slowstream

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone, anyone can shed some light on China Airlines. I see that they are advertising for various crews.

Base's, F/O pay, schedule, upgrades and working conditions or what they're like to work for.

Any honest or fair opinions are greatly appreciated.

cosmiccomet

I would not advice any expat to think about China Airlines/CAL as a long term career.

It is a contract job, they can be offering between 3 to 5 years renewal.
You don´t know if they are going to renew it before 90 days of the end of your contract.

When I had joinned CAL back in 2007 I signed a contract for 5 years and renewal...Everybody asked for how long it would be the renewal and CAL said it would be indefitly...but in 2008/09 most of the expat contracts were not renewed at all after expairing.
There is a seniority number but it doesn´t means anything at all....if your contract is expairing in a bad economy period it would be finished without renewal...it doesn´t depend in your qualifications, behavior, etc...

Airbus A333/343 and B738 fleets are more expat friendly than B744.

In 2009, after finishing many expat contracts CAL reduced expat salaries by 28% from one day to another...just that take it or leave it.
CAL sent an email saying that due to the world economy crisis they should equalized the expat and the local crew members...

Back in 2007 we were more than 300 expats...when I had left CAL in January 2011 we were only 45...

Do not expect any chance of upgrade to Captain in the B744 fleet...It could happen in the B738 or A330 after not less than 4 years and after paying your type rating in advance...

I can be writing things for long but I don´t want to bore you...

punkalouver

Not bored at all. Please continue as there has not been a thread on this company for a while.

etops777

Cosmic comet

This is called an expats life. The world of contract aviation is a short term career. Whenever there are crisis, expats would be the first one out.

Contract flying is never a good thing when you compared it to the airline that hire you on a permanent position such as Middle Eastern Airlines, CX, KA, or HK Airlines.