jaywatts1980
New Member
Hey everybody,
So I'm all gung ho about becoming an airline pilot one day, and I'm going to all the flight schools, trying to find out as much as I can about what it will take for me to build my hours once I complete my courses. Now, I've been told that if I am flexible, as in go where the jobs are, I 'll find work. I lived and worked in Guatemala and Panama for two years, and I love Central America. That region has expansive airline coverage, but the service is limited because there is duopoly between TACA and COPA, and all the little airlines they've gobbled up. The only other options I'd have would be Air Panama or TAG. What are the requirements for an FO position at TACA Regional, Air Panama, TAG or even at TACA or COPA itself? Do the airlines in Latin America hire pilots with low hours who are looking to build time, or do they want tons of hours and experience because they are the flag carriers of those nations, and because an idiot pilot could screw things up real bad considering that conditions aren't always ideal down there? I only ask because I know about the low wages that airline pilots make when they're just starting out. But I have no qualms about living in second, or third world countries, and I'd much rather live in a place where my low salary would actually be considered quite decent than starve in the US. I am also leaving this thread open to any info. on flying opportunities to US citizens overseas, if there is a way I could build my hours quickly and easily abroad.
Thank you.
So I'm all gung ho about becoming an airline pilot one day, and I'm going to all the flight schools, trying to find out as much as I can about what it will take for me to build my hours once I complete my courses. Now, I've been told that if I am flexible, as in go where the jobs are, I 'll find work. I lived and worked in Guatemala and Panama for two years, and I love Central America. That region has expansive airline coverage, but the service is limited because there is duopoly between TACA and COPA, and all the little airlines they've gobbled up. The only other options I'd have would be Air Panama or TAG. What are the requirements for an FO position at TACA Regional, Air Panama, TAG or even at TACA or COPA itself? Do the airlines in Latin America hire pilots with low hours who are looking to build time, or do they want tons of hours and experience because they are the flag carriers of those nations, and because an idiot pilot could screw things up real bad considering that conditions aren't always ideal down there? I only ask because I know about the low wages that airline pilots make when they're just starting out. But I have no qualms about living in second, or third world countries, and I'd much rather live in a place where my low salary would actually be considered quite decent than starve in the US. I am also leaving this thread open to any info. on flying opportunities to US citizens overseas, if there is a way I could build my hours quickly and easily abroad.
Thank you.
