Like where? Which airlines are not requiring the vaccine? Or maybe you mean we could just learn to code or simply retire like yourself? So many easy choices, right? Let them eat cake?

Makes sense to Vax, and also makes sense not too. You’re too young, so it’s guaranteed you will Vax no matter what the fear factor would have been. We both have had enuff stuff given to us by the government blindly so we’ll be blind together as I recently caved having seen the writing on the wall. Eventually there may be a time where I and possibly you will make that fight back decision as much as I hope it’s not required. Tip of the iceberg, but it doesn’t take much rip steel. You have that number to that truck driver’s school Globe, I think it was Truckmasters?

*Note: 61,000 truck driver positions open at this moment. Ever since increasing regulations, etc. (not advocating there shouldn’t have been a driving limit of some sort) there has been a drove of truckers leaving the industry due to the additional gov/company strains in place. Automation in play already, eventually that last info won’t matter someday.

Any updates as to the business, hiring, fleet, and 2022 and beyond?

Thanks

Was told interviews every 3 weeks. Strong preference towards internal recs, everyone in my interview group had one. Classes for the 747 booked to February, 767/777 seemed similar with some minor holes to fill. 747 seemed to have most of the hiring.

Fleetwise, 777-300F's still on the horizon. More 747s certainly an option but prices are high for used frames.

Thank you for the updates.

On the Kalitta website, for the first officer posting, it states US Passport is required, and that US citizenship is required. Does the company not hire US permanent residents?

No green card holders allowed.

Max...i dont know about Florida... But the State of Louisiana and many other states are given your vaccination information to the state health department. We even have an app that is certififed by the state department of health and shows the type of vaccination... the lot# and the date taken and who administered it. I am guessing its the same in most states.

They will be hiring for the foreseeable future on all aircraft types. If you get the 767 god help you. Though they are holding off on interviews because they are bogged down with training until March they said on the last "All call"

There has been hiring for the foreseeable future since the DEC ‘16 contract. The turnover is almost equal between those leaving and those coming. ‘18-‘20 the hiring was greater than the attrition. Don’t forget they just threw 40 pilots out on the street in DEC. There are way too many options with all the hiring to go ACMI unless your a glutton for punishment.

40 pilots out on the street in December? What happened?

COVID mandate. Not quite 40 but it was not an insignificant percentage of pilots.

Good time to get your app in.

you mean 40 pilots made a decision that resulted in them being terminated

yes, getting terminated is exactly what he meant by "getting thrown out on the street"

They have not been terminated. They were placed on a 90 day leave. There are things going on behind the scenes regarding the companies inappropriate action.

why can't you just enjoy retirement?

Please share what is the “Story” on the 767 fleet?
Thanks.

It’s mostly a hub night cargo bird on min guarantee with a few cool overnights in South America at the moment. Definitely the hardest working pilots here - low hours but long sits making the duty days long. I personally have a mountain of respect for the 76 pilots - they are the glue on that fleet for sure.

[QUOTE'=East Aspen Dash;3351895]It’s mostly a hub night cargo bird on min guarantee with a few cool overnights in South America at the moment. Definitely the hardest working pilots here - low hours but long sits making the duty days long. I personally have a mountain of respect for the 76 pilots - they are the glue on that fleet for sure.[/QUOTE]

Ah! Got it. Thanks

Thank you, most of the 74 or 777 guys consider us merely a joke when many of us had zero choice what aircraft we were assigned upon getting the offer. I’ve often been laughed off or disregarded in the van when asked and mentioning I was on the 76 which has been more reasons for me to realize this is not where I want to be.

Unfortunately no South America overnights and that flying is gone starting early next month so no more escaping the hub for some.

Thank you, most of the 74 or 777 guys I’ve ran into consider us merely a joke when many of us had zero choice what aircraft we were assigned upon getting the offer. Over the last couple years I’ve been here I’ve often been laughed off or disregarded in the van when asked and mentioning I was on the 76 which has only been more reasons for me to realize this is not where I want to be.

Unfortunately no South America overnights and that flying is gone starting early next month so no more escaping the hub for some.

sorry to hear that, I’ve never heard of anyone on the 76 being chided, only lauded for a fantastic effort!

Does K4 not have any sort of rig or soft pay in your CBA that would allow you to credit more than block?

there really isn’t much in the way of soft pay or rigs. You are paid for flight, reserve, DH, OT days, and covid tests. That’s about it.

So if you have a nice 14 hour flight, but it gets stolen by training and you get reassigned to a short trip there’s no recourse. Their excuse is you get min guarantee, so deal with it.

We have line guarantee. Rig is not added to block, It is a separate calculation that is based on time away from base (we don't have trip rig). We also get paid 4.0 pch per day for reserve days, or if off our line.

well…. That really sucks!
So what is the attraction to work here outside of been Home based?

Don't, You are too good to be there! Good luck!!

Would have been nice if this was in our latest contract. But oooohhhh shiny penny.

To be honest there isn’t any, here are just a few examples of what life is like working at Kalitta. If you are working at a regional, this is a place to get some heavy time before moving on to greener pastures. The pay is good, but you have zero control over your life, and will work like a dog. If you are really considering a supplemental, consider Atlas, at least you have some work rules, and when you go into China you will be compensated 1.75 hours for your entire days flight. At Kalitta you get ZERO extra pay, and when you sit on the ground waiting to be loaded in China, your ground time will be between 3 to 8 hours, where you get nothing toward your guarantee.

From an earlier post

1. If you like working a 17-plus hour day as the new norm you will like it here.
2. If you like only getting min rest after working an extend duty day, you will like it here.
3. If you like not having any control of your schedule, you will like it here.
4. If you like getting 6% into your retirement account with no matching income from the company, you will like it here.
5. If you like the arbitrary 72-hour rule concerning your travel request, you will like it here.
6. If you like the new policy of crewmembers losing their hotel points, you will like it here.
7. If you like the smug attitude from management concerning this new contract, you will like it here.
8. If you like coming out to the aircraft and having a loading delay, maintenance problem, starting engines in the blocks, de-icing the aircraft, or perhaps you are sitting on the ground at an intermediate stop with zero compensation, you will like it here. Yes you read that correctly, we do not get paid when we start engines or de-ice sitting in the blocks, the aircraft must move two knots before we are on the clock.
9. If you like the union being in the pockets of the company and making back door deals, you will like it here.
10. If you like being put on reserve until late into your last day making you get home after midnight Z and not getting extra days pay, you will like it here.
11. If you like riding in the middle seat on commercial flights, you will like it here.
12. If you like doing scheduling's job because they keep trying to pull non contract / GOM / FAA compliant moves on you hoping you won't notice or question them, you will like it here.

And what are you doing about it?

He’s probably voting appropriately. Is everyone who is disappointed with the contract supposed to become members of the councel? That’d be 49% of us.

Just out of curiosity, what do you want him to do? Not everyone can be a union representative, and other than following our contract there isn’t much to be done. You have two choices, leave for greener pastures, or deal with the hand you’re delt. Some of us “me included” are old guys and only have a couple years left in the industry. Do you think we should leave and start over? I would advise any young person to pursue a lucrative career at a carrier that will allow your seniority to provide you with a quality of life. I still find it hard to believe that at 62-years old and my seniority number, I still have to work a 20-hour duty day, because seniority means nothing, other than getting the days off you want. This is beyond crazy, but with my time left in the industry there isn’t really much to be done.

If you have a useful suggestion, I’m sure we would all love to hear it. Enjoy your retirement.

How about fatigue? I find it hard to believe that TM for one, has changed his view regarding the FAA’s position on a crew member calling fatigue. Given the position you hold with the company I can see why you would be hesitant. However a regular Captain should be duty bound to call fatigue when it is necessary. If you are not willing to call fatigue when it is called for, you are jeopardizing you and your crew members safety. All it takes is for a couple of crew members to call in legitimate fatigue calls before outside eyes see it. How can you expect any relief if you don’t show the FAA that this is not whining but a safety of flight issue?

Forget about the Union. Not bashing them here. Unfortunately, the structure does not allow them to help you. What would they argue? KalittaAir follows the legally binding rest rules but we don’t like it? From what I am told by very high seniority pilots. That argument would fall on deaf ears under the present administration. Never in their experience has it been this bad.

When given the responsibility of being a Captain, you enter a world where you are the last line of defense against stupidity.

BTW, loving retirement. If you find the time stop down for a few days. KW lives nearby during the winter. He is enjoying his time off.

Protect yourself and stay safe.

So your singular suggestion to improve things at K4 is to call fatigued. Got it. Next time my 2 hour turn in China turns into 7……I’ll call it in.

I have to agree with you 100%, I have used the F-word before and I will use it again when it is applicable. However, having said that, just because this old guy does a 20 + hour duty day doesn’t always mean I’m fatigued. The problem stems from doing multiple long days followed by multiple min rest, and when guys are fatigued, I know they are calling in. Part of the problem is most pilots are type A personalities, and have a get it done attitude. We follow the rules, we don’t call in sick when we are not sick, and we try to do what’s right. Our problem is our contract is beyond a joke, and for the life of me I still do not understand why our union took the stance they did to ram this down our throats.

Kalitta is tuning into the airline training command of the military, get some heavy time and go find a real job. Once upon a time it felt like we were turning into a destinating airline, but those days are over. We are experiencing a tremendous turnover, and I don’t expect it to stop anytime soon. Last month of the crews I flew with, three First Officers were leaving for UPS, FedEx, and Delta, and two other guys had applications they just completed and were waiting for the interview. In addition, two senior Captains had just sent out resume’s so they to will be departing the fix soon.

Would love to come out to visit you guys, but by the time I get home I’m spent and there is always lots to do around the house. Thanks for the invite, take care.

To be fair….before all this Covid madness…..I could not have been happier working here. One leg days to long layovers in great locations were the norm. Pretty good pay and home basing made it a touchdown. Now our lift is completely oversold….the covid layover restrictions along with the associated long multi-leg days have made it a completely different job.

Anchorage - Incheon - China - Anchorage - Incheon - China - Anchorage - Incheon - China - Anchorage - Incheon - China - Anchorage - Incheon - China - Anchorage - Incheon - China - Anchorage - JFK - Home. Every single month. People are getting cranky.

Totally agree from a neighbor ACMI the viral debacle has ruined a lot of the destination good times. Crazy schedule from sick calls and new requirements/contracts have provided up and downs, delays and canceling effects. Diversity has always been more interesting for myself and so far I have been able to maintain distance from the cookie cutter flights you mentioned. However, I am neither ANC or LAX on our side so that allows quite a bit more flexibility than pure Asia. We definitely have our moments as well. Concur, multi-leg days suck the life out of you.

Why yes, it is that simple. For you to not understand what gears start to move behind the scenes at the FAA when multiple pilots call Fatigue legitimately is a bit of a surprise.

Not going to bore others with an explanation of something they already know, but suffice it to say that when it happens it opens up the FAA to liability if they do not take action.

I feel you and am very sorry to hear that this is going on. I have nothing but great memories of the job but that was then and times have definitely changed.

You are right about the personalities. But until that paradigm is changed the beatings will continue.