Flyingblind747

$8/hr?!?! you could train at starbucks for more that that. lol

fr8tmastr

Is logging Sic time in a caravan even legal?

FlyerJosh

208 PIC is valuable... by many airline's standards, it counts as turbine PIC time. (SIC probably isn't). It's legal to log the time if the ops specs require an SIC.

lpcunity

I worked for %&^* for 1.5 years. I started with 500 hrs and they put me in the left seat at 1200 hrs. Good time builder. You will need to stay there for a while and get the PIC time to justify your SIC time. I went to a regional with only the SIC time and got kicked out. You will build time fast and get way over worked and micro managed. The good thing is that OGG is one of the best places to live. (in my mind) The flying is fun and the WX is good. The 208 is stacked with G-530 and G430 TAS GPWS. The feds out here buy the SIC time but most others wont. I would like to stress that MGT is BAD to say the least. Its 50/50. Good luck

jdsavage

I hated the fact that even to interview with them you have to buy a ticket out to Hawaii, and there is no promise of you getting the job in the end.

Iflywinnebagos

Kalyx~ it's been a while since you first posted so it might be too late but here's my take on your situation: if you have a place to live in Kahului (i.e. family or friends) and care to have no life outside of PW, then by all means go for it. A good friend of mine just logged 80some hours last month as SIC but remember, most of your flight time is unpaid if I understand correctly. It's $8/hr for throwing bags, working the desk, and whatever flights you have "scheduled" (which isn't much I've heard). My friend spends easily 12hours at the airport everyday, and THEN goes flying as a "volunteer" thereby making it legit to go beyond his duty time. He personally loves it because it keeps him busy and away from the bars. But he did mention that management is a royal pain to deal with. If it still sounds interesting to you, go for it. But having been in the exact same position as you not too long ago, I'd recommend instructing for a few months. That's what I did and it allowed me to get into a company better (in my opinion) than PW.

By the way, you mentioned instructing at a University. I'm guessing you went through their flight training? Well if it's by any chance UND, then Corporate Air in Honolulu has a thing for UND grads and CFIs. Obviously they look for pilots with at least 500-800 hours but if you get in, it's a company most people consider staying with for the rest of their careers! I guess being a feeder for FedEx has it's perks.

kalyx522

Ipcunity, thanks for the firsthand info. So you don't have too many complaints about the job except for the bad mgmt.. Can you elaborate on what happened with the regional? From what you've written, it seems like you were at least able to get the job..

Iflywinnebagos - nope, not UND, another major aviation univ. Will def look into the company though, thank you. If you don't mind, what is the "better" ))) company that you're working for?

fosters

I didn't know you could volunteer to waive FAR duty time limits. I must've missed something in ground school.

I think this came out incorrectly - regardless if you are getting paid or not, if you are an acting crew member, you have to abide by the FAR's. Since throwing bags isn't being an active crew member, duty times don't apply while someone is doing that.

lpcunity

I flew there almost 2 years ago and maybe things have changed? When I hit the 1000 hr mark before I upgraded I went to an express jet interview and they kicked me out. After getting some PIC time I had no problem getting on with regionals!!! If you take the job I heard that they are making the FO's do office and ramp work. I hope this helps. let me know if you have any more ?s

Iflywinnebagos

Fosters~ you're correct about the definition of duty period and I apologize for not making myself clearer. Us Hawaiians aren't good at English, just 'pidgin' . Anyways, let's try this again. What I meant by 'volunteer' is that an employee would fly as a passenger in the back (after working all day as a ramp agent AND pilot), and on the empty leg, he or she would come up to the front and fly it under part 91 thus avoiding the 135 duty time. Legal? Probably not but amazingly a couple companies have been getting away with it here. It goes on deeper than this but I'm not here to blow any whistles so I'll stop myself now. I don't work for them so I won't claim to know everything about the company. However I do know a lot friends who have been with them or are currently with them and it seems like the shady stories just keep coming. Just my opinion.

Kalyx~ PM sent.