Tradewind Aviation, Oxford CT
 

Hi everyone,
Does anyone have any info on Tradewind Aviation out of Oxford, CT? How is the pay? Schedules? How does their San Juan stuff work out? Who can I send a resume into? Thanks for the help.

winds calm u can take 28 if you like

HAHAHAHAHAHAH

How bout Cheesy?

u ghet loughed yet?

not to sure how they work I know they emailed me saying they might do some hiring in the fall, I think into the caravan.

thanks man

No jones, I'll call ya later

I hear the pay is salary, pretty much on par with Regional F/O pay for first year caravan, then I imagine it moves up. Progression is you start as caravan FO then move to caravan capt. Then you can transfer into the pilatus, then eventually a king air, and I think they have a Citation? Not sure what kind of jet. But I think the pay is around like 22-23k a year, not 100% sure on that tho.

I know for a fact that they got rid of their jets, and I think the King Airs as well. As far as I know they only operate C-208s and PC-12s. They used to have Donna Karan's G-IV on their ticket, but I don't know if that's still the case. I know the VP on a personal level and he's a really great guy. He's offered me rides in his Husky Amphib. to go to CT so he can pick up the G and bring it to TEB. Unfortunately, my boss wouldn't let me up and leave that day :mad:. A few of my co-workers, from an FBO I used to work at, got jobs there. No complaints from what I've heard. If you like Caribbean winters and New England summers, it's a great job. Not the most impressive equipment resume-wise (same issue as Alpha Flying) but it's all in good shape. I should be getting called for an interview once they hire again. They usually hire in October or November, then again in May.

Anyone have any more info on Tradewind? I"m getting my app together and figured I'd ask one more time.

Well I just sent in my resume. All I know is that they require 135IFR mins in addition with 100hrs turbine and Caravan experience. All of which I have but still no call as of yet. Good luck! let us know if you hear anything!
You have to fax in the resume. Go to Tradewinds Aviation.com click on careers, there is a short pilot form you must fill out then they request you fax it resume with cover letter. Cheers
As for the rest of your questions your guess is as good as mine.

Anyone have any info on what the schedule is like in the carib? Are you based in st barts? I heard from a friend that you rotate two weeks on then come back up north? Any truth to that at all???

Its been a long while since I have heard anything about Tradewind...how are they dealing with things these days? Have they had to sell any aircraft or lay any pilots off? Any chance of hiring for summer activity?

Interesting, because I last saw them around here for CJ3 recurrent in December..

Maybe things have turned around for them... I haven't spoken to DZ in about a year.

u live in sanjuan and fly to st barths everyday, u are based in sju qol if ur single its fine

Up date
 

Anyone have any up to date information on tradewinds?

The two threads about tradewind that are current and not from 2009 are probably a great start 👍🏽

DO NOT COME WORK HERE!!!! This company has a massive amount of management problems and they treat their pilots like S#!^ compared to a lot of other part 135's. Seriously buddy, there are a couple recent posts on this website that are novels about how terrible a company Tradewind is to work for. See the links at the bottom of this post. The ADO climbed the ranks quick being in the right place at the right time and he has no management training or people skills. The chief pilot is a good guy but he is just a puppet and has to go to the ADO for everything. This place is a revolving door for pilots! I have a buddy at Ameriflight here in Puerto Rico and it is public knowledge that they have a bunch of turnover. Ironically it pales in comparison to the turnover here at Tradewind. All Tradewind can seem to get to come work for them are super low time D-bags that can't keep a job anywhere else. They tell you that you can be based in one location and then based on their shortage of pilots will force you to go and fly in their other location. Quality of life is terrible here. Pay is inadequate to be based in SJU or the Northeast. Northeast has insane cost of living and SJU has a lot of expense you don't think about. For example because you are clearing customs after every flight you can't bring your own food for the day. So you have to buy food at the airports, which really adds up. After health insurance, taxes, and eating on the road your take home is less than $1,500 a month as a first officer. I made more take home after tax income at my part time job in high school than Tradwind pays their FO’s. And before some corporate D-bag jumps on this post to try and spin the pay, YES that $1,500 take home number includes per diem. They also give you $30 a night when you layover in an international location but it is impossible to eat dinner in St Barts for less than $30 and then you are left with paying for breakfast which costs you even more money out of pocket. So look at your monthly expenses like rent, cell phone, bar tabs, car payment, etc. Add $250 which is my average additional food cost over per diem for being based in SJU. Subtract that total from $1,500 a month and then see what you are left with. Half the pilots that come to Tradewind have financial issues within the first couple months and that just adds to the stress of working for a company that shows pilots little to no respect. I would wager a guess that at least eighty percent of the SIC’s that I fly with have less than $50 in their bank accounts every single payday. You see when Tradewind publishes that you are going to make $42K as an FO, that number includes the average about of per diem that an FO is paid annually. Super shady tactic if you ask me. Most candidates assume that they will get per diem on top of the $42K and that is just not the case. If you want to go and fly for a part 135 in the Caribbean go to, MN Aviation, Ameriflight, or IFL group. All of them are currently hiring and have much better reputations than Tradewind. If you want to fly the PC-12 which is a very sweet aircraft I must say, then go fly for Boutique Air or Surf Air. I know for a fact they too are hiring way below their posted minimums just like Tradewind.


Here are the other Tradewind posts that are MUST READS for pilots considering apply here.


Not 100% accurate but about 90% accurate and management has done nothing to fix most of the issues addressed in this post.
https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/p...tradewind.html


Pretty spot on.
https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/p...s-divorce.html

Currently based in the Caribbean for a cargo outfit. And so far I've had a completely different experience as far as QOL. It's cheaper to live here than any other base in my company. And with food I found that you can bring food with you as long as you make sure to eat all of it before you come back to SJU. Caribbean is pretty nice tbh, I just wish I spoke spanish :(.

Any non disgruntled employees care to share the chances of being able to remain in OXC during the winter as an SIC or is SJU mandatory? Appreciate it.

Depends.. maybe, maybe not . But you need to keep in mind part of the job is to fly in PR and CT . Sure you can ask for shorter rotation. BTW it is much easier if you have all required PIC 135 time or around 900 1000 all required night , instrument..
TW has good benis , good pay , good airplanes and you will gain good flying experience.