I've been working at Pacific Wings for 8 months now. We fly 5 new Caravan's, with Garmin 530/430's (2 have KLN89, but all have MFD's), GPWS and TAS and an KFC autopilot.
The pay is 2250/mo for 3 mo and then 2450/mo and then 2650/mo after a year.
We work a 5/2 schedule with either a morning show, usually around 0500-0530 showtime or afternoon 1230-1400 showtime.
Fly about 4.5-5.2 hours a day, with 6-8 legs.
Maintainence is good, we have 3 guys that inspect the aircraft each night, as well as phase card inspections. No complaints.
There is a training contract, although I don't believe we are sending captains to Flight Safety anymore, so you'll have to check with the CP to find out what the TA is.
There is no PFT, we do have a first officer program that allows the FO's to work the ramp, I don't know what the pay is, and then fly when they are not working the ramp. (Please no flame's on this, I don't wanna hear it)
You have to live on Maui, and yes, it's expensive, rent generally runs from 600-1000/mo. I have a postage stamp house, and it's $1000/mo which I split with a roomate. Food is expensive, a gallon of milk runs about $6.50, but if you shop around you can do ok. Gas is expensive, Premium is about $2.91/ga
It's doable if you keep your spending under control.
Pacific Wings is a good company to work for, there have been people that have complained about management practices and the like, and with any company there is good an bad. In the 8 months that I've been here, I've done a couple small stupid things, but as long as you do your job, fly safe, the CP and DO are very fair. I personally have had several conversations with the DO regarding my career and he has been very helpful.
This is a wonderful time builder, there is opportunity to shoot approaches to mins, I've gone missed at MUE more times than I can count, and when it's raining hard in HNL, it makes it very challenging. I've picked up ICE at 11k, and been rocked in turbulance that will knock your socks off, and when it's night here, with no moon.. it's dark. So it's not just all VFR sunny weather flying, there are LOTS of decisions to be made to safely complete the flight.
If you are 1200 hour 135 qualified, and you can live on the cheap for a year, I cannot recommend PacWings enough.
One of the bonuses is the ability to jumpseat on Hawaiian, ATA, American, NWA. I've gone to the mainland a couple times and to Oahu all the time.
PM me if you have any questions.
SB
