Copa 2010
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: USA
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Talked to a CM capt. in MIA last week, and he told me there are pilots commuting back & forth from the U.S. Any of you guys on the inside wanna weigh in on the veracity/feasibility of this?
I live in the central U.S. and have successfully commuted back and forth to Hawaii (3400 NM) in the past, but that was using CASS and JS agreements. Days off aside, how hard is it to ride on CAL as a CM employee/U.S citizen?
I live in the central U.S. and have successfully commuted back and forth to Hawaii (3400 NM) in the past, but that was using CASS and JS agreements. Days off aside, how hard is it to ride on CAL as a CM employee/U.S citizen?
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: US and A
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It's theoretically possible to do commute to the US, but with only 7 days off per month, what's the point?
The only guys commuting to the States regularly are the gummers that were forced to retire from Southwest before age 65 kicked in. They have a 2 week ON, 2 week OFF type deal going on, but you will not get the same deal.
Good luck.
The only guys commuting to the States regularly are the gummers that were forced to retire from Southwest before age 65 kicked in. They have a 2 week ON, 2 week OFF type deal going on, but you will not get the same deal.
Good luck.
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: USA
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I've been told you can only jumpseat on CM with special authorization from the fleet manager, or using your ONE yearly pass. Is that accurate?
How do you guys ride on CO, just show up and show your ID to jumpseat, or do you have to purchase ID90 travel? Thanx for the info!
How do you guys ride on CO, just show up and show your ID to jumpseat, or do you have to purchase ID90 travel? Thanx for the info!
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: USA
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Anybody know how much throw-away/pre-paid mobile phones cost in PTY? I'm coming down there soon, but I'm afraid VZN will gouge me if I use their international service on my US cell phone. 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: US and A
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You can get a cheap phone here for around $30. But, you can also just remove your sim card from your US phone and get a Pamama sim. Calling the US is very cheap using a prepaid sim. I have Skype but never use it to call home because it's actually cheaper using my local Pamama sim (C&W aka MasMovil).
If you live in a city Copa serves, you have to pay the taxes to travel to the US from Panama. You can also just jumpseat on Copa and avoid the taxes, but this requires you get approval 48 hours in advance. Continental will let you jumpseat, but taxes have to be paid.
Good Luck
If you live in a city Copa serves, you have to pay the taxes to travel to the US from Panama. You can also just jumpseat on Copa and avoid the taxes, but this requires you get approval 48 hours in advance. Continental will let you jumpseat, but taxes have to be paid.
Good Luck
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Age: 53
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787 Carrot
Keep dangling that 787 Carrot.....it will not happen!
Just like the "PAY RAISE" right around the corner!
COPA pay is low,and TAXED to DEATH will all kinds of hidden fee's and if you ask for a breakdown of your check--they get all upset with you?? and if you are not born and raised in Panama expect second class treatment. My class had some of the biggest LOSERS in it from the USA. It doesn't take much to get hired, in fact they hired people that should have been showed the door at the interview--but when you are desperate you take anyone you can get. For example guys with no real heavy jet time....just some "made up" ferry time in a B737 for a training company (just and example) or no Boeing time what so ever just RJ time.....! Good luck learning how to fly around South America when all your background is radar vectors to ILS 32R ORD. Fun time!
Countless buddies who are still at COPA are just getting the 500 hours and bolting for a job in China.
I have some really good friends still down there, and NOT all the guys from the USA are losers--but a good number were FIRED from jobs in the USA or had such PATHETIC training records they can only get hired at COPA since there is no PRIA checks. ( I personally know of two of them and lied on the application) The HR department just needs warm bodies to fill seats--and with the 2nd Sim up and running if they lose a few after a couple of months well no problem we will hire more replacements!
Sad state of affairs.....
Too bad really it could have been a great place to work--with some more pay and realistic days off (like 12-14 off) and not the BS 6 off crap--which they NEVER tell you about in the interview or training. Oh-and the fun of riding around on the "free shuttle" to the airport--like 3 extra hours picking up god knows who around town for your 0700 show! so you are picked up at 0400 and spend your first few hours touring the dirty city of Panama, with the reverse is true when you finish your trip.
Habanos made it barely worth it......
Just like the "PAY RAISE" right around the corner!
COPA pay is low,and TAXED to DEATH will all kinds of hidden fee's and if you ask for a breakdown of your check--they get all upset with you?? and if you are not born and raised in Panama expect second class treatment. My class had some of the biggest LOSERS in it from the USA. It doesn't take much to get hired, in fact they hired people that should have been showed the door at the interview--but when you are desperate you take anyone you can get. For example guys with no real heavy jet time....just some "made up" ferry time in a B737 for a training company (just and example) or no Boeing time what so ever just RJ time.....! Good luck learning how to fly around South America when all your background is radar vectors to ILS 32R ORD. Fun time!
Countless buddies who are still at COPA are just getting the 500 hours and bolting for a job in China.
I have some really good friends still down there, and NOT all the guys from the USA are losers--but a good number were FIRED from jobs in the USA or had such PATHETIC training records they can only get hired at COPA since there is no PRIA checks. ( I personally know of two of them and lied on the application) The HR department just needs warm bodies to fill seats--and with the 2nd Sim up and running if they lose a few after a couple of months well no problem we will hire more replacements!
Sad state of affairs.....
Too bad really it could have been a great place to work--with some more pay and realistic days off (like 12-14 off) and not the BS 6 off crap--which they NEVER tell you about in the interview or training. Oh-and the fun of riding around on the "free shuttle" to the airport--like 3 extra hours picking up god knows who around town for your 0700 show! so you are picked up at 0400 and spend your first few hours touring the dirty city of Panama, with the reverse is true when you finish your trip.
Habanos made it barely worth it......
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Age: 53
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...Fired?
LOL!
I packed my stuff and went home. No I was not "fired" I decided that my fun meter was pegged and it was not my cup of tea--I am worth more than what the T/C that COPA offers.
I had TWO excellent fall back gigs...$$$$$ I had fun in PTY made a lot of great friends, and learned a lot about ex-pat gigs.
I have a nice new 737NG Type, a plastic Panama Pilot certificate all for my scrap book. I wasn't down there to get 500 PIC and fly in China--I have a job in the good old USA.
Fly Safe....
LOL!
I packed my stuff and went home. No I was not "fired" I decided that my fun meter was pegged and it was not my cup of tea--I am worth more than what the T/C that COPA offers.
I had TWO excellent fall back gigs...$$$$$ I had fun in PTY made a lot of great friends, and learned a lot about ex-pat gigs.
I have a nice new 737NG Type, a plastic Panama Pilot certificate all for my scrap book. I wasn't down there to get 500 PIC and fly in China--I have a job in the good old USA.
Fly Safe....
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Age: 53
Posts: 38
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Yeah I am back in the ol' USA!
I have a few emails from my "Chica" friends....I tell them not to worry as PAPI will be back on a few PTY overnights soon enough.
Guys--let me point out that this was my summer gig. I just want all to know if you go down there KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN.....maybe WIDE OPEN. Have a good sound backup plan.
I gave COPA the chance to make good on several "key" issues that I was having, I waited 30 days, then the choice was made and I split. That is the nature of the business I call it "the ex-pat blues"
In my class of 14 DEC's only 4-5 are still around and out of them 3 of them have NO CHANCE of ever getting hired in the USA or CHINA unless China gets really desperate! That is a 75% of the class quitting!
I have a few emails from my "Chica" friends....I tell them not to worry as PAPI will be back on a few PTY overnights soon enough.
Guys--let me point out that this was my summer gig. I just want all to know if you go down there KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN.....maybe WIDE OPEN. Have a good sound backup plan.
I gave COPA the chance to make good on several "key" issues that I was having, I waited 30 days, then the choice was made and I split. That is the nature of the business I call it "the ex-pat blues"
In my class of 14 DEC's only 4-5 are still around and out of them 3 of them have NO CHANCE of ever getting hired in the USA or CHINA unless China gets really desperate! That is a 75% of the class quitting!