Cyprus-Forum.com

[Paphitis]

We have had this discussion before, but here it is again.

This is not likely to affect our friend Paphitis to the rest of his flying career, but perhaps when flying as a retired non-revenue passenger in the back of the plane.

Why airplanes might soon have just one pilot
Jacopo Prisco, CNN • Published 13th January 2022

(CNN) — If you boarded a passenger plane in 1950 and peeked into the cockpit, you would have seen five people in there (almost certainly men): two pilots, a radio operator, a navigator and a flight engineer.

Over the years, technical advances in radio communications, navigation systems and on-board monitoring equipment gradually removed the need for the last three, making it possible to safely fly a passenger plane with just two pilots. That has been the norm in commercial aviation for about 30 years.

Soon, however, things could streamline further, and one of the two remaining pilots -- technically the first officer -- could soon go, leaving behind only the captain. Many smaller and military aircraft are already manned by a single pilot, but for commercial aviation this would mean venturing into a brave new world.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... index.html

I think this 1 pilot thing is a bit of a pipe dream or wishful thinking.

The B797 can be flown single pilot - but the intention is that this will only be the case on cargo - such as Fedex.

It will not be allowed for Regular Public Transport category because there are FAA requirements for pilot redundancy/incapacitation, and also regulations for Fatigue Managment where pilts are mandated to get 4 hours of bunk time for flights duty times in excess of 13 hours. Hence why there are Second Officer pilots on long haul.

[Kikapu]

We have had this discussion before, but here it is again.

This is not likely to affect our friend Paphitis to the rest of his flying career, but perhaps when flying as a retired non-revenue passenger in the back of the plane.

Why airplanes might soon have just one pilot
Jacopo Prisco, CNN • Published 13th January 2022

(CNN) — If you boarded a passenger plane in 1950 and peeked into the cockpit, you would have seen five people in there (almost certainly men): two pilots, a radio operator, a navigator and a flight engineer.

Over the years, technical advances in radio communications, navigation systems and on-board monitoring equipment gradually removed the need for the last three, making it possible to safely fly a passenger plane with just two pilots. That has been the norm in commercial aviation for about 30 years.

Soon, however, things could streamline further, and one of the two remaining pilots -- technically the first officer -- could soon go, leaving behind only the captain. Many smaller and military aircraft are already manned by a single pilot, but for commercial aviation this would mean venturing into a brave new world.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... index.html

I think this 1 pilot thing is a bit of a pipe dream or wishful thinking.

The B797 can be flown single pilot - but the intention is that this will only be the case on cargo - such as Fedex.

It will not be allowed for Regular Public Transport category because there are FAA requirements for pilot redundancy/incapacitation, and also regulations for Fatigue Managment where pilts are mandated to get 4 hours of bunk time for flights duty times in excess of 13 hours. Hence why there are Second Officer pilots on long haul.

In the beginning, it will be just cargo planes with a single pilot and more than likely, a flight no longer than scheduled 3 hours flight from A to B. Gradually, with further automation where ground crew can too monitor the flight, it will allow passenger planes to use a single pilot for flight lasting 3 hours. Gradually with proven record, it will be expanded to 6 hours with a built in break to be able to fly from coast to coast in the USA. Considering majority of flights are short haul, a single pilot planes will be very possible in the not too distant future. In my opinion, they will be mostly female pilots who will be chosen for these positions since they are better able to multi task than male pilots.

For long hauls and over Ocean and polar flights will continue to have multi pilots in the cockpit, but go from 3-4 down to 2-3.

[Kikapu]

I thought with the rise of fuel cost, hence higher ticket prices, people would start lying less.

Business Insider

US airlines like Delta and United are so desperate for pilots they are dropping some requirements and considering cutting training hours to get more pilots flying sooner

Taylor Rains
Sat, May 21, 2022, 2:52 PM

US airlines are once again grappling with the pilot shortage as travel demand skyrockets.

Regional carrier Republic Airways is considering reducing training requirements from 1,500 to 750 hours.

Senator Lindsay Graham reportedly could propose legislation that would increase the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-airlines- ... 00170.html

That's not true at all.

I don't know what you mean by 750 to 1500 hours. You can get a job in the US with 300 hours, even at United but there is a very big catch. About 5 to 10 years as a second officer on B757, B767, B777 or B787 .

You can even get into the United Aviate Program from high school if you pay $150000 USD - again expect about 10 years as a second officer on long haul wide body.

Training requirements are regulated by the FAA and have never been reduced for as long as I have been flying.

And after Ground School, there is the regulatory requirement of 100 hours of line training. The average however is more like 150 hours. 200 hours for ex military rotor heads, and closer to 110 for ex US military fix wing. So all in all, United actually exceeds the minimum regulatory minimums.

High Time Pilots usually end up on short to medium haul B737. High time visa holders are now ending up at United Express but are guaranteed a command upgrade within 18 months, and also guaranteed Direct Entry Command into mainline United B737. Reason, it's much harder doing short haul in a B737 (some flights are 25 minutes) than it is long haul on a B787.

There is however some bias towards military pilots, who are a bit protected and usually it's these pilots who get the least training, except for Rotor Converts from the military who go through massive retraining into fix wing.

When I was flying single engines for hobby many years ago, it used to be that, 1,500 flying hours was required to earn a ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), so I assume they want to reduce that now to 750 hours instead.

[Paphitis]

I thought with the rise of fuel cost, hence higher ticket prices, people would start lying less.

Business Insider

US airlines like Delta and United are so desperate for pilots they are dropping some requirements and considering cutting training hours to get more pilots flying sooner

Taylor Rains
Sat, May 21, 2022, 2:52 PM

US airlines are once again grappling with the pilot shortage as travel demand skyrockets.

Regional carrier Republic Airways is considering reducing training requirements from 1,500 to 750 hours.

Senator Lindsay Graham reportedly could propose legislation that would increase the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-airlines- ... 00170.html

That's not true at all.

I don't know what you mean by 750 to 1500 hours. You can get a job in the US with 300 hours, even at United but there is a very big catch. About 5 to 10 years as a second officer on B757, B767, B777 or B787 .

You can even get into the United Aviate Program from high school if you pay $150000 USD - again expect about 10 years as a second officer on long haul wide body.

Training requirements are regulated by the FAA and have never been reduced for as long as I have been flying.

And after Ground School, there is the regulatory requirement of 100 hours of line training. The average however is more like 150 hours. 200 hours for ex military rotor heads, and closer to 110 for ex US military fix wing. So all in all, United actually exceeds the minimum regulatory minimums.

High Time Pilots usually end up on short to medium haul B737. High time visa holders are now ending up at United Express but are guaranteed a command upgrade within 18 months, and also guaranteed Direct Entry Command into mainline United B737. Reason, it's much harder doing short haul in a B737 (some flights are 25 minutes) than it is long haul on a B787.

There is however some bias towards military pilots, who are a bit protected and usually it's these pilots who get the least training, except for Rotor Converts from the military who go through massive retraining into fix wing.

When I was flying single engines for hobby many years ago, it used to be that, 1,500 flying hours was required to earn a ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), so I assume they want to reduce that now to 750 hours instead.

That's another regulatory requirement and the FAA is also bound by ICAO as ICAO is the one setting somekind of global standard which then allows better recognition of qualifications (in this case ATPL) globally. For instance, the US recognises the Australian CASA ATPL. Australia recognises the US FAA ATPL. It's more or less easy to convert from one to the other. The ATPL modules are recognized mostly, except for Air Law.

To convert to an FAA ATPL I had to sit the US Air Law component and do a Flight Test.

The reason for that is that there are slight differences between Australian Air Law and US Air Law. Most notable legislation governing faitigue managment, reserve fuel, and alternate aerodrome filing.

So you got to sit the Air law in order to understand the jurisdictional nuances between country and country (Australia vis a vis USA).

The requirments are 1500 hours. This can not be reduced to 750 because if the FAA did that, Australia, Canada, EU and others will pull their recognition of the FAA ATPL and that would become very problematic.

You do not need an ATPL to gain employment in any airline. The issue with not having an ATPL is that you can not be upgraded to Captain till you get it. Hence, pilots with less than 1500 can be employed as Second Officers and First Officers.

So reducing from 1500 hours to 750 hours does not achieve anything with regart to increasing pilot intake. All it means is that a 750 hour pilot could potentially get a command upgrade. I can assure you that no pilot will be getting any command upgrade at 750 hours. More like 7500 hours before they are considered for upgrade.

[Paphitis]

With regards to news articles like this. It's clickbait. Media love these tyrpes of articles because it taps into the fear of flying "and shit, we are all gonna die" sentiment, even though you are about 10,000 times more likely to die in a car accident.

However, it's possible that someone from a US Airline, or a so called "Aviation Expert" or even an FAA rep or any other brainiac from any other national regulatory body overseas in another country to have made this suggestion, usually for publicity maybe. It could also be possible that a US FAA rep has taken the suggestion to ICAO and from their, the media latched on to it.

But the US FAA will not reduce it to 750 hours unless there was agreeance from other important bodies (mainly Canada, Australia, Japan, and EU). If these regulators agreed and moved in unison then it would happen. All the other shitkickers would have to conform.

But for the US FAA to act unilaterally, could cause problems for US Qualified ATPL Pilots. So it's just too hard.

Now, it is entirely possible for ICAO to change the rules and reduce it to 750 hoping that countries ratify the new standard. This isn't an easy process though. Because the first country to do it will result in licensing recognition issues from other jurisdictions. More likely is that countries would first enter into bilateral agreements to reduce it and recognising respective ATPLs. Possible. But there will be countries which would resist, especially Australia, Japan, Canada and EU. So if the US followed the ICAO standard, they could find themselves in some trouble if these countries pull recognition.

It's extremely unlikely.

[Paphitis]

I thought with the rise of fuel cost, hence higher ticket prices, people would start lying less.

Business Insider

US airlines like Delta and United are so desperate for pilots they are dropping some requirements and considering cutting training hours to get more pilots flying sooner

Taylor Rains
Sat, May 21, 2022, 2:52 PM

US airlines are once again grappling with the pilot shortage as travel demand skyrockets.

Regional carrier Republic Airways is considering reducing training requirements from 1,500 to 750 hours.

Senator Lindsay Graham reportedly could propose legislation that would increase the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-airlines- ... 00170.html

That's not true at all.

I don't know what you mean by 750 to 1500 hours. You can get a job in the US with 300 hours, even at United but there is a very big catch. About 5 to 10 years as a second officer on B757, B767, B777 or B787 .

You can even get into the United Aviate Program from high school if you pay $150000 USD - again expect about 10 years as a second officer on long haul wide body.

Training requirements are regulated by the FAA and have never been reduced for as long as I have been flying.

And after Ground School, there is the regulatory requirement of 100 hours of line training. The average however is more like 150 hours. 200 hours for ex military rotor heads, and closer to 110 for ex US military fix wing. So all in all, United actually exceeds the minimum regulatory minimums.

High Time Pilots usually end up on short to medium haul B737. High time visa holders are now ending up at United Express but are guaranteed a command upgrade within 18 months, and also guaranteed Direct Entry Command into mainline United B737. Reason, it's much harder doing short haul in a B737 (some flights are 25 minutes) than it is long haul on a B787.

There is however some bias towards military pilots, who are a bit protected and usually it's these pilots who get the least training, except for Rotor Converts from the military who go through massive retraining into fix wing.

When I was flying single engines for hobby many years ago, it used to be that, 1,500 flying hours was required to earn a ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), so I assume they want to reduce that now to 750 hours instead.

Pay scales just got increased tp $163 USD per hour Kikapu for first year First Officers on the United Payroll.

It's pretty good.

Lot's of Australian and Canadian Pilots getting recruited on E3 Visas. Requirement for E3 Visas are 1500 hours and an Australian or Canadian ATPL. Guaranteed Command Upgrade into mainline within 5 years and for those with greater than 5000 on MTOW > 5700 Gas Turbines within 18 months.

US Airlines are putting a lot of money on the Table. Delta is $157 USD per hour. These don't include all the overlay allowances on top.

Only Australian and Canadian citizens qualify atm on E3

[Kikapu]

I thought with the rise of fuel cost, hence higher ticket prices, people would start lying less.

Business Insider

US airlines like Delta and United are so desperate for pilots they are dropping some requirements and considering cutting training hours to get more pilots flying sooner

Taylor Rains
Sat, May 21, 2022, 2:52 PM

US airlines are once again grappling with the pilot shortage as travel demand skyrockets.

Regional carrier Republic Airways is considering reducing training requirements from 1,500 to 750 hours.

Senator Lindsay Graham reportedly could propose legislation that would increase the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-airlines- ... 00170.html

That's not true at all.

I don't know what you mean by 750 to 1500 hours. You can get a job in the US with 300 hours, even at United but there is a very big catch. About 5 to 10 years as a second officer on B757, B767, B777 or B787 .

You can even get into the United Aviate Program from high school if you pay $150000 USD - again expect about 10 years as a second officer on long haul wide body.

Training requirements are regulated by the FAA and have never been reduced for as long as I have been flying.

And after Ground School, there is the regulatory requirement of 100 hours of line training. The average however is more like 150 hours. 200 hours for ex military rotor heads, and closer to 110 for ex US military fix wing. So all in all, United actually exceeds the minimum regulatory minimums.

High Time Pilots usually end up on short to medium haul B737. High time visa holders are now ending up at United Express but are guaranteed a command upgrade within 18 months, and also guaranteed Direct Entry Command into mainline United B737. Reason, it's much harder doing short haul in a B737 (some flights are 25 minutes) than it is long haul on a B787.

There is however some bias towards military pilots, who are a bit protected and usually it's these pilots who get the least training, except for Rotor Converts from the military who go through massive retraining into fix wing.

When I was flying single engines for hobby many years ago, it used to be that, 1,500 flying hours was required to earn a ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), so I assume they want to reduce that now to 750 hours instead.

Pay scales just got increased tp $163 USD per hour Kikapu for first year First Officers on the United Payroll.

It's pretty good.

Lot's of Australian and Canadian Pilots getting recruited on E3 Visas. Requirement for E3 Visas are 1500 hours and an Australian or Canadian ATPL. Guaranteed Command Upgrade into mainline within 5 years and for those with greater than 5000 on MTOW > 5700 Gas Turbines within 18 months.

US Airlines are putting a lot of money on the Table. Delta is $157 USD per hour. These don't include all the overlay allowances on top.

Only Australian and Canadian citizens qualify atm on E3

Yes, I read that the other day. Sounds pretty good for Captains and line trainers for the mainline pilots. Regionals will earn a lot less though still getting an increase.

As soon as you move into the mainline as FO, the drinks are on you with your added pay increase.

As soon as you make captain on the main line, dinner is on you.

Just that you know, if you don’t make 40 credits=10 years ( 4 credit per year) working in the USA, you will not qualify for state pension (Social Security). If you are 55 years old now, then you will just make it, but if the official retirement age increases to 67 from 65, it gives you two more years to make sure you get the required 40 credits.

[Paphitis]

I thought with the rise of fuel cost, hence higher ticket prices, people would start lying less.

Business Insider

US airlines like Delta and United are so desperate for pilots they are dropping some requirements and considering cutting training hours to get more pilots flying sooner

Taylor Rains
Sat, May 21, 2022, 2:52 PM

US airlines are once again grappling with the pilot shortage as travel demand skyrockets.

Regional carrier Republic Airways is considering reducing training requirements from 1,500 to 750 hours.

Senator Lindsay Graham reportedly could propose legislation that would increase the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-airlines- ... 00170.html

That's not true at all.

I don't know what you mean by 750 to 1500 hours. You can get a job in the US with 300 hours, even at United but there is a very big catch. About 5 to 10 years as a second officer on B757, B767, B777 or B787 .

You can even get into the United Aviate Program from high school if you pay $150000 USD - again expect about 10 years as a second officer on long haul wide body.

Training requirements are regulated by the FAA and have never been reduced for as long as I have been flying.

And after Ground School, there is the regulatory requirement of 100 hours of line training. The average however is more like 150 hours. 200 hours for ex military rotor heads, and closer to 110 for ex US military fix wing. So all in all, United actually exceeds the minimum regulatory minimums.

High Time Pilots usually end up on short to medium haul B737. High time visa holders are now ending up at United Express but are guaranteed a command upgrade within 18 months, and also guaranteed Direct Entry Command into mainline United B737. Reason, it's much harder doing short haul in a B737 (some flights are 25 minutes) than it is long haul on a B787.

There is however some bias towards military pilots, who are a bit protected and usually it's these pilots who get the least training, except for Rotor Converts from the military who go through massive retraining into fix wing.

When I was flying single engines for hobby many years ago, it used to be that, 1,500 flying hours was required to earn a ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), so I assume they want to reduce that now to 750 hours instead.

Pay scales just got increased tp $163 USD per hour Kikapu for first year First Officers on the United Payroll.

It's pretty good.

Lot's of Australian and Canadian Pilots getting recruited on E3 Visas. Requirement for E3 Visas are 1500 hours and an Australian or Canadian ATPL. Guaranteed Command Upgrade into mainline within 5 years and for those with greater than 5000 on MTOW > 5700 Gas Turbines within 18 months.

US Airlines are putting a lot of money on the Table. Delta is $157 USD per hour. These don't include all the overlay allowances on top.

Only Australian and Canadian citizens qualify atm on E3

Yes, I read that the other day. Sounds pretty good for Captains and line trainers for the mainline pilots. Regionals will earn a lot less though still getting an increase.

As soon as you move into the mainline as FO, the drinks are on you with your added pay increase.

As soon as you make captain on the main line, dinner is on you.

Just that you know, if you don’t make 40 credits=10 years ( 4 credit per year) working in the USA, you will not qualify for state pension (Social Security). If you are 55 years old now, then you will just make it, but if the official retirement age increases to 67 from 65, it gives you two more years to make sure you get the required 40 credits.

I've been grand fathered which means I'm on a mainline contract, getting paid by them as that was my original contract, with pre-covid seniority.

Now they also want to renew my contract so that they can renew my VISA and hold on to me for 3 years, because my current contract ends March next year.

Transfer to mainline has to occur June next year, but I'm hoping it ends up being as soon as March. But before that happens, they have to give me a command upgrade so that I go Direct Entry Command in mainline.

Salaries are increasing and already up 100% since pre covid. That's across the board. Even regional as well. And those rates are for FOs. If you are a checker, then you are on some phenomenal corporate fat cat salary. Line Trainers are on about 250 USD per hour.

My seniority dates back to March 2020 - pre covid where I guess I was furloughed without pay. It's very impressive that they kept their promises and word from day 1. I am very happy here. Aviation Industry in America is so robust and dynamic.

[Paphitis]

I thought with the rise of fuel cost, hence higher ticket prices, people would start lying less.

Business Insider

US airlines like Delta and United are so desperate for pilots they are dropping some requirements and considering cutting training hours to get more pilots flying sooner

Taylor Rains
Sat, May 21, 2022, 2:52 PM

US airlines are once again grappling with the pilot shortage as travel demand skyrockets.

Regional carrier Republic Airways is considering reducing training requirements from 1,500 to 750 hours.

Senator Lindsay Graham reportedly could propose legislation that would increase the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-airlines- ... 00170.html

That's not true at all.

I don't know what you mean by 750 to 1500 hours. You can get a job in the US with 300 hours, even at United but there is a very big catch. About 5 to 10 years as a second officer on B757, B767, B777 or B787 .

You can even get into the United Aviate Program from high school if you pay $150000 USD - again expect about 10 years as a second officer on long haul wide body.

Training requirements are regulated by the FAA and have never been reduced for as long as I have been flying.

And after Ground School, there is the regulatory requirement of 100 hours of line training. The average however is more like 150 hours. 200 hours for ex military rotor heads, and closer to 110 for ex US military fix wing. So all in all, United actually exceeds the minimum regulatory minimums.

High Time Pilots usually end up on short to medium haul B737. High time visa holders are now ending up at United Express but are guaranteed a command upgrade within 18 months, and also guaranteed Direct Entry Command into mainline United B737. Reason, it's much harder doing short haul in a B737 (some flights are 25 minutes) than it is long haul on a B787.

There is however some bias towards military pilots, who are a bit protected and usually it's these pilots who get the least training, except for Rotor Converts from the military who go through massive retraining into fix wing.

When I was flying single engines for hobby many years ago, it used to be that, 1,500 flying hours was required to earn a ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), so I assume they want to reduce that now to 750 hours instead.

Pay scales just got increased tp $163 USD per hour Kikapu for first year First Officers on the United Payroll.

It's pretty good.

Lot's of Australian and Canadian Pilots getting recruited on E3 Visas. Requirement for E3 Visas are 1500 hours and an Australian or Canadian ATPL. Guaranteed Command Upgrade into mainline within 5 years and for those with greater than 5000 on MTOW > 5700 Gas Turbines within 18 months.

US Airlines are putting a lot of money on the Table. Delta is $157 USD per hour. These don't include all the overlay allowances on top.

Only Australian and Canadian citizens qualify atm on E3

Yes, I read that the other day. Sounds pretty good for Captains and line trainers for the mainline pilots. Regionals will earn a lot less though still getting an increase.

As soon as you move into the mainline as FO, the drinks are on you with your added pay increase.

As soon as you make captain on the main line, dinner is on you.

Just that you know, if you don’t make 40 credits=10 years ( 4 credit per year) working in the USA, you will not qualify for state pension (Social Security). If you are 55 years old now, then you will just make it, but if the official retirement age increases to 67 from 65, it gives you two more years to make sure you get the required 40 credits.

My aim is to apply for a Green Card - which leads to US Citizenry. Then I qualify for the pension. I anticipate the process to be a lot easier as US is handing Green Cards our to E3 Visa holders. It's just a process.

As for Super, I still send money over to my Aussie Super Fund. I don't have to, but I do it. This month, I am sending $46,000 AUD equivalent into my fund before end of month which is end of financial year.

So I'll have an Australian Pension and really good one. Should have over 2.5 million by the time I retire.

If I augment this with a US Pension, then even better, but I don't know the exact rules. Maybe I have to do 10+ years as you say, but that could be just fine with me the way things are. Kids will get to go to a US University as well. I'm willing to pay and send them to the best US Uni I can afford. So if hey do Medicine or Law or something of that nature, US is the place to be.

Son, wants to go into Aviation. So maybe United Aviate for him. Dynastic.

[Kikapu]

I thought with the rise of fuel cost, hence higher ticket prices, people would start lying less.

Business Insider

US airlines like Delta and United are so desperate for pilots they are dropping some requirements and considering cutting training hours to get more pilots flying sooner

Taylor Rains
Sat, May 21, 2022, 2:52 PM

US airlines are once again grappling with the pilot shortage as travel demand skyrockets.

Regional carrier Republic Airways is considering reducing training requirements from 1,500 to 750 hours.

Senator Lindsay Graham reportedly could propose legislation that would increase the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-airlines- ... 00170.html

That's not true at all.

I don't know what you mean by 750 to 1500 hours. You can get a job in the US with 300 hours, even at United but there is a very big catch. About 5 to 10 years as a second officer on B757, B767, B777 or B787 .

You can even get into the United Aviate Program from high school if you pay $150000 USD - again expect about 10 years as a second officer on long haul wide body.

Training requirements are regulated by the FAA and have never been reduced for as long as I have been flying.

And after Ground School, there is the regulatory requirement of 100 hours of line training. The average however is more like 150 hours. 200 hours for ex military rotor heads, and closer to 110 for ex US military fix wing. So all in all, United actually exceeds the minimum regulatory minimums.

High Time Pilots usually end up on short to medium haul B737. High time visa holders are now ending up at United Express but are guaranteed a command upgrade within 18 months, and also guaranteed Direct Entry Command into mainline United B737. Reason, it's much harder doing short haul in a B737 (some flights are 25 minutes) than it is long haul on a B787.

There is however some bias towards military pilots, who are a bit protected and usually it's these pilots who get the least training, except for Rotor Converts from the military who go through massive retraining into fix wing.

When I was flying single engines for hobby many years ago, it used to be that, 1,500 flying hours was required to earn a ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License), so I assume they want to reduce that now to 750 hours instead.

Pay scales just got increased tp $163 USD per hour Kikapu for first year First Officers on the United Payroll.

It's pretty good.

Lot's of Australian and Canadian Pilots getting recruited on E3 Visas. Requirement for E3 Visas are 1500 hours and an Australian or Canadian ATPL. Guaranteed Command Upgrade into mainline within 5 years and for those with greater than 5000 on MTOW > 5700 Gas Turbines within 18 months.

US Airlines are putting a lot of money on the Table. Delta is $157 USD per hour. These don't include all the overlay allowances on top.

Only Australian and Canadian citizens qualify atm on E3

Yes, I read that the other day. Sounds pretty good for Captains and line trainers for the mainline pilots. Regionals will earn a lot less though still getting an increase.

As soon as you move into the mainline as FO, the drinks are on you with your added pay increase.

As soon as you make captain on the main line, dinner is on you.

Just that you know, if you don’t make 40 credits=10 years ( 4 credit per year) working in the USA, you will not qualify for state pension (Social Security). If you are 55 years old now, then you will just make it, but if the official retirement age increases to 67 from 65, it gives you two more years to make sure you get the required 40 credits.

My aim is to apply for a Green Card - which leads to US Citizenry. Then I qualify for the pension. I anticipate the process to be a lot easier as US is handing Green Cards our to E3 Visa holders. It's just a process.

As for Super, I still send money over to my Aussie Super Fund. I don't have to, but I do it. This month, I am sending $46,000 AUD equivalent into my fund before end of month which is end of financial year.

So I'll have an Australian Pension and really good one. Should have over 2.5 million by the time I retire.

If I augment this with a US Pension, then even better, but I don't know the exact rules. Maybe I have to do 10+ years as you say, but that could be just fine with me the way things are. Kids will get to go to a US University as well. I'm willing to pay and send them to the best US Uni I can afford. So if hey do Medicine or Law or something of that nature, US is the place to be.

Son, wants to go into Aviation. So maybe United Aviate for him. Dynastic.

Your Australian State pension will be your main pension, so keep feeding it each year.

The fact that you have another pension coming to you when you retire, and the fact that you will not have a full 30 years pension paid into the US Social Security, you will lose at least half of your Social Security Pension in the US.

This explains it clearly.

Windfall Elimination Provision
Your Social Security retirement or disability benefits can be reduced

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf

Anyway, you will have your pension from the airline too. It used to be that the pensions were into the airlines own stock and when they filed for bankruptcy, chapters 7 or 11, it might have an affect how much you would get as pensions because it would take a hit too.

I don’t think you will need to be a Green Card holder or a US citizen to qualify for US pension as long as you were given a 9 digit Social Security Card number which is needed to be employed and taxes paid. I don’t know how your E3 work visa makes a difference on your SS pension in the US, if any?

Your full pension age will be 67 years old. The only question is, if the airlines will increase their retirement age for their pilots from 65 to 67 by the time you retire so that you can make your 40 credits. The good news is, you can work until you die in the US, therefore, you can earn your any missing 40 credits working as a ground crew.