Hawaii 135 operators
06-16-2019, 06:13 AM
#22
Banned
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: Window Seat
Posts: 1,430
Ah ha ha ha
People that know better aren’t going to trans air or Asia pacific. They have been known to fire/discipline people for ridiculous reasons as is well documented in these chats. Nothing has “improved” at Transair or Asia Pacific. Ohana and Aloha are your better options if trying to get to Hawaiian. People have left transair and Asia pacific to go fly for Aloha and Ohana. Aloha has some big classes coming up and I believe ohana will too.
People that know better aren’t going to trans air or Asia pacific. They have been known to fire/discipline people for ridiculous reasons as is well documented in these chats. Nothing has “improved” at Transair or Asia Pacific. Ohana and Aloha are your better options if trying to get to Hawaiian. People have left transair and Asia pacific to go fly for Aloha and Ohana. Aloha has some big classes coming up and I believe ohana will too.
TXA is a stepping stone just the same and many of the full timers that were there when I was working part time have gone on to HAL, DL, FedEx, and others. In their cases they used TXA to get the minimums they needed to be competitive at a regional (this was before the shortage) and made the best of it from there, TXA gave them the start to get to where they are today.
Neither of these airlines is out to get you. The experience they offer is very valid and transferable to the larger aviation world moreso than flying a single as a passenger-crewmember between some rocks. If I was looking for a stepping stone I would go to either TXA or APA before I went to Ohana or Mokulele (only a person who makes poor decision intentionally chooses to fly a single engine aircraft across the ocean anyway). AQ is kind of a toss up in my view as it is more valid as a career destination, but there are many better places than AQ as well.
The days of needing a stepping stone are behind me, but for someone needing to get experience now; both APA and TXA are valid so long as they're not asking for training contracts or bonds. Don't let your prejudice bleed thru Kimo…. it makes you sound jilted. In my current situation I would not work for either operation, but as a freshly minted ATP/CPL I would definitely be open to it.
Last edited by aviatorhi; 06-16-2019 at 06:24 AM.
06-17-2019, 08:07 PM
#23
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Position: Small and slow
Posts: 64
Please don't make me laugh... in my tenure at APA nobody got fired for ridiculous reasons (or any reason as only one person got fired in 7 years). They had a downhill spiral with new management initially (precipitated my departure), but last I heard things have become liveable as the stepping stone that it is. Several have gone to HAL, UAL, K4, and others (I ended up at Omni); others were not so lucky due to their own doing, but nobody has been fired apart from one guy after I left. To be clear I am in no way defending some of their practices in operations (with which I am intimately familiar), but they are a stepping stone airline in the same breed as YIP and MIA operators. I did hear of one guy going to AQ but he wasn't missed by my friends still on the line. If someone presently lives in Hawaii and needs to get jet time to move on to better things then APA is able to provide that.
TXA is a stepping stone just the same and many of the full timers that were there when I was working part time have gone on to HAL, DL, FedEx, and others. In their cases they used TXA to get the minimums they needed to be competitive at a regional (this was before the shortage) and made the best of it from there, TXA gave them the start to get to where they are today.
Neither of these airlines is out to get you. The experience they offer is very valid and transferable to the larger aviation world moreso than flying a single as a passenger-crewmember between some rocks. If I was looking for a stepping stone I would go to either TXA or APA before I went to Ohana or Mokulele (only a person who makes poor decision intentionally chooses to fly a single engine aircraft across the ocean anyway). AQ is kind of a toss up in my view as it is more valid as a career destination, but there are many better places than AQ as well.
The days of needing a stepping stone are behind me, but for someone needing to get experience now; both APA and TXA are valid so long as they're not asking for training contracts or bonds. Don't let your prejudice bleed thru Kimo…. it makes you sound jilted. In my current situation I would not work for either operation, but as a freshly minted ATP/CPL I would definitely be open to it.
TXA is a stepping stone just the same and many of the full timers that were there when I was working part time have gone on to HAL, DL, FedEx, and others. In their cases they used TXA to get the minimums they needed to be competitive at a regional (this was before the shortage) and made the best of it from there, TXA gave them the start to get to where they are today.
Neither of these airlines is out to get you. The experience they offer is very valid and transferable to the larger aviation world moreso than flying a single as a passenger-crewmember between some rocks. If I was looking for a stepping stone I would go to either TXA or APA before I went to Ohana or Mokulele (only a person who makes poor decision intentionally chooses to fly a single engine aircraft across the ocean anyway). AQ is kind of a toss up in my view as it is more valid as a career destination, but there are many better places than AQ as well.
The days of needing a stepping stone are behind me, but for someone needing to get experience now; both APA and TXA are valid so long as they're not asking for training contracts or bonds. Don't let your prejudice bleed thru Kimo…. it makes you sound jilted. In my current situation I would not work for either operation, but as a freshly minted ATP/CPL I would definitely be open to it.
On another note I wouldn’t get fixated on single engine. Eh never mind you’re only going to make a fight out of it.
Last edited by Kimo; 06-17-2019 at 08:18 PM.
06-17-2019, 09:25 PM
#24
Banned
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: Window Seat
Posts: 1,430
You’re putting words into my mouth again. These boards are littered with OTHER pilot’s bad experiences or views. I’m not saying I have a personal stake with anyone but you have to wonder why so many people share bad experiences and a very few if any come out with positive things to say. Even your take wasn’t exactly a glowing review.
On another note I wouldn’t get fixated on single engine. Eh never mind you’re only going to make a fight out of it.
On another note I wouldn’t get fixated on single engine. Eh never mind you’re only going to make a fight out of it.
And I also wouldn't sweat SEL if it wasn't over the water. If someone is fixated on being in Hawaii there are much better options available to them than flying a Caravan and going swimming.
06-19-2019, 05:37 PM
#25
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2018
Posts: 47
Hi everyone, I'm wondering if anybody can shed some more light on QOL/reputation at some of the 135 organizations in Hawaii. Right now I'm looking at Transair, Kamaka and Mokulele to fly part time for a few years (I'm still active duty, but in a job with a really flexible schedule) then transition to full time once I separate. For reference, I'm a navy guy (super hornets) with 1150 hours.
I'm new to this community so I apologize if I'm not adhering to any forum bylaws - just let me know and I'll flog myself accordingly
So far what I've gotten from the rest of the forum is that kamaka is fly for free, and that generally doesn't bode well. It seems like it's a relatively short requirement, basically time to get comfortable before you start flying solo legs. Luckily I'm already getting a paycheck, so working as an unpaid loader for a month doesn't personally bother me, but I've read on here that working for a fly-for-free type of company can brand you in a bad way.
Transair seems to have a smattering of opinions around it, some of them sound pretty scathing. However I do think it'd be cool to fly the SD3-60, and it's probably better experience for later on as well.
Mokulele seems to be positive all around, but I did read something about how they don't have a great relationship with Hawaiian airlines, is there any truth to this?
Right now my main goal is pretty much just to log time and break up the monotony of my day job - any advice at all would be appreciated!
I'm new to this community so I apologize if I'm not adhering to any forum bylaws - just let me know and I'll flog myself accordingly
So far what I've gotten from the rest of the forum is that kamaka is fly for free, and that generally doesn't bode well. It seems like it's a relatively short requirement, basically time to get comfortable before you start flying solo legs. Luckily I'm already getting a paycheck, so working as an unpaid loader for a month doesn't personally bother me, but I've read on here that working for a fly-for-free type of company can brand you in a bad way.
Transair seems to have a smattering of opinions around it, some of them sound pretty scathing. However I do think it'd be cool to fly the SD3-60, and it's probably better experience for later on as well.
Mokulele seems to be positive all around, but I did read something about how they don't have a great relationship with Hawaiian airlines, is there any truth to this?
Right now my main goal is pretty much just to log time and break up the monotony of my day job - any advice at all would be appreciated!
06-21-2019, 02:00 PM
#26
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Posts: 7
Luckily I was in Japan so we weren't affected by the hours shortages that stateside squadrons have. Regularly 30+/month
06-21-2019, 04:18 PM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 334
However you choose to skin the hours cat, make sure of two things:
First, and foremost, ensure your commanding officer is fully aware of and has given you signed, written permission to hold outside employment. Hiding something like this from the boss could lead to disciplinary paperwork, and could tube your reference checks for employment. I’ve seen something like this go badly inside an AF flying training squadron.
Second, ensure any potential employer knows they are only your part-time gig, and if the Navy suddenly says your watches have to double due to manning changes, you won’t be as available to them. Surprising an aviation employer can get you the kind of fired that precludes you getting on anywhere else.
Evaluate whatever risks you foresee, and decide if the hours are worth it.
Regards,
First, and foremost, ensure your commanding officer is fully aware of and has given you signed, written permission to hold outside employment. Hiding something like this from the boss could lead to disciplinary paperwork, and could tube your reference checks for employment. I’ve seen something like this go badly inside an AF flying training squadron.
Second, ensure any potential employer knows they are only your part-time gig, and if the Navy suddenly says your watches have to double due to manning changes, you won’t be as available to them. Surprising an aviation employer can get you the kind of fired that precludes you getting on anywhere else.
Evaluate whatever risks you foresee, and decide if the hours are worth it.
Regards,
06-21-2019, 05:25 PM
#28
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Posts: 7
However you choose to skin the hours cat, make sure of two things:
First, and foremost, ensure your commanding officer is fully aware of and has given you signed, written permission to hold outside employment. Hiding something like this from the boss could lead to disciplinary paperwork, and could tube your reference checks for employment. I’ve seen something like this go badly inside an AF flying training squadron.
Second, ensure any potential employer knows they are only your part-time gig, and if the Navy suddenly says your watches have to double due to manning changes, you won’t be as available to them. Surprising an aviation employer can get you the kind of fired that precludes you getting on anywhere else.
Evaluate whatever risks you foresee, and decide if the hours are worth it.
Regards,
First, and foremost, ensure your commanding officer is fully aware of and has given you signed, written permission to hold outside employment. Hiding something like this from the boss could lead to disciplinary paperwork, and could tube your reference checks for employment. I’ve seen something like this go badly inside an AF flying training squadron.
Second, ensure any potential employer knows they are only your part-time gig, and if the Navy suddenly says your watches have to double due to manning changes, you won’t be as available to them. Surprising an aviation employer can get you the kind of fired that precludes you getting on anywhere else.
Evaluate whatever risks you foresee, and decide if the hours are worth it.
Regards,
06-24-2019, 08:46 PM
#29
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2018
Posts: 47
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