Kalitta AIr Pilots

[Bandit_Driver]

I was wondering if any Kalitta pilots can shed some on light on QOL for a new hire at Kalitta. I am considering leaving my regional airline after talking to a Kalitta pilot.

I do have a family and do not want to move out of the DTW area. If you can shed some light on Pay, Benifits, QOL, upgrade time and how is mgmt to work with.

[JDE]

I know there is at least one post about Kalitta on the flightinfo board. I personally don't know much about them other than the Kalitta's drag race and they've each owned and airline (Connie and Doug still do).

[Bandit_Driver]

Thanks, I'll do a search for it.

[Need4Speed]

Banditdriver...

Here's the info I got...

Kalitta Air is currently interviewing for B-747 First Officer and Flight Engineer/Second Officer positions. Expects to hire 60 in 2005 including 30 B-747 SOs. Applicants can mail their resumes to the Chief Pilot, Richard Hagquist or fax to (734)544-7023. Starting pay for 1st yr. SO is $33/hr., 2nd yr. is $48.79/hr. Starting pay for FOs 1st yr. is $40.80/hr., 2nd yr. is $60.33 per hour. Pay is based on 60.7 hours guaranteed.

They operate 14 B-747 100-200s...with plans of adding 3-4 more. Domicile is YIP. Bases are in Los Angeles & NYC. Its 121 Large Jet-Cargo. Minimum TT1500 . There are 188 pilots.

About 3 weeks ago they were at a job fair in Miami-Aeroservices Aviation Center.

My best friend has been looking into this company so I got the inside scope from him.

[Bog]

Personally I will never fly in a Kalitta aircraft. After working the ramp for several years and seeing the condition of their aircraft, I reached the conclusion that my life is more important.

Did this Kalitta pilot tell you about the 747 that had an engine fall off the aircraft and into Lake Michigan?

I hate to slam other airlines, but I have first-hand experience with the Kalittas. That experience was not a positive one. Just make sure you really get the truth on life over there.

[Bandit_Driver]

Bog, I did hear about that as I live in Michigan. I also head that it was a bolt failure in the mount that led to the accident. Must have used a bolt from ACE Hardware...LOL

[MikeD]

[ QUOTE ]
Personally I will never fly in a Kalitta aircraft. After working the ramp for several years and seeing the condition of their aircraft, I reached the conclusion that my life is more important.

Did this Kalitta pilot tell you about the 747 that had an engine fall off the aircraft and into Lake Michigan?

I hate to slam other airlines, but I have first-hand experience with the Kalittas. That experience was not a positive one. Just make sure you really get the truth on life over there.

[/ QUOTE ]

Did you work them during your time on the PHX ramp? I always thought their planes looked somewhat ratty. And I'd heard during my time in cargo that the company didn't treat the crews all that well. They used to park where the Emery DC-8s used to park next to terminal 2 (and in front of the old terminal 1), if I remember correctly.

[Bog]

Yeah, in my 4 1/2 years on the ramp in PHX, I worked several Kalitta birds. One was an L1011, which was actually clean and appeared to be well maintained. The 747s that I worked, however, were anything but. Same goes for their 727s I worked. No thanks.

Bandit: have you thought about Spirit? The only thing I know is that they have low pay. You don't live near that lovely fire in Romulus, do you? That was quite the sight to see when we came in the other night.

[Bandit_Driver]

No I live in a Northern Suburb. It was a big fire. I was jumpseating home and we saw it from way out.

I have applied Spirit but can't seem to get a reply.

[TallFlyer]

As someone who works with a LOT of Kalitta crews and aircraft on a regular basis, I must speak up:

Personally I would not have any problem flying on ANY Kalitta aircraft. Yes, they are older birds but they are maintained well. They have some pretty sharp guys here in their station in Anchorage and the majority of their ride-ons are very good as well.

As for that engine difficulty over Lake Michigan that was a failure of some component of the engine itself and NOT of the aircraft or maint staff, and that information is from the very Captain who was flying that aircraft at that time.

Speaking of crews, the atmosphere onboard is usually very relaxed. 95% of the crews change into something far more casual the moment the get onboard. Everyone I've met has been very professional, and I've gotten to know some of them quite well.

The schedule is pretty basic: 17 days on followed by the rest of the month off. You can basically assume that you'll be on the road the whole time and they'll commercial you from anywhere in the lower 48 (and ANC and HNL) to where you start and end your trips (usually ORD, LAX, JFK, or OSC). While you do bid a line (usually either 1st half or 2nd half of the month) scheduling owns you while you're on and you basically go where they tell you regardless of what you've bid, although that's getting better.

All their birds are 747 Classics, mostly 200s, and FMS/EFIS equipped. I've seen upgrade times as little as 12 months.

[DE727UPS]

Originally Posted by Bandit_Driver

I was wondering if any Kalitta pilots can shed some on light on QOL for a new hire at Kalitta. I am considering leaving my regional airline after talking to a Kalitta pilot.

I do have a family and do not want to move out of the DTW area. If you can shed some light on Pay, Benifits, QOL, upgrade time and how is mgmt to work with.

Kalitta is kind of a bottom feeder in the freight biz but he's been around quite a while. Personally, I think it would be a step up from a regional, and, if I were you, I'd do it in a heartbeat.