CTIIpilot

Looking for any update on the spring CAL classes. I interviewed 18 March and was told that we were the first day of interviews for the fall classes. I got the call the next day and was told to expect a September or October class. My email invite to the interview said they were hiring for the fall so I expected the fall start date if I was fortunate enough to be offered a position.

They also said they were only going to establish a small pool (approx 50) for the fall classes. I saw in another thread where there was rumor of some of the spring classes getting cnx. Can anybody confirm this? If so, how many classes were cnx?

Thanks

johnso29

I have a friend who was supposed to start class in April. They called him yesterday and told him all newhire classes are cancelled indefinitely. They don't know when they will start up again, buy everyone is going back into a pool. Sorry, it sucks.

Ottopilot

CAL was planning on stopping for the summer, but stopped a month or two sooner. Classes should pick up in the fall. 118 aircraft on order, although 60 some are replacement aircraft.

ToiletDuck

Hey Otto how firm is this? Are these options or pretty much a done deal?

LifeNtheFstLne

I'm glad to see CAL being proactive, though it's no fun being junior on an aircraft without new blood coming in underneath me. Yes, it is official - classes are canceled and instructors are going back to the line as is typical for the summer flying. Either way, when it comes to financial health of a legacy carrier - this is the place to be. I hear these turbofan aircraft are really catching on!

dannolars

Yup, I was scheduled to start class April 22 and got the call yesterday. Although I was under the impression they were just thinking about canx'ing it. I guess not. So it goes. So anyone know now what happens to us, do we sit in a pool until they start classes again?

LifeNtheFstLne

I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune. Who knows, could be the best thing that ever happened to you though (I'm a glass half full guy). The way it's been VERY unofficially explained to me was that pilots with a scheduled class date will simply attend class in the fall. Again, since that's from a third party - like most stuff on here - I could be wrong. I really don't think it's a huge cause for alarm, as this is the usual course of action, only a month or two earlier than expected. If I can get recruitment to give me a solid answer, I'll post it. I think the other carriers are doing the same anyway... What did they tell you in your phone call?

Andy

For those of you who lost their class dates, if it's offered in the future, take it. CAL is a great company that is very well run. (I'm with UAL; no bias in my post). Their management is being extremely proactive in preparing for a downturn; that's the kind of leadership that you want to see.
If you do go, plan on being on the bottom of the pile for a very, very long time. The airline industry is going to get hurt by the financial downturn that's coming.

A lot of CAL's jets on order aren't going to be delivered anytime soon. Options will get delayed rather than exercised and I'm betting that most firm orders are going to be converted to options. This is due to a combination of a slowdown in passenger traffic, higher fuel prices, and the lack of available financing in the capital markets.
For those of you who aren't following what's going on in the capital markets, financing is no longer available at any reasonable interest rate. Kinda tough to buy a $200+ million aircraft when you can't get your hands on $190 million for financing. This goes for both outright purchases and buy/leaseback deals.
There are bad times coming in the airline industry and it isn't going to get better any time soon.

Again, CAL is a class act and will get through this economic downturn. But they are not immune to the problems of the industry.

bertramcheeks22

Why do the majors specifically slow down with the hiring in the summer?

Andy

They compress training requirements into their lower flying seasons. It has a twofold benefit.
1) No pilots on property in the training pipeline during the busy season. ie upgrades are during the low seasons, allowing pilots to be productive during the time that airlines need them most.
2) It allows the company to utilize pilot instructors to fly the line during the peak season, reducing line pilot manning requirements.

There was a time when airlines simply furloughed pilots during the slow times of the year and recalled them for the busy flying period. Heck, there are some that probably do.