working in the pacific islands
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working in the pacific islands
anyone here know what the working conditions are at some of our neighbouring pacific islands ?
I visited the Fiji Islands about 8 years ago and the place appeared kind of primitive , but I hear that a good friend is about to start with a local operator over there called fijian air ???.
can anybody shed some light on what kind of conditions these guys work under , who the operators are ,what they earn , what type of flying , where to after 2-3 years in the job..... etc
(previously visited vanuatu and the solomans , and the pilot population in both places would barely fill a phone booth.)
I visited the Fiji Islands about 8 years ago and the place appeared kind of primitive , but I hear that a good friend is about to start with a local operator over there called fijian air ???.
can anybody shed some light on what kind of conditions these guys work under , who the operators are ,what they earn , what type of flying , where to after 2-3 years in the job..... etc
(previously visited vanuatu and the solomans , and the pilot population in both places would barely fill a phone booth.)
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Tooheys
I worked in Fiji for just over three years, left seven months ago. At the time both Air Fiji and Sun Air(Pacific) had a "Hire Locals only policy" like most island nations. So you may find it difficult getting a foot in the door to begin with. It all depends if you are experienced or not! if not then you will find it difficult, unless you have some ties with Fiji.
I logged 8-900 hours a year, progression varies between companies,and again Locals will be promoted before you, also the money is not too crash hot.
Overall if you think of the experience you can gain Vs the financial sacrifice, its all worth it in the end.
I have 2600TT of which 2400 is Multi.
Give it a try, you have nothing to loose... good luck.
Sierramike.
I worked in Fiji for just over three years, left seven months ago. At the time both Air Fiji and Sun Air(Pacific) had a "Hire Locals only policy" like most island nations. So you may find it difficult getting a foot in the door to begin with. It all depends if you are experienced or not! if not then you will find it difficult, unless you have some ties with Fiji.
I logged 8-900 hours a year, progression varies between companies,and again Locals will be promoted before you, also the money is not too crash hot.
Overall if you think of the experience you can gain Vs the financial sacrifice, its all worth it in the end.
I have 2600TT of which 2400 is Multi.
Give it a try, you have nothing to loose... good luck.
Sierramike.
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SierraMike, thanks for that 
if you dont mind , a few questions on local operations :
1- what nav+approach aids do they have over there ? ndb/vor/ils/radar ?
2- do they have locally produced charts and approach plates or use Jepps ?
3- does CASA accept the logged time for australian ATPL issue?
thanks
email tooheys
if you dont mind , a few questions on local operations :
1- what nav+approach aids do they have over there ? ndb/vor/ils/radar ?
2- do they have locally produced charts and approach plates or use Jepps ?
3- does CASA accept the logged time for australian ATPL issue?
thanks
email tooheys
Last edited by Tooheys; 7th Apr 2004 at 05:43.
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Pay is crap. So are the living conditions mostly. The average house in the south pacific would be condemned in most countries 
Unless you hold an ATPL and get turbine command, pay is way lower than NZ or australia.
Airways NZ produces a south pacific flight guide. Jepp have plates also. They're not overly fascinating, nothing you havent seen before.
CASA question, sure they do, hours are hours :-) and most jobs 700/year - 1000/year. some places you can fly on your australian licence others (fiji) you convert to local CPL. (law exam + CPL/MEIFR flight test)
navaids mostly NDB, isolated ils's and vor/dme's. some great IFR weather in summer, thunderstorms and cyclones.
If you think Fiji is primitive... bear in mind Suva is the new york city of the south pacific
other pacific nations are a lot less developed.
Unless you hold an ATPL and get turbine command, pay is way lower than NZ or australia.Airways NZ produces a south pacific flight guide. Jepp have plates also. They're not overly fascinating, nothing you havent seen before.
CASA question, sure they do, hours are hours :-) and most jobs 700/year - 1000/year. some places you can fly on your australian licence others (fiji) you convert to local CPL. (law exam + CPL/MEIFR flight test)
navaids mostly NDB, isolated ils's and vor/dme's. some great IFR weather in summer, thunderstorms and cyclones.
If you think Fiji is primitive... bear in mind Suva is the new york city of the south pacific
other pacific nations are a lot less developed.
