Hello. Just wanted to give some info about my time at the company. I started in July 2021 and my 6 month contract is just about up. I have really enjoyed my time here and would do it again. Prior to the pandemic they hired at 250hrs to fly discovery flights with tourists. Since Spring 2020, tourism has dried up here. The tourists were mostly from East Asia and travel restrictions and quarantine requirements have gotten in the way of travel. In addition to the discovery flights, they have part 135 operations. Part 135 VFR flying requires 500 hrs. I got here with around 630hrs. They just want VFR part 135 mins. But because they are actual minimums listed in the FARs, they're not gonna let you on if you are a bit short of the required time. Sometimes they're hiring, sometimes they're not. Depends how busy things are and when pilots leave. The part 135 side consists of single engine PA32 "Cherokee Six" flying and twin PA31 "Navajo Chieftain" flying. You start in the PA32. The plane is a Chevy Suburban with wings. Not everyone upgrades to the PA31. It depends on their need for PA31 pilots. Many (myself included) opt to just stay on the PA32 because there are generally more hours to be had. The PA32 is passenger flights between Saipan and Tinian and cargo flights down to Rota and Guam. The PA31 is mostly passenger flights to Rota. Sometimes you'll have to sit right seat on PA31 flights and if it is an empty leg you can log it. I've gotten about 11 multi hours since being out here. The company is overall organized and ran well. It's mostly a family business. The planes are old, but maintained well. They have an army of mechanics in the hangar. Some of the "technicians" or "assistants" or whatever they are called sometimes let some details slip (improper seatbelt installation or whatever), but there are a handful of certified A&Ps that are all great. All VFR flying in weather that is *mostly* VFR. You'll get less afraid of weather and of strong winds. In my busiest month here I got around 115hrs and in the slowest I got under 60. The ramp guys are generally really cool and hard workers. You don't have to do your own W&B, fueling, loading, etc. It is all done for you and you just check their work.
Island life is slow and relaxed, yet frustrating. Outside of the airline, urgency and timeliness is hard to find. It's hard to get things done, but people don't really care if you get them done. Even though it is a US territory, you do not feel like you are in the same country. Kinda similar to parts of southeast Asia, in ways. There is no traffic. There are no freeways. There are not addresses (the bank asks you to draw a map of where your house is). Phone numbers look similar to American phone numbers, but you'll need a local SIM card with IT&E or Docomo. Mail takes weeks to get here. English is the primary language, but knowing Tagalog, Chinese, Chamorro, or Korean would be very helpful. Buying a crappy car is gonna cost you more than you'll think. I hope you like drinking beer on the beach. I think someone has posted this sentiment before: you won't be able to wait to move on to bigger and better things, but you'll miss it once you're gone. I feel it is true. I can tell that I will miss it.
I wish I could stay here a few more months, but I'm being stubborn about the shot mandate and thus have not been offered to extend my contract lol.