Originally Posted by
kalyx522
Well I HAVE worked there so I don't consider myself to "know nothing." Are they not making SICs do counter/ramp work 4 days out of the week anymore? You say everyone is paid a salary... have they increased the pay more than $8/hr for the SICs? Because at that rate, you make only $1200/month BEFORE taxes. I've actually lived there, so you can't convince me that $1200 is "ample to live in Hawaii." Even a can of Campbell's soup costs $4. I was looking for a second job, and saw an ad for McDonalds.. $10/hr. What does it say about the cost of living in HI when McDonalds guys are making $10/hr? Also what does it say about PW when they pay fully certificated pilots LESS than McDonalds workers? I know you make more when you upgrade to captain... but $30k a year is still very difficult to live with in HI. I understand the flying is very fun, how can you beat the scenery. But beautiful scenery doesn't pay the bills nor does it help you get a major airline job (even a regional might be tough). I went for it because I thought I should have some fun while I was young, but the company was just way too sh!tty for me to stay.
Wow, it wasn't that bad for me as an SIC, I was given on average 3 fly days and 2 counter shifts per work week. What you're talking about does suck, I probably wouldn't have stayed around either. Pay was $10/ hour but I got a lot of over time on the fly days. As an SIC I was building 70-80 hours a month too. My paychecks were around $800-$900 (bi-weekly) as an SIC. I honestly don't know what the new salary is for SIC's they just started it not too long ago. They did away with training contracts though for PIC's and we now get bonuses for every 6mo we stay with the company, which are progressively larger. It's also a renter's market out here right now, there's a lot of nice places available for rent that are under $600/ month which is another huge factor in the cost of living as well. I might have moved on by now if the industry was stronger. But for now I don't consider it such a bad place to be.