Kitty Hawk Info?

[sycamore]

A few quick questions:

1. Any expected Hiring?
2. QOL?
3. Type of Schedule?

Thanks

 

[landlover]

for what its worth. last time i was in the jumpseat of the might seven dos, they were saying all of them would be parked by end of the year. going to be an all 737 fleet. they were all unsure of the out come, furlough? engineers getting a window seat?

 

[classof75]

two weeks on / two weeks off. weekend layovers during two weeks on. travel to and from home. good hourly rate.

On the negative side, low gaurantee resulting in a low basic pay basic pay check. You almost have to think of it as a part time flying job.

The company needs to do better, can it do so and survive... I don't know and I doubt anyone else does either.

There was talk of hiring but I think it was some offering an opinion and not based on fact.

Any new hires would start as a 727 FE. Anyone who gets hired can expect to sit sideways for a very long time.

I hope this info helps.

 

[erichartmann]

A few quick questions:

1. Any expected Hiring?
2. QOL?
3. Type of Schedule?

Thanks

ABX Air had a charter with Kitty Hawk. Word on the ramp was we pulled out because Kitty Hawk was a bit slow on paying the tab.

Interesting operation. Very laid back. Most of us were not used to that. We've been used to showing up on time, leaving early as soon as the aircraft is loaded. Kitty Hawk sometimes would not even begin loading the aircraft until departure time. Nobody seemed to hung up on delays.

The crews there told me they had quite a few people still out on furlough.

 

[classof75]

There is no one on furlough at the moment. The last recall of those still on the street was Nov of last year.

We enjoyed having ABX on the property.

 

[sycamore]

During a tour do you ever have overnights back at FWA?

 

[classof75]

rarely, trips start and end at cities other than Fort wayne.

 

[Box-Hauler]

Did a few turns at FWA. Nice facility. Crews were great, and your dinner was open until the planes left. What a novel concept. Be open when your customers would need you to be. ABX still has not learned that. Nothing like getting into the hub late and there not being anything except the wheel of death on the vending machine.

 

[shooter]

Did a few turns at FWA. Nice facility. Crews were great, and your dinner was open until the planes left. What a novel concept. Be open when your customers would need you to be. ABX still has not learned that. Nothing like getting into the hub late and there not being anything except the wheel of death on the vending machine.

How do you figure thats an ABX problem? Since you are 49% owned by DHL, and DHL now owns the airpark...seems it's more of your problem than that of ABX.

Nothing like getting into the hub late....

hum dee dum dum dee dee dum

 

[Box-Hauler]

Shooter,

I am just pointing out that the company that runs the dinner in ILN closes its doors while there are still planes on the ground, not to mention the thousand of sorters still there. I do believe that it is ABX's problem when I call in "not fit to fly" due to the lack of adequate food available. It is ABX's responsibility to have food available for the crew who can be stuck there for up to 5 hour. Not to mention the flight time into the hub. Most pilots eat at 5 o'clock local time from where the plane departs. Lets assume it is in the Easter time zone. I then fly from any city to ILN, lets say it was a 9 PM show 10 PM go with a 2 hour block. I now land in ILN at midnight. If I get rerouted to pick us some extra freight or cover for a MX delay I can get in very late. Dinner is now closed and I have not had any food, or possibility of food since I showed at the plane. That is all I am saying. FWA has figured it out, stay open till all the planes and sorters have left. Problem fixed and the food service company might even make a buck or two on the "morning" rush.

P.S. I do know that the airpark is now run by DHL but that does not relieve ABX from providing for its own employees. Wasn't ABX responsible for running the ILN hub not a short time ago?

 

[shooter]

Shooter,

I am just pointing out that the company that runs the dinner in ILN closes its doors while there are still planes on the ground, not to mention the thousand of sorters still there. I do believe that it is ABX's problem when I call in "not fit to fly" due to the lack of adequate food available. It is ABX's responsibility to have food available for the crew who can be stuck there for up to 5 hour. Not to mention the flight time into the hub. Most pilots eat at 5 o'clock local time from where the plane departs. Lets assume it is in the Easter time zone. I then fly from any city to ILN, lets say it was a 9 PM show 10 PM go with a 2 hour block. I now land in ILN at midnight. If I get rerouted to pick us some extra freight or cover for a MX delay I can get in very late. Dinner is now closed and I have not had any food, or possibility of food since I showed at the plane. That is all I am saying. FWA has figured it out, stay open till all the planes and sorters have left. Problem fixed and the food service company might even make a buck or two on the "morning" rush.

P.S. I do know that the airpark is now run by DHL but that does not relieve ABX from providing for its own employees. Wasn't ABX responsible for running the ILN hub not a short time ago?

I understand your frustration and your right to call fatigue for lack of food. But you squarely laid the blame on ABX and I did not think that was entirely fair. Not that the café Ole is much better than the food simulators. I would push for the sandwich shop at the uber-gate to stay open late. I know the Café has to close to prep for breakfast, so for the sandwich shop to stay open until that time would make sense. But then again, it’s not an ABX call. I am sure that ABX and ASTAR pilots could address their concern to DHL and get it done.

Sorry for hijacking the Kitty Hawk thread. But for what it’s worth, I enjoyed working with the Kitty Hawk people. I hope we can work together again someday. I did not hear about the late payments, but I was pretty sure the contract ran until the end of its scheduled time and did not terminate early. Is that not the case?

 

[propsarebest]

Can't wait for C-NET 2007 OHHH YEAAAAAAAAAA BABY!

 

[Captain Oveur]

I worked for KH at the time they were just
starting to transition from small time to big
time, and management was terrible, really
oblivious to what was going on. Management
HAS changed, so they have probably improved to
being just a normally mediocre deal for pilots.
Just my opinion from a distance, I don't have any
first-hand experience with the new KH.

 

[classof75]

There is change at Kitty Hawk. What will happen no one knows least of all the ASTAR pilots who walked on to one of our 737's last week and told the crew that they wanted to look over "their" new airplane.
DHL and nearly every other cargo company in the country has been to Fort Wayne in the last few weeks to take a look at the facility.
I also received a call from a guy I hardly know at Astar the day the ABX deal fell through asking me about our equipment etc... I think he has been sitting to long on the FE panel on the dc-8 and was eyeing my job.

ABX is welcome back at FWA at any time.... same can not be said for Astar.

 

[hvydriver]

C75,

If you would, I'd appreciate it if you would pm me with the station/date/name of the person who allegedly said that. I will track him/her down and question them myself. If he/she said it, then they will be dealt with appropriately. It is beyond me why anyone would make such an intentionally inflammatory statement like that. If it happened, it's inexcusable.

As to your buddy calling and asking about your company, I dunno why you would think he/she was "eyeing your job". Reasons for this statement are:

1. The Kitty has been named as a possible buy at most likely every freight operation out there. She's also been mentioned at Astar.

2. Our MEC speaks with yours, keeping up with the rumor mill on both sides of the fence.

3. Both carriers are ALPA, therefore if there is a buy, there will be a merger. (Of course, if there is a buy by anyone remains to be seen.) The for sale sign is out, though.

Good luck with whatever happens over there!

 

[Tired in KTol]

That reminds me of the ASTAR DC-8 Captain that walked on my airplane (Capital) in 2005 and said he was retiring soon and needed a captain seat to go to when 65 came about. When I told him we don't hire street captains, he was puzzled and said "Well I'm sure as hell not coming back as an FO!".

Definately not a good barometer for the ASTAR pilot group though....every airline has it's 5%.

You mean our airplane right?

 

[countbat]

I wish Kitty Hawk people all the luck in the world. Hope everything will be OK.
From a business point of view I don't see why someone will buy KHA. To buy what?.... Maybe the routes?....FWA doesn't need to be purchased. It is a lease from the city. If no KHA, freight customers will just switch to someone else. Crews?.....everybody train their own crews. Planes?......they are lease also. If someone wants KHA 's business, it's a matter of time until KHA runs out of money and it will take the place for free.
But hopefully everything will be just fine and the great people of KHA will have jobs for ever.

 

[erichartmann]

There is no one on furlough at the moment. The last recall of those still on the street was Nov of last year.

We enjoyed having ABX on the property.

I enjoyed flying the charter. My comments were in no way intended as derogatory.

I'm glad to hear all the furloughee's have been recalled.

 

[erichartmann]

I understand your frustration and your right to call fatigue for lack of food. But you squarely laid the blame on ABX and I did not think that was entirely fair. Not that the café Ole is much better than the food simulators. I would push for the sandwich shop at the uber-gate to stay open late. I know the Café has to close to prep for breakfast, so for the sandwich shop to stay open until that time would make sense. But then again, it’s not an ABX call. I am sure that ABX and ASTAR pilots could address their concern to DHL and get it done.

Sorry for hijacking the Kitty Hawk thread. But for what it’s worth, I enjoyed working with the Kitty Hawk people. I hope we can work together again someday. I did not hear about the late payments, but I was pretty sure the contract ran until the end of its scheduled time and did not terminate early. Is that not the case?

As far as I know the cafeteria operater runs the facility under contract to ABX, who leases the space from DHL. In short, if ABX demanded the operater be open for the crews they would be open. I'm sure the current policy is dictated by pricing.