In Argentina, a
Residente Transitorio visa may be extended every 90 days for a fee of 350 peso (valued on par with the US dollar). Unlike
Residente Permanente, the
Residente Transitorio visa does not allow the right to work in Argentina.
However, once you've been in the Republic for 2 years (
¡S' — solo dos años!), you would be eligible for
Residente Pemanente status and the right to work, or if you so desired, even naturalization as an Argentine citizen!
An offer of employment is
extremely difficult to get in that country unless you're already an Argentine national or Permanent Resident.
A two-year extended vacation in-country is expensive to say the least, but it
is one possible avenue to obtaining a passport in a South American country if you're not married to a local and don't have an offer-of-employment.
Argentine licensing requirements meet or exceed ICAO recommendations, and are comparable to EU standards:
- Piloto Privado: typical ICAO PPL. Before night-flying and controlled airspace operations are allowed, a short follow-on course is required and the Nocturno and VFR Controlado ratings — and yes, these are considered as additional ratings — must be obtained. In comparison, these skills are an integral part of the US Private.
- Piloto Comercial: This is a "full" ICAO CPL. Roughly equivalent to a UK BCPL, or Oz/NZ/Can/RSA CPL (falls short of US CPL experience requirements). Requires 200 hours.
- Piloto Comercial de 1.Classe: Similar to the CAA CPL/FATPL under the old "self-improver" rules, or the now-defunct Canadian Senior Commercial. Requires 900 hours.
- Argentine ATPL: all the usual ICAO requirements.
Licensing of civil pilots is handled by the Argentine Air Force. The office that handles this is on the fifth floor of
Edificio Condor in Buenos Aires, situated less than a kilometre from
Retiro station if you're using the
Metro to get there. Just walk down to Avenida Antartida, cross, and look for the Gloster Meteor on the pedestal in front!
[This message has been edited by Constable Clipcock (edited 07 October 2000).]