Actually, the internet is a great resource to find information so you are not clueless when you do go to an attorney (or professional in whatever field). I am very interested to see what first hand experience others might have to learn from their mistakes or accomplishments. Since this could find me (and others in my position) work in an aviation field, it is totally relevant in this forum. What really screws up the forums is the other stuff …. “I heard this” or “I know someone who said…”. I do not waste my time reading that stuff. It’s irrelevant, facts is all that is important. And who better to give facts than some one who actually did it. I have been in many fields in aviation and one thing is the same… Pilots will always find something to complain about (usually its dispatch or maintenance. And they complain about us.)

No I don’t have a clue. I did not work there. But what I can tell you are the economies are different then in the US. Its seems that 135 pays much more than 121. The company I contracted for last year bought 2 lear 60, 1 Gulfstream IV, 1 legacy, 1 Falcon 2000, 1 Agusta ( all form the US since the prices are dirt cheap, with very low hrs). The owners cannot find pilots for them so they are increasing the pay. This is attracting captains from the airlines you mentioned. Lear 60 drivers, what I fly, are being paid much more than what I was getting in the US. What really pays a TON is being a helicopter pilot. The cost of flight training is high, even more so for helo lessons, thus creating a huge shortage of helicopters pilots, again increasing the pay even higher than fixed wing. If you look at Sao Paulo (and the major cities in Brazil) almost every building has a helipad on top of it, hundreds. Compared to NYC, you only have 3. The traffic and congestion is so much that people use helicopters for everything shopping, working, and commuting. Six figure salaries for flying a helo and being home at night is not uncommon.

Starting pay at GOL and TAM is on average R$ 8,000/month for an FO. Azul is on average R$ 5,000/month. Full benefits.

Rotorhead:

I have been through the citizenship process and I'm a citizen of both countries. As elmetal mentioned, the United States cannot demand you renounce citizenship. And yes, I'll say it again: They do not have the RIGHT to demand such a thing. No country does. Denying you THEIR citizenship is one thing. Telling you to renounce your existing citizenship is not allowed by international law and actually falls under the International Criminal Court's definition of a war crime. No exaggeration.

I have an Uncle who is an immigration lawyer out of NYC. The United States USED to only allow single citizenship back when too many Americans would use their second nationality to evade tax requirements or something to that effect.

However the U.S. did away with that policy decades ago. Regarding Mr. UCLA: Check his very first post on the first page. No, "I heard such and such" mentioned..just a rather definitive statement which turned out to be factually incorrect.

BTW: If I'm not 100% clear on something I keep quiet and don't add my 2 cents. I'm not afraid of admiting I don't know for sure or not at all about a topic. In that case I will either look it up or listen to people who have "been there and done that..." but also making sure their information is current.

If I ran into an American pilot in Asia who hasn't lived or flown in the U.S. since 1993 I wouldn't take anything he said about flying over here seriously...he is outdated. Same goes for all the ex VARIG and VASP MD-11, 767, and 737 pilots who had to boogie out of Brazil in the late 90s early 2000s.

Thanks! That's pretty good pay for starting... doesn't quite put you in the upper middle class (if you can even consider it upper middle) but it's a step in the right direction

Part 135 as 4castclr mentioned pays better. Lider is the biggest as far as I know and probably pays the best. I know airlines down there are now officially in a wage war with the executive aviation sector in an attempt to attract more pilots to the 121 world.

But 5,000 to 8,000 a month is really good down there..especially if you have no kids. Living in Sao Paulo it would be borderline...but in any other city R$ 8,000 puts you in the upper middle class with no kids. And of course that is just starting pay. It goes up from there.

I know for a fact that TAM captains are bringing in over R$ 20,000 a month. That will get you somewhere :)

That's exactly what I mean, for Sao Paulo..

yeah I can confirm the TAM Captain, I personally know 2 who make over 25

If you don't mind commuting, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, and Florianopolis are all great large cities to live in with half the cost of living of Sao Paulo. If you want to stay in the SP area without the high costs then Santos is always an option...plus you get to live on the beach :)

I wish I could be so confident. I was when I was younger.

You made the same sort of mistake regarding citizenship requirements for flying in the US (and for that matter, on flying in Japan and England) - and properly corrected yourself when the error was noted. Fair enough. My statement regarding the US oath was overarching as well. Most "facts" on a forum are largely opinion, and indeed neither UCLA's nor your statements (nor mine) regarding Brazil can really be proven here. His statements may or may not be "factually incorrect". I don't think we have to couch everything we say in such cautionary language.

I'm afraid it may be. The war crime stipulation would likely apply to a takeover of foreign lands (and subsequent forced "recitizenship" of the inhabitants), not to a voluntary act (application for citizenship). As elmetal said, you can always turn around and walk out (but don't flip 'em off :)). In any case the country may or may not have signed or ratified this treaty and can probably abrogate or ignore it at will. I'll say it again - asserting "rights" in this sort of situation is a stretch. You have the right to walk out (maybe :eek:) - that's about it, unless that country chooses to grant you some others.

My point remains that taking citizenship in a second country - taking an oath even as benign as that which the US requires - can possibly have very negative consequences in your native country. Get expert advice - which you probably won't find here. :)

the commute from Santos to SP is HE LL though...

I love SP, I don't think I could live elsewhere... There's too much of me embedded in that city.. But who knows we'll see!

Im living in RIO now, and it would be great if they lifted this ban. Im a furloughed pilot from a US Carrier and would like to call Rio home.