Congratulations to the CAL boys

[COpilot]

Still bummed out that all your friends are at FedEx and you are stuck at CAL, crapdog?

I still can't believe that you posted that on a message board since you are still on probabtion, but whatever. LOL

Hey Poco, how are ya? How is the job at UA going? I know you said some months ago that you had an inside track to a job there. I have also requested that any UA pilots on this website PM you for reference help. What's the status; going good right?

 

[CAL EWR B737]

FYI

Had a nice phone conversation with ALPA President John Prater today on the way to teach P2P class. Haven't talked with John in a few months and it was nice to catch up.

I asked if there was anything he wanted to relay to the P2P class today on his behalf. He stated he wanted all CAL ALPA pilots to know we need to build a strike committee of 5000. We need to have organized militancy within our MEC. He also stated it would make him very happy to some day in the future sign a contact at CAL that recognized our hard fought contractual gains in the on going contract campaign. He mentioned picketing at 2 AM with the the AVSTAR pilots a few days ago. Said that out of something like 700 total AVSTAR pilots 175 showed up to picket (amazing turnout and show of unity). Lastly he stated that best way for our management (CAL) to take notice was to have hundreds of our pilots show up at another properties participating in other airline/union picketing events.

 

[mamba20]

I heard that you fought the company hard and got your unlimited water back. Flight attendants are no longer required to report you for asking for a full bottle of water while on the flight deck.

Nice work on that! Lesser pilot groups would have probably rolled over and flown without access to water.

They took it away, you got it back, and now you celebrate the victory!

I'm curious as to how you got past the "Must be of good moral character" part of the ATP requirment. From your posts it seems you have no moral fiber at all and even less character.

 

[Captain Overs]

Pocono as an fellow XJT pilot you are an embarassment. Are you so ignorant that you can't see that your job is dependent upon CAL's success? Or are you so ignorant that you believe branded flying can sustain us? Grow up.

I think Pocono doesn't worry about his job. As long as the current CAL group is on property he'll have his Calex job. Because we all know "Working together works." They CAL guys won't do anything to threaten the company financially. Sorry to say.

 

[CAL EWR B737]

I think Pocono doesn't worry about his job. As long as the current CAL group is on property he'll have his Calex job. Because we all know "Working together works." They CAL guys won't do anything to threaten the company financially. Sorry to say.

I gotta call Bull Sh!T on this statement. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. The CAL of today is nothing like any CAL of the past 20 years. I'll be more then happy to prove you wrong in the not to distant future.

 

[ClubORD]

I gotta call Bull Sh!T on this statement. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. The CAL of today is nothing like any CAL of the past 20 years. I'll be more then happy to prove you wrong in the not to distant future.

I second that. There is so much new blood here that has taken pay cuts and furloughs elsewhere. We are not going to roll over like the pilot group of the past. Actions speak louder than words though, please take notice the next few months.

 

[pianoman]

Such as the amazingly biased FO pay rates. Everyone under year 6 here is a no vote on anything that doesn't really fix this B-scale.

 

[AlbieF15]

I have no idea what the company culture is like at CAL, or how the events of the past 20 years shape the current attitudes.

What I do know is there are a lot of great folks hired in the last 3 years there that want their company to be successful, and their contracts to be comparable to other successful airlines. Additionally, many of these folks have not much to lose--Delta, Airtran, UPS , and even UAL are all hiring, and SWA and FDX will be again (eventually).

I think the junior folks will actually provide more negotiating muscle than the senior folks. I also think most of them want their company to succeed in the long term. I think there is real potential for some win/win outcomes. Just stick together--and stay focused.

Pocono --you are on the lignore list now. This board has been and can be a tremendous asset to pilots trying to share information or get the word out on various issues. I can't stop you from posting, but really---I've never seen you post anything of positive value. Instead of blasting away at CAL why don't you spend that energy helping some folks learn about XJT that want to join the team? There are tons of ways you can mentor/help folks, and the positive energy will probably help you too. If you really are a female XJT captain, I know you'd be a heck of a role model to a lot of young folks trying to get started in their careers.

 

[Schiphol]

What Albie said.

 

[Palomino]

I have no idea what the company culture is like at CAL, or how the events of the past 20 years shape the current attitudes.

What I do know is there are a lot of great folks hired in the last 3 years there that want their company to be successful, and their contracts to be comparable to other successful airlines. Additionally, many of these folks have not much to lose--Delta, Airtran, UPS , and even UAL are all hiring, and SWA and FDX will be again (eventually).

I think the junior folks will actually provide more negotiating muscle than the senior folks. I also think most of them want their company to succeed in the long term. I think there is real potential for some win/win outcomes. Just stick together--and stay focused.

Pocono --you are on the lignore list now. This board has been and can be a tremendous asset to pilots trying to share information or get the word out on various issues. I can't stop you from posting, but really---I've never seen you post anything of positive value. Instead of blasting away at CAL why don't you spend that energy helping some folks learn about XJT that want to join the team? There are tons of ways you can mentor/help folks, and the positive energy will probably help you too. If you really are a female XJT captain, I know you'd be a heck of a role model to a lot of young folks trying to get started in their careers.

very well said, Albie. and thanks for the endorsement. i am hopeful for a bright future at CAL.

as for Pocono Pilot...i have requested explanation from moderators why this pinhead is allowed to freely assault my professional peer group time and again. it's my belief that Pocono Pilot is in cahoots with the moderators of this board. others have been 'suspended' or 'banned' for much less damage than Pocono Pilot.

at any rate, Pocono Pilot is only useful to his/herself. and even that must be a challenge to justify on a daily basis. Pocono Pilot is the spirit of an unsuccessful pilot group. that is why he/she is not a successful interview candidate.

even the highly respected and hugely productive Emerald Coast Interview Consulting couldn't turn the Pocono Pig into a Princess.

thanks again, Albie. your words are useful for those of us who like to help one another. i've done my best to boost those who i think would be a good fit at CAL and at other airlines. the great majority of those people have been successful. and some have even received 2nd chances and been rewarded that way. that is the spirit that i wish to promote. help those who want to be successful in life.

 

[§kyye Candy]

Still bummed out that all your friends are at FedEx and you are stuck at CAL, crapdog?

I still can't believe that you posted that on a message board since you are still on probabtion, but whatever. LOL

I can't believe that you are making the rest of us females out there look that bad. Wow. Try to get a grip.

CAL guys, hang in there - you guys are poised to lead the way for everyone. Best of luck!

 

[Whydoitry]

I want nothing but the best for my brothers and sisters at CAL, a rising tide lifts all boats. But I don't see where their leverage is. CAL is not very selective, hiring fo's from lots of regionals with no real experience. Some of the worst work rules in the airline industry, worse than their regional partners. I know there's a shortage of pilots, but if I'm Larry what is my incentive to pay my pilots more and make them less productive. What is my incentive to get a contract in a timely manner. If I was CAL mgt I would drag my feet as long as possible. ASA has been in negotiations for something like 5 yrs, why should a CAL negotiation take any less. The RLA favors mgt, and there is no reason why mgt should improve anything at CAL.

 

[thor2j]

I want nothing but the best for my brothers and sisters at CAL, a rising tide lifts all boats. But I don't see where their leverage is. CAL is not very selective, hiring fo's from lots of regionals with no real experience. Some of the worst work rules in the airline industry, worse than their regional partners. I know there's a shortage of pilots, but if I'm Larry what is my incentive to pay my pilots more and make them less productive. What is my incentive to get a contract in a timely manner. If I was CAL mgt I would drag my feet as long as possible. ASA has been in negotiations for something like 5 yrs, why should a CAL negotiation take any less. The RLA favors mgt, and there is no reason why mgt should improve anything at CAL.

First off CAL is selective in their process. Over 10,000 apps on file. Yes they have hired some f/o's with not much in the way of PIC, but it happens almost everywhere. Avg times at CAL are around 6500tt with 2500 pic turrbine. THere are exceptions. I know quite a few at Delta recently with no PIC time and very low total. Happens all the time. The leverage is we are in reasonable profitable time with growth plans. We have a lot of new blood that SEEMS to be willing to unify. Not this "oh I would do this but I have five kids in college, 2 ex wives, and the dog needs to be spade" syndrome. By delaying a contract for years at a major the company usually ends up with back pay, not to mention a renewal sooner then later. A happy work force makes for a productive work force. Just look around. I am not saying it will work, but if any legacy carrier can get anything it will be CAL or AA.

 

[AlbieF15]

very well said, Albie. and thanks for the endorsement. i am hopeful for a bright future at CAL.

as for Pocono Pilot...i have requested explanation from moderators why this pinhead is allowed to freely assault my professional peer group time and again. it's my belief that Pocono Pilot is in cahoots with the moderators of this board. others have been 'suspended' or 'banned' for much less damage than Pocono Pilot.

at any rate, Pocono Pilot is only useful to his/herself. and even that must be a challenge to justify on a daily basis. Pocono Pilot is the spirit of an unsuccessful pilot group. that is why he/she is not a successful interview candidate.

.

Well, flightinfo has its warts. Anyone with 10 bucks can post, and we all know sometimes there are trolls or troublemakers out there.

At the same time--the (general) lack of censorship allows us the freedom to rock and roll and allow some pretty free flowing conversations. The less moderator input, the happier I am. We can all choose to "ignore" posters and engage or disengage at our choosing. You may not appreciate that freedom until it is impeded--so don't sweat the small stuff.

I have really enjoyed some of the posts from some of the great folks here: Occam's Razor, Rez, PCL 28, Big Beer Belly, Megadeath, Scrapdog, Deuce130, and others.

I've also noticed that sometimes guys and gals have their heads up their butts....like Occams' Razor, Rez, PCL 28, BBB, Megadeath, Scrapdog, Deuce, and others....

Dive in. Grab the good stuff. Cut the chaff out of your crosscheck--either with the "ignore" feature or just the will not to take idiot's bait. But trust me--you don't want moderator input everytime there is a disagreement. Be a big boy and deal with it on your own.

Just my 2 cents from an internet message board junkie...

 

[SKLJ]

CAL is not very selective, hiring fo's from lots of regionals with no real experience.

This is a very interesting comment. All had college degrees and there was only ONE in my new hire class with less than 3000 hours of turbine PIC and 5000 hours total time. And that ONE was a regional captain building jet PIC time when hired by CAL.

 

[Captain X]

IBut I don't see where their leverage is.

The pilot group has PLENTY of avenues to make and utilize leverage. The SPSC was very instrumental behind the scenes in the "watergate" topic at hand.

CAL is not very selective, hiring fo's from lots of regionals with no real experience.

I really love this misconception. This "factor" is evident because it is, in all actual fact, out of the norm. The majority of the people that get hired at CAL have many years of PIC experience at a 121 carrier or military experience. You just don't hear about them b/c they are "normal."

Kinda like no one gets on the news and says "Today a man had breakfast on the SE side of town with his family." That's normal...and no one cares.

 

[Palomino]

Kinda like no one gets on the news and says "Today a man had breakfast on the SE side of town with his family." That's normal...and no one cares.

exactly. ignorance of the CAL pilot demographic continues to run rampant on flightinfo.

i have fun. work with good people. occasionally i run into a turd. but i probably qualify as a turd myself from time to time.

it's a job. at a major. with great equipment. good management. and a nice rising trend of market presence. the seniority progression has been tremendous with lots of opportunity. glad i made the move.

 

[BLUE BAYOU]

I was teaching P2P classes in EWR most of last week and have detailed information that I can't share on a public forum reference the water event. What I will say is alot went on behind the scenes our MEC Chairman, MEC and SPSC acted appropriately and this is a much bigger victory then it appears on the surface.

If we stand shoulder to shoulder all 5000 of us, we can achieve our goal of an industry leading contract. Last week certainly was a nice infusion of adrenalin to me.

I am prepared to do whatever it takes (legally of of course) to achieve our contractual goals.

...industry leading contract...maybe they'll add Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite, and iced tea!!!

 

[ACWild]

...industry leading contract...maybe they'll add Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite, and iced tea!!!

Ok, I'll bite... What the heck are you talking about?

 

[Spectre]

Reference the initial post...

"I heard that you fought the company hard and got your unlimited water back. Flight attendants are no longer required to report you for asking for a full bottle of water while on the flight deck.

Nice work on that! Lesser pilot groups would have probably rolled over and flown without access to water.

They took it away, you got it back, and now you celebrate the victory!"

...that's pretty funny as just about every other airline, the pilots get unlimited snacks and drinks.