If you are a Brazilian pilot looking to expand your skills and professional opportunities, American aviation may be the right path for you!

The United States has the second largest commercial aviation industry in the world, second only to the Chinese aviation market. American aviation has been recovering at a strong pace since 2020, and in 2022 it counted an impressive 853 million passengers, 30% more than the previous year.

Pilot shortage

And this market will continue to be open to new pilots: the estimate of the Regional Airline Association (RAA), the association representing seventeen American airlines, is that in the next 15 years, more than 50% of American pilots will be out of work, given the mandatory retirement of the category at age 65 in the USA.

The shortage of pilots represents a huge opportunity for those who wish to immigrate to the USA, as aviation is considered an area of national interest for the country, and this factor alone makes a pilot very likely to be approved for a green card.

Appropriate certification

To become a pilot in the USA, you will need to obtain certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is the US government agency that regulates all aviation in the country.

There are different certifications that you can get to fly different categories of aircraft in different types of flying (commercial and private).

The basic certification is the Private Pilot Certificate, which allows you to fly single-engine small aircraft. To become a commercial airline pilot, you also need to take the Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certification, and prove 1500 flight hours, to finally receive your ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) license. This last license entitles you to be a commercial airline pilot in the United States. 

These certifications also include medical examinations, English proficiency tests, theoretical knowledge tests, and practical flight skills tests.

Salaries

According to official data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a commercial airline pilot is $115,080 per year. The states that have the best annual salaries are: California, Maryland, New York, Georgia and Hawaii, with salaries exceeding US $130,000.

Job Opportunities

Did you know that you don't need to have a job opportunity in the US as a pilot to get your green card? Aviation is an area of national interest for the United States, and your experience as a pilot can be your passport to living permanently in the US and being paid in dollars.

You may be eligible for a green card!

Your expertise as a commercial pilot is highly valued in the USA. And, because of your experience, you may be eligible for a green card under the EB-2 category, which allows you and your entire family (spouse and children under 21) permanent residence in the U.S. without the need for a previous offer of employment on U.S. soil.

Want to know if you are eligible? Fill out our free form and we will contact you as soon as possible. 

Still have any questions? Access our special page made for you, the pilot.