wrenchturner
Basically you need to become a citizen to get a licence from ANAC. You might be able to get a job without citizenship IF you have a specialist skill that is in short supply here, but I can't immediately think of anything that isn't covered by Brazilian engineers. Another alternative would be employment with a foreign company and a "temporary" assignment here, Azul have brought in a few engineers from the US until they can get their own staff up to speed.
You will need fluent Portuguese to convert your licences, but
AFAIK you just need to do the exams, not the courses.
The story is essentially the same for pilots, and if you value your sanity don't go anywhere near bush operations, especially garimpo.
One other thing to remember is that salaries in aviation here are nothing spectacular, unless you get right to the top of the tree.
BelArg, Floripa IS Argentina in the summer months
Nice place to retire though, SC and the south is almost another country.
Alemaobaiano