Kalitta Air Information

[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....

 

[leardrivr]

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....

Yeah well overtime is a touchy subject over here right now. I would be careful about which side of the fence you wan't to be on. We can't get a new contract singed and forced overtime is one of the big topics for many of the crews. All the flying goes to the guys who will work on there days off while a guy like me who has kids at home gets gaurentee because I want to go home on my days off. And forget about flying your line. They take you off it and then try to make sure you are in Hong Kong the day before you are supposed to go home. Make sure you hassel them about how they are planning to get you home three days before you off days and be strong. Don't let them intimadate you with being on probation either. Study the contract and try to make them follow it. Otherwise they will totaly railroad you. I don't care if guys want to work on there days off but the rest of us should not be punished for not wanting to. There is no unity here among the pilots and that really sucks!

 

[iaflyer]

Like Xfr8dog said, with a little luck you vsn make 40-45K the first year. When we had the 50% override it was a lot easier. Shoot, you make 9K in per diem a year. I spend far less than that and remember most of it is not taxed. Add in a few months of good flying per year (and I mean without selling any days back) you can make that 40-45K.

I agree with everything that leardriver says: we cannot get a contract without forcing the company's hand. I just don't understand those who work on their days off - if we all followed our contract and only worked our 17 days, we could get our pay raise and make more money, without having to work extra.

iaflyer