Anyone heard of TropicAir(Belize)?

[TALUFTEN]

Does anyone know if TropicAir hires foreign pilots with FAA licences? . .If yes,what are the minimums for a F/O position on the Caravan with TropicAir?. .Adios,. .TL

[Panama Jack]

Yes, I`ve heard of them, and yes they do. The problem is that all Belician companies are required to hire locals before they hire ex-pats, that`s fair I guess. I seem to remember they advertised on <a href="http://www.climbto350.com" target="_blank">www.climbto350.com</a> about a year or so ago-- they were asking for Flight Safety training on Caravans, God knows if they were getting it though. For years the Chief Pilot has been Mike Kuhn, I believe he himself is an ex-pat and I imagine he is still the man to talk to. There are one or two other companies in Belize also-- Tropic Air (I believe they are now called Tropic Mayan Airways or something like that since their merger with Maya Airways) is the main competitor. They are on the opposite of the field from Tropic Airways at San Pedro and are owned by the Trejo family-- I believe Ruben Trejo is still their Chief Pilot.

If you do get a job there they will send you to Civil Aviation to do the test to get your license converted to the Belician one, as well as take care of Immigration for you. You cannot do either of these things unless they offer you a job. There are also one or two small companies in the municipal airstrip in Belize City, but Belize City is a scary place with lots of activity-- most of it illegal. <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

[TALUFTEN]

Thanks for the info Jack. . .I'll be sure to keep an eye out if I go there.

[Panama Jack]

I was rummaging through my contacts binder when I found the ad that was posted on <a href="http://www.climbto350.com" target="_blank">www.climbto350.com</a> back on July 20, 2000. It read:

Tropic Air (Pilots). .PO Box 20, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize, Central America. .E-mail: [email protected]

Tropic Air-- With a fleet of Cessna (6) 208`s plus Cessna 206, 207, 180 and 172`s, anticipates hiring ICAO licensed pilots in September 2000 for their Caribbean operation. Requires 750 hours TT for recips, 2000 hours TT, 100 hours turbine experience plus FlightSafety training for C-208 Caravans. Bases (SPR) and (PGA). Resumes Attn: Mike Kuhn, Chief Pilot.

Hope this gives a better idea of what their requisites are, or at least were.

[Propsrforboats]

Do you know if they are looking for command positions at the moment? I have 1000 hours 208 with the flightsafety?. .Thanks

[Panama Jack]

I haven`t got a clue on what is going on in Belize these days. Good luck!

[HelosRfun]

Taluften,

I sent a resume' myself in response to that ad that Panama Jack referenced. I haven't got a clue as to what they are looking for, but I didn't get hired: I've got ATPL-FAA and CPL-TC (canada) Helicopters, Airplanes multi and single engine land and sea, CFI/CFII/AGI/IGI and ex-military instructor + 3,500 hours TT, with 2850 hours turbine. I can only guess what they are looking for. Could be more locals available than what they predicted.

[TALUFTEN]

Helos, thanks for the update. Sorry you didn't get a positive response from Tropic Air. . .With your qualifications, it's probably a matter of no positions available at the present time. . .Good luck.

[4144r]

Hi,. .a good paper about Tropic air in AOPA Magazine (Nov 2001).. .Safe flight.