Copa Airlines
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Montreal
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 171
Likes: 31
From: European riviera
I see COPA appear to be hiring for both seats again - can anyone confirm this to be the case ? FOs appear to require a Panamanian license (not sure how strictly that is enforced), no such restriction for left seat. I’ve flown with a few people at my current airline that have mostly positive things to say about COPA, and just wondered whether anyone might want to share their experience of flying there, or at least a brief outline of the current situation at the company ?
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Panama
Hey Alrosa, here is your update:
As of end of Feb, all furloughed pilots were recalled. There are right now about 80 new hires in training, but they are all panamanian FOs, most of them from COPAs flight school (ALAS). Company is expecting 8 new planes this year + bringing back all that were in storage so they are going to need pilots, but for now its panamanian nationals for FO and internal upgrades for CP. I've seen the ads they published looking for expat captains, but I think they are to build a database in case there are not enough internal upgrades to meet the demand, because no interviews have been done and no training has been programmed for it AFAIK.
Maybe I'm wrong and they will once again hire expat DEC, but as of now its been about 6 years since they've done so, and plenty of coworkers have the time to apply for the upgrade.
Best of luck.
As of end of Feb, all furloughed pilots were recalled. There are right now about 80 new hires in training, but they are all panamanian FOs, most of them from COPAs flight school (ALAS). Company is expecting 8 new planes this year + bringing back all that were in storage so they are going to need pilots, but for now its panamanian nationals for FO and internal upgrades for CP. I've seen the ads they published looking for expat captains, but I think they are to build a database in case there are not enough internal upgrades to meet the demand, because no interviews have been done and no training has been programmed for it AFAIK.
Maybe I'm wrong and they will once again hire expat DEC, but as of now its been about 6 years since they've done so, and plenty of coworkers have the time to apply for the upgrade.
Best of luck.
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 171
Likes: 31
From: European riviera
COPA are currently seeking FOs and they have now included “foreigners” in the job ad (higher hours required for non-Panamanian FOs).
Would anyone be able to give an insight into conditions for FOs, what the training is like (good quality training ?) and perhaps an idea of the recruitment process ? I’m happy to be contacted by PM !
I’ve met some ex-COPA pilots at my current operator and in general, they were quite happy working there - however eventually they decided to move back to their home country.
Would anyone be able to give an insight into conditions for FOs, what the training is like (good quality training ?) and perhaps an idea of the recruitment process ? I’m happy to be contacted by PM !
I’ve met some ex-COPA pilots at my current operator and in general, they were quite happy working there - however eventually they decided to move back to their home country.
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Calgary
COPA are currently seeking FOs and they have now included “foreigners” in the job ad (higher hours required for non-Panamanian FOs).
Would anyone be able to give an insight into conditions for FOs, what the training is like (good quality training ?) and perhaps an idea of the recruitment process ? I’m happy to be contacted by PM !
I’ve met some ex-COPA pilots at my current operator and in general, they were quite happy working there - however eventually they decided to move back to their home country.
Would anyone be able to give an insight into conditions for FOs, what the training is like (good quality training ?) and perhaps an idea of the recruitment process ? I’m happy to be contacted by PM !
I’ve met some ex-COPA pilots at my current operator and in general, they were quite happy working there - however eventually they decided to move back to their home country.
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Brazil
Hello guys!
I applied for the FO position at Copa Airlines in March. Almost two months later and still no response from the airline...
Does anyone know if they have already started the recruitment process for foreign pilots?
Regards!
I applied for the FO position at Copa Airlines in March. Almost two months later and still no response from the airline...
Does anyone know if they have already started the recruitment process for foreign pilots?
Regards!
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Earth
So, I have read a lot of negative stuff here, but not much recent. Can anyone clear the air now that there's a post-COVID reset going on? Specifically:
FO pay scheme?
Does it really take a year to finish IOE?
Are there still issues chasing down incorrect pay?
Schedule still not available until a few days before the end of the month?
Still no seniority for foreigners?
Still 48 hours to list for jumpseat, no other non-rev choices?
FO pay scheme?
Does it really take a year to finish IOE?
Are there still issues chasing down incorrect pay?
Schedule still not available until a few days before the end of the month?
Still no seniority for foreigners?
Still 48 hours to list for jumpseat, no other non-rev choices?
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Sisjordan
So, I have read a lot of negative stuff here, but not much recent. Can anyone clear the air now that there's a post-COVID reset going on? Specifically:
FO pay scheme?
Does it really take a year to finish IOE?
Are there still issues chasing down incorrect pay?
Schedule still not available until a few days before the end of the month?
Still no seniority for foreigners?
Still 48 hours to list for jumpseat, no other non-rev choices?
FO pay scheme?
Does it really take a year to finish IOE?
Are there still issues chasing down incorrect pay?
Schedule still not available until a few days before the end of the month?
Still no seniority for foreigners?
Still 48 hours to list for jumpseat, no other non-rev choices?
FO earns about 4.200 USD in your pocket, if you fly more, you win more, flying about 90 hours u get about 5.000 usd
Full training take about 4 to 6 months, from ground school to finishing IOE, for expats the issue is about the immigration process time which can delay the training for some months, but u are being payd while that
I worked there for 5 years, never had any incorrect pay
Schedule is published 10 days in advance for the next month, plenty of time for social life
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Brazil