Back on the thread
I just got picked up for the June class.
I started contacting Kalitta in January by e-mail. I wrote the chief pilot, Dick Hagquist and attached a resume. I also applied on-line. In April, I went to the Kalitta office/hangar at Willow Run and asked to see Mr. Hagquist. He came out and we talked for about 15 minutes. We had some background in common.
A few days later I got a call (I recently moved to the Detroit area, near Willow Run) to come in. I had an informal interview with two other executives, talked about the nature of the job, etc. and was told on the spot I would be in the June class, subject to passing a simulator eval at a time and place to be determined. I was told I had good references so I think they made some calls.
A week later, I got a call to be in Miami for a sim check. Travel to Miami was at my expense, but the company paid for the hotel room. The sim check was very straightforward, basically to see if you are really a pilot. Takeoff from Charlotte, fly a heading to 4,000 ft, do some climbing turns at 500 fpm, fly a holding pattern, and an ILS to 300/2 full stop. Did the sim in a 737, but you could also be in a 747 sim.
All of the process was very friendly and professional. I immediately liked the people I met and the feel of the company. I was previously employed in night freight, so I know something of the business. A friend who has been through training told me it was tough but fair. He thought their washout rate, 25-35% was due to attitude or laziness and everyone got a fair shot.
I'm happy to be flying again and excited about the chance to fly 747s.
Bottom line - I don't think I would have been hired, at least not so quickly, if I didn't make the trek out to Willow Run for a face-to-face. When I went to drop off my resume, I didn't expect an interview, so I was on my motorcycle and wearing boots and jeans. Didn't seem to matter to anyone, which for me is a big plus for the company. I wore the suit and tie to the callback interview.
Good luck.
I just got picked up for the June class.
I started contacting Kalitta in January by e-mail. I wrote the chief pilot, Dick Hagquist and attached a resume. I also applied on-line. In April, I went to the Kalitta office/hangar at Willow Run and asked to see Mr. Hagquist. He came out and we talked for about 15 minutes. We had some background in common.
A few days later I got a call (I recently moved to the Detroit area, near Willow Run) to come in. I had an informal interview with two other executives, talked about the nature of the job, etc. and was told on the spot I would be in the June class, subject to passing a simulator eval at a time and place to be determined. I was told I had good references so I think they made some calls.
A week later, I got a call to be in Miami for a sim check. Travel to Miami was at my expense, but the company paid for the hotel room. The sim check was very straightforward, basically to see if you are really a pilot. Takeoff from Charlotte, fly a heading to 4,000 ft, do some climbing turns at 500 fpm, fly a holding pattern, and an ILS to 300/2 full stop. Did the sim in a 737, but you could also be in a 747 sim.
All of the process was very friendly and professional. I immediately liked the people I met and the feel of the company. I was previously employed in night freight, so I know something of the business. A friend who has been through training told me it was tough but fair. He thought their washout rate, 25-35% was due to attitude or laziness and everyone got a fair shot.
I'm happy to be flying again and excited about the chance to fly 747s.
Bottom line - I don't think I would have been hired, at least not so quickly, if I didn't make the trek out to Willow Run for a face-to-face. When I went to drop off my resume, I didn't expect an interview, so I was on my motorcycle and wearing boots and jeans. Didn't seem to matter to anyone, which for me is a big plus for the company. I wore the suit and tie to the callback interview.
Good luck.
