Flying in the caribbean?

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Mon May 15, 2006 6:21 pm

Anyone with some advice about flying in the caribbean with fairly low time?

PPP · Post by **PPP** » Mon May 15, 2006 8:46 pm

it's not going to happen. the governements are pushing for local pilots only, you need time on type and some time now, but you can still find a few if you look hard and be payed crap and treated like crap

Switchfoot · Post by **Switchfoot** » Mon May 15, 2006 9:44 pm

PPP wrote:it's not going to happen. the governements are pushing for local pilots only

Not true. I personally know of a Canadian pilot (1500 + hours) who is leaving soon to go down there to fly. He is going there to build some multi pic time because it's too slow in Canada.

And I know he is not the only one! There are opportunities down there although I'm not sure on the process.

Switchfoot.

CAL · Post by **CAL** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:14 pm

what is fairly low time?

There are some but few that will hire outside of the local guys unless you can go left seat right away.

HighBypass · Post by **HighBypass** » Tue May 16, 2006 7:00 pm

If you buy a DHC6 ppc or already have one you could probably get on with someone. Maybe Winair...

I dont really approve of buying ppc's, but who really cares. If your patient theres lots of work up north. (where its cold).

pilotbc69 · Post by **pilotbc69** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:52 pm

Hi Tim,

My advice would be to take everything you hear with a grain of salt. I got alot of that super advice "you'll get treated like sheite and work for free and nobody will hire you so don't even try " when I was looking as well. You should do a search and find the names of the employers and write down what people have said about them. Saying everything is the same in the caribbean is like saying that everyone in BC works for free because I have a friend that did it with Navair. Rediculous. You will need a PPC for winair and the larger operators need to fill their seats with locals before they can hire from outside...but don't fret man...there is always hope. Send the potential employers a resume and give them a shout to see what is really going on. Ask questions so that you know firsthand. There are many good times to be had down here wherever you go. Much easier in Canada but if you want it then keep pushing.

redblue · Post by **redblue** » Wed May 17, 2006 5:38 pm

Hello,

What is the advantage of flying there vs in Canada?

Beacon Final · Post by **Beacon Final** » Wed May 17, 2006 8:14 pm

Why there and not here?

Let me think..... beaches, bikinis, new beers, and no snow.

But on the flip side Canada is the best country in the world so its a toss up.

Not a bad place to live for a year or two.

Just my last 2 cents!

BF
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redblue · Post by **redblue** » Thu May 18, 2006 6:16 am

Hello,

Um.. I wonder what it is like to convert the licenses...

NWONT · Post by **NWONT** » Thu May 18, 2006 7:09 am

For those who are serious about working in the Caribbean. I flew out of St Vincent this past winter. I was always well treated and paid fairly. I was never overworked, treated like crap or asked to pay for my training. I was paid a little less until my training was complete and put on line. If hired you will have to write an exam on air law to show you have a basic knowledge of their rules then you will be allowed to fly using your Canadian licence for six months. Then you will be expected to write the full exams and obtain a licence for the area you are in. Every island is a different country. Due to expansion of Caribbean Star and Liat the smaller operators have lost many of their crews. None of the pilots who left ever mentioned being mistreated or over worked. They simply wanted to move up to larger aircraft to futher their careers. The only person I saw that was overworked was the chief pilot who flys full time yet does much of the flight training,all the ground schools and check rides for two companies still I never heard him say he was overworked. To apply you should have a couple of thousand hours and a good command of ifr flight. You will be flying celebrities, pro atheletes and such so you won't be put on line til you have demonstrated you can do it. Experience on type helps but is not mandatory. Most places provide accommodation and transportation. I've heard so much BS on this subject that I hope this clears up a few things. Good luck.

Beacon Final · Post by **Beacon Final** » Thu May 18, 2006 9:45 am

So there is no chance of a guy with 500hrs mostly pic on a 182... and a fresh m/e ifr to get a job down there?

thanks NWONT for the tips. It all sounds pretty good.

BF

PPP · Post by **PPP** » Thu May 18, 2006 7:16 pm

your some what right but star and liat will not hire international pilots as of a year ago. that includes being type rated on it. Now some guys that are left seat type and time are still on and getting contract. being down there for a year is nice but is not enough time to see what goes on doen there. I spent serveral years flying down there and everywhere. winair will hire with bn2 time or a dhc6 ppc. svg is still one of the places that still hires international. turks and caics is one as well. On south america side i have no clue.
The governments are paying to put people through flight school and paying the companies to hire them. if they don't they don't issue any papers for the international pilot.
Women are hot, the beachs are nice and the pay sucks unless you fight for it. There all back stabbing cheap bastards that love there money. 1500 is the min for international pilots for piston stuff. There are spots with turbine. IF you want info PM me i'll write back

JigglyBus · Post by **JigglyBus** » Sun May 21, 2006 5:25 am

Here we go again.

Like bc69 said, just because one guy (PPP) in one island had a bad experience DOES NOT mean the whole Caribbean is the same.

If you have any specific questions (not generalizing), PM me and I will give you very specific answers.

Flying in the caribbean?

Flying in the caribbean?

Buy a DHC6 PPC

hmmmmmm

Flying in the Caribbean

500hr wonder