Use caution with your expectations when you sign on to work for Kalitta.

While it is a fun job and you do some interesting flying, the drawbacks need to be considered.

On your first day of your rotation, (actually the day before) you need to be in position by 0500z. That is about midnite east coast time. Means if you live on the west coast you will be leaving mid morning on a day off. Another thing they wont tell you is somehow they have decided to require a backup flight getting to work. So you may have to leave at 6am if there are limited flights from your home.

On your last day your duty clock stops when you land in the US. You have to be released from duty by 1900Z. You could land in JFK at 1830Z, and still have to commercial home, even if you have flown a 30 hour double crew trip. (oh yeah....that happens...30 hours in the plane with 4 or 5 of your closest and smelliest friends) Your commercial home could take 2 legs depending on cost. Say you live in Seattle. Cheapest ticket for the company might be JFK-PHX-SEA. You might get home at midnite after an 8 or 9 hour travel event.

The company is trying to divide the new hire group by changing the contract to pay them a livable wage after they complete sim. Keep in mind the contract says new hires are paid $600/week until IOE is complete. Dont sign up for a company that is blatantly trying to change the contract because they cant attract new hires. What will be next to be changed?

Ever sat in coach for 16 hours? You will get that opportunity at Kalitta when you deadhead from JFK to HKG. Even better, you will only get paid for half of that.

There are more planes coming on line soon....who is going to fly them? Pilots with a new improved contract or pilots working under the contract that is 5 years late? Make them squirm. If you do go to Kalitta or are already there, fly the contract to the letter. Do not answer the phone on a 1 in 7. Do not go over your duty times. Do not help them. They will not return the favor.

Think twice about going to interview or work at Kalitta. These are just a few of the issues that need to be fixed.

Thank you for posting. In what stage of the RLA process are the Teamsters 1224 and Kalitta engaging in? When did the current CBA become amendable?

https://www.iam141.org/docs/rlaMaze.pdf

August 2011, stuck in mediation

Cavemen speaks the truth..... though in the light of full disclosure.... i have only got home after noon local time on day 17, 1 time in the past 18 months. Going to work...... I live in the central time zone... generally I leave between 3-5pm... ymmv. i have left earlier...at my own request.

my opinion...interview..ask questions... make the decision that is right for you. YES.. its been 5 years so far.... how much longer...... no end in sight.

Hello,

Could anyone say what the current or projected upgrade time is at Kalitta?

Thanks

Upgrade?!?!? At Kalitta?!?!?

Ha ha ha! That's funny. Never. The airline will fold before any new hires have a chance to upgrade. Stay away, far away, from K4.

I've always been a huge proponent of sincerity...thanks.

You are very welcome. It would be a huge surprise if the bottom half of the FOs EVER see the left seat at K4.

It's too bad; they have a lot of good guys flying for CK. I had a ton of fun during my four years there but am so glad to be gone...especially with the current state of negotiations and the abysmal moral of the crews. And, I though it was bad when I left 18 months ago!

K4...the next Evergreen.

upgrade.... hum... well...... if anyone really knew the answer to that question he or she would be a millionaire. Without a new contract ......the answer is never. With a new contract.... it would still be years.. many many years.

Awhile back there was a crew that had a plane with an MEL. THe MEL required some paperwork changes. There was exactly 1 person at Kalitta that could provide the required paperwork in order to be legal for flight. It was a weekend or that person was on vacation, and he refused to provide the required paperwork, and instead threatened the crew with a trip to HQ to visit the Chief Pilot if they did not accept the aircraft. My understanding is the crew got the feds involved and found a work around....far nice than I would have been....I would have asked when my ticket to DTW was booked and had a pleasant conversation with the CP about why a crew was being told to operate the AC outside of the MEL.

Think long and hard about coming to company who pushes its pilots to fly illegally and tries to change the contract unilaterally.