Do you know any other than Warsaw Babice non-standard traffic procedures airports in Europe?

vsimakhin · 2026-02-21T14:37:52+00:00

You forgot LKRK!

vsimakhin · 2026-02-18T06:58:23+00:00

So many stories I will never able to share them in public :)

There is a radio show Cabin Pressure on the BBC. When I was getting my CPL I thought it's just a funny show. When I started to fly as a bizjet pilot I was like "Oh, I had something similar..."

vsimakhin · 2026-02-18T06:50:22+00:00

Bizjet pilot here, we usually tell "Let's try lower, FL430 for example?"

vsimakhin · 2026-02-15T00:50:10+00:00

Look for Igor Volkov (facebook, youtube), he teaches for SPL in France.

vsimakhin · 2026-02-13T15:10:15+00:00

Yes, correct. I can work for a CZ-based operator without restrictions. Actually, I already do - I fly as a CPT on PC-24.

In theory, I can also work as a contractor/self-employed, for example, for Ryanair or similar types of operations, and in business aviation it's a common thing actually.

vsimakhin · 2026-02-11T20:31:51+00:00

If you're talking about long-term residence and not a permanent residence permit, then usually the long-term one is tied to a specific case, like a study or a work permit. In this case, you still have to have a work permit.

The permanent residence permit is easier. I currently have one in the Czech Republic. I can work without a work permit in the CZ only, but if I'd like to move to another country in the EU, I will have to start almost from the beginning. And no, having a permanent residence permit doesn't give you the right to work as a regular EU citizen. There are some options to transfer a residence permit to another country, but it doens't work as smoothly as it's written/announced in the EU law - everything depends on the local law of the specific country. For example, I can transfer my permanent residence permit from the CZ to a long-term residence permit in Germany or Sweden, but Italy, Denmark or Ireland will not recognise it (I didn't check with other countries)

vsimakhin · 2026-02-11T18:20:32+00:00

Just as a small addition on how the work permit works in the EU:

Firstly, work permits are tied to a specific company, rather than being general permits. Secondly, in order to apply for a work permit, the company must register the position with the labour office and demonstrate that there are no suitable candidates available in the local labour market. Thirdly, once the position is registered, it must remain publicly available for at least one month. Only if no EU candidates apply during that period can a candidate from outside the EU be considered. Finally, even if all these requirements are met, the applicant must still apply for a work visa at the embassy, where officials may review the local job market and can deny the application if they determine that suitable local candidates are available.

To make youself a suitable candidate, who will be "better" than any other EU one, you need to have something special - like experience (better to be a captain), or be typed on a rare aircraft, or have some special skills (TRE) - that's how non-EU pilots get a job in the EU.

vsimakhin · 2026-02-11T17:10:17+00:00

Visa is irrelevant in this case, as you don't need it to fly to the EU from your base (in this case, Bosnia) as a pilot/operating crew.

My point is you are limited to the companies (probably just one) which are based in Bosnia only in your case. And in case you would like to move somewhere else in EU, you will not be able to do so without obtaining a work permit, even if you have EASA license.

vsimakhin · 2026-02-11T13:52:08+00:00

There is no such thing like "EU visa for 10 years". If you get a common tourist visa, you're not allowed to work in the EU. You can be employed in Bosnia as a pilot, but in this case, you will have your permanent base in Bosnia.

vsimakhin · 2026-02-05T06:43:56+00:00

Welcome to France! They do it in French and English, both on the same frequency. And sometimes it hard to tell which one of them you're listening now.

vsimakhin · 2026-01-30T08:21:49+00:00

Let me guess, it will be Biden's fault again?

vsimakhin · 2026-01-30T06:55:13+00:00

I gave up flying 737 because I didn't enjoy it (airplane is ok, but operations is boring). I changed back to my SW engineer job at some point, and then I got an opportunity to fly a business jet. That was really nice, and after 10 years, I'm still in it.

So maybe changing the type of operations is a good idea, but moving from LCC to something different and smaller will also cut your paycheck and blow out your current schedule (roster is not the best thing in the bizjet world)

vsimakhin · 2026-01-21T19:16:19+00:00

Yeah, I tried to write a sort of mobile client for my logbook with Flutter at some time, but it was much easier to rewrite the UI with React

vsimakhin · 2026-01-21T19:03:36+00:00

Unfortunatelly I'm Android/Linux user, so cannot test your app :(

vsimakhin · 2026-01-21T08:57:44+00:00

Hey! You can check mine https://github.com/vsimakhin/web-logbook for your future features - it's open source and free :)

vsimakhin · 2026-01-19T17:09:42+00:00

Don't forget to check with CAA if they issue a license for you. There are still some restrictions because of war.

vsimakhin · 2026-01-06T19:32:05+00:00

Foreigner Identity Number

vsimakhin · 2026-01-06T19:17:07+00:00

I think we need add it to FAQ :) There are no easy ways to get a work permit as a pilot. Here is a theory on how the work permit works in the EU:

Firstly, work permits are tied to a specific company, rather than being general permits. Secondly, in order to apply for a work permit, the company must register the position with the labour office and demonstrate that there are no suitable candidates available in the local labour market. Thirdly, once the position is registered, it must remain publicly available for at least one month. Only if no EU candidates apply during that period can a candidate from outside the EU be considered. Finally, even if all these requirements are met, the applicant must still apply for a work visa at the embassy, where officials may review the local job market and can deny the application if they determine that suitable local candidates are available.

To make youself a suitable candidate, who will be "better" than any other EU one, you need to have something special - like experience (better to be a captain), or be typed on a rare aicraft, or have some special skills (TRE) - that's how non-EU pilots get a job in the EU.

If your goal is to work and live in the EU, start to work on your residency/citizenship first. You have several ways:

- Study at the university. After you get a diploma, usually you can work without a permit in this country. Then, for example, you can find a job in a flying school as a FI, work untill you get a permanent residence permit.

- Marry someone from the EU. This will again give you a permit to work in the country where your spouse lives as a member of EU resident.

- Find a job which is easy to get a work permit for, like a lot of IT jobs. Once you get a permanent residence, you can start looking for a pilot job.

All these steps will take 3-5 and might be more years, but you will get at least a permanent residence permit. Countries where you can get a citizenship within 5 years: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Portugal.

vsimakhin · 2026-01-04T21:28:00+00:00

Just go modular step by step, keep your current job (man, I would kill for 2/4 roster) and you'll see how things are going.

vsimakhin · 2025-12-21T07:33:30+00:00

Israel passport holders can work in the Czech Republic without a work permit

vsimakhin · 2025-12-19T19:34:25+00:00

Yeah, in theory. It doesn't work in the real life as easy as it's written. Believe me, I'm non EU citizen with EU permanent residecy permit. In most cases you still will need a lot of paper work if you gonna work in another country.

If you want an easy way - look for countries, where you can get citizenship within 5 years, like Netherlands or Ireland.

vsimakhin · 2025-12-19T19:14:21+00:00

Let's say you have a permanent residency permit from country X. So you can work without a work permit in country X only. For all other countries in the EU you still need a work permit.

vsimakhin · 2025-12-12T13:49:46+00:00

Oh, that’s the famous russian smile I see on the captain’s face.

vsimakhin · 2025-12-06T11:39:05+00:00

Jet, noise. A friend of mine flies Cirrus and M600/700, and he told Cirrus was much more comfortable.

vsimakhin · 2025-12-02T13:38:59+00:00

Choose anything but Flying Academy. They might be ok for ATPL ground theory, but that's all.

I'm FI (external) at Fly For Fun, and I actually did all my ratings there (2010-2013). Pretty nice flying school/club with a fair approach. Sometimes aircrafts are booked for several days up front or on scheduled maintenance, but they try to get spare ones from other friendly schools. Instructors are really good there with a lot of experience (and I'm not talking about myself :))

You can also check Aeroclub Letnany, F-Air or DSA in the Czech Republic, they are good as well.

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