I worked at Tradewind for 9 months as an SIC and enjoyed almost every minute of it. It always surprised me to hear the complaints many voiced about the company. They were often so juvenile and irrelevant (as are many of those that you voiced) that I just passed them off and continued on my day to day. But when someone makes a post to misinform those interested in applying here, I need to say something.

Tradewind is a great company to work for. Pilots are treated very well by the company, both in terms of pay and benefits (housing, car). I cannot deny that it can be difficult living with other pilots and sharing cars, ect. but if you cannot handle this, I am afraid that you have a very tough life ahead of you. It sounds like you are married and are bitter about the fact that you had to ship down to the Caribbean, something I am sure they told you many times when you first applied. As for not being able to have as social life- trust me, that is not the case. I had a great time and made many friends. It could be a reflection on you? I digress...

But none of this is essential. What disappoints me is to hear your take on safety at Tradewind. As I mentioned, I was never a PIC here. But as an SIC, I was never afraid to voice my opinions about safety issues to my PICs (many of those present in this very thread), and I was always listened to. Takeoff overweight? Sounds like a personal decision that I would not allow to happen. Not going around in SBH? I personally called for a go-around on one occasion, and on a second occasion the captain executed one on his own accord. Perhaps policy has since changed, but there was never a requirement to inform company of executing a go-around. If there now is, I agree that it puts a negative connotation on conducting one and this should not be the case.

I left Tradewind for the regionals and I wish I could speak to you in 1 years time when you finally realize that the regionals are not so different from Tradewind. Operationally, their dispatch and scheduling is very similar. Operations as complex as air carriers require flexibility from the crews they employ, regardless of the level at which they exist.

I look back on my time at Tradewind with nostalgia and a sense of pride of having been a part of a team that worked hard day after day, all while having fun and keeping safety first.

-YBO