Continental info

[calfo]

From our MEC update:

With the end of summer flying, pilot hiring is now increasing back to its "normal" pace of 36-64 pilots a month until May 2007. 36 pilots will be hired for the month of September. These new hires will be going to IAH and EWR bases on both the B737 and B757 equipment.

 

[Orphan Annie]

This is great news.

BUT, the big question is this.....what is the best recommendation on getting an interview with CAL? I have no internal contacts. I have heard you need several inside recommendations but also hear others have been offered interviews straight from their initial application.

I have a 4 yr degree, currently fly for a major regional but no PIC turbine time as yet.

Any hope for me?

 

[Blucher]

I have a 4 yr degree, currently fly for a major regional but no PIC turbine time as yet.

What is a "major regional?"

-Blucher

 

[Long Time Gone]

That's what the pilots at Comair think they are because of the DOT stats. It's all part of the arrogance you obtain from going to the high and mighty "Academy".

 

[Jonny Sacko]

Ouch with a capital OOOOO. Too funny

 

[Dumb Pilot]

The CAL gig would be great if it didn't take about six years for the typical regional Capt. to break even in salary. $30/H. first year. Ouch indeed

 

[Palomino]

The CAL gig would be great if it didn't take about six years for the typical regional Capt. to break even in salary. $30/H. first year. Ouch indeed

what is 'typical regional Capt' five year pay? i bet i can argue against your statement.

 

[Formula1]

When does first year pay at CAL ($30 per hour) increase? Are there step increases for each year of the concessionary agreement?

 

[JetMonkey]

Come on Formula keep the faith with us at AWA uhhh, I mean US Airwas- America West. Don't go to big bad Cal!!!

 

[AWACoff]

what is 'typical regional Capt' five year pay? i bet i can argue against your statement.

You can argue against it but that doesn't mean you are going to win. 6 years seems just about right. I had it figured at just over 5 years from my payscale at AWAC. Once you include health insurance, 401k match, hourly pay loss, etc...it's about 6 years to break even at CAL after leaving AWAC as a captain. Of course, after 6 years CAL wins hands down.

 

[ACWild]

The CAL gig would be great if it didn't take about six years for the typical regional Capt. to break even in salary. $30/H. first year. Ouch indeed

What does a typical regional capt make these days? I'm finishing my year of $30/hr and going into the 777 at $72/hr. When I was a captain at a regional, I didn't make nearly that much, but it was a while ago.

 

[Palomino]

You can argue against it but that doesn't mean you are going to win. 6 years seems just about right. I had it figured at just over 5 years from my payscale at AWAC. Once you include health insurance, 401k match, hourly pay loss, etc...it's about 6 years to break even at CAL after leaving AWAC as a captain. Of course, after 6 years CAL wins hands down.

CAL current rate:
F/O
Year
WB LNB SB
3 $84 $73 $64
4 95 82 73
5 104 91 80
6 114 99 87

AWAC (per airlinepilotpay.com)
CA
Year 146 CRJ
3 $70 $60
4 73 62
5 75 64
6 77 66
20 113 91

so you beat 20 yr CA pay at AWAC on their largest equipment by bidding a widebody with a bed...all in your 6th year. you can hold 777 fo within a year now.

i win.

 

[BID]

Is it all CRJ 200's now at AWAC?

 

[bearcat]

What is a "major regional?"

-Blucher

Dude you beat me to it (sts)

 

[bearcat]

The CAL gig would be great if it didn't take about six years for the typical regional Capt. to break even in salary. $30/H. first year. Ouch indeed

I really was going to reply then I saw your screen name and figured I didn't have to. If your still confused just read your screen name. If you are still confused, read your screen name again.

 

[CaptETWes]

Is it all CRJ 200's now at AWAC?

Indeed...as of mid-April '06. Hopefully, something newer/bigger in the next few months, too.

 

[Uniform Shop]

You can argue against it but that doesn't mean you are going to win. 6 years seems just about right. I had it figured at just over 5 years from my payscale at AWAC. Once you include health insurance, 401k match, hourly pay loss, etc...it's about 6 years to break even at CAL after leaving AWAC as a captain. Of course, after 6 years CAL wins hands down.

A 2001 hire, who was furloughed for 3 years, just held Captain on the last bid. He will be making around $140 an hour so I think he has a pretty good arguement.

The early 2005 hires are pretty close to his seniority so they might actually hold it on the next bid.

Or we might merge with UAL causing a ripple effect that could force the entire industry into utter chaos.

I would wait for somthing better to come along..... The downside is pretty bad..:beer:

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Or we might merge with UAL causing a ripple effect that could force the entire industry into utter chaos.

I would wait for somthing better to come along..... The downside is pretty bad..:beer:

The very possible consolidation of some Legacies will inevitably bring about consolidation of A/C fleets. I would hate to see folks consuming from their savings to subsidize a $30/H salary and then suffer a furlough.
I really hope that I'm wrong and that the dust has in fact settled

 

[Palomino]

The very possible consolidation of some Legacies will inevitably bring about consolidation of A/C fleets. I would hate to see folks consuming from their savings to subsidize a $30/H salary and then suffer a furlough.
I really hope that I'm wrong and that the dust has in fact settled

doom & gloom does not propel a career. i'm taking my chances.

btw - i'm not subsidizing my first year pay with anything. i prepared for the future.

what year would you catch up to your AWAC Captain pay again? hmmm...i can't remember. i provided some numbers if you'd care to revise your guess.

 

[puddlejumper101]

A 2001 hire, who was furloughed for 3 years, just held Captain on the last bid. He will be making around $140 an hour so I think he has a pretty good arguement.

The early 2005 hires are pretty close to his seniority so they might actually hold it on the next bid.

Or we might merge with UAL causing a ripple effect that could force the entire industry into utter chaos.

I would wait for somthing better to come along..... The downside is pretty bad..:beer:

Would you or other CAL guys take SWA over CAL if you had the choice based on what you know? I have a friend who has an offer from both...I told him SWA...what do you guys think. I think he was SWA bound reguardless.

 

[seahorse]

Better bases and more $$ money faster at SWA. This = more bling bling in much shorter time.

Way cooler equipment, flying, and less legs at CAL.

 

[EWR_FO]

Would you or other CAL guys take SWA over CAL if you had the choice based on what you know? I have a friend who has an offer from both...I told him SWA...what do you guys think. I think he was SWA bound reguardless.

Nice choice to have, make sure he knows the retirement situation at CAL (2190 over the next 10 years) to include that in his process.

 

[puddlejumper101]

Nice choice to have, make sure he knows the retirement situation at CAL (2190 over the next 10 years) to include that in his process.

That is a very good point...but how many guys has CAL hired since they opened the window in 05? I am guessing in the neighborhood of 800-1000. With that being the case then someone hired right now would move up 1300 numbers or so in 10 years. (just a guess...based on numbers). Thats not bad at all...but then it is a wash with SWA...since thats about the same amount of retirements they will have in the next ten years...compound that with their plan (as of right now) to continue to grow...and honestly I think the movement at both is equal. CAL is not growing at the rate SWA is, that could all change but in the end i think overall movement at both is equal. I think whatever he decides, he can't go wrong with either...as long as everything stays the way it is. Thats where the difference is...CAL is more subject to factors that SWA isn't (mergers is where I am headed with this). If I had to bet 30 years or so in this industry right now...I would take SWA. Especially when sitting at the bottom 25% of a list in this industry is scary. But it's not my choice...if I had this choice I would be torn too.

 

[bearcat]

That is a very good point...but how many guys has CAL hired since they opened the window in 05? I am guessing in the neighborhood of 800-1000. With that being the case then someone hired right now would move up 1300 numbers or so in 10 years. (just a guess...based on numbers). Thats not bad at all...but then it is a wash with SWA...since thats about the same amount of retirements they will have in the next ten years...compound that with their plan (as of right now) to continue to grow...and honestly I think the movement at both is equal. CAL is not growing at the rate SWA is, that could all change but in the end i think overall movement at both is equal. I think whatever he decides, he can't go wrong with either...as long as everything stays the way it is. Thats where the difference is...CAL is more subject to factors that SWA isn't (mergers is where I am headed with this). If I had to bet 30 years or so in this industry right now...I would take SWA. Especially when sitting at the bottom 25% of a list in this industry is scary. But it's not my choice...if I had this choice I would be torn too.

There are better bets on some -vs- others short term. If you are thinking one is better than the other....30 years from now you are smoking some good herb. I would take into consideration WHERE do you WANT to live over just about anything else. Then again who knows what will happen. A merger with SWA or CAL is unthinkable right now. Yeah I know what your saying, this board is plagued with speculation, but it is all what ANALysts think and not facts. If you think SWA will never merge with someone over the next 5-35 years, you are again smoking some good herb. Nobody is immune to the cold hard facts of a screwed up economy. Smash another airplane into a building again, spike the price of gas even more and loose all of your fuel hedging.....In other words if you are making any assumptions for 30 years from now you are a fool. Pass the dope to me in 25 years!

 

[CJCCapt]

What does a typical regional capt make these days? I'm finishing my year of $30/hr and going into the 777 at $72/hr. When I was a captain at a regional, I didn't make nearly that much, but it was a while ago.

I'm on pace for $52k this year as a third year turboprop captain. I can imagine the decision to move on for regional jet captains to be much tougher than mine. If my company doesn't bring in a larger aircraft, then (after a cold hard look at the numbers and - very big assumption - things stay somewhat as they are now), breakeven for me at SWA is two year's seniority and three year's seniority at CAL. With the years I have left to my career (and I'm an "older" guy), it's still better financially for me to try to move to either carrier, even with a two year furlough factored in.

Based on "current" forecast (I know - that and $2.50 won't even get me a latte anymore) total compensation at SWA runs just ahead of compensation at CAL for the first six years where CAL would for the next couple of years exceed the compensation at SWA (earlier projected upgrade at CAL right now than SWA). However over a fifteen year career, the total difference in compensation (salary and per diem) between the two amounts to less than $75,000 (in favor of SWA) out of over $2 million for both.

So as other posters have said I think we have to look beyond the hourly rates and into the retirement plans, benefits, QOL, type of flying, etc. to make a decision, and to the potential volatility of the industry (mergers?). There so many variables.

 

[CJCCapt]

Nice choice to have, make sure he knows the retirement situation at CAL (2190 over the next 10 years) to include that in his process.

Good point. If I was to be hired in Oct (on the "short list" and hoping!) based on retirements alone (no medicals outs or resignations), I'd move up about 2900 numbers in fifteen years (assuming age 60).

...then someone hired right now would move up 1300 numbers or so in 10 years...

2160 on the list born before 1957. If age 60 holds, then 2160 retirements in ten years (unless I reading the senority list wrong). If not, then something less.

 

[Hutchman]

That is a very good point...but how many guys has CAL hired since they opened the window in 05? I am guessing in the neighborhood of 800-1000.

Cal has hired just about 700 since 05.

 

[afres bum]

Any idea of what the attrition is prior to age 60? I have heard of several people resigning from Continental (and every other legacy airline) to move onto other companies, military leave, or get out of aviation all together…

 

[MJG]

From our MEC update:

With the end of summer flying, pilot hiring is now increasing back to its "normal" pace of 36-64 pilots a month until May 2007. 36 pilots will be hired for the month of September. These new hires will be going to IAH and EWR bases on both the B737 and B757 equipment.

Any idea on what the "junior" airplane is out of training, IOW are folks taking the 756 over the 737 if given the chance or is it the other way around??

 

[Hutchman]

Any idea on what the "junior" airplane is out of training, IOW are folks taking the 756 over the 737 if given the chance or is it the other way around??

The 757 went the most Sr and most Jr in my class. It all depends if you want Ewr or not.