Job opportunities for low-hour pilots in South America.

[Delta_Charlie]

Hola everyone,

I would like to know if there are cadet programs available for low hour pilots in South America. I hold a MERCOSUR passport and an EASA ATPL-frozen license (CPL-IR/ME) with around 300 hours, no job experience in the cockpit.

If you have a MERCOSUR passport are you allowed to work in all associated countries as a pilot?

Thank you for your help,

Regards.

[alemaobaiano]

I would like to know if there are cadet programs available for low hour pilots in South America.

No, not any more.

If you have a MERCOSUR passport are you allowed to work in all associated countries as a pilot?

No, usually you need to be a citizen of the country you intend to fly in. Different countries have different rules about this so you need to check with the local authority where you intend to fly. The original issuing country of your passport will also play a part in this, not all MERCOSUR passports are created equal, as I'm sure you already know.

TTFN

[Delta_Charlie]

Thank you for your answer. Hard times for low hour pilots...

[flyingswiss]

The issue is not much being a citizen of the country you want to fly in, most South American country allow expats, I think Brazil is the only one with very strict rules. The problem is that often you need to be a legal resident before you can apply for a job or even get the license conversion. Even as a Mercosur citizen you need to some degree apply to a resident/work permit.

I fly in Suriname and we have many expats here.

Try your luck in Guyana.

[Pirrex]

Flyingswiss, do you reckon it's possible in Suriname or Guyana to get a single engine gig as a non-national lowtimer, i.e. Would the local CAA convert to a local license, and would the govt. be likely to give a work permit? Been strongly considering flying there for a week to knock on doors.

[flyingswiss]

What's your TT?

You can convert any ICAO license in Guyana and Suriname (the process is usually easier if you have a FAA license).

In Suriname to fly commercially you need 500 hours TT, just as for FAA regulation 135 VFR single pilot flying. Not sure about Guyana.

There are many expats here, so yes it is possible to get a work permit.

Alex

[Pirrex]

Thanks for the information! I'm sitting at only 240 hours at the moment, so Suriname is out of question until further. I'll have to do some homework about Guyana before heading over.

[flyingswiss]

Sometimes they hire guys with less but it is rare, they put them in the right seat of the Caravan for couple 100s hours, Civil Aviation allows them to use those towards the 500 hours.

[capitanplane]

hey flyingswiss, i am here in bogota, colombia and the industry doesnt seem to be very open to expats. currently looking at options in south america. also applied for air guyana. can you drop me a few companies to contact in suriname. i have aussie and slovenian passport, australian icao cpl, MECIR, Instructor rating, 820tt .. anyne else with any other ideas?

[factor-x]

You need to build more flight time. You need to keep trying, but unless you have 1000 hours and meet the immigration requirements of whatever country you are trying to work in it will be difficult to have anyone hire you.