American citizen planning on moving to Austria

smack300

smack300

Well-Known Member
This might not be the right section, might not even be the right forum but I figured I would ask to see if anyone has some experience or could point me in the right direction.

I lived in Austria for 9 months a couple years ago. Went 3 months on my passport then got a 6 month tourist visa.

I want to go back now but I need to be able to work. I would love to stay in aviation if I could. I don't have my commercial yet but I am working on it. Also I am going to a CTI school to get my air traffic controller cert. I know it is extremely difficult to get a work visa for anyone outside of the EU. That is why I am exploring all options. I am not in a massive rush, so I am taking my time trying to see how I could go about doing this.

I just posting on here to see if anyone on JC has done it or knows someone that has and if they have any advice for me. If anyone knows of opportunities to work there in aviation or just work in general over there. You can PM me or reply to the thread. Thanks in advance.
 
smack300 said:
This might not be the right section, might not even be the right forum but I figured I would ask to see if anyone has some experience or could point me in the right direction.

I lived in Austria for 9 months a couple years ago. Went 3 months on my passport then got a 6 month tourist visa.

I want to go back now but I need to be able to work. I would love to stay in aviation if I could. I don't have my commercial yet but I am working on it. Also I am going to a CTI school to get my air traffic controller cert. I know it is extremely difficult to get a work visa for anyone outside of the EU. That is why I am exploring all options. I am not in a massive rush, so I am taking my time trying to see how I could go about doing this.

I just posting on here to see if anyone on JC has done it or knows someone that has and if they have any advice for me. If anyone knows of opportunities to work there in aviation or just work in general over there. You can PM me or reply to the thread. Thanks in advance.
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isn't Mike Wise from Austria?
 
I've visited twice, and dated someone who lived in Innsbruck. It's one if the most beautiful countries I've ever visited, and at one point I was planning on going to school in Innsbruck. I did spend lots if time researching how to work/live in Austria, and it is difficult. I'll write something up once I get back to my computer.
 
I am from Austria and fly out of Vienna. Where in Austria did you live? Post your questions and I will try my best to answer or point you in the right direction!
 
I don't know about Austria, but in many European countries, it is a lot easier to get someone to sponsor you a work visa than the US. For example, in Spain, someone can enter on a tourist visa or VWP, and if they find a job cleaning toilets at someone's private house, the homeowner can sponsor a work visa.

Most of the American ex-pats that I have met in Europe are working in the IT industry, married a European, or work for a big corporation that has European offices.

In aviation... a lot harder to get sponsored a visa but I have seen it happen.

As far as flying (it appears you are working towards getting your commercial), the jobs are extremely limited for non-EU/EEC passport holders. Additionally, most companies have language requirements, further reducing job options. I married a European, and now in the process of applying for citizenship, which is a 5 year process in the country of question.
 
skyrunner1500 said:
I am from Austria and fly out of Vienna. Where in Austria did you live? Post your questions and I will try my best to answer or point you in the right direction!
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I saw this thread and immediately thought of you Skyrunner.

Smack, Skyrunner is the man to ask. He has his fingers on the pulse of Austrian aviation.


TP
 
Zondaracer already provided you with some basic information, that would also apply to Austria and not just the other European countries.

I don't know about your flight experience, but in general the pilot job situation appears to be steady since a few years. Almost no movement within the larger regional and major airlines, little or no real expansion. Most of the aircraft orders are just replacing older aircraft of similiar or smaller size, but the overall fleets are slowly quietly reduced in numbers of aircraft operated. Unfortunately, that means not many jobs will available for some time.

The move is mainly to larger airframes and a single aircraft type fleet to reduce maintenance and training costs. Management thinks it has found the holy grail to success, but I'm not sure if that's really the way to go over an extended number of years.

The only pilot jobs that appear every few months, are at the British low cost carriers, like Ryanair and easyjet. They really hire regularly, but the jobs seem to get more and more competitive, as they are only hiring through flight schools and agencies, which in turn push their own customers.

If you really want to move over here and you can be happy without actually flying airplanes yourself, finish your ATC license with all possible additional ATC qualifications, as fast as you can. There is a steady shortage of qualified and available ATC controllers all over Europe, also Austria. And I do know, they hire foreign controllers, if they really come for the long run and not just for a couple of years. You wouldn't have to worry about a work permit in that case, at all. I think the German language requirement would also be easier to overcome, than at the airlines.
 
Thanks everyone for your responses.
skyrunner1500 said:
I am from Austria and fly out of Vienna. Where in Austria did you live? Post your questions and I will try my best to answer or point you in the right direction!
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I lived just outside of Vienna in a town called Mauerbach. But most of the time I was in Vienna. I do know some german, I am not fluent by any means but I can understand most and can get myself through a situation if need be. Also planning on going to German classes starting in the spring.

And I would be happy to do ATC. That's actually the path I would rather take, but I still am working on my licenses just to become a better pilot. I think it would be much easier for me to get a work visa for something around aviation. I would like to do ATC over there, just didn't know if they would hire someone outside of the EU. And Austro-Control is the main Austrian controllers? I went through their website, but it said I had to be EU member so that's why I was looking at maybe flying out there. I don't have much schooling left for ATC. Should be taking the FAA exams here in a couple months, hopefully. Then I am just waiting for acceptance into the Academy.

I will actually be in Vienna in December for two weeks, maybe we can grab a beer or something. Thanks again for all the information.
 
Mike Wise said:
I've visited twice, and dated someone who lived in Innsbruck. It's one if the most beautiful countries I've ever visited, and at one point I was planning on going to school in Innsbruck. I did spend lots if time researching how to work/live in Austria, and it is difficult. I'll write something up once I get back to my computer.
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Definitely one of the most beautiful places I have ever been too. Yea it is really difficult and pretty confusing. Just learned about this red-white-red card. But that card seemed to only last 6 months or so.
 
smack300 said:
Thanks everyone for your responses.

I lived just outside of Vienna in a town called Mauerbach. But most of the time I was in Vienna. I do know some german, I am not fluent by any means but I can understand most and can get myself through a situation if need be. Also planning on going to German classes starting in the spring.

And I would be happy to do ATC. That's actually the path I would rather take, but I still am working on my licenses just to become a better pilot. I think it would be much easier for me to get a work visa for something around aviation. I would like to do ATC over there, just didn't know if they would hire someone outside of the EU. And Austro-Control is the main Austrian controllers? I went through their website, but it said I had to be EU member so that's why I was looking at maybe flying out there. I don't have much schooling left for ATC. Should be taking the FAA exams here in a couple months, hopefully. Then I am just waiting for acceptance into the Academy.

I will actually be in Vienna in December for two weeks, maybe we can grab a beer or something. Thanks again for all the information.
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Mauerbach is almost in Vienna. Just a few miles outside, of the 14th district. A nice place, but can be hard to get there, by public transport. Did you drive a car when you were here or took the bus to Hütteldorf?

Yes, AustroControl a private company, wholly owned by the government and subject to any directives. It is the Austrian equivalent to the FAA and is responsible for all ATC and also licensing issues. So the controllers are employed by AustroControl. As far as I know, their job ads are just for their academy. They run two classes for ATC controllers per year, one in spring and one in fall, like a University. They are working hard to gain academic status for their academy, since a few years. So in the future, all graduates would recieve a Bachelor's degree, together with their ATC controller's license.

I could imagine, that their jobs ads are targeted to only EU citizens, because all Eurocontrol countries have harmonized part of their selection process and also most parts of the training, to be able to exchange controllers. But on the websites, they are usually just looking for trainees. Once you have your licenses it's a completely different game and situation. You will probably never find such ads in any of the European countries, but there are jobs available. It's just that they prefer to see you and talk to you person, showing that you are really here and not just coming for the job and money for a few years. It's just much easier to get a foot in the door, once you are here.

Pilot's licenses are never a bad thing to have, especially as a controller in Europe. I know some, that fly as contract pilots on Citations and Learjets during their days off.

Send me a PM, once you know when you will be in Vienna in December. I will be here, working, but won't know my schedule until the end of November. I might be gone on vacation during the first few days, but I am sure, we can meet for a beer or have a punsch at one of the Christkindlmärkte, or do anything else.
 
@skyrunner1500 I took the bus everyday to Hütteldorf then took a train. I don't miss that, too much time spent on that bus and train ha.

Alright good to know about Austro-Control. Glad to hear that I might be able to get in. Not sure how that works with our academy over here if I want to transfer right away to Europe. But I will ask around and see how I can make it possible.

Yea, figured having the licenses would help me out there.

Thanks again and PM sent.
 
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