Pacific Wings

[BcPilot99]

I have a buddy who wants to work there. They pay about 45,000 a year to live in Hawaii and fly a caravan island to island. They are 135, but there minimums say between 450-1150 on the hours to get hired....Anyone know anything about this place ??

http://72.3.240.223/index.asp

 

[belchfire]

$45k/yr isn't much in the islands...about like the $30k you would get stateside. Some people get rock fever too. After being stuck for a few months you can kind of go nuts.

 

[RichardRambone]

I'd like to try it. 45K might be livable for someone on the brink of 1200 hours but yeah it is not a lot out there.

 

[Piper877]

Divide that figure in half and that's what they pay their Captains. The advertisement you saw was for First Officers which are paid at $8/hr and you will work the ramp, ticketing, and reservations and might get scheduled to fly once a month. You are not paid to fly unless you're scheduled. I worked there about a year ago. Stay very far away. They follow the regulations strictly, but the drama and the poor poor management is not worth it. Plus even on 23k/yr you'll be seriously below the poverty line in Hawaii.

The only way I could see a $45k/yr figure coming in to play is maybe chief pilot. I know they haven't been able to get anyone to fill that position for a year or so.

Again, do not go there under any circumstances. There are many better operators on the mainland that pay a livable wage.

 

[ackattacker]

I know several people who used to work there. They all said it was probably the worst run company they ever experienced, and the pilots treated like dirt. The boss would as soon fire you as look at you.

 

[Pantherpilot]

Does anyone know if the caravan time there would be valuable towards the 1000 hour PIC turbine requirement for some majors? Is the Caravan a retractable gear airplane? I am at a regional airline and I am wondering if it's worth trying...never been to the islands. Sounds like paradise.

 

[RichardRambone]

Numurous posts about how Caravan time is not worth much are on FI. The only reason Id think is just to live the Hawaiian lifestyle for awhile. So what other more reputable companies would be worth pursuing in Hawaii? Any advice?

 

[Piper877]

Numurous posts about how Caravan time is not worth much are on FI. The only reason Id think is just to live the Hawaiian lifestyle for awhile. So what other more reputable companies would be worth pursuing in Hawaii? Any advice?

That place is in a state of flux right now. Mokulele is starting some Caravan service under the Go! Express name. How that's going to work, I'm not sure. I hope the best for them as I am a friend with the D.O. I'd definitely recommend working for him, but you might want to wait and see how things shake out. If Mesa pulls out of the islands, I'm not sure what that does with the Caravans, but I'm sure Mokulele has a good plan if that happens. It'll probably end up being a direct competition between they and PW. Mokulele has deeper pockets I think so they might come out ahead in that battle. Overall, as a Caravan captain you really can't make a good living down there unless you're a check airman/Chief Pilot/D.O. I'm not sure that the 121 airlines are hiring right now, so it might not be the best time to be looking at Hawaii for a job.
Again I repeat. DO NOT....DO NOT work for PW. Even the people with the best attitudes are soon beaten down and ground into negative life-hating souls. They WILL break you and then you'll suffer through the rest of your contract hating your very existence and hoping they don't hang you out to dry with the Feds.

One man's opinion.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

The only way I could see a $45k/yr figure coming in to play is maybe chief pilot. I know they haven't been able to get anyone to fill that position for a year or so.


Without a Chief Pilot, you can't have a 135 certificate.

 

[skydivinguy]

That place is in a state of flux right now. Mokulele is starting some Caravan service under the Go! Express name. How that's going to work, I'm not sure. I hope the best for them as I am a friend with the D.O. I'd definitely recommend working for him, but you might want to wait and see how things shake out. If Mesa pulls out of the islands, I'm not sure what that does with the Caravans, but I'm sure Mokulele has a good plan if that happens. It'll probably end up being a direct competition between they and PW. Mokulele has deeper pockets I think so they might come out ahead in that battle. Overall, as a Caravan captain you really can't make a good living down there unless you're a check airman/Chief Pilot/D.O. I'm not sure that the 121 airlines are hiring right now, so it might not be the best time to be looking at Hawaii for a job.
Again I repeat. DO NOT....DO NOT work for PW. Even the people with the best attitudes are soon beaten down and ground into negative life-hating souls. They WILL break you and then you'll suffer through the rest of your contract hating your very existence and hoping they don't hang you out to dry with the Feds.

One man's opinion.

I'll second that! I've found that the worse day at the OGG heliport is better than the best day at PW's.

 

[Piper877]

The only way I could see a $45k/yr figure coming in to play is maybe chief pilot. I know they haven't been able to get anyone to fill that position for a year or so.


Without a Chief Pilot, you can't have a 135 certificate.

The Chief Pilot is the person they want to be D.O. so he's technically still the Chief Pilot until they find someone else. Although I think he's kind of a fool since the person they REALLY want to be D.O. is a couple years away from having the 3 in 6.

 

[skydivinguy]

Heard that the "VFR Captain" had a problem with HNL security recently. Can you fill us in flynhawaiian767??? HA! HA! HA!!!!

 

[Kevski]

I heard they took his AOA and escorted him off the airport. Don't know why, but I could think of a few reasons...

Heard that the "VFR Captain" had a problem with HNL security recently. Can you fill us in flynhawaiian767??? HA! HA! HA!!!!

 

[Photoflight]

is the CP at mokulele the former DO at PW?

 

[skydivinguy]

is the CP at mokulele the former DO at PW?

Yes.

Altho I'm not sure if that is his position (CP) at Mokulele.

 

[mdanno808]

http://www.currentargus.com/ci_5380998

Lea County supports Pacific Wings service
By Stella Davis
Article Launched: 03/07/2007 10:15:45 PM MST

CARLSBAD —Pacific Wings is in; Mesa Airlines is out in Lea County.

Now the ball is in Carlsbad City Council's court whether Pacific Wings will fly in Hobbs and Carlsbad.

On Tuesday, the Lea County Vice Commission voted unanimously to recommend Hawaii-based Pacific Wings airline to the Department of Transportation as the essential air service provider in Lea County.

The Carlsbad City Council will meet at 11 a.m. today at City Hall to vote on whether to stay with Mesa or switch to Pacific Wings.

The current essential air service agreement between Lea County, City of Carlsbad and Mesa Airlines ends April 30, a Mesa Airlines representative said Monday during a public meeting in Carlsbad where Mesa representatives made a presentation to the city council in the hope of convincing the council to keep Mesa flying in Carlsbad.

Lea County's airport is under the jurisdiction of the county, while in Carlsbad the municipal airport is managed by the city.

In the event that Lea County and Carlsbad vote differently, Mesa will remain the carrier, according to Carlsbad Mayor Bob Forrest.

"Under the Essential Air Service program, it requires both communities to be in agreement on the essential air service
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provider. If the council votes in favor of Mesa, then Mesa will continue as the carrier," Forrest explained.

Lea County Commissioner Randy McCormick said the commission's vote was unanimous in favor of Pacific Wings. He said that letters from Lea County residents to the county ran 7 to 1 in support of Pacific Wings.

"Everybody was wanting a change. They were not satisfied with Mesa for a lot of different reasons. McCormick said. "The cost of flights, frequent flight cancellations and frequent equipment failure were the main complaints. The promises from Pacific Wings are very encouraging when we had no promises from Mesa — what you see is what you get from Mesa. We need to go other places than Albuquerque. If this (Pacific Wings) doesn't work out, we haven't lost anything. We haven't had a whole lot to begin with. We (the commission) are the voice of the people, and the people in Lea County said they want a change. You have to listen to what people tell you and vote their way."

Whichever airline is recommended to the Department of Transportation, and if the recommendation is approved by the federal agency — which provides a subsidy to essential air service carriers — the agreement between the community and airline will be in force for the next two years.

 

[Photoflight]

Yes.

Altho I'm not sure if that is his position (CP) at Mokulele.

good to hear..hes a great guy. I had a pretty good B-day party a couple years back that PW payed for thanks to him.

 

[Piper877]

Yes.

Altho I'm not sure if that is his position (CP) at Mokulele.

When I last checked he was higher up than CP although I think he was probably doing the duties of a CP. Especially with them getting Caravans and his extensive experience in the plane. Good man...hope he gets all the success he deserves.

 

[skydivinguy]

When I last checked he was higher up than CP although I think he was probably doing the duties of a CP. Especially with them getting Caravans and his extensive experience in the plane. Good man...hope he gets all the success he deserves.

Yep, he is a good guy and I too hope all works out for him.

 

[fly_lanai]

Everything said about PW is so true. So what with the little sperm drinker?