Caribbean Airlines
Freight God
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@zigzoggafus
In this case Caribbean is in a very strange situation. Usually operators who know about both the ATR and the Q400 see it the other way round. Sure it is not the lack of finances and the lure of Canadian Subventions that overshadows the technical aspects?
In this case Caribbean is in a very strange situation. Usually operators who know about both the ATR and the Q400 see it the other way round. Sure it is not the lack of finances and the lure of Canadian Subventions that overshadows the technical aspects?
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State owned airline no question in the availability of finances , the previous board of CAL made the contract for the ATR , this current board inherited it and always seemed to show more interest to the bombadier long before the ATR's were delivered.
"lure of Canadian Subventions" I like that haha
"lure of Canadian Subventions" I like that haha
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Conversion to a TTCAA licence
@ maksingh
The study material is available at the office of the CAA in Trinidad. They said it was only available as a hard copy (for the technical subjects), however the air law material is online.
The study material is available at the office of the CAA in Trinidad. They said it was only available as a hard copy (for the technical subjects), however the air law material is online.
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@ Hunter58,
HAHA!! Canadian subventions???????
I think the French have that market well and truly cornered!
The ATR's CAL got were the new ATR-72-600's. They're as yet unproven and it looks like they're turning out to be a fiasco for ATR. As Vik_atpl said, that deal was signed by the previous government and the new regime has always lent towards Bombardier.
Rumour has it that CAL has a Dash 8-400 on the way to TTPP to run some 'feasibility studies' on the Caracas service. Don't be surprised if it stays.......
HAHA!! Canadian subventions???????
I think the French have that market well and truly cornered!
The ATR's CAL got were the new ATR-72-600's. They're as yet unproven and it looks like they're turning out to be a fiasco for ATR. As Vik_atpl said, that deal was signed by the previous government and the new regime has always lent towards Bombardier.
Rumour has it that CAL has a Dash 8-400 on the way to TTPP to run some 'feasibility studies' on the Caracas service. Don't be surprised if it stays.......
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Well from most accounts the ATR will be fine for the POS-TAB route but the plan is to run them up the islands as well as Caracas and even Suriname. That's where their performance will fall short. To keep them for the TAB service and get Q400's for everything else would be folly.
And the real problem is that they're breaking down regularly too. So might as well defer delivery of as many ATR's as you can and replace the fleet.
As far as all the fanfare on delivery, you'll find that's standard marketing practice with any airline.
And the real problem is that they're breaking down regularly too. So might as well defer delivery of as many ATR's as you can and replace the fleet.
As far as all the fanfare on delivery, you'll find that's standard marketing practice with any airline.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Knock Knock : House Cleaning!
George Nicholas yesterday quit as chairman of State-owned Caribbean
Airlines over adverse comments by Transport Minister Devant Maharaj.
Nicholas’ resignation letter was sent to Finance Minister Winston Dookeran
and the airline’s chief executive officer Robert Corbie.
His letter read in part: “Further to the MoT’s (Minister of Transport
Devant Maharaj) comments on my performance, a five out of ten in comparison
to other State boards on national television last night and other comments,
both written and in private, I have resigned with immediate effect today.”
Nicholas, in his brief letter, thanked Caribbean Airlines staff for “being
such an incredible team to work with.”
Contacted yesterday Maharaj said if
Nicholas resigned because of comments the minister made on Monday night
that would be “truly disappointing” and he “expected better.”
Maharaj said Nicholas was taking his comments out of context and he
suggested the businessman “needs to take another look at the programme.”
The Transport Minister said he did not make any comments aimed at anybody
specifically, but, rather he made general comments about the performance of
all of the boards under his purview.
Apart from CAL, the Airport Authority, the Port Authority and the Civil
Aviation Authority report to Maharaj. He said he “gave all of the boards a
five out of ten because all of them have room for improvement. Further, it
is clear that all of the boards under my purview, inherited degrees of
neglect from the previous administration.”
Yesterday’s resignation was the latest in a series of events marking
Nicholas’ tenure as CAL chairman. Last year, Prime Minister Kamla
Persad-Bissessar chose to remove the transport portfolio from Works
Minister Jack Warner when calls were made for the chairman’s removal.
Airlines over adverse comments by Transport Minister Devant Maharaj.
Nicholas’ resignation letter was sent to Finance Minister Winston Dookeran
and the airline’s chief executive officer Robert Corbie.
His letter read in part: “Further to the MoT’s (Minister of Transport
Devant Maharaj) comments on my performance, a five out of ten in comparison
to other State boards on national television last night and other comments,
both written and in private, I have resigned with immediate effect today.”
Nicholas, in his brief letter, thanked Caribbean Airlines staff for “being
such an incredible team to work with.”
Contacted yesterday Maharaj said ifNicholas resigned because of comments the minister made on Monday night
that would be “truly disappointing” and he “expected better.”
Maharaj said Nicholas was taking his comments out of context and he
suggested the businessman “needs to take another look at the programme.”
The Transport Minister said he did not make any comments aimed at anybody
specifically, but, rather he made general comments about the performance of
all of the boards under his purview.
Apart from CAL, the Airport Authority, the Port Authority and the Civil
Aviation Authority report to Maharaj. He said he “gave all of the boards a
five out of ten because all of them have room for improvement. Further, it
is clear that all of the boards under my purview, inherited degrees of
neglect from the previous administration.”
Yesterday’s resignation was the latest in a series of events marking
Nicholas’ tenure as CAL chairman. Last year, Prime Minister Kamla
Persad-Bissessar chose to remove the transport portfolio from Works
Minister Jack Warner when calls were made for the chairman’s removal.
Join Date: Mar 2012
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CAL CC Recruitment
Since there's no posts on how the CAL routine is, i'll write my experience with them as I suspect it'll go a really long way lol. I had to experience it to know the experience as there's no information online.
Well, I dropped my resume in at least a month earlier before I got the invite (which was posted in the newspaper the week i got it). I was told to come out to the Crown Plaza hotel. They had placed us from the first phone call invite into different groups. Mine had around 16 people. Mostly females. We sat in a small hall they had upstairs for some time with the others who had to come it for the other groups. While we sat, one by one we went over to the BMI scale. If you were too tall, too short, underweight, over weight, you got sent home at that point. The lady who did this test had nothing to do with the actual recruitment process, so do not fear her. However, be nice.
After we went over to a table where a woman and man took our files. They checked them to see if they were real and to make sure we had all the required documents. Then we were all seated again. Eventually my group of 16 candidates were called into another room. We had to introduce ourselves to a panel of 3 recruiters. From talking to other candidates, they kept changing these recruiters. So what one set likes, the other may not like. This one girl spoke for maybe close to one minute, shrugged her shoulders and said "i'm done" and she sat down. Obviously she got sent home.
But the minimum was around 2 minutes. Everyone else spoke for that long. Anyways, we were then called back into the hall. A lady called out the names of the ones who made it to the next rounds. The ones whose names were not called were sent home and told to wait for 6 months before reapplying.
At this stage, we were put through the aptitude test. This test consisted of mathematics, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, essay and information on the Caribbean Airline. Time = 1hour. (way too short) So make sure you impress them in the introductory stage.
Lo and behold, I got a call back for the next stage a week and a half later. They said this was going to the the one on one interview however, I was met by the same 3 ladies at the introductory stage. This interview lasted for 15 minutes. They had 3 scenarios where you had to literally act out and the typical interview questions. At this point, you need to be ready. You will have to prepare questions to ask them about the company. Its a fairly small table, so you will be sitting close to them, makeup has to be great. You have to look sharp and be professional.
I did not get the call back for the next stage after this but from what i can collect, they send you to the first part of the medical then send someone to your house to have a one on one hour long chat with you to know all about you and your family. Then a week later you do the 2nd part of the medical. Once you've passed these, you start your training a week later.
One thing about CAL is that they are VERY last minute. So once you get a call for anything, expect the deadline to be in 2 days. E.g. you get called Tuesday, your deadline would be the Thursday. So be prepared for all this.
I hope this helps some one out there.
Well, I dropped my resume in at least a month earlier before I got the invite (which was posted in the newspaper the week i got it). I was told to come out to the Crown Plaza hotel. They had placed us from the first phone call invite into different groups. Mine had around 16 people. Mostly females. We sat in a small hall they had upstairs for some time with the others who had to come it for the other groups. While we sat, one by one we went over to the BMI scale. If you were too tall, too short, underweight, over weight, you got sent home at that point. The lady who did this test had nothing to do with the actual recruitment process, so do not fear her. However, be nice.
After we went over to a table where a woman and man took our files. They checked them to see if they were real and to make sure we had all the required documents. Then we were all seated again. Eventually my group of 16 candidates were called into another room. We had to introduce ourselves to a panel of 3 recruiters. From talking to other candidates, they kept changing these recruiters. So what one set likes, the other may not like. This one girl spoke for maybe close to one minute, shrugged her shoulders and said "i'm done" and she sat down. Obviously she got sent home.
But the minimum was around 2 minutes. Everyone else spoke for that long. Anyways, we were then called back into the hall. A lady called out the names of the ones who made it to the next rounds. The ones whose names were not called were sent home and told to wait for 6 months before reapplying.
At this stage, we were put through the aptitude test. This test consisted of mathematics, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, essay and information on the Caribbean Airline. Time = 1hour. (way too short) So make sure you impress them in the introductory stage.
Lo and behold, I got a call back for the next stage a week and a half later. They said this was going to the the one on one interview however, I was met by the same 3 ladies at the introductory stage. This interview lasted for 15 minutes. They had 3 scenarios where you had to literally act out and the typical interview questions. At this point, you need to be ready. You will have to prepare questions to ask them about the company. Its a fairly small table, so you will be sitting close to them, makeup has to be great. You have to look sharp and be professional.
I did not get the call back for the next stage after this but from what i can collect, they send you to the first part of the medical then send someone to your house to have a one on one hour long chat with you to know all about you and your family. Then a week later you do the 2nd part of the medical. Once you've passed these, you start your training a week later.
One thing about CAL is that they are VERY last minute. So once you get a call for anything, expect the deadline to be in 2 days. E.g. you get called Tuesday, your deadline would be the Thursday. So be prepared for all this.
I hope this helps some one out there.
Last edited by KRomero; 13th Apr 2012 at 00:35.
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Here we go again!!
Over $500 million losses, despite subsidy
IT’S official! Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is bankrupt! Word reaching TnT Mirror is that the Board has gone cap-inhand to borrow money from the Government to the tune of over $100 million. The money will allow the penniless airline to pay its staff’ and suppliers.
Mirror learnt that CAL, which is chaired by CEPEP contractor Rabindra Moonan, is over $500 million in the red and the situation could be worse were it not for the massive annual fuel subsidy from the Government.This subsidy is said to amount to just under $300 million and is a bone of contention with St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves who feels it gives the national airline unfair advantage over LIAT which is owned by several Caribbean governments.
The airline has not released its annual accounts for a number of years and in the past couple of years gobbled up a billion dollars left by the previous board.An industry source told Mirror: “The airline’s role in making possible intra-Caribbean travel for social and business purposes is critical and its absence would reduce the population of several small states to being virtual prisoners on their islands.
“However, the misdirection and mismanagement at CAL cannot go on. The Board and management have to be held accountable.Something needs to be done to put a competent and effective Board and management team in place to strategically manage the airline.”
Mirror was also asked to investigate claims that Board members were in the process of negotiating the purchase of an old aircraft from China. It is alleged that the deal has been placed on hold as questions were raised about the links between the China based company and certain high-ranking CAL officials.CAL staff are now on high alert as there is talk of a major restructuring.
Just last week, 15 flight attendant’s contracts at the Jamaica operation were not renewed. Clive Forbes, general manager of Caribbean Airlines in Jamaica, told Jamaica-based RJR News that the expiration of the contracts coincided with cost cutting measures at the airline.Mirror was told that the recently- appointed Chief Financial Officer Shiva Ramnarine has been looking carefully at the airline’s operations and how they could be streamlined to save money. It is alleged that CAL is also looking closely at the Jamaica operations which is said to be bleeding the company’s scarce resources.
Mirror understands that CAL is considering closing a call centre in Jamaica, which employs around 90 people, as calls can be easily rerouted and handled in Trinidad. It is alleged that other aspects of the Jamaica operations are being reviewed to determine what can be shut down or downsized. The Jamaica Government, which has its own issues, is not likely to take kindly to this move.Concerned employees who contacted the Mirror lamented: “How has the airline reached to this state? Now we are hearing about restructuring. It is unfair because many of us work very hard to keep this airline flying. The persons responsible for having us in this predicament are never the ones who are sent home when there is restructuring.”
The employees continued: “Look at CAL’s track record. In just six years there have been several incidents, including the Guyana crash. Pilots with low flying hours are being hired and promoted. These things never happened in BWIA, which is why BWIA’s safety record remained intact to the end.”Since the unceremonious dismissal of Ian Brunton as Chief Executive Officer of CAL in November 2010, the airline has been led by an acting CEO.
Many argue that the absence of a strategic leader coupled with a questionable Board of Directors has accelerated the demise of the airline. When the PP first came into power, CAL’s line ministry was shifted from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Transport.After several public clashes between the then Minister Jack Warner and the Board, the airline was “returned” to the Ministry of Finance with the Minister of Finance as corporation sole.
Mirror is once again calling on Finance Minister Larry Howai to explain to the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago the exact state of affairs at CAL. As the ones funding the bailout, taxpayers have a right to know.
IT’S official! Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is bankrupt! Word reaching TnT Mirror is that the Board has gone cap-inhand to borrow money from the Government to the tune of over $100 million. The money will allow the penniless airline to pay its staff’ and suppliers.
Mirror learnt that CAL, which is chaired by CEPEP contractor Rabindra Moonan, is over $500 million in the red and the situation could be worse were it not for the massive annual fuel subsidy from the Government.This subsidy is said to amount to just under $300 million and is a bone of contention with St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves who feels it gives the national airline unfair advantage over LIAT which is owned by several Caribbean governments.
The airline has not released its annual accounts for a number of years and in the past couple of years gobbled up a billion dollars left by the previous board.An industry source told Mirror: “The airline’s role in making possible intra-Caribbean travel for social and business purposes is critical and its absence would reduce the population of several small states to being virtual prisoners on their islands.
“However, the misdirection and mismanagement at CAL cannot go on. The Board and management have to be held accountable.Something needs to be done to put a competent and effective Board and management team in place to strategically manage the airline.”
Mirror was also asked to investigate claims that Board members were in the process of negotiating the purchase of an old aircraft from China. It is alleged that the deal has been placed on hold as questions were raised about the links between the China based company and certain high-ranking CAL officials.CAL staff are now on high alert as there is talk of a major restructuring.
Just last week, 15 flight attendant’s contracts at the Jamaica operation were not renewed. Clive Forbes, general manager of Caribbean Airlines in Jamaica, told Jamaica-based RJR News that the expiration of the contracts coincided with cost cutting measures at the airline.Mirror was told that the recently- appointed Chief Financial Officer Shiva Ramnarine has been looking carefully at the airline’s operations and how they could be streamlined to save money. It is alleged that CAL is also looking closely at the Jamaica operations which is said to be bleeding the company’s scarce resources.
Mirror understands that CAL is considering closing a call centre in Jamaica, which employs around 90 people, as calls can be easily rerouted and handled in Trinidad. It is alleged that other aspects of the Jamaica operations are being reviewed to determine what can be shut down or downsized. The Jamaica Government, which has its own issues, is not likely to take kindly to this move.Concerned employees who contacted the Mirror lamented: “How has the airline reached to this state? Now we are hearing about restructuring. It is unfair because many of us work very hard to keep this airline flying. The persons responsible for having us in this predicament are never the ones who are sent home when there is restructuring.”
The employees continued: “Look at CAL’s track record. In just six years there have been several incidents, including the Guyana crash. Pilots with low flying hours are being hired and promoted. These things never happened in BWIA, which is why BWIA’s safety record remained intact to the end.”Since the unceremonious dismissal of Ian Brunton as Chief Executive Officer of CAL in November 2010, the airline has been led by an acting CEO.
Many argue that the absence of a strategic leader coupled with a questionable Board of Directors has accelerated the demise of the airline. When the PP first came into power, CAL’s line ministry was shifted from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Transport.After several public clashes between the then Minister Jack Warner and the Board, the airline was “returned” to the Ministry of Finance with the Minister of Finance as corporation sole.
Mirror is once again calling on Finance Minister Larry Howai to explain to the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago the exact state of affairs at CAL. As the ones funding the bailout, taxpayers have a right to know.
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KRomero - CAL CC RECRUITMENT
Hi KRomero,
Can you give me examples of the scenarios you were asked to act out and the interview questions? I know someone who has an interview and this will really help with her preparation.
Thanks.
Can you give me examples of the scenarios you were asked to act out and the interview questions? I know someone who has an interview and this will really help with her preparation.
Thanks.
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hi all apparently carrabean airlines needs contractors for 6 months can anyone tell me what the roster is like on the NG and the pay etc if the contract will be commuting etc i would love 6 months in the carrabean.
