Cal - Career Perspectives?

[hotwing]

???
CAL guys --

Give me some advice here -- currently flying corp for a large fort. 500 company, but I have the chance to interview with CAL i f things turn out in favor of hiring - with the industry in the shape that it is in, can you suggest anything? Stay here or risk it with CAL and reap the benefits or an investment long term, like that in the investing world? It could be a great risk or one that I could kick myself in the butt for making... I think CAL is a great company, but I have to face the fact that the industry is circling the toilet now... Who is to sy that they will not come back and ask for more cuts - DAL - later... Fuel is not going to go back anytime in the near future, if at all... Please give me your ideas and input to allow me to see this from different perspective...

Much appreciated!

 

[dugan jones]

hey can you tell me what the hiring minimums at continental are? 500 jet PIC? 1000 jet PIC? any info would be appreciated, thanks

 

[white E]

hiring mins in 2001 were something like 700 PIC (does not specify turbine) 1500 fixed. Something close to that effect.

With regard to CAL. I like your toilet bowl analogy...sad but true. I don't think that there are any right answers right now excpet for UPS/FED-EX. However if you were to place a wager on a major airline, CAL would be the place to do it, in my opinion. Airlines are in the gutter, but I think that CAL is the one that has the best CHANCE of getting through the next several years. They are VERY proactive, they have an all boeing fleet (costs) and express jet is cutting their losses in half. (Kinda funny to say that on a positive note) One of the better things to mention is that nearly 50% of their pilots are going to retire over the next few years. With that in mind and the potential hiring binge I think it is a great place to go work.
Good luck.
-W-

 

[white E]

CAL MINS I just got them from a friend of mine....


1500 ME total, 1000 turbine, 700 pic, 200 instrument...all fixed wing

 

[On Your Six]

I know there is no longer a flow-through from COEX to CAL, but would any of those current and qualified COEX pilots have any "priority" given the company relationship?

 

[Spooky 1]

Good Luck

You really have not told us enough about your current situation to make a valid comparrison. If you are say, 30 years old, and got hired tomorrow at CAL then you could assume that you might have at least 30+ years depending on the age 60 issue and how it turns out. If on the other hand you are a little older then the odds are slightly less that you would have the career that you are looking for.

If you are with a Fortune 500 company now I assume there is some sort of retirement and that they will also be in the aviation business for the foreseeable future? What don't you like about the position or company now? CAL maybe one of the better companies around but there certainly is a merger somewhere out there in their future. That is such a wild card in this evaluation I could not imagine the complications it could have for a very junior like yourself.

I would stay in the corporate side of the house and if the comany you are working for now does not appreciate you, or you think you can do better outside this company start looking elsewhere for that really good coprporate job. They are out there, but as you probably know, they are somewhat few and far between.

There is nothing that is guaranteeing that CAL will be around in the future as you know it now. It's just a simple fact that there are forces much greater than the best Harvard MBA can forsee working against the future of these airlines. you can be sure that the airline landscape will look a lot different in the next 10 years. It is nothing more than speculation at this time you will survive and who will be another Pan Am, Eastern, Braniff. At best you would really be rolling the dice to move over to CAL or just about any other airline outside of FedEx, UPS, or SWA. BTW have you tried those companies and if not, why not?

Good luck,

 

[Daddy]

Before you jump ship...I would consider the distinct possibility of mergers and that CAL is ALPA....this may mean that if they join up with UAL or DAL or another ALPA carrier that you may end up behind quite a large stack of furloughees from the other airline as ALPA often goes with date of hire for a merger. I don't know that they would put you out on the street in favor of those folks, but I don't know that they wouldn't either...just something to consider. From an outsider point of view, I don't think I would jump to anyone except SWA, FDX or UPS if you are happy where you are. This industry WILL recover and, at least in the short term, SWA will benefit from the weakness of competitors and be the only truly safe option...I think FDX and UPS are both rock solid and will be around. Good luck!

 

[Ex737Driver]

Don't remember the minimums from the last time we hired but it should be out soon. We are running extrememly short staffed in all 737 seats in all bases. All furloughed pilots are back on property or in class right now. The Schindler's list guys, only 84 out of 113 are coming from XJT, have been given class dates though May. Coming to CAL looks to be like a good thing now that the TA has been approved but only time will tell. We will have to put up with this new TA for the next 4-6 years and will have to wait and see if/how the variable compensation will work. No stock for the new hires. Per diem domestic is $1.85 and international $2.05.


Hourly rates reduced 8.9%, effective 04/01/05; pay increases of 2% on 07/01/07 and on 07/01/08.
Active pilot 1st of the month pay advance will increase on January 1, 2007, to $4,000 for Captains and $3,000 for First Officers.
ACARS changes: Time for pay purposes starts with closure of all doors and release of parking brake until block-in.
Eliminates International Pay Override.
Deletes Bank Time and Pay Cap system; all work in a month will be paid up to a maximum of 122:30.
Changes terminology “line value” to “credit value;” introduces new term “pay no credit” similar in application to “Add Pay.”
Pay for training will be 2:24 per day or the value of trips missed, whichever is greater. Pay for vacation will be 3:15 hours per day (22:45) effective April 1, 2005. Effective July 1, 2005, vacation pay will be 3:00 hours per day (21:00). Effective July 1, 2007, vacation pay will be 3:15 hours per day.
Eliminates vacation pay greater of per day value or trips missed.
Line Check Airmen will receive a $20 override for each hour flown when conducting line check airmen functions.
Provision concerning financial rewards through equity and variable compensation programs contained in Section 18–Variable Compensation, Profit Sharing and Equity.
Eliminates 30-minutes pay for undergoing drug testing.
For flights over four (4) hours, BusinessFirst seat will be prior to any other non-revenue priority, except CAL officers and CAL BOD (Contract ’97 required flights over five (5) hours). Establishes reservation and confirmation number availability time requirement no later than 12 hours prior to departure time.
DH pilot will not be reassigned from a window or aisle seat to a center seat on the same aircraft seating map without his concurrence.
DH paid at 50% (full credit for line construction) effective 7/01/05; effective 7/01/06, deadhead paid at 75%; restored to 100% on 7/01/07.
A pilot may request to DH on a flight that leaves earlier or later than originally scheduled flight. Clarifies ability of Reserve pilot to utilize Fake Deadhead at end of segment.
Not required to DH on air carrier that is experiencing a strike by pilots.
A Captain may accommodate multiple Jumpseat rider in available passenger seats after all non-revenue passengers have been accommodated.
Pilots' retirement benefits under defined benefit plan will be frozen as of May 31, 2005.
Pilots' retirement benefits after May 31, 2005, will accrue under defined contribution plans only, with range of total company contributions, as percentage of pilot's Compensation, as follows:

• For year beginning July 1, 2005, at least 6.75%, but up to 12.75%, based on company's profitability.
• For year beginning July 1, 2006, at least 10%, but up to 12.75%, based on company's profitability.
• For year beginning July 1, 2007, at least 12.75%, but up to 14.75%, based on company's profitability.
• For years beginning after June 30, 2008, 12.75%

CAL management has not decided yet whether to integrate off-the-street-hires with the last group of XJT pilots, the PIG group (preferential interview guys) or hire after the PIG group is on property. Give it a week before you make any decision as the union has word there is going to be an extremely large bid that does include a large number of new Captains as well as new hires. Hope this helps.

 

[GogglesPisano]

No pay for drug testing? That's just a freebie?

Oh well. I still think CAL is the most solid of the legacy carriers and about the best piloting gig on the pax side these days.

When will their on-line application window open up?

And what will the new starting pay be?

 

[fracflyer]

???
CAL guys --

Give me some advice here -- currently flying corp for a large fort. 500 company, but I have the chance to interview with CAL i f things turn out in favor of hiring - with the industry in the shape that it is in, can you suggest anything? Stay here or risk it with CAL and reap the benefits or an investment long term, like that in the investing world? It could be a great risk or one that I could kick myself in the butt for making... I think CAL is a great company, but I have to face the fact that the industry is circling the toilet now... Who is to sy that they will not come back and ask for more cuts - DAL - later... Fuel is not going to go back anytime in the near future, if at all... Please give me your ideas and input to allow me to see this from different perspective...

Much appreciated!

Certainly planning ahead.

If I get hired, and I fly the 757 out of EWR and I'm flying a trip to Miami, will there be adequate room in the crew lounge for me to stow my flight kit?
Anyone?

 

[Boeingman]

Rumor has it that recommendations from current CAL pilots will be "heavily" weighted in any selection for new hires.

If I had a choice and I was a youngster? I'd go to UPS or FEDEX.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Rumor has it that recommendations from current CAL pilots will be "heavily" weighted in any selection for new hires.

There's a earth-shattering rumor.

 

[Boeingman]

There's a earth-shattering rumor.

Whatever. I know the guy in charge of hiring and I am passing on the info. My impression was if you don't have a recommendation your chances were slim to nil. Is that better?

 

[furlough-boy]

Whatever. I know the guy in charge of hiring and I am passing on the info. My impression was if you don't have a recommendation your chances were slim to nil. Is that better?

Isn't that how it works everywhere?

 

[Boeingman]

Isn't that how it works everywhere?

I don't know is it? Seriously?

I know we had off the street hires before and I was under the impression the recomendation was not as important in the prior years.

 

[Cardinal]

Certainly planning ahead.

If I get hired, and I fly the 757 out of EWR and I'm flying a trip to Miami, will there be adequate room in the crew lounge for me to stow my flight kit?
Anyone?

Will my CRJ FTD time be counted? Will there be a 1000tt/100me bridge program from ERAU, UND, Purde, yadda yadaa? How long is upgrade on the 777? What hotel does CAL stay at in OSL? Cause the Hilton has a great view. While we're at it I'd like to address the matter of those awful, low-backed chairs in the EWR crew room, and commuter passes really should be cheaper, etc, etc etc.......

LOL

 

[Furloughed80]

Cal

When is CAL projected to accept resumes for pilots?

 

[Boeingman]

I know some of the experts on here have better info than I have, but the talk around the school house is we are accepting applications in the May - June time frame. The application process will only be available online through the Continental.com website (careers).

Good luck.

 

[Ex737Driver]

There should be an announcement tommorow or sometime next week concerning the next bid. If it has half of what is expected, CAL will be hiring off the street by mid fall, possibly by late summer. The big question is, how many PIG pilots will leave XJT to go to CAL? There is a lot of speculation that several dozen will opt out and elect to stay at XJT. Stay tuned.............

 

[ATRedneck]

The big question is, how many PIG pilots will leave XJT to go to CAL? There is a lot of speculation that several dozen will opt out and elect to stay at XJT. Stay tuned.............

I think how many of us transition to CAL depends on how they administer the transfer.

Will we keep our original hire dates for pass travel? I sure don't want to commute to EWR, or God forbid GUM, as an '05 hire when I've been a '98 all along. Additionally, would it be right for a 2004 XJT pilot to all of a sudden pass travel on a CAL ahead of us?

Will we be dilluted with off-the-street guys? The more junior PIGs would stand to lose a lot more if we are ratioed. Looking at the seniority projections I could possibly be in the left seat by the time I'm 40; a bunch of guys from Eagle or Chanehneh in front of me would put a big hit on that. Personally I'd love to see block seniority for the PIGs, then a deferral to remain at XJT. Longeivity wouldn't start until our CAL class to keep it as a zero-cost item.

Will our medical plans remain in effect? Some of us have pregnant wives, or are undergoing in-vitro fertilization procedures, etc., and COBRA is expensive as the dickens and probably wouldn't cover stuff like that.

I mean, I've solved all the world's problems, but Kellner just won't listen!