Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

What are the first two or three months at CAL like?

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web
Register   Log in
Status
Not open for further replies.
Bigoober

Bigoober

Well-known member
Joined
May 19, 2004
Posts
222
From my offer letter I see that training is eight to nine weeks. What is it like from there for the first couple of months? All assuming 737 EWR since the majority of pilots are put there.

Are you assigned a line for your IOE? Is IOE only for a month?

How long are the trips that first month?

Do you bid on that line or just assigned it?

I'm just trying to get a feel for life and get the family ready for that first taste of airline life since we have already figured out the financial part.

Thanks.
 
Congrats on your job offer! IOE is assigned to you by training scheduling. First they'll try to get you a 1 or 2 day out of IAH with a schoolhouse instructor to get some round-dial time. The rest of IOE should be out of EWR with a regular line check airman.

When it comes to bidding, a certain part of your first month will be blocked off for IOE. You will be able to bid for days off for the rest of the month. Right now reserve is running about 3 months for EWR 737. Good luck!
 
The first 3 months are way better then the rest of your career will be there.

If you really want to prepare your family for life at CAL. Move out and say goodbye to them now. Save them the pain starting now. PBS will ruin your home life.
 
yeah it's awful! I'm starting year 3 and i got christmas off, new years off, 16 days off on my line, and great trips!

It's awful!
 
Just started year two and have yet to work a holiday. Got Christmas and New Year's off this year as well. PBS still sucks and I can't wait till 08' for some sort of change but this month worked out OK. Bidding at 50% EWR 737.
 
Last edited:
Well, I'm still in year one, this is how it went for me.

IOE was assigned, no trips starting in IAH, just went straight to EWR to fly. Very straightforward, finished in 1 four day and 1 two day. After that, I was assigned reserve, with pro-rated days off. Scheduling actually called me as I was leaving the airport when I finished IOE to let me know I was on reserve the next day.
Reserve lasted a whole month and a half, 737 EWR, but I flew every single day I was legal to fly. Don't expect to sit much on reserve, I was up to FAR limits the entire time.
That being said, reserve wasn't too bad, since I bid long call, and got it, so there wasn't any stress about making it to the airport. Every trip I got showed up on the computer, and I just checked in without ever talking to scheduling.
After that comes regular lines, a nice change, but figuring out PBS is a massive pain. I'm still working on that.

So, expect to have 12 days off for a while, but things are moving quickly and hopefully we can change the contract for the better.
 
Congratulations! CAL is one of the very best airlines out there and you are one lucky guy to get that job as hundreds, if not thousands like you have competed hard for that class slot.

First of all, get ready for some of the hottest stews in the business, Just about everyone of them a near 10. They're pilot friendly and really like to party hard with the rest of the crews. Layovers in HNL or GUM will be just one big orgy with no end in sight. Hang on as this is going to be one hell of a ride. They don't care if your married or not, so why should you.

Everything from the airplanes to the President of the company, classiest act in the airline business today. The B707-320C's were made for this operation. A few MAC charters in and out of Nam will make you realize just how really fortunet you really are.

Whta'ya mean wake up.....I guess I just dozed off dreaming about the good old days. Oh well...congratulations anyway.
 
Last edited:
ClubORD said:
Just started year two and have yet to work a holiday. Got Christmas and New Year's off this year as well. PBS still sucks and I can't wait till 08' for some sort of change but this month worked out OK. Bidding at 50% EWR 737.
Click to expand...

Ah, the difference.....EWR vs IAH & CLE 737...

1 year in IAH will get you 83% in BES on the 737

EWR CAPT 2 years, IAH or CLE Capt 6 years!
 
It's probably a lot like your first year of college, no money, no insurance, ramen noodles, used furniture, sleeping all day, eating bad food, putting on the freshman 15, etc.

The only difference is that in college it only lasts for a few years then you graduate. At CAL the misery last forever...LOL
 
Oxberger and airksk, thanks. That is about what I was expecting. Just trying to figure out some items around the house and when to get them going. Look forward to being out there with you guys.

Sorry, Pocono. Didn't have much of that kind of life in college, but I was also the type to make sure that I came out of college without the debt of some of these numbnuts.
 
Bigoober said:
From my offer letter I see that training is eight to nine weeks. What is it like from there for the first couple of months? All assuming 737 EWR since the majority of pilots are put there.

Are you assigned a line for your IOE? Is IOE only for a month?

How long are the trips that first month?

Do you bid on that line or just assigned it?

I'm just trying to get a feel for life and get the family ready for that first taste of airline life since we have already figured out the financial part.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

No opportunities flying the GV someplace?
 
instructordude said:
Like being at a regional.

By the way, don't get sick.:laugh::laugh:
Click to expand...

LOL, not hardly. Our contract is much better than CAL's. Being at a regional is pretty much better than being at CAL these days.
 
Wow, the CAL haters are just like flies around a bug zapper. Just can't stay away. Not worried about the insurance though. Covered in other ways. Just have to plan.

ip241, there are many opportunities with the GV/550 and pay can obviously be very good. It just isn't what I want to do. I've done a couple of contract gigs and just found it to be something I didn't want for personal reasons that I won't post on a public forum.
 
21 months and getting better all the time!

Well, what can I say. The equipment is good, the seniority progression is unbelievable, and yes even PBS has afforded me for the past 6 months consistent schedules of 18 to 22 days off per month. Even before that, very liveable schedules.

Biggest problem is deciding to do the upgrade on the 73 or go to widebody to preserve qaulity of life until I am a lineholder on the 73.

P.S I just left the schoolhouse today and heard another 700 new hires next year and up to 5 777's coming to cover Shanghai and Heathrow until the 787's get here.
 
On a completely different note -- what can be expected as far as schedules during the first year at CAL? I'm personally hoping to do as much flying as possible, for two reasons: (1) the first year pay is less than half of what I'm currently making (and I don't want to take a second job to make ends meet if I can help it), and (2) I want to get as proficient as possible in whatever equipment I get. That won't happen if I'm sitting around on reserve all month, not doing any flying.

Thanks for any info/adavice you CAL guys have.
 
I don't know what all the other responses are but Cal is like a foil covered turd. Pretty on the outside but once you get to the inside,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
 
Morgoth, you crack me up!! At 30 bucks an hour, you only have one choice.........being poor. As far as being proficient? Don't worry, you'll be flying your ass off so much, it'll all be a blur anyway. I'd be more concerned about finding cheap booze. You'll be a raging drunk after your first year.
 
Kugelblitz Really???


And for the little gay horse boy. No, obviously it's not you. It's the girl on here that actually is intelligent and hysterical, at your expense, of course.
 
Morgoth said:
On a completely different note -- what can be expected as far as schedules during the first year at CAL? I'm personally hoping to do as much flying as possible, for two reasons: (1) the first year pay is less than half of what I'm currently making (and I don't want to take a second job to make ends meet if I can help it), and (2) I want to get as proficient as possible in whatever equipment I get. That won't happen if I'm sitting around on reserve all month, not doing any flying.

Thanks for any info/adavice you CAL guys have.
Click to expand...

Don't worry! Just bid the 737 in IAH and you will get your 1000 hours a year no prob.
 
Morgoth said:
On a completely different note -- what can be expected as far as schedules during the first year at CAL? I'm personally hoping to do as much flying as possible, for two reasons: (1) the first year pay is less than half of what I'm currently making (and I don't want to take a second job to make ends meet if I can help it), and (2) I want to get as proficient as possible in whatever equipment I get. That won't happen if I'm sitting around on reserve all month, not doing any flying.

Thanks for any info/adavice you CAL guys have.
Click to expand...

My friend after two months of EWR 737 flying you'll drop the whole 'I gotta fly more' bit, trust me. Unfortunately the wonders of PBS and POS Contract '02 will keep you working more then you'd like. I'm ending the year with over 900 hours flown, but if you looked at my paycheck you would laugh. It doesn't pay to work that hard. Seniority (I pray) will prevent me from flying that much again. Currently at CAL we devour our young when it comes to the junior guy. That's why guys are holding EWR 737 Capt in three years...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Share this page

Latest posts

Latest resources

Latest media

Carbon Cub FX-3 Shenandoah Valley
Carbon Cub at Kittyhawk
FX-3 in the backcountry
IFR Panel in a Carbon Cub FX-3
Cub-Provo-UT-c.jpg
Back
Top Bottom