Kalitta Air or Jet Blue

[Victor Meldrew]

The 17 days go before you realize it.
Quite easy to make 6 figures as an FO without breaking a sweat and being an OT whore.
NO PASSENGERS and NO WHINNING FA's (the big plus).
Home based.
No up and down the NE corridor for days on end.
Heavy time with type now from initial hire.
Every part of the world to be seen and get paid for it.
On the subject of pay reasonable rates now but a lot better to come. Talk is 30%+ raise aka Atlas new deal.
Long stretches off.

The list goes on. Been doing this for 5+ years now and wish I'd done it far sooner. At the end of the day only you can decide.

 

[lionflyer]

Just curious why you think Doug is not capable of running K4?

He's not Connie. K2 is also under Connies umbrella even though it's "run by Doug".

 

[GogglesPisano]

Heavy time with type now from initial hire.
.

I notice guys bring that up a lot. The only purpose of getting "heavy time" is to use it to jump ship to another nonsked or an overseas operator. Majors couldn't care less about heavy time, they want PIC and connections and a good attitude.

Again, I think the original poster is looking for a destination, not a stepping stone. And unless he's 21 with a few years to waste, he should be thinking destination.

 

[PUNISHER]

He's not Connie. K2 is also under Connies umbrella even though it's "run by Doug".

Yeah he's definitely not Connie but he brings alot of experience to the table. I highly doubt Connie has time to run K2 for Doug. I think you guys are really under estimating Doug's capabilities. He started at the bottom flying beeches and Lears, working his way up to DC-8 Captain. Since then he has been running his own companies sucsessfuly for the last decade. He has used capital from Connie to get started but the companies have been pretty self sufficient since. Currently owns and operates Kalitta Charters, Kalitta Charters II, Fly a Charter, and DK Turbines.
He definitely has the experience for day to day operations, and he knows how to find cheap airplanes and run a business on tight margins. With a good sales team to help him get new contracts, K4 would continue on as usual. The real question is what would happen to K1 and K2 if Doug takes over K4?

 

[lionflyer]

Yeah he's definitely not Connie but he brings alot of experience to the table. I highly doubt Connie has time to run K2 for Doug. I think you guys are really under estimating Doug's capabilities. He started at the bottom flying beeches and Lears, working his way up to DC-8 Captain. Since then he has been running his own companies sucsessfuly for the last decade. He has used capital from Connie to get started but the companies have been pretty self sufficient since. Currently owns and operates Kalitta Charters, Kalitta Charters II, Fly a Charter, and DK Turbines.
He definitely has the experience for day to day operations, and he knows how to find cheap airplanes and run a business on tight margins. With a good sales team to help him get new contracts, K4 would continue on as usual. The real question is what would happen to K1 and K2 if Doug takes over K4?

I sincerely hope you're right. My gut tells me otherwise. Maybe it's my overall negative experience with airlines over the last decade. K2 would probably be merged. The Lear operation would stay seperate. Anyway, Kalitta Air is better than most despite my earlier gripes. The Co just needs to get out of the 60's

 

[av16]

Doug is more than capable, it would be different no doubt. I no longer work for Kalitta for my own reasons but would not hesitate to work for Doug again should the need arise

 

[airgator]

Was sitting in the Hotel in JFK the other day next to a Connie crew. Counted how many times the word F#ck was used in about sixty seconds (figured he was going for a record) , 16 times this mensa warrior used the word in a place that had children and normal people within ear shot. Everybody in the room kept flashing glares at this idiot and all it did was make him increase his volume.

First off, what "normal" person would bring their children to the Five Towns? Second, I doubt a bunch of cargo pilots were embarrassed because one of theirs was dropping F bombs. Your story is filled with holes.

 

[Guam360]

First off, what "normal" person would bring their children to the Five Towns? Second, I doubt a bunch of cargo pilots were embarrassed because one of theirs was dropping F bombs. Your story is filled with holes.

he has definitely never been to Brooklyn, it is a native word there

 

[kdaforever]

Let's see: fly for a sh#tbag outfit with an single owner who could clutch his chest at any moment. Or he might just just get tired of this current set of "crybabies" (his words), or work for a company actively traded in the public forum with real schedules.

This is really a tough one.....

I opt for single owner type airline. 'cause I can commute one leg,reside at the 5 Towns for 12 days and go home....friggin awesome!

 

[Guam360]

First off, what "normal" person would bring their children to the Five Towns? Second, I doubt a bunch of cargo pilots were embarrassed because one of theirs was dropping F bombs. Your story is filled with holes.

i have done both, I don't miss the domestic stuff, I have my reasons for both.
I don't care about the sims that are nice, so what, I like the paid commute, the home basing and the international flying, and especially the 13-14 days home . Now I don't have to miss a good swell.
Not every place has all things that we want so I like my choice. Jetblue was fun and I liked it. the money is about the same.
G

 

[Whine Lover]

I have a small Penis. I have a small watch. But, if I hold one next to the other I have:

" ONE COCK-ROCKING TIMEPIECE"

My airline's better than yours. You Suck. My airplane is really big, and your CEO wears combat boots.

Whatever.

Airline #3 for me....I'm an Old Fat Bastard and, as far as I'm concerned,Connie rocks.

I've been a domestic freight bitch, a "Major" airline (pax) Captain, and now a Connie " Right-Seat-Pitot-Heat Whale Driver ".

So far....I'll take this gig over all the rest.

And I won't even tell you why.....it would encompass too many big words that y'all might not understand.

Love Ya' Bitches,

YKMKR

 

[CX880]

Seems like it would be an easy decision because they are two completely different type of operations. You either like one or the other. I would probably non-rev a couple of long haul flights to see if that's actually something your willing to do for a career.

 

[OrionFE]

Yeah he's definitely not Connie but he brings alot of experience to the table. I highly doubt Connie has time to run K2 for Doug. I think you guys are really under estimating Doug's capabilities. He started at the bottom flying beeches and Lears, working his way up to DC-8 Captain. Since then he has been running his own companies sucsessfuly for the last decade. He has used capital from Connie to get started but the companies have been pretty self sufficient since. Currently owns and operates Kalitta Charters, Kalitta Charters II, Fly a Charter, and DK Turbines.
He definitely has the experience for day to day operations, and he knows how to find cheap airplanes and run a business on tight margins. With a good sales team to help him get new contracts, K4 would continue on as usual. The real question is what would happen to K1 and K2 if Doug takes over K4?

Absolutely true! Nice post.

 

[unwashed]

Hey Whine do you happen to reside in the "Sunnyside" of the state of Warshington (for those who don't live there)

 

[Broncopilot943]

How many hours do Kalitta guys typically fly per month? Also, what kind of mins are they looking for?

 

[unwashed]

average 52 block over the last 12 months with 3 months of that in training (ie not flying) I have averaged 88 hrs of credit in the same period of time. 348 credit over the last three months.

 

[GittinFatter]

I'm a -400 captain, and flew 692 hours last year. You do the math; I've had too many Leffe Bruins

 

[BillJBrake]

are the guys from Bogota back flying again?

wishing them well...

 

[Guam360]

are the guys from Bogota back flying again?

wishing them well...

5 out of 8 are back to work!

that includes two load masters that were onboard also( 7,8 )

 

[airgator]

I have averaged 88 hrs of credit in the same period of time. 348 credit over the last three months.

For anyone considering K4, I would say these are definitely not typical #'s. I've been here 4 years and never been even remotely close to 348 hrs of credit in 3 months time, more like half that. Plan on our guarantee of 62 hrs a month and everything over that is gravy. I've never stayed out more than 17 days and last month was my best month ever w/ 85 hrs. (I'm on the classic). You can make better money here if you stay out obviously because anything outside of 17 days pays 150%. Our contract states they have to have us in the lower 48 @ 1900Z on your last day and at your home airport by 2359Z, I always hold them to this and have never once not made it to my home airport by 2359Z on my 17th day or work.

As for the original question, you could not choose more polar opposites of companies to go to. If you live in NY, you'll have a great QOL at JB, but probably have an even better QOL at K4, seeing most our flying originates out of EWR and JFK. As for the money, my friends at JB that are captains make more and work less than similar seniority capt's at connie. If you wanna make coin here you have to work for it.