Expert: D. Norkus - 8/1/2009

Question
How many overall hours are needed to fly a boeing 777 aircraft as a co-pilot to get a job with an american airline.  what airlines are hirin.g presently.as copilot I've flown on 737 for 1300 hours, 2000 on the L-1011,400 on the boeing 777 aircraft still flying on the 777 presently.  What does this qualify me to fly in the US. I presently fly for Saudi Arabian Airlines.  What jobs are also available to me.  I speak 3 languages, arabic,
american, italian.  I have dual citizenship for italy and saudian.  My wife and children are American.  Thank you for your help  Akram

Answer
Akram,

1) How many overall hours are needed to fly a boeing 777 aircraft as a co-pilot to get a job with an american airline?

You would need many thousands of hours to be even called for an interview with an American carrier operating such equipment. In a hiring boom 2,000-3,000 hours would be adequate to get interviewed but currently the very few jobs that are available have applicants with 10,000+ flight hours. The minimum requirements to apply and the "competitive" minimums (or what applicants are actually getting hired with) are very different. Also, in order to fly a Boeing 777 with a U.S. carrier, you would need to have many years of employment with that airline.

2) What airlines are presently hiring? What jobs are also available to me?

Right now, I say none to both questions.

The pilot job market in the U.S. is very bad right now. There are literally thousands of American pilots who have been laid off or furloughed and are looking for jobs. No majors and almost no regional airlines are currently hiring. In fact several airlines have pilots on furlough. Before any hiring can begin, all furloughed pilots must be recalled.

American - 1,979 furloughs
Continental - 147 furloughs (possibly more soon)
United - 874 (double that expected soon)
US Airways - 227 (possibly more)

Most regional airlines have stopped hiring and many now have pilots on furlough as well.


4) What does [my experience] qualify me to fly in the US?

Regardless of past experience or type ratings, U.S. airline new hire pilots go to the bottom of the pilot roster and fly whatever equipment is assigned. In the U.S., pilots with the least company  tenure are assigned narrowbody equipment as that fleet type pays the least. So, even with heavy experience, you'd go to a narrowbody as a new hire. You could bid to fly heavy jets after a few years when your 'seniority' would allow it.

U.S. major airlines require FAA issued Airline Transport pilot certificates. JAA or any other foreign certificate s not accepted. You must get a certificate conversion before you can apply.

Also, to be hirable in this country you would need a U.S. employment authorization document. Without this "green card", you are not eligible for employment in the United States in any capacity. The airlines here do not sponsor pilots, so you would have to investigate getting one as the spouse of an American.


I suggest this site for more information on U.S. airline pilot careers-
http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/

Regards,
Dottie