China Airlines (Taiwan)

[ConsultantBrz]

I've got an interview coming up with CAL and have not found any recent posts. I would like to know about QOL for 737NG FOs, i.e. rosters, layovers (if any), average hours flown monthly. Also interested on whether expat FOs really do get upgraded, and possibility of moving to a wide body fleet (while FO or after upgrade, if applicable...). Thanks.

[cosmiccomet]

I had been there up to December 2010 and upgrading depends on the fleet, Taiwan economy/Airline situation and pilot performance.
Transfering from NG to 744 was a possibility at that time but the pilot should make a deposit for the TR, U$D 15000-.
Upgrade could take not less than 5 years. In my class there is only one guy staying in CAL and he is Relief Pilot after 9 years. I haven´t seeing anyone upgrading in the 744 fleet in less than 5 years.

[jetjockey696]

Dont forget that your salary is taxable...around 17%

CAE Parc


Base: Taipei, Taiwan

Duration: 3 years renewable

Roster Pattern: 8 consecutive days free of duty per month after successful completion of training

Travel Entitlements: Confirmed business class travel home as ECM

Unlimited ZED tickets after 6 months of reporting to CAL

ID Ticket:

-Service Under 1 Year: No ID Ticket

-1 - 2 Years: 1 intercontinental round trip ticket OR 2 regional round trip tickets

-2 - 3 Years: 1 intercontinental round trip ticket and 1 regional round trip ticket

-Over 3 Years: 1 intercontinental round trip ticket and 2 regional round trip tickets

Spouse, parents and children are entitled to the same amount of benefits (ticket class subject to company policy)

Accommodation: Monthly housing allowance provided

Ground transportation: Provided for full duration of assignment

Salary: US$88,272K -96,672K per year before tax

Annual Festival Bonus: Lunar New Year TWD$10,000

Dragon Boat Festival TWD$5,000

Moon Festival TWD$5,000

Annual Safety Bonus: TWD 72,000

Screening: Every month in Taipei, Taiwan

Minimum Requirements:

[galdian]

Hi jetjockey696

Only because I've been looking around, latest CAL F/O package from Parc shows a basic monthly pay of US$4900-5600 so tops of $67,200....and I'm assuming that's gross as they do state "tax at 18% payable".

Allowances and bonus seem same.

Mix up of figures or some quoted gross Vs net of taxes as numbers very different??
Or maybe Captain rates??

Cheers.

[ConsultantBrz]

The information that I have received from various agents, including Parc, corresponds to the salary figures posted by Galdian. Also, I have sent quite a few emails to Longreach aviation and never received a single reply from them, so I am suspicious of anything posted on their website. If you look at the other airlines on their website, you will see that the minimums required on Longreach's website are generally lower than with other recruiters; likewise, the benefits they post are much more generous...

[sedna]

the local taiwanese doesn't welcome expatriate pilots very much. that makes you life difficult. the senior pilots are very hierarchy minded, they want you (a junior expatriate) to kowtow on them, like you owe them a life. (expatriates are there to only make a living, there is no need to stood too low). there are some senior captains i knew whom gets failed for RT (radio telephony). a bit ridiculous for a chinese speaking airlines. i suspect it's just an anti-expatriate sentiment they have.

besides, the pay is too little for your sacrifice, moving from your home base to an island far away. with the high cost of living in taipei, and the 18% tax(minimum), plus deduction for some other stuffs (health insurance, etc etc). you don't get to send much home in the end.

if you are thinking of an upgrade (to command or to other WB fleet). i would advise you to think twice. taiwan is not an ICAO country. therefore, not many country recognises their license. (only a few country recognises them). that means, applying for jobs elsewhere in the future might be a problem.

CAL has been hiring for some time. if the company is that good to work for, why are they always hiring? and why are the local pilots leaving the airlines? and why was there a pilot and cabin crew strike not long ago?

personal opinion..

[lostinspace89]

Just got the contract for NTR 330 FO from OAE. Conditions look pretty weak next to other asian contracts!

Monthly 5000-5800USD (before 18% tax) for 75 hours
Housing allowance and a yearly bonus (as much as one month basic)

The worst parts:
1. theres a 13000 USD bond and the contract says 8 days off per month (with possible 6 days when needed!!!!)
2. 5 days sick leave per year
3. No leave for first 10 months, then 2 days every month leave.
4. after 18 months you are entitled to 1 international round trip ticket!!!

Honestly guys don't accept these terms. You're better off heading to the ME3, then moving your life to Taiwan with these conditions. I mean the cherry on the cake was 6 days OFF per month...let alone an office worker gets 8 days off per month but a pilot doesn't?

They either need to increase the pay, remove the bond or make it a commuting contract, because its far from a commuting contract, when you've got Korea and Japan offering greater contracts. Plus Taipei is not that cheap, trust me I lived there for a while before.

[Count von Altibar]

Not good T&Cs at all, better off on many other contracts in Asia.

[marlin]

Bottom line: Stay away. I quit just after passing the interview and medical checkup after finding out that you may be taxed more than 18%.

[twtiger]

Bottom line: Stay away. I quit just after passing the interview and medical checkup after finding out that you may be taxed more than 18%.

What where the conditions and pay like? Were you DEC or FO?

[marlin]

DEC B777. Few DEC777 quit while doing the CBT after finding out he conditions will be unbearable i.e rostering and taxation issues.
Not worth the trouble unless pay is like in Mainland China.
If you are very marketable and not desperate, don't bother.

[manfred42517]

A friend of mine has recently joined CAL as a DEC A330 , he told me that they give You a pre hire contract for 3 months , until that time the pay for Cap is $3000 and $1500 for the FO ... I am going for the assestment for NTR A330 FO , after reading the posts about CAL I do not what to expect !!!

[cosmiccomet]

When I joined CAL back 2007 the salary for a NTR FO was U$D 2000 during the indoc+sim. After passing the sim check the salary was increased to U$D 4000.
The full salary back then was U$D 5350 for 75 hours guaranty, minus 20% tax.
Housing allowances were NT$ 32000.

I can not believe that CAL is offering less at this moment...**** company...

[yankee10884]

Is there anyone who took the screening interview of CAL recently?
I would like to know the knowledge as well as general interview questions.