Interview with CAL/Cal Expats/Happy at Cal? - Merged

[BusTie]

CAL and light turbine time pilot

the answer to your questions is:

Yes and the pay was $5100 USD 3 months ago

yes and the pay was $4660 USD 2 months ago

yes and the pay was $3600 USD a month ago

yes an the pay will be even lower by the time you get the call.



good luck

[Flying Mechanic]

I hear there is a training bond aswell? Do you pay up front or is it pro rata over a time period?
Looking at that money.........I might stay where I am.

[Hape]

We had now our interview!!

Hi again

Thanks a lot for your helpful feedbacks.
I see and appreciate, there are a lot of objective and professional colleagues in this forum.

I jus can assure you, we had a fair and professional selection, and if they like me to join CAL, i take this opportunity.

Once again thanks a lot to you allan and the best to you, ladys and gentleman!!!!

Greetings from switzerland!

Hape

[YYZ]

there are a lot of objective and professional colleagues in this forum

That's a quote you don't get on some sites!

Good luck Hape wherever you end up, fly safe.

YYZ

[Southern Albatross]

To those pondering the Taiwan move.

They send you out an email a few days before you have planned the trip over for an interview etc...........confirming that they want 20,000USD Bank guarantee prior to joining (i.e you pay them 20k cash up front) and they keep it for 4 years commencing from final "check to line", and if you dont like this arrangement then dont come to the interview.

No mention of paying you any ....say... Interest on your money which they keep for at least 4.5 years(assuming your checked to line in 6 months)

No mention of paying you back that money with your salary each month over the 4 years pro-rata.

Not to mention whether or not you actually have a spare 20,000USD floating around just for this occassion.


So the bottom line is this gentlemen,

Firstly, this is a very strange way of conducting employment/recruitment. THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES IN THIS COMPANY.


The salary for a B737NG F/O is US$3300/month Minus 20% tax. I dont know where some of you guys work, but down in Aus. that equates to around AUD$860/week. Thats a net of approx AUD$44000/Year to fly a Blo*dy Boeing 737NG in what I can assume is a demanding environment.... Heck, the guy mowing the lawns at my kids school would be nearly earning that, certainly not a professional Jet Jockey.
Which leads me to the obvious conclusion that the only "Professional Flight Crew" that would take up this glorious offer would be the ones that either cannot fly for sh*t... or rich daddy will fork out the money so little Johnny can go fly the Jets.

(No offence intended to current CAL drivers whome I believe joined with much better employment conditions. My gripe is purely relating to this current pathetic attempt to employ professionals)....its the old saying.... :You pay peanuts....you get monkeys.

But wait there's more..
You will get a whole 8 days annual leave after one year, (WOW)

The contract terms are not fixed and tangeable, every item has the subclause.............."subject to change.....or subject to company policy...or at company discrection".


It would seem these "contract conditions" appear to be the main focus within their Human Resources department, with very little emphasis on the actual candidates ability to be a healthy part of their operation.


I am afraid that my principles and integrity outweigh the ambition to fly jets, at least with this particular operator, and I will pursue other "irons in the fire".



For those that choose to accept this situation, all I can say is... have a really good think about what you are accepting....I know it is a personal decision, but it is certainly not doing the Pilot group as a whole any good with this continual degradation of wages and conditions.


Cheers

SA

[Deske1]

I do really understand why CAL is afraid of pilots would leave very soon.But as always,CAL gave a wrong reply to the challange.
You will stuck here for 3000 and something USD for 4 years and your 20.000 USD will be witheld,paying 20% tax and stay in country where the costs of life is the same as in Europe or the USA.
The challange for CAL is the following:

November 2005
ACC B747-400 First Officer Positions
Please find below a indicative summary of the package for
B747-400 First Officers available with
Air China Cargo (ACC).
Basic prerequisites, as set by ACC, are a minimum of 500 hours on type,
and Total Flight Time of over 3000 hours.
Air China Cargo B747-400 First Officers:-
Term: - 24 months – extendable (For start immediately and into 2006)
Base: - Beijing (and possibly Shanghai)

Monthly Remuneration:
- US$6,000 salary net/month paid off-shore
During first 8 weeks of training US$4,800 salary net/month
- Overtime is paid on time over 255 hours per 3 months at 1/85th of monthly salary per hour
- Chinese income tax is paid by ACC
Per Diem: - US$1,000/month as per policy and procedures for equivalent personnel
Accommodation: - In Beijing: Hotel or allowance of RMB4,000/month (2 – 3 bedroom
apartment where foreigners live, nearby is a reasonably priced International
School, University, International standard golf course, new or recently
renovated 4 – 5 star hotels with gyms and pools, variety of restaurants, and
International Exhibition Centre)
Days free of duty: - 8 consecutive days per month (averaged over 6 months), during training 2 days/week

Travel: -
-
-
-
At beginning and completion (with excess luggage allowance)
3 international return air tickets every 12 months
2 domestic return air tickets
Access to ACC and Air China worldwide services for discount travel
Sick Leave: - 12 days per annum
Annual Leave: - 21 days per annum
Insurance: - Emergency medical/travel insurance provided to purchase Comprehensive Medical Cover (personal + family) at very
competitive rates.
Other: Maximum age limit of 56 years

Screening checks are to be conducted in Beijing immediately,
with travel and hotel provided.

[roughrider747]

you have posted the info on ACC twice now, how about sharing where you got it from and how to apply there

[Deske1]

I did post it to make it clear for everyone-even for the managment of CAL-that the current T&C's at CAL are not worth to join.
Sorry,I have just copy+paste it,I have thought the details are included.You can see and apply for this vacancy on the website of IAC.

One important thing;convert the 747 type-rating into an ICAO ATPL as the CAA of Mainland China wont accept the taiwanese licence.

[Beyond tha Threshold]

So which ICAO contracting states can convert a Taiwanese Licence and rating with minimal problems & paperwork?

I thought China would be the easiest as they still think Taiwan is one of their states.

Whats the go?

Beyond.

[Deske1]

Yeah,but mainland doesnt recognise Taiwan,so they also dont recognise any of the taiwanese authorities as the local CAA.

[bushpilot2004]

Anybody have a phone # for CAL recruiting in Taipei? Would a phone call be acceptable to check on my application status? Thanks!!

[BusTie]

Having been there and gone through the interview process I can tell you that a phone call to HR department is a definite "No No"

Be patient and soon they will call you as they still doing interviews.

Bustie

[swamp monkey]

CAL expat conditions

After reading all the bad and occassional good post regarding CAL, Can anyone provide info on the following:

1. The 8 days off per month. Is it a block period in leiu of the normal 2 days off per week we get in the west or is it additional to "normal" days off (RDO's)

2. How long are typical layovers, are there layovers at all?

3. Has anyone had any luck converting a CAL type rating at all?

4. How is the salary paid, monthly, fornightly?

5. What type of accommodation is provided when away, are meal/transport allowances provided?

Thanks

monkey

[bushpilot2004]

Thanks - BusTie check your PM.

[BusTie]

1. you get a block of 8 days none stop and you can ad 2 days of vacation to it every month for a max of 30 days per year.

2. typical layover is one to two days

3. yes

4. salary is paid monthly in USD after taxes (20%)

5. housing is paid in NT. 37,000NT after tax 29,600NT

6. Hilton, or 5 star +, x-portation is provided even in TPE. and you get $2 per hour from the time your leave Taipei until you get back. even during your sleep in KLAX

anything else?

Bustie

[sky330]

Just to remove confusion,

5.It is either the housing allowance or the hotel, not both of course, depending of your base.

5 stars hotels...euhh, yeah sure I can provide a few stations were it is the case :-)

[swamp monkey]

To continue,

Does the company pay/withhold the tax on your behalf?

Does the flat tax rate get applied to all earnings/allowances or are some things exempt?

[waytan]

happy CAL pilots

i know this is a loaded question and i do not intend start another negative thread about CAL...but where are all the happy CAL pilots? Personally, I have 3 good friends that are happy CAL pilots....they feel the pay is great, especially compared to what you can get in canada. yes taiwan is a dirty, polluted city but so is toronto. they all see it as an adventure..maybe not a career but definitly a great place to gain expereince and a type rating in a time that is hard for pilots to get jobs. give the rest of us a little glimmer of hope that CAL is not all bad.

[Medwin]

What are you trying to accomplish from this thread? Are you trying to justify your decision to join CAL?

[sky330]

Normally company witheld 20% for taxes.

I think (not sure) you can ask to reduce that to 10%.

Tax legislation is :
- You stay less than 183 days in Taiwan, expat status = flat 20%, no deduction
- more than 183 days, "normal" Taiwan tax system, rate between 10 and 40%, deduction for housing, direct family,...

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