Oversea Low Time Pilot Possibilities?

atracnitrix

atracnitrix

PODUNK
So I was talking to a couple of pilots today (both are finishing up their comm) and they were saying how they would be traveling overseas (Asia or wherever) to snag a gig flying right seat in a 737 with 250 hours total. I shrugged it off and went upon my day but I started thinking about it on the drive home. I'm a relatively low time pilot myself and I started wondering if there is a way to do this. Can a guy/gal with a wet comm license hop in the right seat of a foreign carrier? I wouldn't mind a big, shiny jet and to step foot out of the states for a bit. I could also be talking nonsense and need a reality check...
 
I've heard of people paying for a 737 type rating and getting picked up by Asian airlines as an FO. Not sure how much else went into it though.
Another way of doing it would be to get a visa for China, marry a Chinese girl, get a Chinese passport, then BAM! All the airlines would hire you at the local minimums. Finding a Chinese girl would be no problem since they would most likely want to benefits to marrying an American as well. By the time you jumped through all the hurdles, you could probably have all of your CFI's and 2000 hours at home though.
Source: When I first moved to Saipan, I flew a guy that wanted to pay my way to China so I could marry a Chinese girl and do the above.
 
Ghost said:
Finding a Chinese girl would be no problem
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Awwwww yeeeaaahhhh!


But in all seriousness, unless you're one of the kids the Chinese government pays to come over here and get their commercial... Probably not. Not at 250 anyway.
 
They have low rime guys there already. Most of them are looking for people with the PIC type and time in type.
 
If they're talking about Indonesia and Lion Air or Citilink (Garuda's subsidiary) they will need at least 250 hours on type. Cebu Pacific in The Philippines has recruited recently low-hour pilots with TR on A320 family but no time on type, an Italian got hired with A320 TR and moved immediately to the A330 as refiel pilot. The A330CCQ TR has been paid for by the airline though.
 
And to work in Indonesia for Lion Air or Citilink you will have to pay a lot of money. Check out California Falcon Aviation, it's an agency managed by a Lion Air pilot if I am not mistaken. Still, you would need 250 hours on type before applying and the waiting list is quite long as far as I am concerned.
 
The Italian said:
And to work in Indonesia for Lion Air or Citilink you will have to pay a lot of money. Check out California Falcon Aviation, it's an agency managed by a Lion Air pilot if I am not mistaken. Still, you would need 250 hours on type before applying and the waiting list is quite long as far as I am concerned.
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Anyone thinking of flying for a living should look at that website first. And there's a waiting list?!
 
I hear lots of low time guys talking about going overseas to land a jet job with 0 time on type, and so far I don't know any ex-pat who has successfully gotten a proper job (without being a citizen of said country). Most of the guys who mention doing this have not done their research.

Now that I think of it, I know one guy who got a 737-200 job in Africa with barely 250TT but he knew the chief pilot of the company. Another possibility would be the Cathay Pacific program and Etihad cadet program. Other than that, slim chances.
 
atracnitrix said:
So I was talking to a couple of pilots today (both are finishing up their comm) and they were saying how they would be traveling overseas (Asia or wherever) to snag a gig flying right seat in a 737 with 250 hours total. I shrugged it off and went upon my day but I started thinking about it on the drive home. I'm a relatively low time pilot myself and I started wondering if there is a way to do this. Can a guy/gal with a wet comm license hop in the right seat of a foreign carrier? I wouldn't mind a big, shiny jet and to step foot out of the states for a bit. I could also be talking nonsense and need a reality check...
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I don't know, but if it is true, rest assured you will receive the best training available to enhance your skills a jet driver... from your no-engrish captain with 500 hrs.
 
I find it strange that you want to leave the US - pretty much anyone in Europe would give their left arm for the opportunity to work in the USA as it's one of the few places with a joined up GA system and that allows a suitable progression up the ladder.
 
Joshwa said:
I find it strange that you want to leave the US - pretty much anyone in Europe would give their left arm for the opportunity to work in the USA as it's one of the few places with a joined up GA system and that allows a suitable progression up the ladder.
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Bein an European dude I can confirm that. You Americans are in a much better position than the rest of the world when it comes to aviation and career.
 
Joshwa said:
I find it strange that you want to leave the US - pretty much anyone in Europe would give their left arm for the opportunity to work in the USA as it's one of the few places with a joined up GA system and that allows a suitable progression up the ladder.
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For low-timers, I would tend to agree with you. However, once you have a type rating or two and time in type, it all pretty much evens out, with Europe, and other places paying better with better QOL, some times (talking business jets specifically, since I have never flown for the airlines).
The Italian said:
Bein an European dude I can confirm that. You Americans are in a much better position than the rest of the world when it comes to aviation and EARLY career.
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Fixed it for you. There's a reason there are some of us are actually working in other countries, and it's not because I like commuting 5,000 miles to work every month.

Having said that, there are very few opportunities, from what I've seen, for low timers. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it is very unlikely, as a low timer, to get a job overseas. The reason us expats go overseas is because we have the experience in the airplanes, and the locals don't, or don't have enough pilots, for the most part.
 
atracnitrix said:
I wouldn't mind a big, shiny jet...I could also be talking nonsense and need a reality check...
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Why get bored with your first airline job?! At least wait until number two or three.

Go fly a questionable prop. Or a balloon for that matter. The big and shiny one will come, but you don't want to skip out on all the fun until then!
 
I talked to a Captain at Copa yesterday - former Beagle CRJ guy. Said he regularly flies with 150 hour FOs. Not sure if you have to have Panamanian blood, but just throwing that out there.
 
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