bcpilot

The million dollar Question is that there are at least 10,000 pilots in USA who have 1000TT, who would love to fly a 737...
How come none of these guys ahead of you not applied to or joined COPA...

Food for thought.....

BeardedFlyer

I've never even heard of Copa before The Dominican's post in here. This is your first time seeing anything about this F/O spot isn't it? A lot of the pilots who might be in situations that would allow them to pack up and head for Panama probably don't even know about it.

Also, if you're plan is to go back to a major in the US you will need that jet PIC time which according to claims on here and PPRuNe about their upgrade times looks like you won't get at Copa. Rumors also say they are only paying 3k monthly. If the goal is to get to a major in the US then the smarter route is still through the regionals; you will get the PIC time faster, stay in your own country, and make more money.

For a US pilot it seems like all this FO job at Copa will put you on the fast track to is a career as a foreign contract pilot at a place like Air Japan or one of the other high paying overseas airlines that will hire a guy with only type SIC time then let him eventually upgrade. Sure after finishing your first contract as a captain you will have your jet PIC time and could easily come back to a major in the states but that will be about 10 years later (after you first went to Copa). At that point who would leave a stable, $200,000yr job to start at the bottom of the seniority list at a US major making 1/4 of that? When you're talking about the long term career plan, most pilots born and raised in the US would prefer to stay there.

This is just my theory... which you probably should pay no attention to since I'm really just a low time commercial pilot sitting on the couch with a broken arm and hardly any first hand experience when it comes to the world of professional aviation.

Chomeur

For those pilots who want a to follow a different path to the cockpit - my hat is off to you. Living in a foreign culture is a fascinating experience and you will be forever changed by it. It seems to me that most pilots here in the USA would rather not live away from the states and their path to their goal is to proceed direct at best forward speed - not that it's a bad thing! But to enjoy the scenic route to your destination can be a wonderful thing.
Most American pilots aren't working outside the USA for two specific reasons. 1. they want to live IN the USA, not outside it. 2. They don't have citizenship in the country that the airline is based in.
Half the battle to get hired overseas will involve local citizenship (or right-to-work). Then you will likely have to have a local pilot license - JAR ATP in Euroland, not the ICAO atp that's issued here. After that, things become more flexible if you have some hours and can fit well in the local culture. The local culture may be the bureaucracy that is endemic in Europe, or the flexible sense of time in the Caribbean, or the rigid conformity of Japan. Which by the way, I mean no disrespect, all those places are great, it's just how they do things.
I would suggest considering using your CFI to instruct overseas, maybe Europe and pick up a second language fluently. Also, Africa offers low time guys a chance to fly tourists in SE aircraft. You'll certainly gain proficiency quickly. Alaska is also a good place to pick up time, though you may have to work ramp, pump gas at the same job first.
If you are single, stay that way because you can quickly jump on an opportunity. You can have a spouse, kids later when you're older, more stable in your job, and have a few more dollars in your pocket. I didn't meet my wife until I was 26, because I was flying here, there and everywhere and am glad it worked out like that.
Go for it and never look back, the world is your oyster!

rotorhead1026

"1" is correct, and good for me because much competition is eliminated. "2" is problematic. It's true for Europe, Canada, and many other countries. Japan requires a license, but the airline that hires you trains you for it. China, India, Ethiopia, and others validate your license when you're hired; you fly on your country's ticket plus a letter of validation. I think this is true for COPA. Where there's high demand without a lot of local competition you'll see validations, especially for captains.

Absolutely true. In spite of the long absences from home, the lifestyle is addictive for some of us.

BaronRouge380

Yea, they may have cute FAs LOL... Other than that, I haven't heard great things about Copa.

PCLCREW

Air Japan is a very competitive job... Like many jobs in the Asia Pacific market their mins are one thing and people they are hiring are very different.
Put it this way... I have 6000+ hours with 4000+ in jets and I've been trying to break into this market with zero luck, not even any calls back.
Its not that no one should listen to you, because it does appear you are starting to do the correct research but there are thousands of pilots trying to get into this market with a lot more then 300tt and a Comm ticket.
Just some more info for you.

Good Luck

RJSAviator76

Most places abroad want Captains with time in type, not just people with jet time. That could be your problem perhaps. Another thing is, if you're already overseas, it seems a bit easier to get a callback.

PCLCREW

That's my problem for sure... Once you get stuck in a RJ its very difficult to get out these days.

paokgate4

Average non panamanian getting hired as an FO has more than 3500 hrs for your info

paokgate4

United had 350 hrs min, Delta 1500.....how many with those hours that you know got hired with these numbers........just think