ihavewings
New Member
Im a low time pilot and wondering if anyone's got info on Pacific Wings in hawaii, good? bad? I appreciate any feed back.
Thanks
-Jimbob:yeahthat::nana2::insane:
Thanks
-Jimbob:yeahthat::nana2::insane:
Pacific Wings Info:
- Thread starter ihavewings
- Start date
Stone Cold
Well-Known Member
Do a search, it's been discussed here in detail. I believe it is $8/hour as a ramp rat or CSA, and then fly during your down time type thing. As said above, don't put yourself in even more of a hole after the expense of flight training by living in Hawaii $$$$$. It's not worth it, unless you have a free place to live, and even then it's not very good.
meritflyer
Well-Known Member
It sucks.
Texasspilot
New Member
meritflyer said:
worst job ever
ihavewings
New Member
Thanks for the feedback on pac.wings. I'm soon to get out of FlightSafety and just looking for options.
TFaudree_ERAU
Mashin' dem buttons
I was browsing the college online networking website (facebook.com for those that are informed). About 5 people that I knew from ERAU are working there. I'll have to get the scoop from them and find out how crappy it really is.
Texasspilot
New Member
Yah...I actually worked there. I had been CFI'ing for a little over a year and reached a point where I couldn't afford to live and I was ready to move out of my college town and try something different.
I got a buddy pass flew out and was offered a job...another guy I was cfi'ing with was offered a job as well so we both went. When I first got there the D.O. pretty much ran the place and it was great. The SIC's were treated like future employees and the atmosphere was laid back and fun. About two months after that the owners decided they wanted to try and start running the company which they sucked at. All of a sudden people were doing 14 hour days 6 days a week. Average length of employment dropped to around 4 months. You wen't from being viewed as a future captain for the airline to the managements gophers. You worked 8 or 10 hours a day then flew when you could to build your caravan SIC time. The flying schedule was usually made about 4 in the morning so every pilot had to wake up at 4am and call in to see when they had to show.
I was there for about 4 months and put around 200 hours in my logbook which I have subsequently deleted from my Total time. The time would be accepted by pac wings however noone else would really recognize it and so if you don't stick it out in order to build to 135 mins or even if you do stick it out on the slim chance you are offered a job there you probably wouldn't want to stay anyhow. I don't know of any of the SIC's who ended up upgrading, pretty much all the other airlines on the islands hate PW because of how ####ty the management treats the customers/employees/and other airlines employees. The old DO got fired for some pretty shady reasons and its gotten worse since then.
From what I hear you have to work the desk for a month or so before you can start training then the flying is scheduled for when you don't have to work the desk. I've heard the SICs are getting around 600hrs a year.
Having said that the flying was fun and the other pilots, for the most part, were great. There are better small operators on the islands to work for.
Pay was 8 bucks an hour for the SICs and that was only when you were scheduled to work the desk, you didn't get paid to fly because they really didn't need you there.
Captains pay was 2250 a month.
As for living I had a nice 2 bedroom apt for 1200 a month that I split. Electric is cheap because you don't really need the ac or heater and you won't be there enough to watch tv or use the lights. Food is allot more expensive...tuna is around 80cents a can if that gives you any idea. Costco is the cheapest place to eat.
You do get health benifits and flight benifits however you won't have time to use the flight benifits and the health beni's i didn't pay much attention to.
In conclusion I don't know of anyone who left on good terms nor anyone who would go back.
http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=78761
I got a buddy pass flew out and was offered a job...another guy I was cfi'ing with was offered a job as well so we both went. When I first got there the D.O. pretty much ran the place and it was great. The SIC's were treated like future employees and the atmosphere was laid back and fun. About two months after that the owners decided they wanted to try and start running the company which they sucked at. All of a sudden people were doing 14 hour days 6 days a week. Average length of employment dropped to around 4 months. You wen't from being viewed as a future captain for the airline to the managements gophers. You worked 8 or 10 hours a day then flew when you could to build your caravan SIC time. The flying schedule was usually made about 4 in the morning so every pilot had to wake up at 4am and call in to see when they had to show.
I was there for about 4 months and put around 200 hours in my logbook which I have subsequently deleted from my Total time. The time would be accepted by pac wings however noone else would really recognize it and so if you don't stick it out in order to build to 135 mins or even if you do stick it out on the slim chance you are offered a job there you probably wouldn't want to stay anyhow. I don't know of any of the SIC's who ended up upgrading, pretty much all the other airlines on the islands hate PW because of how ####ty the management treats the customers/employees/and other airlines employees. The old DO got fired for some pretty shady reasons and its gotten worse since then.
From what I hear you have to work the desk for a month or so before you can start training then the flying is scheduled for when you don't have to work the desk. I've heard the SICs are getting around 600hrs a year.
Having said that the flying was fun and the other pilots, for the most part, were great. There are better small operators on the islands to work for.
Pay was 8 bucks an hour for the SICs and that was only when you were scheduled to work the desk, you didn't get paid to fly because they really didn't need you there.
Captains pay was 2250 a month.
As for living I had a nice 2 bedroom apt for 1200 a month that I split. Electric is cheap because you don't really need the ac or heater and you won't be there enough to watch tv or use the lights. Food is allot more expensive...tuna is around 80cents a can if that gives you any idea. Costco is the cheapest place to eat.
You do get health benifits and flight benifits however you won't have time to use the flight benifits and the health beni's i didn't pay much attention to.
In conclusion I don't know of anyone who left on good terms nor anyone who would go back.
http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=78761
Skrob
New Member
hey thanks for the info, i am however a little confused about the part where you said you logged 200 hours but it wasnt worth anything unless you stick it out??? its still turbine-time and total time isnt it? and any reason other companies dont accept it? i only bring it up because i have sort of already committed to heading out there. i know it wont be easy but nothing worthwhile ever is, especially starting out in an aviation career. i am hoping very much for an enjoyable experience, or at the very least, a valuable learning experience. just out of curiosity, did you have to sign/break your contract???
DE727UPS
Well-Known Member
"its still turbine-time and total time isnt it"
It would be single engine SIC turbine time, in a Caravan, and some interviewers will see Pacific Wings as a PFT, buy a job, sort of outfit. I mean, how great do you expect SIC time in a Caravan to look next to a guy who busted his butt as a CFI?
Some interviewers will laugh at anyone who has SIC Caravan time in their logbook, legal as it may be. I know I would....
It would be single engine SIC turbine time, in a Caravan, and some interviewers will see Pacific Wings as a PFT, buy a job, sort of outfit. I mean, how great do you expect SIC time in a Caravan to look next to a guy who busted his butt as a CFI?
Some interviewers will laugh at anyone who has SIC Caravan time in their logbook, legal as it may be. I know I would....
Texasspilot
New Member
Though it’s not a PFT or PFJ outfit the time is basically worthless outside of that company. The reason is no other company will really think you did any work in a single engine, fixed gear, slow as yugo airplane. You won't learn allot about flying IFR because it rarely is. What you will learn is how crappy aviation can really be and once you leave you will appreciate every decent job you have.
I saw some things while flying that can only be described as beautiful, however this company seriously made me absolutely miserable even in "paradise". In the time I was there I made it to the beach less than a handful of times came the closest to quitting aviation I ever have.
When I went there was a sixth month contract which I broke without a second thought. The DO and CP at the time said they couldn't blame me and wished me luck.
I don't know of any SIC's who have been allowed or been around long enough to upgrade.
As for the time its almost embarrasing to have in my logbook. I have the entries there but I don't count any of the time towards any sort of logbook time. I have worked really hard to redeem myself so that in my mind and my future interviewers can look past it.
I saw some things while flying that can only be described as beautiful, however this company seriously made me absolutely miserable even in "paradise". In the time I was there I made it to the beach less than a handful of times came the closest to quitting aviation I ever have.
When I went there was a sixth month contract which I broke without a second thought. The DO and CP at the time said they couldn't blame me and wished me luck.
I don't know of any SIC's who have been allowed or been around long enough to upgrade.
As for the time its almost embarrasing to have in my logbook. I have the entries there but I don't count any of the time towards any sort of logbook time. I have worked really hard to redeem myself so that in my mind and my future interviewers can look past it.
Skrob
New Member
well that certianly is discouraging, but once getting 1200 hours and a captain upgrade (i know you said itd be a while) ive gotta think it wouldnt be that bad. i cant see what the big deal with the time is, just as a CFI busts his butt at work i intend to also. a job is a job and time is time. im not paying for it. in all honesty i cant see why teaching rectangular course 4 times a day is any more valuable than flying passengers point to point over open ocean in a single engine caravan. i do know of a couple guys who went on to other airlines (companies) from pacific wings and they are the ones who convinced me to go out there. like i said i am already heading out there, and i really do hope im not making a huge mistake, but if it is ill be the first to let you know.
DE727UPS
Well-Known Member
"a job is a job and time is time"
"i cant see why teaching rectangular course 4 times a day is any more valuable than flying passengers point to point over open ocean in a single engine caravan"
Man, you're talking about being a copilot in a single engine Cessna that is normally flown single pilot.
I could go on and on but it would be pointless...
"ill be the first to let you know"
Please do, either way it goes.
"i cant see why teaching rectangular course 4 times a day is any more valuable than flying passengers point to point over open ocean in a single engine caravan"
Man, you're talking about being a copilot in a single engine Cessna that is normally flown single pilot.
I could go on and on but it would be pointless...
"ill be the first to let you know"
Please do, either way it goes.
Texasspilot
New Member
all require two pilots. You need to understand the way a caravan is viewed by other pilots who will be interviewing/hiring you in the future.
Think about being a professional co-pilot on a 172 because thats what the job pretty much is. Does it have a pt6? yes...does anyone care? no.
Its a caravan, a single engine, non-complex, barely high performance airplane that you won't even be responsible for. Theres been more than one pilot from there who was laughed out of an interview for having the van sic time.
Is it legal to log..yes.
Is it respected time..no.
Will it be an experience you remember..yes
Will it help your career along...more than likely not.
Search flightinfo.com for pacific wings info and you'll see what people have to say about the company.
Think about being a professional co-pilot on a 172 because thats what the job pretty much is. Does it have a pt6? yes...does anyone care? no.
Its a caravan, a single engine, non-complex, barely high performance airplane that you won't even be responsible for. Theres been more than one pilot from there who was laughed out of an interview for having the van sic time.
Is it legal to log..yes.
Is it respected time..no.
Will it be an experience you remember..yes
Will it help your career along...more than likely not.
Search flightinfo.com for pacific wings info and you'll see what people have to say about the company.
ihavewings
New Member
Skrob-The best to ya at Pac-Wings!!! Please keep us posted when you get over there as I'm very interested in moving to Hawaii. I want to fly for Island Air someday and I'm thinkin Pac-Wings will give me some good Hawaiian time. :nana2:
Texasspilot
New Member
I forgot they had that stupid fee nowadays...ill post some clips for you tomorrow.
Texasspilot
New Member
heres what a few guys have said about the place in the lats couple of weeks.
I went out to interview with them last Sept. They are a small operation, only 5 A/C I think, and when I went to interview the starting pay was $8/hr or $8.50 for an FO. You will work as a baggage handler/customer service rep for the first 30 days and then they send you to school on the Caravan. You then fly approx. 40 to 60 hrs a month and on your days off you load bags and check the customers into the flight. Most pilots who I talked to worked a 2nd job just to make ends meet or still had their parents helping them out. $8.50 an hr out there would be roughly half that here in the states, depending on where you live. Moreover, if you plan to fly for them, if you don't stay on and get some PIC time then your time out there will be worthless. I talked to several Capt's who work for the majors and all of them told me that SIC time on a Caravan is a joke. Unless you are dead set on living on the island for a while or hoping to stay out there and make Capt (they do have a quick upgrade time) I would highly suggest looking elsewhere. Just my 2 cents but good luck either way....
--------------------
PW operates under the "Air Nevada" certificate. They have issues...
1) They lost their Director of Operations, Chief Pilot, and a few of their senior Captains when they had a "difference of opinion" with local law enforcement. Rumor was they were assaulted when they refuse to pay for additional security.
2) SIC time in a single pilot aircraft is worthless. If they don't have an SIC training program, you are just window dressing, or a bag thrower. You can't even swing the gear in a fixed gear aircraft. The only way it's worth anything is if puts you in line to upgrade, and then it's only worth something at PW, nowhere else.
3) Listen to the people that are telling you how expensive it is to live in Hawaii. I did it for a year. After the year, my wife and I were $20,000 in debt, and we rented a room with no kitchen. I was working on the mainland, my wife was flying in Hawaii, making around the level of a Captain at PW.
Working (more than) full time for PW could make you bankrupt, the locals aren't happy about you being there, since that job should be theirs (in their opinion), and most mainlanders can only handle living on an island for a few weeks, a condition called "Island Fever".
It is a beautiful place, and the flying is exquisite, but there are substantial costs that you probably won't encounter on the mainland.
By the way, every time I wrote PacificWings with a space between the words, it was reduced to PW by this website. I don't know why, but it is curious...
-------------------------------------------
Worked there for 5 months as a captain. The worst possible place you can possibly work at. Never had the slightest problem working at any place exept there. The management is the scum of the planet. Will try to make you fly to VFR only airports in IMC, they try to get you change your fuel numbers so you're not "overloaded," Try to keep you flying till the end of the day with binding ailerons, etc... Chief pilot flies at 500 feet in the clouds beside a cliff. The whole operation is really wreckless and just a matter of time till something really bad happens. The FSDO has their eye on them and I wouldn't risk your license working there. On top of that, when you quit they try to say you were fired. If they weren't so popular with everyone, that could cost you a job later. Thankfully most companys know what a load of crap that whole place is. One good thing is that working anywhere afterwards will be like heaven.
Pay is really bad for living on Maui. Maui is nice though if you like the outdoors. A lot of fun stuff to do, but I wouldn't do it again.
And if you're going in as an FO then forget it all together. 1 person a year ends up making it to captain. The rest throw bags for minimum wage. And like said above SE SIC time in a caravan is pretty worthless.
-----------------------------------------
I went out to interview with them last Sept. They are a small operation, only 5 A/C I think, and when I went to interview the starting pay was $8/hr or $8.50 for an FO. You will work as a baggage handler/customer service rep for the first 30 days and then they send you to school on the Caravan. You then fly approx. 40 to 60 hrs a month and on your days off you load bags and check the customers into the flight. Most pilots who I talked to worked a 2nd job just to make ends meet or still had their parents helping them out. $8.50 an hr out there would be roughly half that here in the states, depending on where you live. Moreover, if you plan to fly for them, if you don't stay on and get some PIC time then your time out there will be worthless. I talked to several Capt's who work for the majors and all of them told me that SIC time on a Caravan is a joke. Unless you are dead set on living on the island for a while or hoping to stay out there and make Capt (they do have a quick upgrade time) I would highly suggest looking elsewhere. Just my 2 cents but good luck either way....
--------------------
PW operates under the "Air Nevada" certificate. They have issues...
1) They lost their Director of Operations, Chief Pilot, and a few of their senior Captains when they had a "difference of opinion" with local law enforcement. Rumor was they were assaulted when they refuse to pay for additional security.
2) SIC time in a single pilot aircraft is worthless. If they don't have an SIC training program, you are just window dressing, or a bag thrower. You can't even swing the gear in a fixed gear aircraft. The only way it's worth anything is if puts you in line to upgrade, and then it's only worth something at PW, nowhere else.
3) Listen to the people that are telling you how expensive it is to live in Hawaii. I did it for a year. After the year, my wife and I were $20,000 in debt, and we rented a room with no kitchen. I was working on the mainland, my wife was flying in Hawaii, making around the level of a Captain at PW.
Working (more than) full time for PW could make you bankrupt, the locals aren't happy about you being there, since that job should be theirs (in their opinion), and most mainlanders can only handle living on an island for a few weeks, a condition called "Island Fever".
It is a beautiful place, and the flying is exquisite, but there are substantial costs that you probably won't encounter on the mainland.
By the way, every time I wrote PacificWings with a space between the words, it was reduced to PW by this website. I don't know why, but it is curious...
-------------------------------------------
Worked there for 5 months as a captain. The worst possible place you can possibly work at. Never had the slightest problem working at any place exept there. The management is the scum of the planet. Will try to make you fly to VFR only airports in IMC, they try to get you change your fuel numbers so you're not "overloaded," Try to keep you flying till the end of the day with binding ailerons, etc... Chief pilot flies at 500 feet in the clouds beside a cliff. The whole operation is really wreckless and just a matter of time till something really bad happens. The FSDO has their eye on them and I wouldn't risk your license working there. On top of that, when you quit they try to say you were fired. If they weren't so popular with everyone, that could cost you a job later. Thankfully most companys know what a load of crap that whole place is. One good thing is that working anywhere afterwards will be like heaven.
Pay is really bad for living on Maui. Maui is nice though if you like the outdoors. A lot of fun stuff to do, but I wouldn't do it again.
And if you're going in as an FO then forget it all together. 1 person a year ends up making it to captain. The rest throw bags for minimum wage. And like said above SE SIC time in a caravan is pretty worthless.
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