected if that is true.

Would you mind sharing which airline is offering direct entry captain positions and a bonus payment on top??

https://www.skywest.com/skywest-airl...entry-captain/
https://boards.greenhouse.io/breezea...obs/4984329003
Breeze Airways is actually sponsoring foreign pilot visa applications and actively hiring Australians under the EB-3 visa scheme. But it’s right seat until you get 1000 hours under part121

Thanks, did not know that.

I still think it is probably financially unsustainable, but it is an option.

There are no DEC at anywhere other than the regionals. The pay there is decent because of the bonuses, but you will not be going to the left seat at any of the operators of larger aircraft.

Even some senior Captains might consider their future at CX, versus even FO pay at US majors
especially now when would be holding left seat in a couple years anyway.

Boxjockey,

Can confirm ECAM 321 is correct.

That is true desperation!! Some of the worst pilots I have ever flown with. So bloody negative and miserable. That said, they are fun to drink with.

At least we weren't the butt of that age-old gag "you know the crew of a Cathay aircraft are poms when the engines are shut down and the whining continues!"

That is incorrect on both parts. No 135 Operator will put you left seat of a jet unless you have plenty of PIC time on type. Insurance requirements and industry safety certification.
FAA regulations require 1000 hrs SIC under Part 121 aka Airline operations.
135 PIC does NOT count towards the 1000 unless it was “scheduled” 135 Operations.

121.436
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-1...-121/subpart-O

I'm certainly no more clairvoyant than anyone else but I wouldn't be lickin' my chops over career-destination positions for expats at US carriers just yet. Admittedly, the situation here is a bit of uncharted territory but it's a complex puzzle with too many moving pieces (and political influences) to say what'll happen too far in the future.

And Spirit, Frontier, etc. may not be representative of what are career-destination spots in my view...and no, I don't want to debate that. Spirit and Frontier appear to be having some serious attrition issues at the moment ( and the Big Six aren't) which seems to indicate I'm not the only one to hold my definition of "career-destination" airline.

I will go out on a limb far enough to say necessary seats will be filled and airplanes will be flown regardless. I'd just be very surprised to see the likes of DL, UA, AA, SW, UPS and FedEx hire other than US citizens or green card holders.

Just a random opinion.

Not sure if it makes any difference to the point you were making, but the section of Part 91 to which you refer is from Subpart K, Fractional Ownership ops...and not some rich guy who has his own jet and operates for his private purposes. I'm too lazy to research the quoted Part 135 section.

Actually not true. I myself joined a 121 operator (non regional) last fall as a DEC in a large aircraft and expect to make $240-280k year one (no bonus). I have had my GC since many years though and have prior time in US operations.

FlyTCI,

Interesting. Would you be able to reveal your employer as an example for others who might be able to do what you did ?

Having a green card puts you on equal footing with US citizens where airline employment is concerned. So, it may not be representative of what an true expat may face.

The salary at non-majors is just too low for a good life in the US. And if you manage to eventually join the majors you need to accept a right hand seat again plus time plus junior bases..

Might be a great opportunity for low seniority / young guys from CX, but I doubt attractive for any captain..

Anyone who disagrees should put numbers on the table.

That all depends on your definition of a good life and what you feel is a good QOL for your self and family. Living in the US is not for everyone but increasingly neither is Hong Kong. I agree, for CX captains, right seat at a US airline might feel like a step down for them but for others it might be an improvement. All personal preferences, it’s just interesting to see what possibilities are now becoming available for foreign pilots in the US.

Totally agree

I would potentially reveal myself to potential colleagues (although it’s unlikely any of them are here) if I did, so I prefer not to. Lets say tenacity, networking and a bit of luck got me into a spot which could turn out to be very good long term.

My initial path was getting married to a US citizen some 15 years ago, who I divorced seven years later. I worked for a US 135 operator before going back to international flying for a non US company which ended just before Covid and then I was out of a job for two years before getting on with my current employer. 1000+ hours of 135 jet PIC meant that I met the 121 PIC requirement and I already had 1500 hours in the type I was recently hired on (which did not count towards the 1000 hrs as it was not operated under N reg).

Foreigners will need to spend a minimum of 1000 hours as 121 SIC (or 1000 hrs 135 jet PIC) for them to be able to upgrade, so none of them will slide directly into a left seat. However, with some of the Captain bids at the legacies going as low as 2.5 months on property one technically could be in the left seat as soon as the 1000 hr requirement is met. That would most likely be on reserve in NYC though, not ideal for most. But, those who are willing to work hard can make 200-250k or even more even in the right seat of the bigger LCCs and majors after a couple of years. Yes, the US has become a very expensive place to live over the last two years, but if you can’t make it on mid 200s then you need to talk to a financial planner.

FlyTCI,

Understand.

The rapid upgrades at a couple of legacy carriers that became news recently are likely flukes. These folks will be lucky to hang onto those spots if/when the first economic hiccup comes along. They only got them because the people senior to them didn't want them, likely for the reason you mentioned (perpetual reserve in NYC is a fate right up there with burning in Purgatory).

Glad things have worked out so well for you.

It's amazing how intelligent you sound, when you throw in a little Latin for good measure.

Thanks bafan.

As someone who is following the international job market much more closely than the average American pilot I strongly caution my friends and colleagues about foreign pilots coming into the US job market and potentially bringing down the currently good conditions US pilots are experiencing. The same conditions which have taken them so many years to finally bring back to respectable levels. Once greedy managements get a whiff of it, and some already have, you’d better watch out as it can be used against the current pilot group as a worst case. Obviously it won’t happen at a union shop, but at a place like mine with no union, my job can quickly go from great to sucky. I would like to think the management of my company won’t go that route to lower our compensation, but there is already work happening on getting foreign pilots onboard which does me a bit nervous. I know of other US pilots with vast experience of OCONUS who share my fear and who is also trying to educate his US peers who are less in tune with the topic.

It’s nothing personal against non US pilots, I fully understand the allure of the current US pilot job market and I am very grateful that I have access to it, but it’s a dog eat dog world out there and one can never be too casual over something potentially affecting your livelihood in a negative way.

Not all 135 PIC counts. Has to be 135.243(a)(1) PIC so turbojet, or with more than 10 seats, or multi-engine in a commuter operation (read: Cape Air). In effect, it has to be an operation that requires a full ATP to count towards 121 upgrade.

STW
 

You sir are the perfect CX cuckold.... Appropriately dense enough to believe the BS you spew :rolleyes:

This may be of interest. Just in from AVweb:

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/...cancellations/

Hear Hear.

(what Flex88 said)

Just so you know- factually incorrect as quite a number of captains from CX have headed and are off to the US.. something to do with pennys bay quadrupling in size in a matter of months, gps tracker bracelets and a 12 hour day for a Taipei turn somehow not adding to a particularly high quality of life and that’s without mentioning having kids in HK..

Garbage Sam. As a former CX Captain now working for a non-major US outfit, I suggest you widen your research.

I currently earn just shy of my wonderful POS 18 CN salary, but my family’s QOL has increased ten-fold.

And I had to go back to the RHS.

I’m not in a junior base.

So do I understand you correctly: you are in the RHS of a non-major and make the same as a CX cpt ( in the region of 20 after tax?) I am genuinely curious, no offense. And what is your career plan? Will you seek another RHS at a major or stick to your current airline?

I suggest you re-read POS 18, a CX Capt does not earn 20k USD after tax.

Unless you got a DEC at Atlas, or Omni I couldn’t see you making that much and that would even be a stretch. Eastern you def wouldn’t , nor Global X or Breeze.

Keep guessing.

On the 7th I can show you my pay check of $25k for March if you like. Yes, I flew a lot of hours in March (16 over min guarantee) since we are short on crew just like all the other US 121 carriers, but because of dropped and pay protected trips and working a couple of extra days that is my total paycheck with 13 days off. Won’t happen every month but I will quite easily make 20k+/month going forward. My February pay check was $22.7k.

Not trying to brag here, just adding truth and reality to those playing down what you can make at US carriers in 2022. And I am making far less than some of the boys and girls are making at the big players, but I am personally very happy with what I have and I make sure to appreciate it.

Thanks for your input and perspective.