I know there are FOs based in SJU, however, I'm not sure about MAZ. All FOs bid with their relative seniority on a system bid, so if the company decides to keep FOs down there you certainly have a shot if your seniority allows for it.

My suggestion is if you want to fly in the Caribbean go as a captain, its pretty junior year round so you could hold it, plus you'll have a little more disposable income to enjoy what the region has to offer on your days off.

Would I be able to go in as 402 PIC (mail/freight), not necessarily Captain (they have the mins listed separately)? I'd like to apply before the end of the year, and I should be close to those mins by then.

Itll make yur atp checkride easier but the mail is no picnic.

Why is that (about the mail being no picnic)?

I went in as a capt but I saw the mail guys every day and loading and unloading that plane looks like torture to me. Now some guys/girls didnt mind it but it really depends if you like spending an hour loading a 402 for a 15 minute flight-waiting a couple of hours at an airport post office and loading up for a return 15 min flight. Hope some pilots who actually flew the mail can jump in here-they can shed bettr light than I. good luck

Hmm. Thanks for the info! I don't mind the manual labor bit (I kind of miss my weed-whacking jobs of the past!), but I do believe I'd get frustrated over more time spent packing and less time flying.

Well the good news is that Cape pays by the duty hr and mail is high duty time so thats a plus. If you get there at 1200- 1300 hrs, you'd be upgrading in no time. I would have done it, but I had 1600 when I first applied. Good luck-it's a great place to start out.

Speaking of upgrading, is there a rough average on the flight time built per month as FO and as PIC on mail/freight? I'm trying to figure out for myself whether to wait and apply as 402 PIC or start applying as soon as I get FO req's. At the moment, I'm feeling a bit impatient, but that's no surprise for a flight instructor, I believe!

I totally understand- I just happened to have the atp mins when I got fed up with instructing. It was a busy school and it didnt take long. If I were to do it again, I wouldve left instruction the minute I got fo mins, however, you're in for a long haul before you get to ATP mins and then you will owe them 12 months as a Captain while you're losing seniority elsewhere. PM me if you want to talk- Ill tell ya all I know...that should take about 34 seconds.:cool:

^^PM sent!