Cherokee six job in saipan

[shai2000]

Hi guys .

I'm interesting to know if anyone have some details about freedom-air in Saipan .

I got a job offer to fly a Cherokee six from saipan to tinian but the contract terms look very inflexible :ugh: .

I know that the island itself is paradise so i'll be greatful to get some info from guys that been there or heard about this job.

Peace :ok:
Shai2000

[islandstyle]

Currently working in Saipan(not aviation related) but has been here long enough to answer some of your queries. Saipan to Tinian is just a short 10-15 mins hop. With enough political will the government here can even construct a suspension bridge to connect the two islands. The past 5 hyrs the islands economy which is so much dependent on imported guest workers from asia is on a downward spiral. The two sources of revenues here are the tourist and the garment industry. with the lifting of import quotas to the US from other asian countries the garment factories here has been closing one by one and all will be gone within two years, sooner if the US congress pass the minimum wage bill(the island's minimum wage is currently $3.05/hr).The tourism industry has suffered a lot as well, JAL /Continental stopped flying in from Japan 2 yrs ago. Now only Northwest/Asiana flies the Japanese and Korean tourist in. There is a twice weekly flight from Shanghai via China southern, 2x/week flight from MNL via Continental . Saipan is an expensive paradise, we pay the highest electric bill in all US territories, a gallon of regular gas cost $3.15. As a typical expat you can live your fantasy of working in paradise for at least two years after that reality will set in and you cant wait to get out of this place.

[NZ X man]

I flew for Island Air , 1980 to 82, back and forth from Guam to Tinian, Saipan and Rota, and that same cherokee 6 was flying then back and forth to Tinian, all of 5 minutes, depending on the wind. Saipan is beautiful, but small, and that will way upon you after awhile. It was expensive relatively 27 years ago, so now, probably much worse. A 6 month stent would probably be good, but longer that that , you will be jumping of one of the cliffs there in Saipan, like a lot of other people did about 1945.
The islands are beautiful, but as everything else, things change after that much time.

The company should not make it out like a lot of training is involved, it is islanders back and forth, with a few tourists in a fixed gear, old Piper, what is there to be obligated for a lengthy period of time?

X man,:} Sandpit

[nijiggajigga]

Shai, I was also offered the job and I see it as something better than Pan Am.. I'm taking up the offer. Atleast it's FAA regs so I don't worry about having to pass a bull**** test.

I start in a few weeks, so I'll let you know more about it after I get used to being there.

[EX-FED]

Shai,

I will have to agree with the above posts regarding the expense here. It's not China, that is for sure. I'm with a different operation that has a little better incentives, and is in the process of upgrading equipment. If you get a deal where company housing is provided, meal allowances, etc., it's not that bad. One thing for sure; it beats trying to fly in China. I can't go into the details of our future activities on here, but it is very promising. Great management team, and good people to work for.

The islands are beautiful, in my opinion. Nothing like Hawaii, but it is island life. A lot of WW II history here; Suicide Cliff, Atomic Bomb Pits, airplanes, tanks, you name it. If you live on Tinian, you've got basically two choices of entertainment; Casino or the beach. Ferrys run to Saipan about twice a day; more to do over there.

As the guys above indicated, if you need a lot of entertainment in your life, this is not the place to be. If you want to fly, well, that's a different story. Don't expect 120 hours per month. 50 to 60 might be the norm per pilot for our operation. I don't know about Island Air.

Howard

[flylittlebirdie]

i think you will find you are going from one marginal operator to another. it seems the only people who fly there have FAA licences but no right to work in the US. so you end up with nowhere to go.
but hey if you like getting drunk and russian strippers it is the best place in the world.

[n818af]

I was there not long after 911 - most of us are US citizens. There were no jobs on the market back then. All returned to the mainland after a year or two.

[nijiggajigga]

Please don't assume that everyone that holds a commercial license is wanting to fly for regionals. I have no intention in flying commercial jets, I prefer to stay in General Aviation... and I have the right to work in the US, as a US citizen. I choose to be an expat because I wanted to get out and see the world, one place at a time. I can seriously say I've flown in other countries.. and it's more than just 1 or two flights..

[russsherwood]

Hi Nick :E

I see things are working out for you in Saipan. I must say that most of us here (in PanAm) are a little disappointed with the daily flight hours (1-2?!) but the above "Russian strippers and booze" comment has put us back on track ! :} (kidding).

The probelm is immigration - we still dont have the forms and there is nowhere to download them... :ugh:

RS

[russsherwood]

hemm.. i thought this was the "promissed land" ?..

[anchorriver]

I was there few years ago flying SD-360. Not a bad place to live if you love outdoor and Japanese girls. Russian dancing girls are there but they believe they are somehow better looking than anybody in that tropical islands. You may agree with them if you are after blond, fair skinned ladies. I prefer Phillipina personally.

No matter what you wanna do in your flying career, however, flying Cherokee for Freedom should be limited within a year or two. There are a lot of job flying turboprop, Caravan for instance, in Asia, Central/South America and Africa. I strongly suggest you to get your Part135 recip, day flight experiences and move on to turbo prop. You will adore P&W PT-6 engines. And learn how to be almost religious while flying over rain forrest/deserts/ocean in a single engine airplane with PT-6 on it and your adventures as an expat in exotic locations...

There was a bar on the street facing the beach, run by an American guy married to a Chinese lady. Don't remember the name now but we used to have fun there. Also there's a baseball field up near JAL Hotel. I have many fond memories... Though Saipan/Guam economy is worsening and I don't think it will improve for quite some time, living in a small island like them will be good for you. I learned a bit of island life style, which is not available in China. You will at least enjoy the clean air and tropical breeze. Just be careful when typhoon is near. I remember shooting NDB to Rota in night with nearing typhoon one night. It was my first time to see my knees shaking in the cockpit (and hopefully the last one)...

Once you settled in, let us know how things are down there if you have spare time.

Safe flight,

[nijiggajigga]

I'm not flying for Freedom, I'm flying for Taga Air.. based in Tinian.

The company is slowly expanding though... and will most likely evolve out of just the Cherokee's and start flying their twins currently being worked on.

I don't plan on being here for the rest of my life.. my ultimate goal is corporate, which I still consider general aviation... however I am in no rush to get there and being here, learning the islands, the life, the area... the history.. and most importantly 135 time.. will definably help out in the future.

Another benefit to staying here at the moment is my girlfriend is still in China.. and it's so much easier for Chinese citizen to get an entry permit here than in mainland states..

[anchorriver]

Good point. If your loved one is from China, Saipan is the place for you two while waiting for the Green Card process. Just tell her NOT to jaywalk street in evening like so many Chiny sweatshop girls do. I almost nailed one of them and scared myself ****less (and her, I bet).
Enjoy what you have now. But don't waste your time hoping your boss is gonna buy a twin in near future. Many young pilots dying for twin time have been lured into such operators all over the world only to find out they are daydreaming. If you're after corporate flying, join Netjet or other fractional ownership operators instead of flying for a owner/operator boss. I have flown for one of them and it was not my fond memory in my career...
Good luck with your girlfriend and your job down there. I sometimes miss the sunset seen from the top of my apartment. With a glass of wine and nice sea breeze, I thought to myself I had finally landed on the decent job that I could work for many years to come. I was dead wrong but in my retrospect, I learned a lot down there...
Fly safe,