I am in new hire FO training for the non charter side right now, in systems uggh, and from what the instructors are saying, the charter side is a whole different system.

They say that the interviews are totally seperate from the non-charter side and the bidding system will be seperate also. I'm not sure how true this is, but the instructors spend more time rubbing shoulders with the chief pilots and probably get accurate info. firsthand.

As far as getting hired for charter your chances are very slim if you are coming from outside the company. Even from within you've gotta be very senior.

Also, the branded flying is true, company just distributed the marketing flyer today showing the new paint scheme. The first plane in the new livery will roll out of the Saltillo paint shop in mid Jan. 07. Looks totally different, definitely does not look like Continental anymore. Mixed feelings about it around the training center. I like it.

Things are getting very busy at the training center. Hiring is nuts, Weekly interviews, Double and triple classes for new hires. My class is doubled with 32and a triple class of 48 started indoc today. I'm only in systems and it looks like i'll have over 100 numbers under me before IOE. Hell I don't even know my base yet for that matter.

CAL is hiring 38-40 xjt pilots a month, some with 0 turbine pic, straight from the right seat of an erj to 737's and 757's, thats nuts.

If everything management has planned goes well this is a great time to get on here. I feel things are going to be just fine.