Looking for info on how to become International airline pilot...

[tcco94]

Hello all,

Been here a lot over the past summer so I'm no stranger in here. Most of you probably know I just received my PPL about a month or so ago. Went off to college in Montana, starting my instrument right now, about 10 hours deep so far...loving the Piper Archer A LOT more than the 152 but still love them both.

Anyways back to my core subject...
I've just started college and been thinking about my future even more now. I've always wanted to be a commercial pilot, I'm on track to finish all my training and CFI by the beginning of my junior year, hope to instruct till I graduate and see how many more hours I'll need to start applying for airliners.

I've done tons of research on what I'll need to get hired for an airliner in the US but I've been thinking more and have been thinking a lot about flying for an international airline....

I really want to travel the world, I believe it'd be a lot funner to do it in the beginning of my career at a younger age also.

Pretty much simple question...can you guys provide me some links or anything about international airlines and requirements and such. I'll be graduating with an Aeronautical Science degree so I'll have the education, Part 141 training...

I looked at the link above in this forum but seemed to be for people who are fresh into aviation. I'd be really interested in flying in the U.K. but definitely open to countries in Asia and such. Some Brazilian flying looks really cool also! I've heard the pay can be a lot better internationally and not as hard to rank up and fly bigger planes (just what I heard, could be wrong) but the real reason I'm interested in flying internationally is for the experience. 

Any links, insight would be great.  8-)

[SaultFresh]

Well, I'm in a similar predicament. My end goal is to pretty much end up working for Air Canada, as they do do international stuff, and French isn't mandatory. As far as flying in different countries go, you need to meet their standards (which is silly, because what's the point of the country being a member of ICAO if other ICAO members don't recognize the license). That means a new medical (the difference here between Canada and the US is fairly minimal, but I've heard day-long horror story events for the JAA medical) Different countries do medicals differently I've even heard of psych evals being done. As for licenses, like I said, not every license is recognized, and not all are clean conversions. One of my coworkers had a student from Columbia (had to leave the country for various reasons, and decided Canada was a safe bet). Anyhow, this student was a pilot in Columbia. He had his ATPL, as well as over 4000 hours multi-IFR on aircraft like the 737, and the A320. When he tried to convert his license to a Canadian one, Transport Canada determined that they could only recognize him as a Private Pilot. Essentially, in the conversion, he would have to re-do his Commercial training, his Multi, his Multi-IFR, heck, he didn't even get a night rating out of this :/ Now, of course, the multi and multi IFR stages didn't take very long, my buddy pretty much recommended him after a few flights of each, but still, not cool. A more related story, I work with another guy originally from Iran. He got his Commercial license in the US, decided to come over here to Canada, and was only able to transfer over his PPL. However, not all conversions are that difficult. Depending on the country, and what they recognize, it could be as simple as writing an/the exam(s) and/or doing a flight test. I know that a lot of foreign students learn in the US, obtaining both FAA and JAA licenses, it may be beneficial to you to travel to one of these schools, and do a little upgrading to a JAA license. Some countries (like some in Africa and Asia), don't even require a conversion. I know a guy who went to Africa to fly, hated every minute of it, and came back, and I know two other guys who flew for Susi Air in Indonesia, one of them currently their. Both love(d) it.
So I suppose, you should look in to obtaining the license of the country or region you would like to work (or at least see what needs to be done for the conversion), look into medicals, and learning another language is always a vast asset.
As far as websites listing jobs, I'm sure every country has a good website to use, but this is the only one I know of with various-sized airlines and operations across the globe
http://www.pilotcareercentre.com/

[wifesaysno]

Just be ready for some God-awful entry jobs.
When my dad tried out airlines shortly after graduating all he could get (due to flight time) was flying Beech 1900D's out of Marquette in the UP of Michigan for 2 yrs...he got stuck living up there away from us in a tiny run-down house where Sky Way stuck all the pilots (8+).

So just be ready for that...I hope you both avoid it! You might want to focus more on charter/corporate flying. Nice planes, lots of variety usually, and sometimes much better schedules than airlines.

[expat]

As far as flying in different countries go, you need to meet their standards (which is silly, because what's the point of the country being a member of ICAO if other ICAO members don't recognize the license)./

Your are in principle right, but the problem with ICAO and JAR is that the written in the small print of both ICAO and JAR is that the relevant counties national authority has the last say on any regulation it wants. Think of ICAO and  JAR as mandatory recommendations........ :-/

Matt

[tcco94]

Thanks for the link on those airline jobs. That's pretty much exactly what I was looking for...just wanted to see hour requirements for airliners even though by the time I could even apply for regional airlines I'll have to have minimum 1500 hours and my ATP but still wanted to see some of the other requirements.

As far as jobs after graduation...I know I won't be getting in anything big for years. I'm pretty dead set on the airlines, corporate, or cargo jobs but I'm expecting to instruct for a few years after graduation then I know I'll still be jumping in a twin prop at best getting paid probably under 30k....

On the bright side, at least I've done my research so I know what to expect. I've just been thinking a lot about international airlines and was wondering what the requirements were to jump into twin props or small CRJ's overseas...either way I'm not worried about the pay, just want to get into a cockpit.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful but really confusing....I'll have to try and find some links about how to convert hours and see if I even can...

If it's going to require more training that wouldn't be necessary here, I probably would lose my interest. After college I'll already have enough loans paying off all my certificates and ratings here...

Any other info or insight would be great.  8-)

[beaky]

tcco:
Not to say nobody here knows what they're talking about, but you should definitely put out some feelers on some actual career pilot forums... you're bound to find answers to all your questions there. You might even make some useful contacts.

Don't rule out corporate flying, either... I'm not sure, but it may be easier for a green ATP to do some overseas flying sooner in that world than the airline world. And sometimes the pay is a lot better.

[wifesaysno]

tcco:
Not to say nobody here knows what they're talking about, but you should definitely put out some feelers on some actual career pilot forums... you're bound to find answers to all your questions there. You might even make some useful contacts.

Don't rule out corporate flying, either... I'm not sure, but it may be easier for a green ATP to do some overseas flying sooner in that world than the airline world. And sometimes the pay is a lot better.

I would bet charter would be easier. In some places maybe not, but there is a decent amount of charter operations in my area and not so many airline operations. Lots of small buisness owners needing pilots for their planes. A lot of small birds: Bonanzas, 310s, etc. But that is my area, so I guess he will just have to get out there and look around to see what is available.

[tcco94]

I'm starting to become more interested in flying corporate the only reason I've put airliners first priority is because I'm not sure how much flying corporate does...

Where as at an airline they have a minimum guarantee of hours per month. Even though the pay is like $16 an hour 

[gtirob01]

When I lived in San Diego, I had a buddy I surfed with (when he was in town) that was a pilot for UPS. Now I'm not sure how you go about getting on with them... but I do know he travels the world flying for them. Plus he has a condo right on the beach in San Diego... he has a great living! I do believe he was military before UPS... so that was likely his "in".

[tcco94]

When I lived in San Diego, I had a buddy I surfed with (when he was in town) that was a pilot for UPS. Now I'm not sure how you go about getting on with them... but I do know he travels the world flying for them. Plus he has a condo right on the beach in San Diego... he has a great living! I do believe he was military before UPS... so that was likely his "in".

I know the demand for FedEx and UPS are really high in the US because I'm pretty sure they get a boat load of money. Would love to have the life your buddy has but probably won't be seeing that anytime soon.  Top ramen and 2 bedroom crashpad apartment with 10 pilots in it is probably my upcoming future.