jmackin

Hey all,

I'm an 18 year old who is going for my PPL (FAA) licence next month and know I am a long ways away from the airlines. However one thing I learned when it came to looking for the right college was due your reserch as early as possible.

One question that came to my mind last month was what are the possibilities of being hired by the Panamanian carrier Copa, especially because of the fact they have a relationship (I don't know what it is) with CO?

It is good for an American with little Spanish exposure?

If not them, what is a good foreign carrier to star out with that has a Ejet? SV? QR? Or am I better off starting out with a American airline?

KoruPilot

You would at least require residence for COPA. I used to fly in Panama for a regional there as a training captain, and that was the only way I managed employment. I have a couple of friends at COPA on the NG, one is Columbian but married to a Panamanian, the rest are born and bred Isthmusites. If you had heaps of time and were a training captain on the NG you might be able to land a job as they have hired that way before, but only for contract. Continental does not have the equity they used to have in COPA, but still code share and of course COPA is Skyteam.

As a new pilot, if you really want to fly overseas your best bet is PNG or Africa starting on a C206; lots of jobs on that route. Forget about Cathay, Singapore or anyone else until you get at the very least some multi time, and better yet some turbine time. Unless of course you can hold Singaporian residence, then I'd apply for the cadet program.