Ask Captain Lim

Dear Captain Lim,

First of all, I really do appreciate your hard work on this website. I can tell that your website has became a very important reference to me and many other pilots around the world.

Before I ask you, let me tell you a little bit about my background.

I am 29 years old, from Syria. I got my CPL with Instrument Rating from Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA in 2000. I returned home and applied to Syrian Air. They accepted me after a good interview but for some routine and complicated reasons, I couldn't join them until 2004. They then gave me my first type rating on the Airbus A320 in February 2005. I was doing nothing until February 2006 when I had a 5-day refresher course in the simulator. On April 2006, I had my actual training and did three touch-and-goes at Damascus airport. The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority then endorsed my license as a F/O on the Airbus A320.

Now, my training is going at a very slow pace - as you know, I have to fly with only flight instructors/training captains. In Syrian Air, we have 6 Airbus A320s with only 5 instructors. Two of them are only active and the others don't fly that much. For your information, we have 37 trained pilots.

My situation is extremely bad - until now, I have only done 3 flying sectors as PIC. The bureaucracy in our company is handling everything. I don't think I have any idea when I will become a release pilot, especially when my seniority number is 36th.

I want to know if there are any companies that can accept me under these circumstances. I have heard that there are some airlines where I can pay to continue with my training and thereafter, they may hire me. I think some airlines in the Arab Gulf States do that (Arabia Air, Qatari Air, Etihad, Gulf Air?) but I am not sure.

Please Captain Lim, I'm asking for your help. I don't know what to do.

Yours truly,

Sassa

Hi Sassa,

I don't have much information about Syrain Air and how well it is doing. Since you are number 36th in the seniority list (out of 37th), the airlines may give preference to those who are more senior than you are if there aren't much flying. Perhaps you have to be a little patient.

Since you are type-rated on the Airbus A320, you can always apply to join the other airlines if you do not have a bond with Syrian Air. I know Qatar Air is looking for A320 pilots. Write to them if you are unhappy with your present company. You can get more information about this from my Pilot Recruitment Links.

Wish you all the best.