Kalitta Air (K4) Information
09-07-2018, 03:32 PM
#551
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Posts: 30
K4 2018 Hiring update.
Hiring is not slowing down, however we only have 3 more classes scheduled for this year and I believe they are all full. We only have 2 more interview days set up for this year, (9/12 & 9/13), so if you are not in one of those it will probably be January. Mid November through Christmas day is our busiest time of the year so the only training we do is IOE, as all checkairmen and instructors fly the line. We are planning classes of 18 (2-B767& 16-B744) every three weeks all of next year.
Hiring is not slowing down, however we only have 3 more classes scheduled for this year and I believe they are all full. We only have 2 more interview days set up for this year, (9/12 & 9/13), so if you are not in one of those it will probably be January. Mid November through Christmas day is our busiest time of the year so the only training we do is IOE, as all checkairmen and instructors fly the line. We are planning classes of 18 (2-B767& 16-B744) every three weeks all of next year.
09-07-2018, 03:32 PM
#552
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2017
Position: Heavy
Posts: 187
Originally Posted by flyguy37
This is just one person's opinion...…
A fair amount of the opinions on this board come from captains who have been around a while and with their seniority, the decent contract, and the recent growth are sitting pretty and have no plans to go anywhere except maybe FDX/UPS. I wouldn't go anywhere either.
The recent upgrades have gone what seems like very junior, under two years. K4 has been hiring approximately 16 pilots every 3 weeks for the past 6 months or so. Over 180 pilots have been hired in the last year in a company that has a little over 500 pilots total. K4 just got number 23 B747 out of a suggested 25 total and maybe a few more 767s coming and a possible 777 program in the future. The 747-400 won't be around forever and K4 seems to know that by beginning the process of bringing the 777 online but who knows how much of it would be organic growth or just replacements
I say all that to suggest that the hiring wave may have been missed. When the dust settles K4 may have 600-700 pilots and anyone hired today would be in the bottom 5th of all that. K4 doesn't need a lot of captains with the current crewing ratios and there is little attrition from the top with only 5-10 retirements a year for the next decade. We all know anything can happen and K4 could take over the world or they could furlough tomorrow.
No non-rev commuting is nice but you still commute. So your last day off is given up commuting especially if you live somewhere remote and/or you don't want to show up exhausted for your 10 hour flight after being awake on an airline all day (first day commute is not duty time)
The contract certainly needs some improvements in work rules and retirement and it can happen in the next round but under a dollar for dollar comparison it is hard for a K4 new hire to not seriously consider a Legacy carrier. You will make more money in the long term and you can one day not work 16+days a month on reserve.
For the non money items not having to jumpseat to work is nice and its value varies based on where you live etc. The company is ok to work with but they have grown a lot in a short time and the growing pains are real especially in the scheduling and IT department and several other areas too. You will never fly your line so you are basically on reserve for 16 days and not at home. If you want to actually fly your awarded line just go somewhere else. I like the longer stints away and at home but every family is different. The guys and gals you work with are cool and you will see some neat places but honestly you will go to the same 10 airports 90 percent of the time. As a new guy after IOE you will never fly the plane so if you are one of those guys who needs to feel the yoke in your palm look elsewhere.
I say all that to say there is no right answer. We all are just trying to juggle money versus happiness. I just wanted to provide a perspective that is more inline with what you would experience if hired today. I think if you are on the fence and you heard about 16 month upgrades you could be making the wrong choice if you look at the overall picture. If you are coming out of the military or the 135 world I would go to a regional (preferably with a flow through) as a DEC, get an LCA/ training position and hit the legacies from that angle.
A fair amount of the opinions on this board come from captains who have been around a while and with their seniority, the decent contract, and the recent growth are sitting pretty and have no plans to go anywhere except maybe FDX/UPS. I wouldn't go anywhere either.
The recent upgrades have gone what seems like very junior, under two years. K4 has been hiring approximately 16 pilots every 3 weeks for the past 6 months or so. Over 180 pilots have been hired in the last year in a company that has a little over 500 pilots total. K4 just got number 23 B747 out of a suggested 25 total and maybe a few more 767s coming and a possible 777 program in the future. The 747-400 won't be around forever and K4 seems to know that by beginning the process of bringing the 777 online but who knows how much of it would be organic growth or just replacements
I say all that to suggest that the hiring wave may have been missed. When the dust settles K4 may have 600-700 pilots and anyone hired today would be in the bottom 5th of all that. K4 doesn't need a lot of captains with the current crewing ratios and there is little attrition from the top with only 5-10 retirements a year for the next decade. We all know anything can happen and K4 could take over the world or they could furlough tomorrow.
No non-rev commuting is nice but you still commute. So your last day off is given up commuting especially if you live somewhere remote and/or you don't want to show up exhausted for your 10 hour flight after being awake on an airline all day (first day commute is not duty time)
The contract certainly needs some improvements in work rules and retirement and it can happen in the next round but under a dollar for dollar comparison it is hard for a K4 new hire to not seriously consider a Legacy carrier. You will make more money in the long term and you can one day not work 16+days a month on reserve.
For the non money items not having to jumpseat to work is nice and its value varies based on where you live etc. The company is ok to work with but they have grown a lot in a short time and the growing pains are real especially in the scheduling and IT department and several other areas too. You will never fly your line so you are basically on reserve for 16 days and not at home. If you want to actually fly your awarded line just go somewhere else. I like the longer stints away and at home but every family is different. The guys and gals you work with are cool and you will see some neat places but honestly you will go to the same 10 airports 90 percent of the time. As a new guy after IOE you will never fly the plane so if you are one of those guys who needs to feel the yoke in your palm look elsewhere.
I say all that to say there is no right answer. We all are just trying to juggle money versus happiness. I just wanted to provide a perspective that is more inline with what you would experience if hired today. I think if you are on the fence and you heard about 16 month upgrades you could be making the wrong choice if you look at the overall picture. If you are coming out of the military or the 135 world I would go to a regional (preferably with a flow through) as a DEC, get an LCA/ training position and hit the legacies from that angle.
All very true. Nice realistic post.
09-08-2018, 09:48 PM
#553
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Position: Old and Unemployed
Posts: 107
I am too tired to figure out how to get Colt's post to show up as a quote. But...
Yes, I am a captain posting. And, kinda senior. And, kinda inside the YIP structure.
We do not have 500+ pilots, we have more like 450. Attrition still exists and we lose about 50 a year to the majors.
Staffing goal is 21 pilots per 747, 10 pilots per 767, and 21 pilots per 777. The overall fleet count is to maintain a fleet of roughly 25 747s that will gradually transition from BCFs to straight Fs or ERFs. And, my personal speculation is that there will be a relatively stable 767 fleet at roughly 12 units. The rest of this is straight up guess. There are a lot of factors in play with the 777 thing. Could never be more than a couple. Could be about 12 (my personal best guess) by 2020 ish.
So, my high school math says that works out to 546 pilots for the 747, 120 for the 767, and 252 for the 777. (I do not see the 747 fleet shrinking as the 777 fleet grows. Waaaayyyy to much ad hoc business to support the whale). So, I would put the total pilot force by end of year 2020 at roughly 900.
My opinion, it is perfectly reasonable to see today's new hire in the left seat in 24-30 months. But, putting on my schoolhouse hat, just because you can hold a seat does not necessarily mean you are ready.
Yes, I am a captain posting. And, kinda senior. And, kinda inside the YIP structure.
We do not have 500+ pilots, we have more like 450. Attrition still exists and we lose about 50 a year to the majors.
Staffing goal is 21 pilots per 747, 10 pilots per 767, and 21 pilots per 777. The overall fleet count is to maintain a fleet of roughly 25 747s that will gradually transition from BCFs to straight Fs or ERFs. And, my personal speculation is that there will be a relatively stable 767 fleet at roughly 12 units. The rest of this is straight up guess. There are a lot of factors in play with the 777 thing. Could never be more than a couple. Could be about 12 (my personal best guess) by 2020 ish.
So, my high school math says that works out to 546 pilots for the 747, 120 for the 767, and 252 for the 777. (I do not see the 747 fleet shrinking as the 777 fleet grows. Waaaayyyy to much ad hoc business to support the whale). So, I would put the total pilot force by end of year 2020 at roughly 900.
My opinion, it is perfectly reasonable to see today's new hire in the left seat in 24-30 months. But, putting on my schoolhouse hat, just because you can hold a seat does not necessarily mean you are ready.
09-09-2018, 05:51 AM
#554
Banned
Joined APC: May 2015
Posts: 201
Originally Posted by Geezer
Really? I dare you to say it to the DHL executive that get's on an airplane in LEJ or CVG. I'll make it a double-dog dare. Make sure you live feed your reply response to your supervisor when you explain yourself and then explain why you'll be more circumspect in the near future.
Assure you nobody on our side would, be offended. I suggest trying to get laid it might help with your tension levels.
09-09-2018, 06:28 AM
#555
Tin Can Time
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Position: Entitled Newb
Posts: 168
I have one application on the website that was submitted early last year and one that I saved to finish this year. The saved app. now shows a message that you are no longer accepting applications for this position. Will you be opening the “window” to accept apps. at a later date? Next year after peak season? Or should I be sending a current resume to an HR email address?
09-09-2018, 07:43 AM
#556
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,930
Originally Posted by JungleJetDriver
I have one application on the website that was submitted early last year and one that I saved to finish this year. The saved app. now shows a message that you are no longer accepting applications for this position. Will you be opening the “window” to accept apps. at a later date? Next year after peak season? Or should I be sending a current resume to an HR email address?
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