Skip to main content
ACTIVELY HIRING Checked August 22, 2026Colombia

Avianca Pilot Recruitment 2026

Hiring status, requirements, selection steps and the path to the seat. Requirements checked against Avianca's official careers pages on .

Renzo Madueño, former Airbus A320 First Officer (Avianca), FAA commercial pilot
Renzo Madueño
Former Airbus A320 First Officer (Avianca), FAA commercial pilot · Founder, Rotate Pilot
Writes from real airline cockpit and checkride experience — not a content farm.

Is Avianca hiring pilots in 2026?

Yes. Avianca is recruiting pilots, according to its official careers pages as of August 22, 2026. Flight time: Avianca states hour requirements with each recruitment campaign rather than as a standing figure, and they differ by seat and by fleet…

Avianca screens with an aptitude battery before a human reads your application.

Sit a timed practice paper free — no account. Scored on pace as well as accuracy, because pace is what the real battery culls on.

Take the free test

Where are you with Avianca?

Selection runs on its own timetable, and what helps depends entirely on where you are in it. Tell us, and what we send you matches that — nothing else.

Hiring statusActive— applications open
Country / RegionColombia · Latin America
Bases3 bases · BOG, SLV, MDE
Fleet typesA319/320/321neo, A330-200, B787-8
Contract typeContract-based
Type ratings acceptedA319, A320, A321, A330, B787
Assessment stages4 stages · 3-step pipeline

Avianca pilot requirements

As published on Avianca's official careers pages, checked August 22, 2026.

RequirementDetail
LicenceAerocivil ATPL, or an ICAO licence convertible in the country of the operating affiliate
MedicalClass 1
LanguageSpanish proficiency required
Flight timeAvianca states hour requirements with each recruitment campaign rather than as a standing figure, and they differ by seat and by fleet. Read the live posting — a single number quoted for Avianca is a guess.

What the job pays

Estimate — not yet verified against the pilot contract. Full Avianca pay table, by year and aircraft

Avianca pilot pay by year of service — Estimate — not yet verified against a pilot contractYr 1: First Officer $38K, Captain $95K; Yr 5: First Officer $55K, Captain $130K; Yr 10: First Officer $70K, Captain $160KCaptainFirst OfficerEstimate · USD per year$95K$130K$160K$38K$55K$70KYear 1Year 5Year 10
EstimateEstimate — not yet verified against a pilot contractEvery figure in a table

From student pilot to Avianca Captain

Shown for the EASA system most non-US airlines recruit from; other authorities are similar. Hour figures are regulatory minimums, time ranges are typical.

  1. Step 1

    Class 1 medical + theory

    First month EASA Part-MED / Part-FCL

    Book the Class 1 medical before paying any school. Then ATPL theory: 13 subjects under the EASA syllabus (other authorities differ).

    Try free private-pilot theory questions (FAA format)
  2. Step 2

    CPL / IR / multi-engine training

    ≈ 200 h (EASA integrated minimum 195 h) 18–24 months integrated EASA FCL Appendix 3

    Integrated course in one go, or modular (PPL first, then hour building, CPL, IR). Ends with multi-crew (MCC/APS) training.

  3. Step 3

    Type rating (A320 / 737)

    Simulator + base training 2–3 months

    Paid by the airline in some cadet or direct-entry schemes, self-funded in others — check the specific vacancy.

  4. Step 4

    Avianca First Officer

    See the requirements above

    Low-hour pilots usually join with a frozen ATPL.

  5. Step 5

    Full ATPL (unfrozen)

    1,500 h incl. 500 h multi-pilot 3–4 years of line flying EASA FCL.510.A

    The licence you need to be pilot-in-command of a multi-pilot airliner.

  6. Step 6

    Avianca Captain

    Command course Depends on seniority and growth

    Upgrade criteria (hours, time in seat, assessment) are set by each airline.

How to Apply: Avianca Pilot Application Process

The Avianca pilot selection process step by step, as the airline describes it (checked August 22, 2026). Where the airline does not publish a stage, we say so.

  1. 1

    Online Application

    2-4 weeks

    Apply via Avianca pilot careers.

  2. 2

    Assessment

    1 day

    Testing and interview in Bogota.

  3. 3

    Training

    8-10 weeks

    Type rating.

Assessment Stages: What Avianca Tests

1. Online Application & Screening

Initial review of qualifications, flight hours, certificates, and background.

Preparation Tips

  • Ensure logbook is accurate and up to date
  • Have all certificates scanned and ready
  • Tailor your CV to airline operations

2. Aptitude & Psychometric Testing

Computer-based tests measuring cognitive ability, multi-tasking, spatial awareness, and personality traits.

Preparation Tips

  • Practice with COMPASS or PILAPT test preparation
  • Work on mental math speed
  • Get adequate sleep before test day

3. Simulator Assessment

Fixed-base or full-motion simulator session evaluating hand-flying, instrument skills, and multi-crew coordination.

Preparation Tips

  • Practice raw-data instrument approaches
  • Brief out loud as you would with a real crew
  • Manage workload verbally

4. Panel / HR Interview

Competency-based interview with senior pilots and HR covering behavioral scenarios, motivation, and airline knowledge.

Preparation Tips

  • Use STAR method for behavioral answers
  • Research the airline thoroughly
  • Prepare 8-10 strong aviation anecdotes

Avianca Pilot Interview Questions

Typical questions in airline pilot panel and HR interviews, including at Avianca. Prepare STAR-format answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and 8-10 real aviation stories.

  1. Q1

    Why Avianca?

  2. Q2

    Describe a situation where you made a critical decision under time pressure.

  3. Q3

    Why do you want to fly for this airline specifically?

  4. Q4

    Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for safety.

  5. Q5

    How do you handle fatigue management during long duty periods?

Fleet You Could Fly at Avianca

3 aircraft types currently operated

A319/320/321neoA330-200B787-8

Type ratings accepted at application

A319A320A321A330B787

Holding one of these ratings can accelerate the hiring pipeline.

Avianca Pilot Bases (3)

Available pilot bases — bid by seniority

BOGSLVMDE

Insider Tips for Avianca Applicants

One of the oldest airlines in the world

Bogota hub connects Americas

Post-restructuring growth

Knowing the Avianca process is step one. Being ready for the stages that actually cut people is step two.

Before a human reads your application there is an aptitude battery, and candidates consistently report it as the heaviest cull — pace, not difficulty. You can practise it here for free: timed papers generated fresh each run, plus a divided-attention drill that measures how much your performance degrades under load. And when you reach the interview, there are 100 Avianca-specific questions with model answers, the red flags that fail each one, and the follow-ups the panel actually asks.

Already past the paperwork and preparing for the panel? , scored against the answers a panel is listening for. Seven days of access, no subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Avianca hiring pilots in 2026?
Yes. Avianca is recruiting pilots, according to its official careers pages as of August 22, 2026. Flight time: Avianca states hour requirements with each recruitment campaign rather than as a standing figure, and they differ by seat and by fleet…
What are the minimum requirements to fly for Avianca?
Licence: Aerocivil ATPL, or an ICAO licence convertible in the country of the operating affiliate. Medical: Class 1. Language: Spanish proficiency required. Flight time: Avianca states hour requirements with each recruitment campaign rather than as a standing figure, and they differ by seat and by fleet. Read the live posting — a single number quoted for Avianca is a guess..
What is the Avianca pilot selection process?
The Avianca process has 3 steps: Online Application, Assessment, Training.
What aircraft does Avianca fly?
Avianca operates: A319/320/321neo, A330-200, B787-8.
Where are Avianca pilot bases?
Avianca pilot bases include: BOG, SLV, MDE.

Related Pilot Career Resources

More on Avianca

Other Latin America Airlines Hiring Pilots