Welcome to Lift-Off, our latest newsletter packed with insights on helicopter pilot training and building a career in aviation
Unless you get married to a US citizen or win the greencard lottery, you will have to leave the USA at the end of your visa. Here we want to show you some of the jobs you can do in the rest of the world. It is important to note that each country has different visa and license regulations and you will have to research those!
Where to next?
If you can’t stay in the U.S., the question naturally arises: what comes next? Jobs are available all around the world, but you need to have the right qualifications. Licenses are one key factor, and fortunately, most of the world’s licenses are based either on the U.S. or EASA systems, which makes conversion relatively straightforward. For Canada, for example, you only need to take a written test and complete a medical exam.
Set yourself up for success!
In addition, flight experience is crucial. With the F1 visa, you have the significant advantage of realistically being able to build up 1,200-1,500 flight hours in the U.S. Turbine hours are also important, which is why it’s beneficial not only to work as a flight instructor but also to take on other jobs during your time in the U.S. Lastly, as always, a strong network and a good reputation within the pilot community are extremely valuable. I’ve often been contacted by companies looking for feedback on a former flight instructor or student of ours.
While you can’t plan ahead exactly where you’ll work after your CPT and OPT, it’s helpful to know what options are out there.
Europe
With the EASA license you earn with us, you can fly throughout Europe, although some companies (like ADAC) require the license to be transferred to the country where you will work.
In Scandinavia, helicopters are used extensively in the offshore sector, in addition to air rescue operations. Companies like Bristow and CHC fly workers to oil rigs in the North Sea in large helicopters. The pay at these companies is very good.
In Spain, Italy, and Greece, many pilots are sought for firefighting operations. However, you must be fluent in the local language to work there.
In tourist areas, such as Iceland or Greece, there are also tour companies where you can fly during the summer.
Other exciting spots
In Africa, for example, there are several companies in the Okavango Delta that offer tours and VIP transport to luxury lodges.
In Saudi Arabia, there is a company called “The Helicopter Company,” which is on its way to becoming one of the largest helicopter companies in the world.
In the Himalayas, there are companies that fly tourists to Mt. Everest and evacuate injured people from there.
In the Pacific, companies fly from tuna boats out of Guam or Japan with spotters to identify large schools of fish.
And these are just the jobs where friends of mine, whom I met at Hillsboro, are currently flying. During your training and work in the U.S., you will meet many pilots and hear about other countries or jobs that might interest you.
FAQs
On our website, we’ve created a very comprehensive list of common questions about pilot training. You should definitely take a look at it! http://en.flyhaa.de/faq
Webinars
We regularly host webinars and live events around Europe, where we share a lot of information about the training and the career in the helicopter cockpit. You can watch the recording of our latest webinar here:
