infos
 

Hey Embraer...how are you doing?!?! Im new to this forum..just registered because I was looking for some infos on flying in Brazil and I thought I could send you private msg !! Anyways..Im Canadian, currently flying FO dash-8, but commuting to Sao Paulo every month ...as my gf is Brazilian. My portuguese is improving...but still need to work at it. I guess french being my first language does help. I do think we will get marry in the near future so being a Brazilian resident will be reality pretty soon. I am looking at my options in moving full time to Brazil but obviously want to make sure of lots of things before doing the move.......would you tell I am crazy leaving a job in Canada for Brazil..or you think there is a good future here. I know you cant compare..but I really love it here....the people..family..etc.
For who do you work exactly ..and could you help me with some more infos please!
cheers!!

My wife is hell bent on moving back to Brasil, so it looks like I'm going to have to figure this out too. That or commute all the time back to the US.

So, if I wanted to get a job with TAM or Azul, is this basically the process?

1) Move to Brasil
2) Gain permanent residence and/or citizenship (how long does that usually take?)
3) Convert my ATP to a Brasilian ATP
4) Apply at Tam or Azul

Question- the R$ 5,000-8,000 that was posted earlier- is that before or after taxes? I know Brasil has one of the highest tax rates in the world- I also know that prices have skyrocketed there since I first started going down in 2004. Case in point- I went to Iguatemi mall in Campinas and stopped at the "Baked Potato" kiosk- got 2 baked potatoes and a coke, set me back $25 (dollars). It's getting to the point where Campinas is as expensive as Chicago or New York- how do people survive on R$5,000 a month, especially with a wife and kids?

Anyway, happy wife, happy life, so it looks as if I'm committed to moving down to Brasil- thanks for your input and advice!

I assume before taxes... I've never really seen anyone give after taxes salaries because every case is different.

Keep in mind the work rules in Brazil are MUCH different so while your salary may only be 5 or 8k, the company gives you healthcare, food (not crappy per diem like they do here. actual money per meal), some are even required to give you an EBTlike card for food purchases at home and some even give you a transportation card, for buses and whatnot.

This is all dependent on the company but Brazilians do not factor that into the salary (which I find weird)

example: My cousin makes x amounts of reais per month, he says that's his salary. So I tell him: What about your 700 reais food card and your healthcare and your bus card (I think something like 300 or 400 reais)?

"That's not my salary that's just extra stuff"

Well he's right, but if you don't have to pay for it, it makes the salary a whole lot easier to deal with.

and nobody lives on 5k reais with a family (in Sao Paulo). Other places are much much cheaper but unfortunately the whole greater region is becoming engulfed in the city growing and along with it are coming the prices.

I lived in Vinhedo (near Valinhos and Campinas) about 15 years ago and if I told you it was the middle of nowhere you wouldn't believe me

the salary they gave you I assume is base salary which doesn't include your meals. I have a friend who flies for TAM and he said this:

"If you are on duty during mealtime (be it breakfast lunch or dinner) they give you x amount for that meal (price dependent upon where you are at the time, more money if you are in Paris, less if you are in the nordeste) and if you are on the plane they give you the food as well"

so if you are flying during a mealtime they give you the food AND the money.

There are a LOT of rules and regulations for the workers in Brazil especially in the airlines, you'll find that a ton of them are a lot better than they are here (not saying much)

One thing I hate about TAM that he told me (and I assume is the industry norm) is that they get paid per km, not per time. So if they sit on the ramp for 2 hours and get deviated around for 2 hours in the air, they get paid the same as they would had they gotten off the ground immediately with no delays in air. it sucks.

It's a whole different system. Also be prepared to live wherever you are based out of because while there is jumpseating (maybe not so much in the cockpit) it's not as prevalent as it is here.

Having dual citizenship, I can atest that the economy in Brazil is getting better and better. More and more now, I think about hoing back and flying down there. The other problem that they are running into pilots down there is the English. Last year whem I went back home I had the opportunity to ride the jumpseat (even though I had a ticket)(I knew the capt. Which was a total coincidence). Talking to the F/O, he had been on the A320 for 10 years and tried the English test 3 times, but did not score high enough for international flying. According to him, if a Brazilian pilot like myself went back to Brazil to fly, you would be put straight into a 777/330/767 on international routes. Seniority doesnt mean much as far as I know. Pertaining to what equipment you fly. Also as a 10 year FO on a A320 he was making good money compared to tje cost of living down there. I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel to fly in Brazil, with the economy tje way is going and the world cup and olympics coming up, a lot will change and the economy will only grow.
My 2 cents.
Sorry for the errors, damn phone!!!

You make a good point. Im a teacher at an english school here in RIO specificaly to help them pass the ANAC test. And my last student told me that 72 pilots from TAM failed the english course. Thats a lot!!!

What are TAMs mins nowadays?

Would they lower the mins for someone with ICAO 6, degree, and inside ref?

The United States does not formally require you to renounce your citizenship. There is only the citizenship oath pledging allegiance to the United States. However your original nation may revoke your citizenship if you are naturalized in the United States (or any other nation), it is just dependent on the country.

Some nations DO require you to make a formal attempt to renounce your previous citizenship prior to being naturalized - Denmark for instance. In these cases you must take paperwork into the embassy of your home nation and have them fill it out after you have gone through the formal renouncing of your citizenship.

Government Links:

USCIS Home Page

Advice about Possible Loss of U.S. Citizenship and Dual Nationality

You're right and while you didn't come out and say it, it sounded like you said I was wrong.

I never said the US makes you give up your original citizenship. I said they make you renounce your allegiance. What they mean is if the US goes to war with your country of birth, you have to pledge you will fight for the US

Having flown South America and GRU/GIG got years...I will say it "I will leave UAL today for a chance to fly for a Brasilian Carrier!"

I said it.... and I mean it.

I flew in Bolivia during my last furlough and I really miss that adventure....if Brazil opens up to expats I am gone in a second! Please keep up udated on the law, if and when it changes. I need to find out what my TAM buddy is up to these days....


Ah- I miss ol' Brasil!

I'm hoping to jump down there before they allow expats to come and ruin the fun!

I kid I kid.

But seriously, a lot of the good pay, good conditions and all stems from the fact that the number of pilots there is so low.

I think Brazil has something like 4000 pilots ALTOGETHER

American Airlines has over 11 thousand and that's only 1 carrier

The day they open the doors the situation will become worse than it is here sadly...