Hi CriticalMach, I just joined this forum, I was reading at your post about Copa Airlines and I was wondering if you are kind enough to provide me that HR phone number for Copa Airlines. I'll appretiate it. Take care.

id love to know if they type you on your american license or will they issue a Panama license and type you on that one.

You will NOT receive a 737 type on your FAA Certificate, as they have no authority to do so. They issue you an AAC (Panama's FAA) ATP certificate with a "737 Capitan" type rating and an AAC radio operator's permit.

By the way, as with everything here at Copa, you will pay for both certificates and your medical, and your uniform, and your wings, hat brass, epaulettes, etc, etc...

Good Luck, you will need if at Copa.

Saw COPA airlines at the latest Aero Crew Solutions career fair. Was NOT impressed by their presentation. Not only did they struggle to answer questions, they kept bringing up how they are in negotiations and that life may get better. Considering one was HR, I think I would have taken a different tactic if I were trying to recruit pilots. Make your airline sound like it's the best thing since sliced bread and don't keep telling people it will get better. By saying such words, it makes it sounds like it sucks to work for COPA. No offense to anyone who works there as you may be able to prove me wrong, however, your HR could not.

Are you unemployed/underemployed? If so, then Copa might be a good SHORT TERM job opportunity. As an expat (especially gringos), you will never really have more than 12 months job security here anyways. Never listen to what HR people tell you as they truly have no idea what pilots do.

If you like Latina women and you want to make a little money but realize that you will not get back to your home country much, then this is a decent place to work.

New, clean aircraft with good maintenance and nice cabin crews. They feed you well when at work and the hotels are above average in most cases.

What others have said here in this thread is pretty accurate.

YMMV

From a former copa employee,

"If you like Latina women and you want to make a little money but realize that you will not get back to your home country much, then this is a decent place to work."
I would add emphasis on the "Make a LITTLE money" part. The rest is very true.
If you like Latina women, go.
If getting back to your home country often is not a big deal to you, go.
If you like a lot of un-certantity in your life, go.
If you don't mind dealing with a bucket load of BS daily, go.
If you like your schedule assigned to you, go.
If days off are not inportant to you, go.
If you don't mind having no say in your schedule ie; days off, overnights, AM vs PM, trips, go.
I don't regret going, I met and married my wife there. The experience was great, but I would not return for love nor money. LOL!
Good luck in your decision. I will be happy to answer any questions.
cielos azules siempre!

Let's say that you are at the helm at COPA and that you have (as they currently do and will continue to have for the foreseeable future, Pinnacle & Eagle being the latest producers ) a constant supply of very experienced regional pilots that are willing (or have no other choice) to work for the same or less money than they were flying at a regional, just to get the 73 type and time on the hull. Why on earth would you even consider for a second to raise the term and conditions? So that people stay and you have to pay senior wages? The cost of maintaining a constant training cycle is a lot less, these folks will ride the cheap foreign labor wave for as long as they can:rolleyes:

Could you guys PM the HR phone number please
Thanks!

I'd hate to break it to all of the guys looking to apply at Copa, but we just went through a little over a week of strikes with the ground handler and cleaning crew union. Negotiations with the pilot's union just went south, as in ALL pilot's rejected the unions quiet negotiations with the company. Life at Copa will get very interesting very soon when a mass exodus occurs again, and new planes keep coming.

Anyone know if foreign First Officers are still getting on with COPA? I spoke with one of their recruiters at Fltops job fair in Vegas on 4/13/12. I was told they were "focusing on hiring Panamanian First Officers" only. They cannot reasonably expect to find enough Panamanian Pilots for 56 aircraft orders.