Medium Large Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 256
Training / Qualification
No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Company Policy; Human Factors
I was the Pilot-in-Command of a Flight to CUN and return. Both flights concluded uneventfully.  My First Officer; was a tremendous asset during both legs.  His experience and knowledge with international travel to CUN; and points beyond; was an enormous asset.  However; it was during these flights; and one previous turn last month; that I realized what a completely different experience this new international flying can actually be. As you would expect; and as many of us have already experienced; there are various nuances connected with international travel in general; airspace; linguistic; procedural; severe weather. And at each of our destinations specifically local procedures; communications; customs; etc.   To that end; it is abundantly clear to this Captain that the average Company Pilot; perhaps only now and again assigned to such international duties; will NOT have the 'recency' of experience necessary to negotiate the many 'gotchas' and 'getchas' attached to this complex assignment. Therefore; as a Company Captain with recent Company international experience; it is my belief that our Pilots must either fly into and out of our international destinations frequently at least once per month or not fly into and out of them at all.  The negative implications to our Crews; if unprepared and unfamiliar; and to our Passengers; are enormous and could be costly.  Furthermore; it is my strong view that henceforth; Company should assign ALL international flying; however complicated that process may be; to a subset of Company Pilots who share the 'recency' of experience necessary to complete such duties competently; to do otherwise is inconsistent with the Safety component of Flight Operations.
Air carrier Captain believes that his company should assign international flying only to crews who are specifically trained to fly these routes.