Copa Airlines Promotes 46 First Officers to Captain Rank
Panamanian airline Copa Airlines announced this Tuesday the promotion of 46 First Officers to the rank of Captain within its Boeing 737 fleet, a key step in the company’s growth strategy and operational strengthening.
Bolívar Domínguez, Vice President of Flight Operations for the airline, highlighted the significance of this process: “At Copa Airlines, training captains is much more than developing technical skills: it is about preparing leaders capable of making critical decisions, maintaining calm in complex situations, and representing our values on every flight.”
A Rigorous Training Process
To achieve the rank of Captain, pilots must complete a comprehensive training program lasting approximately four months. This includes theoretical instruction, intensive simulator sessions, and supervised flights, all under the direct oversight of the Civil Aviation Authority (AAC).
Candidates must also have a solid operational track record, meet minimum flight hour requirements, and pass technical evaluations and interviews with operations and people management leaders.
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Impact of the ALAS Academy on Training
Of the 46 promoted pilots, 12 are graduates of the Copa Airlines ALAS Pilot Academy, reflecting the effectiveness of the educational model driven by the company to train highly qualified local talent.
Increased Female Presence in the Cockpit
Fifteen percent of the pilots promoted in this group are women, a figure that reinforces the trend towards greater female participation in technical roles within aviation. Currently, women make up 12% of Copa Airlines’ total pilot workforce, placing the company among those with the highest female representation in the industry internationally.
Sustained Growth of the Pilot Workforce
The airline projects ending the year with more than 1,400 pilots on its team. Furthermore, it anticipates the addition of more than 670 new professionals over the next five years, in line with the arrival of new aircraft to its fleet.
Prepared for Expansion
With this promotion, Copa Airlines strengthens its operational capacity to handle projected growth in capacity, frequencies, and destinations. The incorporation of more captains into its flight structure guarantees the necessary technical support for the expansion of its route network across the continent.
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