South and Central American Job Opportunities
 

Does anyone have any insight on South American pilot job opportunities for FAA ATP pilots.

slim to none....over there it's who you know....NOT what you know.....

very veryyy slim! two years ago Copa was hiring some foreigners and so was Lan Peru they wanted typed & 500 hrs min, however is all about who you know. Keep in mind most countries in latin america will not issue a commercial license unless you're a citizen and to fly for their airlines you'll need their license! I believe this is the case in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and most others. Also happens to be this way in most of Europe, not only will you need JAA license but also EU passport. The US is one of the very few places where you can convert allmost any ICAO to FAA easily and fly for a US carrier without citizenship only work permit, try and do that in any other place good luck!

What about for some one who holds a CASMELI and CFI with under 400 hours? Any jobs for a wannabe Gringo who wants to instruct somewhere south of the border, preferably Colombia.

First, in order to be eligible to work in most countries in South America, you must hold the country's citizenship, in other words, they don't hire expats.
In addtion, if you hold a FAA certificate, you must convert it to the respective agency equivalent. $$$$$$
For last, the entire training is done in spanish, if that is an issue for you ( interested).:cool:

well......that is not totally right.........
The US only permits you to convert your Private but not the CPL or ATPL.
You will have to pass test and checkride for that like normal.
You have to have Green Card be a permanent resident to be able to work for a 121 US carrier if you are not a US citizen. There is No way of getting just work permit for work as pilot in the US. No airline will help and no work vissa is issued for such purpose. Further. The TSA has to approved you to train and after that to work in the US for every carrier that would offer you employment if you already have everything else. You have to pay the cost for their approval and their result cannot be questioned or changed.

- yes, just pass the test and checkride for cpl & atp! all your previous aeronautical exp counts unlike other countries.
- A work permit is issued before the green card, so in most cases if not all if you have a work permit you are a permanent resident waiting for the green card. With this you can get hired at a 121, in most of central & south american unless you are a (citizen) you will not stand a chance, sometimes you will not even be able to covert your faa license.

I have several friends who went through the process, former aces & avianca most of them exellent pilots I have to say. They became legal us residents not (citizens) converted the tickets and overnight became dc10 drivers. Try that in Colombia or most other countries. I don't say this for any particular reason, I myself come from the region so I know how it works!