ToiletDuck

I have a few options presenting themselves now and I don't know what to do. But options are good!

Option #1

Once I get 120hrs given instruction I was contacted by a man to teach students how to fly in China. It's a 14month contract that pays 2k a month. For a CFI that's good money let alone in a country where the american dollar stretches more. Also it is tax free, housing and bills paid for, and uniforms paid for. They pay for your flight there and flight back. The only thing I'd have to do is buy my own food.

The downside is that you will be gone for the full 14months. You are given 10 sick days. If you decide to do another rotation they negotiate your pay increase but you are guaranteed at least 30k. They give you 4 students that you are responsible for taking from their private to their commercial multi.

Option #2

Stay in Texas and be a CFI making less yet having the ability to go home every once in a while.

Option #3
There is a company that is hiring and I meet their requirements. However the job would be as SIC on a cessna 208 caravan in Hawaii. I can only imagine they don't pay much. However they said once you approach part 135 mins they'd then get you over as PIC.

My thoughts on that last part hover around the idea that right now in my life I should try and get as much PIC as needed no? So hopping over to do an SIC job wouldn't really help me much right?

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Just wondering what you guys would pick. Thanks for any info.
Duck

Calpilot

If it were me I would stay in TX (option 2), fly as much as possible, and network like crazy. Going to China sounds like an adventure but you will loose touch and may miss oportunities to advance to larger aircraft and build multi-engine time. The Hawaii thing sounds like fun too but single engine SIC time and PIC time do not mean much.

ToiletDuck

Yea I was thinking about the texas bit heavily. I'm torn between China and Texas because i'm a starting out CFI. I'm going to need the hours regardless. I'd get just as much if not more multi time in China than in texas. They use the Diamond Twin Stars there. Here is what he sent me when I asked a few questions.

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Each instructor has four students and they are expected to fly 20 hours per student per month.
The total flying for each student is approximately 240/250 hours, which includes around 40 multi hours.
The Academy is not even 12 months old, so will not have an accurate indication on hours until the first or second course graduate.

Each instructors' room in the hotel has a internet connection, plus the guys also telephone home, or have home telephone them.
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mike734

Go to Hawaii and look for another job. Always keep looking no matter where you go. Stay out of China! It is not America with American laws. You could disappear over there. I went on contract in Europe and I can tell you that it is difficult being in a strange land not knowing the language. Europe was not bad but China could be very difficult. It you have contractual problems you will have NO recourse. I would consider it for $10,000/mo paid in advance in a foreign bank account.

Marchetti

My only advice is to never get comfortable, until you get to your objective. If your objective is a G-IV then keep moving up until you get a G-IV. If you are offered an obscene amount of money before you reach your objective, Save and invest. I've been a captain for over 5-1/2 years and I just got hired by SWA, this is going to mean about a $10,000 loss this year, but it is worth it.

Delta102

Don't DON'T Go to China.The food sucks.And what about the students .Do you speak Chinese.Ever try to teach someone thur an Interpreter.Its ruff.And Hawaii,I've lived on the big Island.Its nice. But it cost's an arm and a leg to live.So I say Door number 2.Good luck..( I like Chinese food.But what we think of as Chinese food is not )

Rama

Living in a foreign country is tough. You have no real rights or recourse if something goes bad. the Pacific Wings thing is a joke, maybe as PIC okay, but what will you do in a Caravan right seat in 90% vfr wx? Its just an underepaid bag boy more like pft than flying. Cost of living is insane especially Maui.
Good luck.

Laxrox43

I would NOT concider the Hawaii gig. Granted it is turbine time. BUT it is Single Engine. That won't really get you anywhere unless you want to fly cargo for FDX or AirNet. I mean, more power to ya bud. If that is what you really want...knock your socks off! Personally, I would just have fun with instructing - being able to go home every now and then to have ur mom do your laundry, or have a home-cooked meal is something that you would def. miss living in HA or China (at least I know I would..hehe). Plus it is better on your billfold (wallet). That is my two cents, do what you like, just remember, HAVE FUN with whatever you do.

D

mike734

I say again, go to the islands, get some sun, have some fun, make contacts and get another job. There are many multi recip and turbine inter-island jobs over there. Of course you don't want to stay in the single. But if it is a choice of Texas and Hawaii....It is a no brainier. TX will rot your brain.

1013dot25hPa

Nice to have options!

I would go with a gig in Hawaii flying the Caravan or with the gig in China for the following reasons:

- Hawaii. Before comitting to this option, you need to find out the company envisions you to meet the 135 minimums. For example, how can you meet the 500 hrs PIC XC time flying as SIC??? If there is an opportunity to do so and the upgrade time is not longer than 18 months, I would go with the Hawaii gig.
Flying in a multi crew environment is valuable experience. So is the opportunity to learn about advanced systems.
Once you upgrade, you will be able to log PIC turbine time. Granted, it is SE turbine time, but the airlines really don't care. Point in case are F16 military pilots...

- China. This is not a bad gig at all. It's a FAR 141 environment. It is owned/operated by PAIFA (Pan Am International Flyight Academy) which also operates here in the US and has an extremely good reputation. They're training Ab Initio students that will be flying for a mojor Chinese carrier. It's a very professional operation from what I understand. They're opening up more satelite schools in China as well.
In addition, since the recuirement is that you need to build a little bit more time before you can take the China gig, you have the opportunity to ly for the school in Texas.