China Airlines (Taiwan)

[jersey guy]

China Airlines (Taiwan) and EVA Air

Anyone know what it's like to work for them? I'm 50% Taiwanese but don't speak Mandarin. I was also curious if this might help.

 

[blade230]

Don't know much about China Airlines, but if you want to know about EVA just PM me with the details of what questions you want answered.

 

[jtf]

Try www.pprune.org in the forums section for South Asia and Far East. I was looking at it for a couple of years until the pay went down and they mostly stopped upgrading foreigners. There is no union and the upgrades are whoever they want- it's their airline and their business what they do with it so go in knowing upgrade is unlikely. I haven't checked in the last 6 months or so, but they were also requiring a $25K US training bond that the pilot is totally on the hook for if they bail before 3 years.

 

[jersey guy]

Thanks jtf,

I had heard about some of the asian carriers not upgrading but didn't know who.

Thanks for the info.

 

[ASA_DFW]

I just met two China Airlines co-pilots at my Cathay interview yesterday. Both guys were nice but they wanted to leave after a year. They hate it. The company treats them like dogs. There is no seniority list. They upgrade only the nationals. One guy told me he was fined $300 for not having the final flap setting at 1000 feet for landing. The onboard computer on the 747 sent Tapei a message that he was not following proper company ops. I could not believe it. He said everyone is leaving if they can. I am not trying to scare you it is just what they said.

 

[SNOWBUM]

lots of those expats from the left and rigth seat are leaving for korean. that's rigth korean.
i guess korean is now much better than it used to be and they do hire fo's with a chance to upgrade after a review , but you must spend 5 years on the right seat. the review is done by round eyes , not koreans ( to prevent discrimination).
you are based in the USA at any city where korean flies 3 times a week ( including korean cargo) and you travel to your trip on their time, not yours. also, the usa layovers are scheduled in the city you are based, plus they allowed you to use 2 vacations days a month to bump up yor days off. if you live in one of the cities they serve 3 times a week, you should be home 15 nights a month or more. also they pay for your hotel while in your short icn layovers and you can have time to find a nice little korean "guide" to help you pass the time.

make the best of it.

 

[tjmoser]

China Airlines

Hello,

I am considering both of these companies as well. Unfortunately, I'm age 47- over the limit for both of these companies (I'm a 47 year old 6000 hr regional turboprop captain). Does anybody know if either one of these airlines (EVA, CAL) ever waive the age limit? I'm thinking of calling recruiting at China Airlines to ask (already tried that at Eva)- any opinions? I know about the challenges at these airlines, but am interested in the lifestyle!

 

[1900heavy]

Thanks for the Korean info.
How do I apply to Korean?
Do you know their pay rates?

Thanks in advance.

 

[SNOWBUM]

i believe the fo pay is 90k and the capt pay is 14k and I think that includes per diem. you get some kind of tax break in korea. look on korean airlines web site. the hiring of round eyes is done by round eyes and their medical is not as bad as the japanese.
good luck.

 

[veneratio]

i checked on the web site, nothing about employment...

 

[coogebeachhotel]

yep nothing on employment.

 

[SNOWBUM]

I'll try to find out where did all the guys I fly with apply and post it here, but I'll take me a few days. have you guys checked the air inc newsletter? It might be there also under the crew leasing or foreing section, I don't suscribe so I don't have it.

 

[SNOWBUM]

seems that gap aviation out of texas is a decent crew leasing contracting for korean . also, stay clear from iac pacific, a scummy crew leasing comany. that I got from pprune.

 

[b757driver]

iac pacific. Is that the same as Asia Pacific Limited?
Just wondering because they have approached me to say they have a CAL contract for early 2007 and you don't need a 744 type although it is preferred. Also, they say that F/O pay after training is $6,000 and you could be based in either TPE or in the US or Canada. If TPE then you will get a further housing allowance of $1,000. Not sure if that is enough.
The most interesting part was that upgrades would be considered after 2 years to cruise capt and after 3 to full capt.
This seems to be a change from the past and maybe the writing is on the wall. With all the people leaving and low morale, they seem to have reached a stage where the terms and conditions have had to be improved to keep retention.
Any comments? Any current CAL pilots?
Anyone know what their schedule is like, days off etc. Just want to make an informed decision when the time comes. I usually give companies the benefit of the doubt and don't base my choices solely on posts read - either good or bad.
Thanks.

 

[AMRCostUnit]

Anyone know what it's like to work for them? I'm 50% Taiwanese but don't speak Mandarin. I was also curious if this might help.

This might help:

LEARN CHINESE IN 5 MINUTES

You MUST read them out loud or it doesnt make as much sense...
ENGLISH ........ CHINESE WAY

1) Thats not right........ Sum Ting Wong

2) Are you harboring a fugitive................... Hu Yu Hai Ding

3) See me ASAP.............. Kum Hia Nao

4) Stupid Man................................ Dum Fuk

5) Small horse.................. Tai Ni Po Ni

6) Did you go to the beach?.................... Wai Yu So Tan

7) I bumped in to a coffee table................. Ai Bang Mai Fa Kin Ni

8) I think you need a face lift...................... Chin Tu Fat

9) Its very dark in here........................... Wai So Dim

10) I thought you were on a diet............... Wai Yu Mun Ching

11) This is a tow away zone....................... No Pah King

12) Staying out of sight.............................. Lei Ying Lo

13) He''s cleaning his automobile................ Wa Shing Ka

14) Your body odor is offensive.................. Yu Stin Ki Pu

15) Great..................... Fa Kin Su Pah

 

[Amish RakeFight]

^^^^^ Lol

 

[b757driver]

For what it's worth, I've been contacted by a crew leasing agency saying that they are interested in my credentials and that CAL are looking to hire BOTH ex-pat Capts AND FOs early next year for either TPE base or basings in Canada and US. Yes, there would be a bond if not 744 type rated.
Surprisingly, upgrade opportunities are also being offered after 2 years to Cruise Capt and then "full" capt after 3 as and when circumstances dictate.
OK, so there's no guarantee but this goes against the usual grain of NEVER upgrading ex-pat FOs. Maybe, just maybe it's supply and demand. China like India, is going through a great upsurge in pilot recruiting and if they are to retain high caliber professionals, there has to be an incentive to stay.
I don't know any more right now except that CAL's website is also advertising and maybe it would be a better deal to apply direct rather than through an agency.
Any comments anyone?

 

[fareview]

I had dinner with two CAL pilots the other week in TPE and were both reasonably happy although their previous gigs were less than glorious - one was furloughed the other a German who was with a low cost carrier in the EU. They have been told that upgrades were in the pipeline for expats.

fv

 

[b757driver]

From The Horse's Mouth??!!!

This is the latest from CAL's very own website. As you can see, not only are they hiring ex-pat Capts but ALSO ex-pat FOs. Also waiving any age limits especially if you have "heavy jet, international experience".
Not sure about upgrades, one agency mentioned a very good possibility. First time I've seen/heard any of this. Must be getting desperate for crews??
For what it's worth, here it is:

China Airlines invites applicants for expatriate Captain positions on the B744 fleets and First Officer positions on B744/B738/ A330 fleets.

CAPTAIN with Current Type Rating: 1.Total flight hours：
at least 7,000 total flight hours for B744 Captain 2.PIC hours on Commercial Jet：
at least 2,000 PIC hours for B744 Captain 3.At least 500 PIC hours on Type4.Hold valid ATPL5.Age under 566.B744 Captain with instructor experience has priority.7.Practical flight hours must be within 12 monthsFIRST OFFICER (Jet Experience) :
1.Hold valid ATPL 2.Age under 45,at least 1,500 total flight hours 3.Age 46~50,at least 2,000 total flight hours4.Age 51~55,at least 5,000 total flight hours 5.With Current Type Rating is a plus6.Practical flight hours must be within 12 monthsFIRST OFFICER (Propeller Experience) :
1.At least 1,500 total flight hours 2.Hold valid ATPL 3.Age under 454.Practical flight hours must be within 12 monthsNOTE: 1.If your native language is not English , please provide us your TOEIC (The total scores must be at least 650 including listening comprehension at or above 300) or TOFEL CBT (The total scored must be at least 173 including listening comprehension at or above 20) test scores certificate valid for one year.2.For commercial airlines pilots with heavy jet experience, there should be a special waiver of the ages.Contact:
Fax: 886-2-2514-6336
E-mail: [email protected]

 

[freightdogfred]

This might help:

LEARN CHINESE IN 5 MINUTES

You MUST read them out loud or it doesnt make as much sense...
ENGLISH ........ CHINESE WAY

1) Thats not right........ Sum Ting Wong

2) Are you harboring a fugitive................... Hu Yu Hai Ding

3) See me ASAP.............. Kum Hia Nao

4) Stupid Man................................ Dum Fuk

5) Small horse.................. Tai Ni Po Ni

6) Did you go to the beach?.................... Wai Yu So Tan

7) I bumped in to a coffee table................. Ai Bang Mai Fa Kin Ni

8) I think you need a face lift...................... Chin Tu Fat

9) Its very dark in here........................... Wai So Dim

10) I thought you were on a diet............... Wai Yu Mun Ching

11) This is a tow away zone....................... No Pah King

12) Staying out of sight.............................. Lei Ying Lo

13) He''s cleaning his automobile................ Wa Shing Ka

14) Your body odor is offensive.................. Yu Stin Ki Pu

15) Great..................... Fa Kin Su Pah

You forgot the new Jewish-Chinese super buffet eatery-So Soo Mi

Or the new Chinese Gay bar-Sum Yung Gy