AtlCSIP

Anything new at COPA?

mexipilot84

Nothing new, received a generic e-mail from their HR department to apply online on their website. I did that all even before sending an elaborate cover letter and resume to them. Being a Spanish speaker and experience in Panama doesn't make my resume or application move to the top of the stack. The e-mail I got from FLTops says they were still hiring E190 crews, but even with internal HR names seems to be a weird selection process.

AtlCSIP

I wasn't aware that COPA had E190's. I thought they were strictly B737.

rgoeasy

While I am not a "current" employee, I am recent. (I left there in August '11). In MY opinion and MY opinion ONLY, the working conditions are very undiserable. You will be assigned a schedule, there is no bidding. (There is no seniority as we know it here in the US). There is no such thing as a retirement package. Well, ok there is, but it is absolutely silly. It is something like $35.00 a MONTH. At least that's what it was 3, almost 4, years ago. You will either be worked to death or sit on your butt for days on end. Like I mentioned earlier, the schedules are assigned. Oh, by the way, you will get your assigned schedule on or about the 28th of the month, usually around or after 10:00pm. So, don't plan on having any kind of plans for the next month. And, there is no such thing as "typical" 3 on 4 off or 4 on 3 off. Sure, you may have 14 - 16 days off in the month but they will be scattered willy-nilly. Forget trying to commute. They strongly discourage commuting and make it at difficult as possible. For example, when I left there, it was company policy that you HAD to be in Panama AT LEAST 24 hours before your scheduled departure time.
Sorry to be long winded, hope I answered some of your questions. Anything else feel free to PM me.

mexipilot84

Well they certainly havent made their hiring process any easier either. Seems they want to fill all these Capt. spots but they make it such a tidious process. I have never seen an application so complicated and an HR dept. that responds with automated e-mails that just direct you back to the application. Got the rejection e-mail about 4 months later after applying and attempting to talk to someone. They seem to have become very counter productive from what I hear from former employees, which would explain losing qualified panamanian pilots to foreign carriers like Emirates. Hopefully one day they will change for the better.

hesitant

I think COPA may be a good airline to start with. I am uncomfortable with the fact that they will promote a Panamanian befor an American. This is an example of an airline where I feel that people shoud reconsider, and wait until the conditions improve.
Again, I post frequently, and most of it is not very positive. Lets be realistic.

globochem

Let's clear up the confusion on why someone would want to work for Copa.

It's a job. Not a career or long term prospect, but a job. Better than being unemployed or furloughed but not intended for any length of time other than what it takes to get hired somewhere else. Get your time, apply elsewhere and leave. That is what 99% of us are doing at Copa.

Why is this so hard for some of you to understand?

Sonny Crockett

Very realistic view from inside COPA.

It's a JOB only...not a long term career place. Get in and get out. I did.