UK PPL Student, moving to US.
 

Hi all,
Context to the question is I am a 25yo UK citizen, approaching the end of my PPL. Next current step is to study for ATPL and further ratings to get a UK based airline role. My girlfriend is a US citizen and is moving to the UK for a few years with me while I finish qualifying and start at a UK airline with the eventual goal to move to the US together. Reading some threads on here it seems like progressing through a UK license first to convert isn’t the most recommended method.

With my current situation is there a better path for me make employment in the US easier when further down the line. (PPL achieved imminently, budget to get further ratings fairly quickly) I would really appreciate any advice at all, and if anyone has gone through a similar path if I could ask further questions I would appreciate that too! Thanks in advance!

flyingtabby,

"...and start at a UK airline with the eventual goal to move to the US together."

I'm afraid I don't have an answer to your question about which path is better for you (I have an unqualified one but I'll keep it to myself. Someone more knowledgeable than I will eventually comment.)

Just idle curiosity on my part but what's your plan for getting the legal ability to live/work here once you're competitive for a US airline ? That's the underpinning of your entire plan.

As it stands now, you'll need a Green Card and as far as I know, there are only 2 ways to get that: win one in the Green Card lottery...or marry your girlfriend. I'm unable to comment on the availability of other forms of visa or whether any US airline will be accepting such visas in the future.

Best of LUCK (not muck :O) to you in any event.

What is your final goal? Move to the US forever and establish a flying career or just fly for a few years in the US and then move back to the UK and fly?
If you want a flying career in the UK then go for the UK certificate but if you want a flying career in the US then marry your girlfriend, get a greencard and spend your money on training in the US.
If your end goal is to stay in the US then why subject yourself to the expense and torment of obtaining a UK certificate first? A "frozen" ATPL means nothing in the US...We call that a commercial certificate.
The initial career paths are handled slightly different depending on which side of the pond you are. The fresh UK pilot may fly a big Airbus/Boeing with just a few hundred hours while the FAA pilot will have to fly smaller planes to gain experience first. But with a few hundred hours you can still get a job in the US flying turboprops or business jets and earn more than you would as an airline pilot in the UK.

1. It’s not considered good forum etiquette to ‘hijack’ someone else’s thread
2. “earn a student visa to live in the USA and attend flight school to get my CPL, then earn a work visa” - how exactly do you envision doing this under Trump 2.0

Tabby - hard to give you an answer w/o knowing how long you plan to be back in the UK and what your future plans are with your girlfriend.

Right now there are essentially no entry-level jobs for most people. There's a massive over production of instructors since 2023 and backlogged employment means incumbents are not leaving jobs. It's taking many months to find an initial CFI job. And anecdotaly student starts are down.

There are no "work visas for pilots." There are no "I've got an American girlfriend visas." If you are married you can become eligible for a green card. Most worthwhile American pilot jobs "require" a degree even if a degree is "not required." Your competition will have one...

If you complete a frozen ATPL program in the UK and fly enough to accrue 1,500 hours you *could* possibly get an airline job in the US once you have work eligibility. You'd be more competitive than "1,500 hours in a 172." Are you going to remain in the UK long enough to do that? This is your ace.

If you get the right to work and an FAA ATP you're pretty competitive. But be aware you won't be eligible yet for anything that requires X number of hours of Part 121 time since "I flew a jet in Europe" is not under the FAA's Part 121 of the Regulations.

Properly planned conversion from UK ATPL to FAA ATP is neither hard nor time consuming. Certainly easier than the other way around.

The only place you have the right to work is the UK. The only place you should train is in the UK. If you are likely to get married, or once you do, if you have an airline job consider working on an online US degree.

You have a lot of "if" pieces in your future. Make a plan. Get smart on the process. Marry for love. Don't borrow lots of money. At least get Private done before going to any "airline oriented flight training." Good luck.

sorry i just joined this forum yesterday what did i do wrong

Just start your own thread and I’d be more than happy to help.
Apologies if I was harsh.

Pprune can be a bit harsh at times. But if you sift through the less helpful posts (often plainly incorrect or fantasy) then there can be some worthwhile stuff. Obviously since Trump the situation regarding greencards and immigration has become less certain. On the other hand if you have a realistic path to being able to work in the US then it is worth seriously considering. To get an idea what life is like if you make it to the major US airlines I would recommend looking at geekontheflightdeck on youtube.

Hi all,

Thanks so much for all of the helpful responses, I really do appreciate the extra information. The main reason I am looking into this path is so I can live with my partner as I do plan on marrying her one day so that would sort the visa aspect out.
Seems the best route for the time being is just to continue my studies/training here build hours and then have to tackle the conversion further down the line should things progress how I hope they do.

Thanks again.

Check all the rules and marry her BEFORE trying to go to the USA - long before Trump US immigration have always been pretty heavy on people claiming they "intend" to get married.

I flew commercially in the UK under EASA / UK CAA and transferred to US FAA. Like the posts above, it's a combination of aviation and life advice. It's great to be in a relationship where you are making plans and looking to the future, but as with being a pilot - don't hinge everything on that and have contingency planning! What does that mean? Have a plan that works whether the relationship lasts (or not). Maybe don't phrase it to your partner in that way!

Given you are in the UK and don't have a green card yet, I would recommend getting established with the UK route. The ATPL exams are not fun but they're not entirely worthless and you'll learn something, and if you can set aside time for them they're not too bad. With a UK airline job, you'll build experience in a way US pilots can't do (they usually need 1500 hours to fly for an airline and you don't). In a few years you'd be able to do the UK CPL / ATPL conversion to FAA which is quite painless - and that opens up the opportunities in the US which are vastly greater than the UK.

That also works with your life plans as there is time for your relationship to develop and possibly marry - then you are positioned for the green card, without forcing the situation to meet the licensing and employment route - which would not be a good idea, I would suggest.

Good luck with it, exciting journey.

Hi there! I am actually in exactly the same situation as you like for like. Also trying to information gather. Main thing I seem to learn is you can't cross bridge E before crossing bridge A, and planning crossing bridge B & C. Basically make the most of what you can in your current position, and try and maximise it every step of the way to make the next step somewhat less painful! Would be fab to be in touch and discuss any learnings on this situation! Comforting to know I am not the only person in this exact situation!