You are here :: Panama Real Estate » Real-estate-investments » Flight-simulator-panama

Copa airline, Panama’s flag carrier, has recently installed a flight simulator for its Embraer 190 jets at its City of Knowledge training center in the old Panama Canal Zone. Adding to its Boeing Next Generation flight simulator Copa is the first Latin American airline to have both.

Panama’s Copa Airlines

Copa Airline is the national flag airline of Panama. In a recent expansion Copa Airline added five new destinations, increased it fleet, and promoted the further expansion of Tocumen International Airport, its hub. Copa Airline refers to its facilities at Tocumen as “The Hub of the Americas.” Panama’s Tocumen is already on its way to becoming the major hub airport for all of Latin America.

Training Centers in Panama

Copa taking delivery of its second state of the art flight simulator is part of a trend. Panama is becoming a site for training centers for Latin America. The April 12, 2008 edition of La Prensa, Panama reports that Caterpillar, the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines, has purchased land in Veraguas, district of Arraiján, Panama for a training center.

With USA homeland security issues it has become more difficult for international corporations to bring their non US employees to the USA for training. Thus these corporations are moving their training as well as other operation off shore. Likewise as non USA corporations such as Copa in Panama find it difficult to go to the USA for training these companies purchase the equipment and bring it home, in this case to Panama.

Panama is prospering as a transportation hub. Tocumen airport is rapidly becoming the hub airport for Latin America. Panama ships North on the Pan American Highway and the Panama Canal carries 40% of Latin America’s container shipping. The Colon Free Zone accepts shipments from Asia and repackages for delivery throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Simulators and Panama Investment in Real Estate and other Ventures

As the North American and European stock markets falter with credit worries the high end housing market in Panama is taking a pause. However, life goes on outside of the USA not to mention London, Paris, Rome, and Frankfurt.

With its more central locations Panama’s Tocumen airport and its carriers such as Copa are taking business away from Miami and Houston. More air traffic passes through Panama as does more business.

A fifty story diamond exchange is being built in Panama City to cater to the desires of the more and more affluent Latin American middle class.

Investment in the Panama real estate market, especially the commercial real estate market, holds promise for the long haul. Trade will always pass through Panama creating jobs. Technology will transfer to Panama as well as the rest Latin America creating jobs, business opportunities, and investment opportunities in commercial real estate in Panama.

We expect that once the credit markets tighten up and the panic dies down that well to do North Americans will start buying in Panama again. A wise investment in Panama real estate will be to find bargains during this pause. Then there are two investment options, long term commercial real estate or a quick profit when the North American, or perhaps Latin American, buyers drive the market again.

If you are interested in real estate investment in Panama come to see us at ABPanama. We do not know much about flight simulators but we have over 23 years experience managing real estate portfolios and can help you during up, down, and even markets.