More CAL

[densoo]

CAL MEC Chairman’s Update
May 27, 2005

CAL continues to welcome aboard new pilots as hiring continues at a
rapid pace. It appears that additional off-site simulator time has been
obtained and monthly training will increase to 48 pilots per month. This
is good news for us all and, as I said last week, the Training
Department is soliciting resumes for new instructors on all fleet types
because the current level of hiring and training is expected to continue
indefinitely.

We are all aware that the additional 757 aircraft from Boeing will be
arriving soon. These are returned lease aircraft from American Trans Air
(ATA). As part of the new contract, we requested that these ATA pilots
be given preferential interviews. The ATA pilots are scheduled for
interviews and training and today one was hired to our seniority list.
As our new pilots transition to the line, welcome them aboard.

 

[ThisistheDream]

what about the other ALPA furloughed pilots not furloughed from ATA, when do we get to interview with CAL??

 

[Truckdriver]

what about the other ALPA furloughed pilots not furloughed from ATA, when do we get to interview with CAL??

After all of the pilots who were hired at XJT prior to 9/11 get interviews. We already work for CAL, we just have a different monkey leaving us monthly voicemails. Why should a furloughed ALPA guy from UAL or UAIR get an interview at CAL before other loyal employees of CAL get an opportunity? If I get my interview and get hired, then you can come interview at XJT and take my position.

 

[IHaveAPension]

After all of the pilots who were hired at XJT prior to 9/11 get interviews. We already work for CAL, we just have a different monkey leaving us monthly voicemails. Why should a furloughed ALPA guy from UAL or UAIR get an interview at CAL before other loyal employees of CAL get an opportunity? If I get my interview and get hired, then you can come interview at XJT and take my position.

Because they have already paid their dues and deserve a job at a major and you are still paying yours, that's why.

 

[Truckdriver]

Because they have already paid their dues and deserve a job at a major and you are still paying yours, that's why.

I haven't seen a bill for my dues yet so I guess mine are also paid. Maybe my bills have been coming to you and you are paying my dues. If they are please let me know because I don't want someone else paying my dues for me. That whole paying dues stuff is crap. There are lots of furloughed ALPA guys who haven't paid nearly as many dues as some pilots who haven't been furloughed. Don't give me the paying dues line.

 

[Cardinal]

After all of the pilots who were hired at XJT prior to 9/11 get interviews. We already work for CAL, we just have a different monkey leaving us monthly voicemails.

I'm afraid that's just delusional. It's been 4 years since the spinoff and FTA termination. Did you get that memo? If, since then, you've been counting on the goodwill of CAL management to bring you over en masse, I have a beachhouse in Arizona you'd be interested in.

 

[boxjockey]

Because they have already paid their dues and deserve a job at a major and you are still paying yours, that's why.

How many senior pilots at the major airlines today do you think were hired when the mins were living, breathing, comm pilot license, in that order? I think alot of you old geezers need to remember where you came from. Maybe this doesn't apply specifically to you, but it does to many.

box

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Wow...jealousy is a b*tch....so much for brotherhood....

Loyal employees of CAL???

You already work for CAL? So why do your ID's no longer say Continental Express? Why did you loose the CAL logo on your wings? Why is your company now called Express Jet?

You USED to work for a subsidiary of Continental, now you work for a contractor. You're just like everybody else.

Furloughed ATA are getting preferential interviews because much of the new growth CAL is experiencing is in the 757 market. And they are coming by all theese 757's from ATA, as ATA is furloughing.

I don't know if this formally triggered ALPA's fragmentation policy, but it was a good faith move on the part of CAL's MEC to give pref. interviews to furloughed ATA crew.

What he is referring to is the fact that 236 pilots were hired (and given positive commitment letters) by CAL management over 2 1/2 years ago. There is a lot of frustration on the part of these pilots when they see other pilots hired and put in class ahead of them today when they were selected to be CAL pilots over 2 1/2 years ago. The 48/month expansion has a tad to do with a few 757's from ATA but the lion's share of the hiring is coming from other growth and tons of retirements.

-Neal

 

[Thedude]

I have had an application in with CO since '98 and still no call. Do you think I should be called ahead of the guys emplolyed at Xjet in 01?

 

[BluDevAv8r]

I have had an application in with CO since '98 and still no call. Do you think I should be called ahead of the guys emplolyed at Xjet in 01?

CAL stopped taking applications in 2001. The XJT pilots hired by CAL were hired in 2002 via a preferential interview process offered as a result of the termination of the FTA. These pilots were all hired at XJT in 1996-1998 and virtually all have over 2000 PIC in the 145. The point is - CAL made a commitment to these pilots over 2 1/2 years ago....and they didn't simply "have their application in" as you did.

-Neal

 

[nimtz]

Wow...jealousy is a b*tch....so much for brotherhood....

Loyal employees of CAL???

You already work for CAL? So why do your ID's no longer say Continental Express? Why did you loose the CAL logo on your wings? Why is your company now called Express Jet?

You USED to work for a subsidiary of Continental, now you work for a contractor. You're just like everybody else.

Furloughed ATA are getting preferential interviews because much of the new growth CAL is experiencing is in the 757 market. And they are coming by all theese 757's from ATA, as ATA is furloughing.

I don't know if this formally triggered ALPA's fragmentation policy, but it was a good faith move on the part of CAL's MEC to give pref. interviews to furloughed ATA crew.

Original Gulfstream Newhire,

These individuals which my collegues speak of were 'hired' by CAL in the first/second quarter of 2002. Many of these folks are exteremly qualified for future promotions ie being things like Jet check airmen. If you can name me one ATA individual who was hired by CAL in the Winter of 2002 by all means please tell me the name cause many would like to know. Otherwise stop talking outside your element and MINE YOUR OWN F*CKING BUSINESS KID!

"The Next Stop is Concourse T, Concourse T..."

 

[nimtz]

I have had an application in with CO since '98 and still no call. Do you think I should be called ahead of the guys emplolyed at Xjet in 01?

Please refer me to what day you interviewed in 2001/2002. Did you keep updating that application in 2001, 2002, and 2003 btw?

 

[Flopgut]

Neal:

Would it be incorrect to assume that the 236 XJT hires would come over in some sort of incremental manner? That is exactly how the FTA worked, would that not be implied now?

Or would it be more important to insist/force the issue to see the entire group go en mass?

I am in favor of "FTA like", sustained hiring by CAL from the XJT ranks. If anything less than an "en mass" migration to CAL won't suit the likes of you, then lets get it over with. And then part company for good.

 

[Flopgut]

Neal:

To be quite honest, I am surprised that these 236 are so willing to give up what they have. If they really want to leave why not go to FDX, UPS, SWA etc.? With thier lofty qualifications how can any company afford not to grant them employment? Right?

This 236 number, it is growing smaller right?

 

[jbDC9]

Otherwise stop talking outside your element and MINE YOUR OWN F*CKING BUSINESS KID!

Dude, lighten up; you're gonna blow a gasket if you keep going like that. The original poster (Truckdriver) made no reference to the PIGs... he made it sound as if all ExJet guys are working for CAL and all deserve to come over. In fact, he specifically mentioned all ExJet guys hired prior to 9/11 should be first in line for interviews... and prior to 9/11 was prior to the PIGs.

Methinks T-gates has a valid point. Perhaps you should read a thread more closely before spouting off like you did?

 

[nimtz]

Methinks T-gates has a valid point. Perhaps you should read a thread more closely before spouting off like you did?

Fair enough, I misread the post as a knock on the PIGS. I'll call my own stupidity fueled by a few beers. I was knocking back those beers with my buddy who's a PIG and quite rightly PO'd about his career status. Told him to apply elsewhere two years ago, but he 'foolishly' thought passing an interview and getting hired meant something. If you were in a PIGS shoes I bet you would be pretty annoyed to lose seniority to somebody that was hired two years after you.

Truckdriver's sentiments sound great, but are totally unrealistic. Quite frankly at this rate I'll be content if the PIGS even get to go over at any ratio. I have no expectactions of CAL anything mroe then a token XJT guy here and there. It's pretty obvious CAL Flight Ops doesn't like XJet pilots. That's why the pref interview talk won't amount to a hill of beans. Guess Jimmy Tripson proclaiming all XJet guys really wanted to run over to Delta had some lasting bite to it. Too bad cause most of the flowbacks were great guys to fly a four day with.

 

[mckpickle]

I am REALY ABOUT TO LOOSE MY F$CKING MIND reading this crap.

I just got my Social Security statement the other day.....you know what it said. It said I was employed by CONTINENTAL AIRLINES since 1997. I interviewed in 2002 and was accepted for a pilot slot at continental airlines.

Oh but now I'm not good enough to fly for CAL I have to wait in line a be hired behind the ATA pilot who flew as my FO at Express. And if I'm lucky someday I'll be added to the seniority list. Oh boy lucky me....thank you masta CAL.

I've so had it with CAL, The CAL pilot group and this freakin industry.

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Neal:

To be quite honest, I am surprised that these 236 are so willing to give up what they have. If they really want to leave why not go to FDX, UPS, SWA etc.? With thier lofty qualifications how can any company afford not to grant them employment? Right?

This 236 number, it is growing smaller right?

This isn't about "lofty" qualifications. I only pointed out that these pilots have been flying for Continental Express for 8+ years so that people don't think these are 2nd year FO's looking for a freebie. Some have gone on to other airlines. Others chose to stay at XJT in order to go to CAL. The positive commitment letter from CAL management mandated that in order for them to be eligible to go to CAL, they MUST stay at XJT until they are called over (in seniority order). And most likely, nobody else from the XJT ranks will be interviewed by CAL until all of these pilots with letters go over.

Out of curiosity, what company do you work for now?

-Neal

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Neal:

Would it be incorrect to assume that the 236 XJT hires would come over in some sort of incremental manner? That is exactly how the FTA worked, would that not be implied now?

Or would it be more important to insist/force the issue to see the entire group go en mass?

I am in favor of "FTA like", sustained hiring by CAL from the XJT ranks. If anything less than an "en mass" migration to CAL won't suit the likes of you, then lets get it over with. And then part company for good.

At the time this process was offered to our pilots 2 1/2 years ago, no mention was made of any ratio or incremental manner. These pilots (I'm not one of them by the way) did a panel interview and then a simulator ride. Those that passed received a letter stating so and stating that in order to be eligible at CAL they MUST remain employed at XJT until such time that CAL calls them for class. This wasn't a new FTA nor was the union involved in any way, shape, or form. It was a process offered by CAL management on their own volition and as such, they created an expectation amongst those pilots who were hired. I don't remember insulting you or spewing vitriolic remarks so where does the "likes of you" comment come from?

-Neal

 

[IHaveAPension]

What he is referring to is the fact that 236 pilots were hired (and given positive commitment letters) by CAL management over 2 1/2 years ago. There is a lot of frustration on the part of these pilots when they see other pilots hired and put in class ahead of them today when they were selected to be CAL pilots over 2 1/2 years ago. The 48/month expansion has a tad to do with a few 757's from ATA but the lion's share of the hiring is coming from other growth and tons of retirements.

-Neal

What you and the other 236 don't realize is that now there is a bunch of more qualified, furloughed major guys on the market with time in either the same type of planes of comparable planes that CAL flies. Given the fact that those guys are available now, the choice is obvious. Go with the guys who have already proven themselves by going through a majors training program and flying major equipment. Plus have some compassion, those guys need a break.