customer service representative

utility worker

airport manager

pilot

customer service supervisor

Southern Airways Express

I was hired by Southern Airways Express in September 2016. I received a phone call from their chief pilot at the time, asking if I would be interested in passenger flying 135 experience. I was fresh out of flight school with barely 250 hours total. I was afraid he would give me the "thanks but no thanks" once he found out about my hours, however, that didn't happen. 

After our very casual phone conversation, I was hired with a start date the following week. It was an extremely fast process that ended about a month later. Unfortunately, it was so fast, all of us new hires were placed on a wait list to attend our simulator training and due to the large size of our class, it took a few months to complete all of the required training. 

By January 2017, I was flying the line, based in Morgantown, WV. My first few months I was lucky to fly more than our guarantee of 75 hours per month. The staffing was just not there and several flights a day were canceling due to the shortage of pilots. 

Fortunately, by March, our staffing levels were building and I was maxing out on my hours every month, more than 115 flight hours every month! It was unbelievable just how fast I was building time. This was not just flying laps in the pattern, or teaching someone about steep turns... this was passenger service in all times of IFR flying into some of the busiest airports in the country. 

This position was fundamental in preparing me for the regional airlines and eventually, the majors. Everything I now do at my regional position was exactly as I did at Southern, the only difference is the size of the plane and the amount of passengers we carry. I have no doubt I would not be where I am today, nor would I have arrived here so fast, if it were not for my time at Southern Airways Express. 

My only gripe about the company would be the sometimes lack of coordination. This resulted in our initial training footprint taking as long as it did, along with having to reposition a lot throughout my time with Southern. However, my time spent during TDY (temporary duty assignment) was some of the most exciting and challenging flying I have ever done. I flew with several captains and worked with a magnitude of ground personnel; all taught me something new about the position and flying itself. 

My time at Southern Airways Express was some of the best of my life thus far. I made some great life long friends and learned so much about aviation. Sure, the days were long, the pay was not the greatest and sometimes you were unsure what your schedule was going to be like from day to day.... But, I wouldn't trade away any of it. Most of us were there to build time in the fastest way possible, while trying to absorb as much knowledge from the skilled captains we flew with, so schedules and pay always came last. If you're flexible, able to keep up with a fast paced high demand flying environment and just love flying, give Southern Airways Express a try!

Southern Airways Express is, without a doubt, the best place for a new pilot to get started in their career. The opportunities to learn and grow as an aviator are endless, and the challenging yet positive environment makes this easily one of the best aviation companies for which you can work. 

I started with about 300 hours as a first officer. I flew with some excellent captains who taught me "the ropes" and how we do things in the airline world. Flying in different kinds of weather, with different kinds of people, and flying passengers into large, international airports are all experiences that I know will stay with me the rest of my career. I'm now a captain with Southern Airways and feel that I was very well prepared to be a PIC. 

Management is excellent. Schedules are fair and consistent. The chief pilot, COO, and even the president of the company are available and quick to respond. They are very helpful in guiding you through the different questions that might arise and help you learn/understand the regulations.

I have to tip my hat to maintenance as well; they work very hard to keep our aircraft well maintained in excellent working order. I cannot imagine how challenging that must be, and yet they do a stellar job. They are very responsive to the needs of the pilots and do everything they can to accommodate our needs.

If you're considering working here, definitely join up! It is, by far, one of the best kept secrets for low-time pilots. I couldn't be more happy with my experience, and I'll always recommend someone works here.

A typical day at work:
A typical day could be very busy, especially when passengers were upset with the company. You had to handle difficult situations, stay calm, and find quick solutions—often without much support.

What I learned:
I learned a lot in this job, especially about dealing with tough customers and solving problems quickly. However, I have to be honest—most of what I learned was despite two of the managers, not because of them.

Management:
Management needs improvement. In my experience, there was clear favoritism and a lack of support during critical moments. This affected team morale and the overall work environment.

Company culture:
The company culture is complicated. While professionalism is expected, in practice there are a lot of inconsistencies. AMAL promotes good values on paper, but they’re not always reflected in how staff are treated.

Hardest part of the job:
The hardest part was dealing with the favoritism shown by some managers. Also, poor communication between teams made things more challenging.

What I liked the most:
My coworkers. They were the best part of the job and created a supportive environment that made tough days easier.



Avionics suites are mish-mash from 6-pack to Avidyne, G600 to G1000. Autopilot, unlikely. Aircon, maybe. SIC needs a scan like a CFI since instruments are most reliable on PIC side. Chance to fly into some of the world’s busiest airports in Caravan so bring your ‘A’ game yet also fly to small uncontrolled fields to bring passengers in to major hubs. Expect TDY as a captain. Depending on your base you could get 65 hours a month or close to your 120hr monthly maximum. If the latter, you’ll be exhausted. SIC compensation is rapid hours growth as pay is LOW come with some savings to cover living expenses. PICs fare a decent bit better. Ops and schedulers and regional/assistant chief pilots don’t always communicate and a commuter airline has plenty of dynamics on a daily basis with weather and maintenance changes. You’ll have a chance to fly the 84th Caravan made or the 11,000th it’s all hit or miss. 

Low-hour SICs tend to learn quickly and add to crew dynamic as this is a pilot development program (PDP) in a single-pilot airplane. If you enjoy a challenge and figuring things out on your own with some decent to good middle management you’ll do fine here for a year or so building your hours to move on to jets. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Introduction to the field of aviation. This company did great with transporting passengers- Passengers purchased flights and were offered Ubers or ground shuttles often following a 4 hour delay unrelated to weather several times a week. Only some staff are professional. Your pay is on a rotating schedule so pay attention to your days requested off. One of the least paid airlines at DIA. Yes you do everything for this 9 pax plane. This is a rushed training, ask questions. Good luck. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
No flights and claim of your overtime not being " this week"

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Varies..... Some colleagues make your skin crawl, others are very team work oriented and there are some know it all's as well

Pay is terrible for First Officers AND Captains. Literally, many FOs are on food stamps. Planes are broken down and dangerous from my personal experience. It's miserable here. You work long hours duty time, but only get paid for flight time. Management and Crew schedulers will pressure you to fly in sketchy weather with sketchy planes. Allegedly, the MX department is under investigation from the FAA. Worst of all, if you are a commuter, you will have no life. Seniority doesn't mean a thing here. I haven't met a single pilot here that is happy, even the lifers are miserable. Look, I know you're probably low time and looking for a chance to build time, but the misery is not worth the time building hours.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The passengers and meeting new people

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Schedule constantly changes and the favoritism of the people that do the least work

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Stressful and toxic and at times very boring

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Depending where you're at for the day you either are checking passengers in tagging bags or you're working the ramp loading and unloading the plane running bags or do an operations where you're doing weights and balances of planes and making sure all passengers are counted for and dealing with the pilots and copilots

You meet awesome people who become like your family. The superiors are great but you have like only three managers that are understanding the you have your micromanaging one that likes to stir things up for the employees with the upper management. I loved what I did what I learned and who I met but it became a really hostile environment and micromanaging. Oh but if you correct them when they are wrong take it for granted that you will be under her radar ready to request your termination for any little mistake you make. Worst part is that you can’t report it because of fear of retaliation against you.

There are so many people in management who always appear to be so busy, but the truth is no one knows what the other is doing and truthfully it seemed as if they were busy but never accomplishing anything. Station training was NIL, absolutely none, watch a 15 minute video and you are good to go. They purchase companies and expect people to know that they have different policies and expectations than their prior employer without so much as a conversation with their new employees. Too many chiefs, not enough indians. If the chiefs actually had any knowledge of the industry, they would not need half of them.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Building flight time in all different types of airports and weather

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The fact that you can always make more money at McDonald’s. And the flight duty days are few and far between for first officers. The schedule is very hard to work around.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very unsupportive and it’s very hard to communicate work related issues and sometimes the company will just leave you stranded at the airport. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Show up to the airport, get the plane ready, load passengers, fuel, bags, ect… fly land unload the passengers and repeat.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Customer service representative 1 salary reported	$16.00 per hour
Utility worker 6 salaries reported	$15.75 per hour
Airport manager 6 salaries reported	$39,750 per year
Pilot 4 salaries reported	$54,125 per year
Customer service supervisor 1 salary reported	$21.50 per hour

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