dailynewsnblog
Flying commercially across South America sounds like an exciting adventure of a lifetime, but what’s behind the beautiful scenery? Flying there is also about mastering some of the most demanding terrain on the planet. From the towering Andes and high-altitude airports surrounded by steep valleys, to vast tropical jungles and drastic changes of climate zones, pilots in this region face operational challenges that few others encounter daily. In this article, an Airbus A320 First Officer shares what it is really like to fly in one of the world’s most complex environments.
South America’s aviation sector is often overlooked in global discussions about pilot careers, yet it combines fast-growing markets, intense competition for jobs, and uniquely challenging flying conditions. By blending regional context with the firsthand experience of a young Airbus pilot based in Chile, we will explore not only the technical realities of flying through mountainous terrain but also the perseverance required to build a cockpit career in this part of the world.
The Reality Of Pilot Careers In South America
For aspiring pilots, South America presents a paradox. On the one hand, the region has rapidly modernized fleets and strong domestic and international networks; on the other hand, opportunities can feel limited and highly competitive. Many countries have only a handful of Airlines, meaning a single failed interview can delay a career by years.
Unlike North America or Europe, where dozens of airlines can compete for pilots, markets such as Chile, Peru, or Ecuador are much smaller. This creates a high-pressure environment for young aviators, who often invest significant personal savings into training without guarantees of employment. The upside, however, is that airlines in the region tend to place pilots into complex operational environments early in their careers, accelerating real-world experience.
Training pathways also differ from global norms. In several South American countries, pilots can reach airline cockpits with fewer hours than their counterparts elsewhere, relying heavily on structured airline training programs. This system places enormous emphasis on discipline, study habits, and adaptability — qualities that become essential when flying in challenging terrain.
Flying Among Mountains: South America’s Most Demanding Airports
South America is home to some of the world’s most operationally demanding airports, many of which are shaped by geography rather than design preferences. High elevations, short runways, and steep terrain dominate flight planning across the Andes.
Numerous airports in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile require crews to consider performance margins on every flight. Density altitude, engine performance, obstacle clearance, and weather patterns all interact in ways that leave little room for error. For airline pilots flying there, this means precise calculations, strict adherence to procedures, and constant situational awareness.
What makes these airports, such as the one in Cusco in Peru, or Cochabamba in Bolivia, particularly demanding is not only altitude but also terrain proximity. Departures and approaches often involve carefully choreographed paths through valleys or over ridgelines, where terrain warnings are a normal part of operations. On top of that, many airports are located close to or even surrounded by dense residential areas. For pilots trained in flatter regions, adapting to this environment can be unsettling, but for local crews, it becomes second nature.
Why Bhutan’s Paro Airport Is Among The World’s Scariest
The landing at Paro is a white-knuckle roller-coast ride through deep Himalayan valleys to an abrupt touchdown on a short runway.
From Ecuador To Chile: A Young Pilot’s Journey Into The A320 Cockpit
To understand what it is really like to fly a very common Airbus A320 through this environment, Simple Flying spoke directly with a pilot who lives it every day. First Officer Camilo Garrido represents a new generation of South American aviators: young, internationally minded, and shaped by regional realities.
His story reflects both the opportunities and the obstacles of aviation in the region, from unconventional early training to perseverance through industry downturns. Below is his interview with Simple Flying, shared exactly as he provided it.
Camilo’s experience highlights how passion, adaptability, and resilience can matter just as much as flight hours when navigating a pilot career in South America.
First Officer Camilo Garrido Interview
Please note that Camilo didn’t want to share which airline he flies for. Here is what First Officer Pilot Camilo Garrido shared with Simple Flying.
Background — from Ecuador to Chile: “My name is Camilo. I’m 26 years old, and I’m an airline pilot from South America, currently based in Santiago, Chile. I was actually born in Ecuador — my family is Ecuadorian, but half of my family is Chilean. I moved to Chile specifically to study aviation and eventually join an airline, because there are more opportunities here to learn and work as a pilot.”
Airline & Aircraft: “I fly the A320 family, mainly the A320 and A321, and if we’re lucky, sometimes we fly the NEOs. I’ve been with the airline for a little over a year now.”
Training Path & Early Flying Experience: “In Chile, the path to becoming an airline pilot is surprisingly short compared to other countries. To fly for an airline, you only need a commercial pilot license, which is about 200 hours, and you don’t even need a multi-engine rating. When I started, I was flying out of a very small dirt airfield, about 500 meters long, next to a cow ranch. We flew Cessna 150s and 152s, and sometimes we had to go around because cows escaped and were on the runway. That was my introduction to flying.”
Perseverance, Training, And Situational Awareness In The Andes
Camilo’s journey into airline flying was not linear, reflecting the broader instability of the aviation industry in recent years. For many South American pilots, setbacks are not the exception but the norm.
Graduating during the COVID-19 downturn meant facing hiring freezes and repeated rejections. Rather than leaving aviation, Camilo doubled down on preparation. This approach is increasingly common among pilots in smaller markets who cannot rely on rapid airline expansion. That perseverance extends directly into daily operations. Flying in mountainous terrain demands a mindset of constant anticipation, where terrain awareness and briefing discipline are ingrained habits rather than checklist items.
COVID, Rejection & Perseverance: “It took me about two to three years to get through training, but I finished right in the middle of COVID, when airlines were shrinking and there were very few opportunities. I applied to an airline and didn’t pass one of the interviews, so I had to apply again the following year. That was very discouraging, because this has always been my dream. I moved countries, studied for years, and this was all I wanted.”
“But I knew I had another chance. I told myself I just needed to improve, keep studying, keep getting better, and mature as a pilot. I knew I would get it the second time around, and eventually I did.”
Staying Sharp While Waiting: “During that time, I did MCC training in an A320 simulator, even though it wasn’t required. I had the opportunity to work operating the simulator and helping with IFR training for other students. I kept myself busy flying the Airbus simulator, staying current, and learning as much as I could while I waited for the next opportunity.”
Inspiration — How He Became a Pilot: “I grew up living next to the old airport in Quito, which is a very challenging airport, and I used to see airplanes every day. But I never really thought I could become a pilot myself — the dream felt too far away. No one in my family was a pilot, and I didn’t know any pilots, so it just didn’t seem realistic.”
“I loved reading history books, especially aviation history, and I used to buy them from an old British guy who sold used books. Aviation was his passion, and he would talk to me about World War II pilots, aviation history, and the sense of courage and camaraderie in flying. One day, he told me, ‘This is truly your passion. That is your calling. Go for it.’ I owe a lot to him and his books for giving me the confidence to take that jump.”
From Zero To Airline Pilot: The Two Main Routes To Your Dream Career
Discover the two paths to becoming a commercial pilot and which one might be right for you.
What It’s Really Like Flying the A320 Through Chile And The Andes
For many readers, the obvious question is: what does day-to-day flying in this environment actually feel like? According to Camilo, the challenge is less about fear and more about constant awareness.
Operating repeatedly in and out of Santiago and other mountainous airports trains pilots to think three-dimensionally. Terrain is not a background feature — it is an active constraint that shapes every departure, arrival, and contingency plan. Interestingly, this perspective can invert expectations. Pilots raised in mountainous regions often find flat terrain unsettling, highlighting how the environment shapes aviation intuition.
Flying In Challenging Terrain Across Chile & The Andes: “We operate so often in Santiago that we sometimes forget how challenging it is for pilots coming from outside the region. From day one, we’re trained to be extremely perceptive of our surroundings and to maintain very high situational awareness. We always brief the terrain carefully, especially departures and approaches that go over the mountains, and we constantly cross-check the constraints on the flight plan against what’s on the charts.”
“When you fly here long enough, that awareness becomes second nature. You’re always conscious that there is terrain all around you. The first time I flew into Argentina, it actually felt unnatural because there were no mountains. We briefed an approach, and I saw that the minimum sector altitude was around 4,000 feet, and I remember thinking how unusual that felt for us. When you grow up flying in mountainous terrain like this, low terrain is what feels strange, and that’s why situational awareness is such a key skill for pilots in this part of the world.”
Regional Perspective & Perseverance: “In South America, opportunities can feel limited at first. In Chile, we only have a few airlines, so it can be discouraging when things don’t work out immediately. But it is possible. You just have to persevere and keep pushing forward.”
Becoming A Pilot In South America: Lessons From The Cockpit
Camilo’s experience offers practical insight for anyone considering a pilot career in South America. The region rewards commitment, adaptability, and patience more than rapid progression or shortcuts.
For aspiring pilots, the key lessons are clear: choose training environments that challenge you, stay current even when opportunities pause, and treat rejections as part of the process rather than the end of the road. Mountain flying, in particular, builds skills that are respected worldwide.
Many South American airlines continue to update their fleets and grow regional routes. Pilots trained in these tough conditions might find themselves uniquely ready for global opportunities. For those willing to push through, this Continent can become a real El Dorado.
