Aircraft Engineering
 

Hello,

This is my first post so I apologise if my ignorance offends or annoys anyone.

I am an aircraft engineer currently living and working in Scotland. My simple question is, has anyone heard of people in the same profession as me making the move across the pond? It's something I'm very keen on. NC, SC, GA and FL all attract me but I don't want to get my hopes up if there's a snowballs chance in hell I'll actually be allowed over.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

What kind of "aircraft engineer"?

Do you design aircraft or are you a mechanic who maintains aircraft?

What level of education and what kind of qualifications do you have?

... and, most important, have you read the REALLY, READ ME: Want to Live & Work in the US? thread?

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Well it's kinda hard to expain. I am licensed to maintain aircraft both on an airport in a "live" capacity and also in base maintenance in hangars. With this license I can digress into the field of testing, quality assurance etc. There is an equivelant in the US (A&P mechanic and FAA inspector) which I have looked into the course for and it all seems relatively straightforward dependant on having enough experience on US registered aircraft.

I've read the post you refer to and as I suspected my most likely form of visa would be a skilled worker under sponsorship. I know for a fact there will be massive shortfall in aircraft engineers in the next 5-10 years.

The question I'm asking though is has anyone made this move before?

My girlfriend is a teacher (primary school) and I think she's got more chance than me of getting in!

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

For an H1-B employment based visa you would need to either have a university degree or at least 12 years of experience and the job itself must require that level of qualification.

I believe that there are a few people on this board who are in the aerospace industry but I don't know if any of them had experience that was directly comparable to yours.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Well I've been doing the job for 11 years now so I'm not far away on that front. The license is both a European and a Federal requirement. Certifying the aircraft as fit to fly is the crux of the matter.

I'll have a look around the site for the people you mention. Thankyou very much for your help.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Hi,

To get an H1-B, as mentioned, you need a university degree and/or experience. While there are aerospace engineers who qualify (i.e. designing new jets) whether or not you can get it maintaining aircraft is another matter.

Your girlfriend really hasn't much of a chance as a teacher, to be brutally honest. There are teacher layoffs all over the US and on top of that the chances of a local school (i.e. usually taxpayer financed) paying $5,000-$10,000 extra for visas to hire a foreign national when there are plenty of unemployed American teachers looking for work is highly unlikely.

As your girlfriend she'll have no rights to piggyback on your visa, should you find one, unless you marry her, and even then on an H1-B visa she would not have the right to work.

The other thing to note is that there are a number of US veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. With cutbacks in defense spending over the next five/ten years you may see a number of folks with significant aircraft maintenance experience entering the market.

(General note: we tend to be a bit harsh on folks not out of spite or meanness but to give you a hard, realistic look at your chances. There are plenty of types who say 'we can get you a visa for £400' but the reality is far harsher and many folks have been shafted by these 'visa services' companies).

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Yeah I can see it's not going to be easy, if in fact possible at all.

Ah well, not to worry. Guess I'll have to settle for riots, rain and sky high living costs :(

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Even if it's not possible now, you can still make it a long term goal to be possible in the future.

Something that I don't think has been mentioned is the L visas - international transfer from a UK to US company in your case. Aerospace is a big enough industry that I would have thought you could find a company with a presence in both countries. Now, whether you could (a) get a job with the UK firm; (b) qualify for the L visa; and (c) convince them to transfer you to the US after a year is another matter - but you could at least look into it.

Don't forget, the grass isn't necessarily any greener over in the US. Different, perhaps.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Very good points. I know of several airlines that operate both here and in the US and i'm hoping there'll be some sort of amalgamation between the FAA and EASA in the fture, or at least a working relationship better than they have now.

I am thinking medium to long term in all honesty. Perhaps 5-7 years when things have improved in the economy. I genuinely believe air travel is only going to expand as new, cheaper and greener alternatives to jet engines trickle through.

I'm still dreaming! :thumbup:

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Canada or Oz maybe? No idea about the immigration requirements for Oz, but I know Canada is an option for aircraft engineers. Not so good for primary teachers though, and the cost of living might be an issue (although less than Oz I believe!).

:)

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

To be honest Australia has never been somewhere I could see myself moving too. New Zealand interests me and Canada is somewhere I've always liked.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

No idea about NZ either, but maybe research there and Canada? Perhaps I'll see you in the Canada forum. :D

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

I think I'll just start gathering evidence of what I do. I mean pretty much everything I've done since i was 17 is recorded. Was in the RAF for 7 years then worked for a US company offshore for a year, now back in the aircraft industry!

Hopefully get in with BA, Virgin, Emirates etc. For legislative reasons they have to have European licensed guys out in the US at their bases so it's not all over!

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

I think trying to work for one of the big airlines and getting a transfer is probably your best bet at the moment.

Oddly enough, we just had a similar discussion on another expat forum I'm on as a German aircraft mechanic was offered a job at a company in LA. What came out of that one is that without the US certifications you are barely allowed to look at an aircraft, let alone go near one. You'll definitely need those certs if you want to work in the US and I'm guessing that an employer might pay for them if they transfer you. Definitely research the cost, even though they might be easy for you to pass, they're probably rather expensive to pass...

I'd also research pay, you might be in for a surprise, and not necessarily a good one. The above mentioned aircraft mechanic was supposed to work on parts (that's my understanding) in a capacity that didn't need the FAA certs etc and that paid around $20/hour. I would assume this would go up with the necessary certifications but I'd look into that if I were you.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

The L visa might be your best way around it. Don't forget about aircraft manufacturers too. Maybe try getting a job with Boeing in UK then transfer to Charleston, SC. They are building the Dreamliner there. I'm in the business but on the pilot side.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Yup, that's something I can confirm. I'm in the process now of trying to get some work on "N" registered aircraft but i'd have more luck finding rocking horse poo!! Pateience seems to be the name of the game. It'll all come together with a bit of luck and a few favours being called in hopefully :thumbup:

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

It's something I'm actively looking in to. Boeing have my CV and I am registered on their careers site. I'm type-rated on 737 classics and New Gen's and I'm hoping they end up re-engineing (sp?) the airframe rather than create a whole new aircraft. Would certainly make my life easier :eek:

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

For N regs in UK, try looking offshore, like Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. I believe quite a few bizjet operators run N reg trust aircraft there. There used to be a company called Cooper Aerial Survey and they had a load of N reg turbine Aero Commanders. Dunno if they still exist however.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Where would the US government stand on coming in under the VWP and working [I]unpaid[I] to gain enough experience to apply for the A&P license?

Is on the Job training recognised by the FAA or does it have to be paid work you think?

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

No work, paid or unpaid, is allowed under VWP.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

That isn't allowed and you'd probably be sent back on the next flight.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Interesting. So an H1-B visa covers you for paid work but not voluntary? Could it be classed as seasonal then under an H2B visa?

I would have thought voluntary non-paid on the job experience would be allowed?

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

You asked about visa waiver not H1-B.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

Sorry, I'm just trying to strike through the options as I see them.

The VWP is a no-no. That's essentially for holidays only right?

The H1-B is a long term visa that is probably more than what I need initially.

The H2-B is non-agricultural seasonal work which I could maybe get under by claiming the travel seasons (summer/thanksgiving/christmas or new year)

Am I right up to this point? Three or four months would do it as far as experience is concerned. after that I'd head back to the UK, sit my FAA exams and then i can start looking for jobs/applying for the H1B visa as I'd be qualified to work both sides of the atlantic.

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

You don't apply for that. A company who is willing to hire you does.

I asked our A&P mechanic this morning about this. It seems there's no requirement for the work to be paid so yes unpaid would work. We think so long as the work could be verified it would be valid.

If you haven't done so already, you might want to check with the FAA field office in UK (http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...s/ifo/lon_ifo/) because you may be able to do an abridged A&P course (oral & practicals) based on your existing CAA/JAA qualifications and experience. You would likely qualify for a student visa as well (M1 visa I'd guess?).

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

That's very helpful. Thanks very much!! I was looking into it quite deeply yesterday and it's a big case of chicken and egg. Not impossible but tricky to have everything come together. I've been assured from a guy who's been in the industry for 30 years and who holds dual citizenship that having both the European license and FAA license makes you a solid gold commodity in the US.

Thankfully aircraft legislation is still very territorial so it's a good thing to be essentially a "universal" engineer/mechanic :thumbsup:

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

It's the same with pilot qualifications. The ideal is to be dual qualified however I don't want to have to deal with the JAA/CAA! The FAA is enough for me. The hardest bit is probably getting dual nationality unless you're lucky enough to be born into it. I'm both a UKC & a USC now but it took years. Good luck.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

If that's the case, you've got no chance.

H2 won't really be a goer, this isn't seasonal work. Possibly a J1 internship, but you probably need to graduate from uni to have a more realistic option of this route I'd imagine.

Don't discount Boston as a location...but a lot of those jobs require security clearance, which unless you've got US citizenship or the very least a greencard, is very unlikely. I don't know about in the other locations you listed though.

Re: Aircraft Engineering
 

I think it'll have to be an H1 visa ultimately. Try and get a job with a UK company that has UK-US transfers. I will be getting my US qualifications over the next couple of years so there's loads of time. I'm only 28 so am in no rush!!