Custom Air Transport (CAT)

[El Guapo]

Does anyone have any information Custom Air Transport (CAT). I'm looking for information regarding:


1. F/O pay
2. Schedule
3. Bases
4. QOL
5. Upgrade time
6. stability of the company.

I did a search, but came up with very little. Thanks in advance!


El Guapo

 

[boomlrd]

Run!

CAT:

47.50 / hr 60 hr guarantee
No sched!
No benefits - unless u want to pay 300 every 2 weeks.
No QOL
High attrition
Management could care less about you and your needs.
Plan on being gone all the time with no promise of when u will get home
No overtime pay.
No respect!
Run!
Everyone here is just trying to get somewhere else away from here.

 

[El Guapo]

Bad Cat

boomlrd,


Thanks for the info.


El Guapo

 

[tired_pilot]

Cat

All that being said..its not THAT bad, but I wouldnt leave anything more then a regional to come here.

 

[Rhoid]

How much of CAT's flying is out of DAY for Menlo?

 

[PA-44Typed]

Can't be all that bad, especially if at 2100 TT your flying a 727!!!!! or are they a PFT operation?

 

[cgwilk2000]

CAT request

boomlrd, I understand the CAT sechedule is usually 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. Is that false reality? I also understand that all first officers come from the Simcom Internship program and 98% of them are kept after the 200 hours. Does anyone have any input on that? After the 29K fee is paided, does anyone know the washout rate during the internship training at Simcom?

Tiredpilot, You used the term "to come here", If you are an employee at CAT, I would appreciate any input that you may have also.

Thanks,

 

[CUEBOAT]

All I know is my buddy made $5500 last month @ CAT. Last time I made that much was before I was a pilot. At teh same time working for a regional is more like coming up short like a county check, "just ain't enough". I'm sure eveyone on this board has some debt or something else they want to pay for, college tuition for the kid etc..I wouldn't mind working there if I was done with college.

 

[habubuaza]

Yeah. CAT sucks. But you know what? You work approximately 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. They buy you a ticket. Sure you may stay an extra day or two or even a week. However I never did in 6 months working there. As an FO your base salary is about $40,000 Captain it's about $80,000 and I forgot what the minimum guarantee was but when you went over it they paid you overtime. And oh yeah, THEY NEVER MISSED A PAYCHECK OR A PER DIEM CHECK. Yeah they are a scum bag operator. But if you want a job, you want to fly a 727, and they even have some SUPER 727 with GPS's and want a somewhat survivable salary then there is no shame in flying for CAT. Work there to get and or stay current and look for somewhere else to go. They aren't stupid. They know that goes on. When I left they told me that they understood and that if I ever was out of work again, I would always have a job there. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[habubuaza]

Can't be all that bad, especially if at 2100 TT your flying a 727!!!!! or are they a PFT operation?

Yes they have done that in the past. When I was there one pilot had very low time and back then I didn't know how he did it. I figured he knew someone. Anyway later I found out that they were into that PFT (buy an FO seat on a 727). However I know that a lot of guys wouldn't fly with him, just not enough experience and too weak so they ended up pairing him up with a very patient check airman. After he got his 150 hours or whatever it was he paid for he was out of there. I don't know if they still do that.

 

[freightdogfred]

Does anyone have any information Custom Air Transport (CAT). I'm looking for information regarding:


1. F/O pay
2. Schedule
3. Bases
4. QOL
5. Upgrade time
6. stability of the company.

I did a search, but came up with very little. Thanks in advance!


El Guapo

Expand your search parameters......

1) Emery Carpetbaggers

2) Tony Romeo/Miami Aircraft Support/Lowball Bidders

3) Pay-For-Training

 

[cgwilk2000]

habubuaza,
How long ago were you there at CAT? Or when was it when you left the company if you dont mind me asking.

Thanks

 

[habubuaza]

habubuaza,
How long ago were you there at CAT? Or when was it when you left the company if you dont mind me asking.

Thanks

I was there from April 02 to September of 02.

 

[psysicx]

What kind of time due you need to get on with them.And how long to upgrade.I would imagine its based on time.

 

[boomlrd]

I currently work for CAT; and yes the intern program is still barely going. Not too many people interested in payint 30k to be a F/O. Go figure. Anyway, as to the comment about being on a 727 with 2100 hrs is unlikely unless you are a PFTer, is ridiculous. We have captains here with barely 2500 hrs, why, because of good networking. I got on without paying a penny and I had only 650 hrs at the time. It's not who u know, but who u blow! Airlines have always been able to hire people with just a com multi, but they don't because of the competitive market. When the cycle comes around, don't be surprised if SWA is looking for guys with 1k hrs, unlikely for now but who knows. The airlines used to hire at that level all the time, but economic times dictate otherwise. We also have many F/O's that have less than 1500 hrs and never paid a cent, again networked. There are those who paid but are treated the same, unless they suck. Most guys have turned out good and have been kept, we have a couple though that are on their way out because of a lack of skill.

PA44-Typed; Sorry for your luck out there, but please keep your mouth shut about an industry and airline you have no apparent knowledge of.

 

[cgwilk2000]

Cat

Boomird,
Thanks for that uplifting response, and information. At this point, I could use all of the pertinent information that I can get on this company and it's PFT program. It would be a blessing if I could be affored the opportunity of securing employment with this organization without the PFT option like you did. But unfortunately with my less than 700 hours of total time, and 60 hours of multi, and age pushing 45, and no past military, God would really have to be smiling down on me for that to happen. Working for a major defense contractor as a technical professional is and has been very lucrative, but working in these cubicals, upper level politics, and the thought of being laid off every six months has gotten the best of me. Would you be inclined to share how to actually apply off the street to this CAT organization? I can't seem to find any real direct contact person or information source to forward information to. Could you also share information on what problem areas these low time PFT's are having? If I have to result to the PFT option, at least I would like to know what the problem areas are, so that I can prepare myself, and address them inorder to become a better and more proficient professional pilot. I think I know how you feel about this whole thing, so please PM me if you desire. I dont know how the PM system works, but I'll figure it out. Thanks in advance for addressing any of my above questions. I'm just really extremely serious about this possible opportunity.
Thanks again.

 

[PA-44Typed]

boomlrd

I think you might have misinterpreted my tone. I was just surprised to see your times. I’m not bitter, just jealous. I looked on the web, but I can’t seem to find any info or contact information. If you have their web address or fax #, it would be greatly appreciated.





cgwilk2000

Do yourself and the rest of the aviation field and don't PFT!!!!!

 

[boomlrd]

Everyone keeps PMing me asking the same thing, so I will put it out here for everyone to see.

The Chief Pilot's name is JJ. Scott, 954-377-7778
Call him and ask aout opportunities and where to fax your resume'. You guys are right there is no direct way to fax or contact them, I believe they do this on purpose, I don't know why, since the attrition is so high, but thats the way they are. They like internal recs, and walkins. Don't worry though, they are always hiring to replace the 50% or so that quit during initial training once they find out how things work here. Thats not an exaggeration. Alot of guys they hire have no internal contacts, so you won't be ruled out, it just helps.

For those of you that worry about hours, they do not hire based on that. Its all about personality and attitude, there is no sim ride nor a test. I have seen some hired with as low as 500 hrs, not PFT. This is rare though usually already ATP mins. PFT in Miami is still going at 30k$, but not too many people are doing it anymore when you can get hired at ExpressJet with 600/100 now. CAT has its ups and downs, people here are just trying to use this as a stepping stone to bigger and better, the other ones are here for life because they can't get jobs anywhere else. Management knows who is who on that issue, trust me.
If you are low time like me, CAT is a good opportunity to build time in a big jet, but even guys like me have been quitting for regionals and corporate gigs. Take everything with a grain of salt. By the way, upgrades here to captain are at will by mangaement, there is no timeline or guarantee you will ever upgrade, no seniority. You have just as much of a chance as the guy who has been here for 5 years.
I know alot of you are against PFT, but hey if it will pay the bills, I understand, so does FEDEX, UPS and SWA, why do I know this? Becasue we have had guys go there. PEACE!!