jcrews

My wife and I are moving to Puerto Rico in July. We'll be there for at least 1 year. I know there are several flight schools in that area and am interested to see if anyone on the forum has had personal interactions with any of those schools.

Has anyone instructed in PR before? Do you know about any other low time opportunities in PR (specific information requested, please no vague answers)? I've got about 550 total time and am CFII. Thanks for the information in advance.

-jcrews

jcrews

Nothing? Bump

ryan1234

Where in PR are you going? I have a good friend who has a flight school at Borinquen.

jcrews

I'll be living west of San Juan on the coast. Most likely in Dorado. It's a bit of a trek to Broinquen. What is the name of your friends flight school there? I'm trying to feel out all of my options right now.

UNCPHILLIPS

Jcrews~

I was down in San Juan about two years ago and during that visit I happened to find out that a place called Silver Wings Academy (if memory serves me right) was looking for CFII's at the time.

That could be a little bit of a haul if you're living on the West side of the island.

contrails12

I'd try air flamenco or vieques Airlink.... 135 vfr airlines. U may even have a shot at seabourne as an fo.

contrails12

Almost forgot, there's also a charter company at SJU Intl called air America that's always looking for ppl

jcrews

Wife and I just bought one way tix for July 12th and we're amped! Thanks a lot for the information! I have looked into schools down there, and Silver wings does look like a pretty place to start. A good friend of mine flew Twin Otters on floats for Seaborne but I was unaware that seaborne hires FOs. I have not even heard of flamenco or vieques airlink, so thanks for that as well. Air America is on the radar as well, but on their website it lists 135 IFR minimums and I don't see anything about VFR charter. Did you have some inside experience with Air America?

I also found a dropzone out of Sabana, 30 minutes west of San Juan, called Extreme Skydiving (or something close).

I will be living just west of San Juan (hopefully), so the commute to SJU or Isla Verde will be a piece of cake. I'm really looking forward to the aspect of getting to fly down there, especially after taking the winter off to work up in the mountains!

contrails12

Seaborne is 121 and requires two pilots. Had some pals work for air America, they weren't huge fans of the owner. But as a low timer I'd take what I could get. Everything is VFR In the Caribbean. Insurance would prob b the limiting factor with air America. Id try and setup face to face meetings with all of these places when u get down here. Lots of people call from up north and say they'd love to work in the tropics, but it's more convincing when ur standing in front of the chief pilot/DO/owner. Airlines are hiring like crazy you'll find somthing.

jcrews

Thanks for the advice! I'll be visiting all of them once I arrive in San Juan. As you said, with such low time I am willing to take what I can get.
Do you live in PR now? If so, who do you fly for?