Any pilots who fly/have flown for a living in the US?

[Randleman]

Alright, first off, this is not another "should I train in the US or Canada?" Thread. I have 300 hours, my Multi/IFR and CPL finished.

Being a dual citizen (Canada and US), I have recently been studying for my US written exams for my license conversions (not that there is much to study here..), so my question is, are there any pilots who have worked in both Canada or the US? Are there any pilots currently working in the US? Could any of them PM me with details of what it is like down there, how easy it is to land a job, what a low timer like me can expect, etc. etc, and whether or not it would be worth it to focus on getting a job down south of the border. Currently I work the ramp at a pretty reputable company here in Canada, but have not worked there for long and have a ways to go before the flight line. I would love to go back to my country of birth (the US) and fly down there. I know about the bad bad bad pay, but I'm looking for more details. Anyone out there that can PM me/help me out?

Thanks!

[Panama Jack]

For what it's worth, and because nobody else has answered you yet, my first job in aviation was in the US on a temporary work visa as a flight instructor. Most low-time pilots build their first thousand hours or so as a flight instructor (or CFI as they are called in the USA). There are occasionally jobs also doing banner towing or other things, but often without 500 hours minimum it is hard to get a start. There is a lot of merit, IMHO, in going the instructor route as a first job.

There will always be more opportunities in US aviation than in Canada and the hurdles are set lower. Combine that with the option and ability to pick any kind of climate you want to live in and I wonder why anybody who has the choice doesn't just pack-up and go to the US. Like anywhere, there are dues to be paid. The problem in Canada is that there is a greater chance that you will never stop having to pay them.

You are wasting time on the ramp. Just go.

[. ._]

Dual citizenship?

Get on down to Florida, California or Arizona or somewhere sunny and get a bazillion hours per year, dude!

If I was an American, I'd be there in a heartbeat.

My $0.02.

-istp

[hawker driver]

I am currently working in the US and I am in your same situation with Dual citizenship. Things have changed a lot since I stated working there 11 years ago. There are lots of high time pilots looking for jobs. Our company alone still has 200 pilots on furlough and all of them have a minimum ATP and average around 4000 hours with 1 or 2 jet type ratings. Let alone NetJets that put 500 jet rated pilots on furlough who also have over 4000 hours and jet type ratings.

Most of these pilots will not be competing for the kind of job you will be looking for. Many won't sell their experience for $18,000 per year (myself included). Many have taken jobs out of the aviation industry due to higher pay and not having to risk a violation on their license for a minimum wage job.

One problem you might encounter is the new changes to the Air Reg's which will require 1500 hours and an ATP license to fly for a commuter airline. So all of those American pilots with 300 hours who were planning on getting a job at MESA or another bottom feeder have to look for other jobs.
One positive sign is that the number of new student starts have dropped and lots of flight schools have closed their doors. Students can't get loans for pilot licenses and the cost has sky rocked. This is a positive situation since the pipeline of new pilots is drying up and with the older ones still retiring in a few years this should allow for more competition for what ever pilots are out there.

It should be tough going for jobs in the US for the next 2 or 3 years but after that when the age 65 guys finally start to retire there should be some movement.

I would personally love to return to a flying job in Canada but I have some requirements that must be met before I make my move.

[Nark]

I also fly in the US.

I'm finishing up a season in Alaska. Don't plan on coming up this way unless you have at least 1000TT and all of it in the bush.
I know of a few 135 freight haulers hiring, which means flight instructors are moving up the ladder.

Your best plan is to get a CFI ticket and instruct. There are a number of jobs out there like banner towing, sky divers aerial photo etc... but those are harder to come by. Instruct to build 1200TT then head to 135 freight (which require 1200TT, plus a few other night x-try etc...)

Your best bet.

The only regional's hiring right now have 1500-ish and 200 multi minimums, and there are huge stacks of qualified resumes.

Good luck.

[fish4life]

American Airlines still has pilots furloughed from sept 11th, so if your goal is a legacy carrier down there it won't be for a long long time

[Randleman]

Thanks a LOT for all the info guys! I really appreciate it.

It sounds like my best bet would be to head down south and look for a banner towing job, and than hope to get into the regionals? I don't have a degree, so how would that fare for me?

[Nark]

Not well.

I towed banner for a few years to keep me sane while in the military. You need at the very minimum 200 hours of multi time for 121, in addition to 1500TT for the RJ's. Pay for it, or get some other sucker to pay for it. We call those suckers "students".

Banner towing is a lot of fun, and I still plan on doing it this fall, however it isn't the best way to get into a regional. Also don't fall for "Banner endorsement scams" There isn't one.

Instructors usually don't know their head from their ass, however it is the path of least resistance to the regionals, which seems to be your goal.

[SuperchargedRS]

I know a few guys (myself included) that haven't had a issue finding work, be it banners, gliders, instructing, etc.

Just be a sociable person and hit the ground running!

[Randleman]

Based on your information, I can see how things go as far as an instructor, but me being a guy with no degree and no money for an instructor rating, how would the towing banners/skydivers route go for me? Do that for 1000 hours then....That coupled along with the fact I have no degree would handicap me, no?

[2R]

Join the air national guard ,they have some really neat aircraft and they pay you to fly,medical and dental too.

[SuperchargedRS]

Doubt anyone cares about a degree around here (MAYBE the airlines, but you dont have to worry about that for a while, heck go get a online degree in whatever while you build hrs).

Here are the things people down here want to know
Can you fly the aircraft?
How many hours do you have?
Experience & ratings?
how are you as a person?

get that first job you just go from there.

If you want the airlines you need more like 1500hrs now btw.

If you want bush flying build those hrs up, head to AK or if your lucky Kenmore in Seattle, fly DHC2/3 etc, walk to work from one of the nicest cities out there!




** If you entertain joining the guard be sure that you agree 100% with what you are going to be doing, one bomb can carry a lifetime of regret if you are not in the mental place to be OK with where and what that bomb is going to be destroying.

[Randleman]

Cool, thanks! Kenmore is definitely a dream for me Do you know what their pay scale is like?

And you're saying the regionals don't care about degrees? My plan IS to work toward an online degree, but at the moment I do not have the money to do so

[industrypolice]

Flight instructing is the easiest path to take to that 16,000 a year dream regional job