Kalitta Air Information

[FearlessFreep]

IAflyer,

Seems like a nice hotel, certainly better than the Regal Kowloon you guys used to stay at.

While overseas many people use phone cards bought locally. I use a worldwide phone card that I bought on the internet. It makes it a little easier than carrying around a stack of phone cards. It has a variable rate depending upon where your calling from. It works just about everywhere except the Middle East. Those countries have their communication industries locked up solid. While in Hong Kong I usually use the "Pig Card". It's rate is even cheaper than that of my worldwide phone card which is pretty cheap in it's own right. You can get the "Pig Card" in a little shop near the Mariner's Club in Kowloon TST.

Per diem rates (were I work it's $2.00 an hour domestic & international) are not that high compared to business people whose rates are near astronomical in comparison. $48.00 a day is liveable except in Europe where you get beat up with the exchange rate on the Euro, and the fact that they charge for everything there and it is very expensive. I am waiting for a breathing tax to be put in place there!

Take Care & Good Luck To Us All!

 

[CWI]

The average weight gain because of all the food that is available is about one pound per month.

After 2 years on the line you should be on average 24 pounds over weight, or heavier than you were at at your new hire class.

Myself as an example, weight at my new hire class April 2004, 180 pounds. Weight now after 10 months on the line, 195!

 

[George Zip]

So What is the real skinny on pay and sked?

Is most everyone right at guarantee or do you make more than 65 hrs / mo with trip rigs or actual flying (without selling off all your days off) ? Also - is it mostly reserve, and if so is reserve at home or in YIP (or wherever) ?

For sked, do you go out for a 10-14 day trip a month and then you're home for a bit, or is it like 25 days on the road followed by 5 whole days off before you go back out again?.
Thanks -

GZ

 

[cargoflyr69]

Thanks for the info thus far. Also wondering about trip rig and guarantee questions that George had. Does anyone think that taking a drive over to YIP and delivering a resume in person would be worth the effort, or do they frown on people that do this?

I also heard that YIP is technically the only crew base. Are pilots required to start and end the monthly tour from there, or is there alot of comercializing from your home city? Can you sit reserve at your home city? and what is the call time out like?

 

[Xfr8dog]

It's 17 days ON. And you're not likely to see home for that long. Others who are actually online will be able to tell you more.... Other than I think two lines there really is no reserve, everyone has a "line" but it changes quite a bit. What you can count on is flying around the world a few times in 17 days. Iaflyer, CWI, Nosewheel and others may be able to chime in and verify this... again, I'm still in training.

Walking my resume in to the main office is how I got my interview. Its not frowned on at all.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Kind of off the subject here, but I've noticed that while talking about Kalitta, people mention Connie. Is that the owners wife or something? just curious.

 

[Xfr8dog]

Nope, its the multi-billionaire himself. It short for Conrad.

 

[iaflyer]

Kind of off the subject here, but I've noticed that while talking about Kalitta, people mention Connie. Is that the owners wife or something? just curious.

Hehehe... Connie like Xfr8dog said, he's the owner of the company. Connie is also the callsign for Kalitta Air. Since Kalitta Air is a reincarnation of previous companies, it's just easier to called it "Connie".

Connie is a unique individual, but very successful. He is also heavily involved in top fuel dragsters. He used to drive them, now he just is owns several teams and crews too. (I probably have some of that wrong - I don't follow NHRA).

ialyer

 

[I.P. Freley]

He is also heavily involved in top fuel dragsters. He used to drive them, now he just is owns several teams and crews too. (I probably have some of that wrong - I don't follow NHRA).

Having never seen the real Connie, I can't help but think he looks like Beau Bridges and likes to pop Anthony Edwards in the mouth.

 

[Legacy390]

What are their hiring mins?

 

[Xfr8dog]

They have no minimums set that I'm aware of. I was the lowest time guy in my class with 4700 TT and only 250 PIC Jet. Also everyone else in class had flown at least a baby 9, if not something bigger... lotta ex- 747 pilots and a C-5 guy. quite a few MD-11 and DC-10 guys as well. I do believe there may be one other guy in class who had only been a RJ captain, not sure about that though. They're having a hard time filling classes, especially now that the March class has been bumped from 18 guys to 30! I seriously doubt that they'll be able to keep that up...

Oh and another thing, they have 10 captain upgrade classes scheduled for 2005, with at least 10 guys per class. Right now there are only 53 FO's flying the line.

I suggest you or anyone else interested in this type of flying put thier resume in, make some calls, walk in, whatever. Its a great time to get in...

 

[falcon20driver]

Xfr8dog,

Just curious how the transition from the Falcon 20 to the 747 went for you, I have 350 hours in the DA-20 and it seems easier than a 172 to fly. I'm also typed in the 737 and that sim wasn't all that much harder to fly than the Falcon, the 747 looks like a handful though.

 

[nosewheel]

Falcon20driver

Its only a handfull when youve been in the airplane for twenty +hours and 3 out of four engines are running hot, it's 50 deg's C in Kuwait and your at max TO weight you loose one, the LED's wont retract and the gear wont come up.

 

[Xfr8dog]

Falcon20Driver,

I'll be honest with you, I thought ground school was very difficult. It makes the systems on the DA-20 look like a total joke. I did pass however, though not at the top of the class!

As far as the flying goes, I've only ever flown the sim once for the interview and found it to be quite a bit heavier feeling than the falcon. It didnt help any that I had no idea what power settings to use nor did I understand the lag time with the trim... I kept it all within limits though (100 feet, +/- 10 degrees etc.) and think it'll be just fine with a another sim session to get used to the feel of it.

 

[falcon20driver]

Thanks Xfr8dog.

 

[leardrivr]

Falcon20Driver,

I'll be honest with you, I thought ground school was very difficult. It makes the systems on the DA-20 look like a total joke. I did pass however, though not at the top of the class!

As far as the flying goes, I've only ever flown the sim once for the interview and found it to be quite a bit heavier feeling than the falcon. It didnt help any that I had no idea what power settings to use nor did I understand the lag time with the trim... I kept it all within limits though (100 feet, +/- 10 degrees etc.) and think it'll be just fine with a another sim session to get used to the feel of it.

Grond school is tough for new hires. especially if you were not previosly quilified on a boieng. They come at you with the fire hose. I had to study every night to keep up. Systems was peticularly fast. Only 7 days. The sim training however is excellent. Lots of sessions and good instructors. Oh the ground school instructor is top shelf too. The airplane flies like a big 172. Huge flight controls. Very docile. Boeing got it right with this airplane. Once you get through sim and I.O.E. you need to stay in the books. There may be oppourtunity for fast upgrade. But if you data dump right out of training you will be passed over when upgrade come. They do pay attention to how you are proggressing. If you havn't flown international before. you will find it difficult at first. Well I did anyway. But don't forget to stay in the books.

 

[Xfr8dog]

Oh I plan on staying in the books, believe me! I have all the manuals downloaded on my laptop and will be bringing that with me when i hit the road. I'm hoping more clicks into place once I actually start seeing switches move.

Leardrivr, how long have you been at Kalitta?

 

[N817AA]

So what is the average pay for a first year FO?

 

[falcon20driver]

The guarantee, according to http://www.airlinepilotpay.com/kalitta/kalitta.htm is 30K for a 1st year FO, 44K 2nd yr FO, and Capt. after 2 yrs with the co. is 75K.

 

[Xfr8dog]

yeah but with per diem and overtime a 1st year FO should make about 45-50K. So says my friend whos in his first year there....