Kalitta Interviewing?

[freightdawg]

Ummmmm.....wait a minute, here

Desperate measures? You must think working here is an act of desperation. We have people that have moved onto FedEx and UPS that say they enjoyed working here more. .

Ummm, wait a minute here - reality check. I am:

a) A Kalitta alumni who moved on to UPS
b) Not quite sure you have the whole story here.

In December of '06, we had 89 full crews online, and the company's opinion of any crew problem was "If you don't like it, the door's right there." But in '03, '04, '05 and most of '06, there weren't many places to go to. Many of us were waiting for a recall that was always just around the corner.

I now see that there are more aircraft, yet only 60-some crews. Rumor has it (someone please confirm) that Kalitta trained nonstop all last year - yet with a net loss of crews. Something smells in the state of Denmark, methinks.

I enjoyed my time at KA solely due to the great crews there. Many are still there, but only a year later, many have left. It IS a job that not everyone would want, like, or appreciate. I am aware of a couple people who have moved on to other jobs and found them to not quite match up to the billing - an who've been noted as saying they missed being at KA. Ask them if they're missing the people and culture they flew in, or the company and it's management. I challenge you to find someone willing to leave UPS or FedEx to go to KA.

That being said, if you're on the street, looking for work (like I was), and you can make it work for you, KA can be a good place to work. If you're willing to put up with the comany's BS, the schedule, the toothless union, and the occasional slacker/hacker co-worker.

If anyone has any beefs with this assesment, feel free to PM me.

SB

 

[embpic1]

Ummm, wait a minute here - reality check. I am:

a) A Kalitta alumni who moved on to UPS
b) Not quite sure you have the whole story here.

In December of '06, we had 89 full crews online, and the company's opinion of any crew problem was "If you don't like it, the door's right there." But in '03, '04, '05 and most of '06, there weren't many places to go to. Many of us were waiting for a recall that was always just around the corner.

I now see that there are more aircraft, yet only 60-some crews. Rumor has it (someone please confirm) that Kalitta trained nonstop all last year - yet with a net loss of crews. Something smells in the state of Denmark, methinks.

I enjoyed my time at KA solely due to the great crews there. Many are still there, but only a year later, many have left. It IS a job that not everyone would want, like, or appreciate. I am aware of a couple people who have moved on to other jobs and found them to not quite match up to the billing - an who've been noted as saying they missed being at KA. Ask them if they're missing the people and culture they flew in, or the company and it's management. I challenge you to find someone willing to leave UPS or FedEx to go to KA.

That being said, if you're on the street, looking for work (like I was), and you can make it work for you, KA can be a good place to work. If you're willing to put up with the comany's BS, the schedule, the toothless union, and the occasional slacker/hacker co-worker.

If anyone has any beefs with this assesment, feel free to PM me.

SB

I never said I knew people that would leave FedEx or UPS to come to KA. The almighty dollar rules and at the end of the day you make more money at those companies than KA. I was speaking of what you mentioned in your post. The people here are a blast to work with. I have had more fun in some far off places than I have ever had before. We are a small company and when you hear 'I flew with so in so' you have a good chance of saying 'Oh man, he is a character!'

You make it sound that KA is just a place to hang out and pay the bills till something better comes around. Well I guess that depends on where you are coming from. I came from the commuters. Life there was very hard. Long days for little pay. After coming here my QOL improved dramatically. I was home much more and I was making alot more money. I live a comfortable life and really enjoy my job. Sure, I wouldn't mind making the move to FedEx or UPS in the future. That being said, I disagree that working at KA is a 'Desperate measure'.

 

[Colonel Savage]

What does Tradewinds have anything to do with Kalitta, especially, the A-300?

I'll assume you were serious and missed his point, in which case he was pointing out that not all ACMI's with three man crews hire new pilots into the right seat.

He then pointed out as an example that Tradewinds hired them as FE's.

 

[avbug]

Kalitta does both. Kalitta hires people who start as FE's, Kalitta hires people who start as FO's. Some FE's upgrade to FO's. The difference, however, is that the FE seat is not used as a path to the right seat. Kalitta hires professional flight engineers.

Some PFE's do have the qualifications to move to the other seat, though presently the right seat and FE pay are essentially the same. Kalitta no longer hires SO's that start in the FE seat and move up.

 

[30West]

Is there a loadmaster named Shrek still with you guys?

 

[noperf]

In regards to life insurance policy and war zone exclusions etc. I'd recommend reading the policy and getting the facts. My policy was under-written a while back and the only provision about this is in regards to the payment of premiums after disability rider.

 

[ToiletDuck]

I want to work at kalitta but sitting at 3000hrs I don't have the time yet. I wish the ATA guys the best and hope you can get you a few positions. Sorry that you'll have to start all over though Guess I'll be sitting at RAH for awhile.

 

[johnsonrod]

I hear a bunch of recent newhires got 747-400 class slots. What were their backgrounds? Regional and military?

When do the 400s start operating on the line?

 

[TennJed]

What were their backgrounds? Regional and military?


Try 737/57/67 captains. Heard yesterday from Asst. Chief that 4000 is the absolute min TT for apps. and that most new hires are averaging 10,000+ TT with int'l experience. Referred a friend from Aloha with less than 4000 but with time in both the -200 and -700. No dice. My how things have changed in a year.

 

[OrionFE]

What were their backgrounds? Regional and military?


Try 737/57/67 captains. Heard yesterday from Asst. Chief that 4000 is the absolute min TT for apps. and that most new hires are averaging 10,000+ TT with int'l experience. Referred a friend from Aloha with less than 4000 but with time in both the -200 and -700. No dice. My how things have changed in a year.

It's all about timing. For the past couple of years, all that was out there were 4000 hour Regional guys. Good opportunity for them. With the shutdown and immediate furlough and several guys with a sh**load of heavy PIC time, it is a "no brainer" the company can for the first time be a bit picky. Again, in this business......timing!!

 

[dojetdriver]

It's all about timing. For the past couple of years, all that was out there were 4000 hour Regional guys. Good opportunity for them. With the shutdown and immediate furlough and several guys with a sh**load of heavy PIC time, it is a "no brainer" the company can for the first time be a bit picky. Again, in this business......timing!!

Yeah, that completely sucks. I was waiting till the end of the summer when I'd have 1000 TPIC and the was going to apply. Guess I'll rethink that plan.

 

[ToiletDuck]

Better think fast.

 

[dojetdriver]

Better think fast.

Um, yeeeeaaah.

The way things are going, there will be plenty of time to come up with something else.

 

[WmuBronco]

quality of life

Hi, I am a ExpressJet emb145 Capt.. Wondering what the quality of life is like there at Kalitta Cargo?? I live in Allen Park. Which is about a 30 minute drive from YIP. In fact I use to work for what use to be Kitty Hawk charters, which is now Kalitta Charters 2.

How many days off? Days on? average hours worked a month?? How much can you expect to make there first year?? How long to upgrade??


Thanks,


Christian

 

[avbug]

Who is Kalitta Cargo?

Kalitta Charters, Kalitta Charters II, Kalitta Air, LLC...who is Kalitta Cargo?

How long to upgrade...really depends on you, doesn't it? Minimum time to be eligible has been averaging a year to a year and a half. The success rate of those who attempt, however, has not been stellar.

17 days on each month...whatever is left of the month off. Quality of life is rather subjective, don't you think? How much can you expect to make? See the pay scales at airlinepilotcentral.com