China Airlines

Fusion · Post by **Fusion** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 2:58 pm

Just wondering if anyone has every flown overseas with these guys? Service , food, free booze, yada yada yada. Good, Bad.

Any info or comments would be grand.

Airtids · Post by **Airtids** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:01 pm

Know their Chief Training Captain for the A340 very well. Excellent guy, has great things to say about his company, and some amazing stories. Sounds all good.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:30 pm

Hmm I don't mean to throw cold water on the above post but I would suggest that you put your question to the PPrune forum..

Typhoon pilot · Post by **Typhoon pilot** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:33 pm

Not a great company to work for as an FO. Once an expat FO always an FO there is a very slim chance of upgrade but not very likely. The sked gives you 8 GDO's/month to comute on therefore you aren't at home much. Could go on and on checkout Pprune they have somemore interesting stuff to read on CAL. If you apply make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

Fusion · Post by **Fusion** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:35 pm

guess I was a little unclear, going on holidays in Bali, just want to fly with them there. I was looking for cabin service and comfort. But the other info is interesting.

Typhoon pilot · Post by **Typhoon pilot** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:41 pm

Good, only if you are a passenger.

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:48 pm

So bad if you are a PIRATE....errr....pilot?

Vickers vanguard · Post by **Vickers vanguard** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:51 pm

Airtids, I don't think you know enough of this Airline my friend.............it's one of the worst in that area of south east asia !!!!
Just do a quick check on their safety records and you'll get the picture !
My first job for the airlines was as a flight dispatcher and China Airlines was my first employer.....that was back in 1991.
It would be too long for me to mention all the accidents and serious incidents they have had..............some of them were highly publicised,check the almost identical A300 approach/stall fatal accidents in 1994 and 1998. As far as crew errors and lack of knowledge of the airplane's autoflight, I really think the above mentioned accidents top the list of the worst accidents.
And talking about the A340.....how about one of their latest big F$&ck-up in Alaska where an A340 took off from.....a taxiway !!! you read well..taxiway, with the main gear leaving a trail in the snowbank at the end of that taxiway.
How about the MD11 landing accident .....the 2002 In-flight break-up of a craped-out B747......thge list is long !!
It's the whole company safety culture that needs an overhaul and not replacing a CP every other year as they have been doing for the last decade.

Airtids · Post by **Airtids** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 7:11 pm

You may be right, my knowledge doesn't go deeply into what CAL is like to fly FOR, only trying to convey my knowledge on what I've heard it's like to fly ON, which is what I understood the post to be about. Attractive FAs, complimentary service, that sort of thing. All good.

That being said, my friend has indeed conveyed some serious concerns as far as employment issues go

. Lack of knowledge is only part of the problem in their environment. CRM problems with a mix of two different cultures, one of which is very 'face' oriented (those who have dealt with this phenomonon know of what I speak) seems to be a real challenge. An FO who will NOT question a Captain's decision, regardless of how blatantly wrong it is, is worthless as tits on a bull. Perhaps this is one of the reasons they like to keep their ex-pats as FOs. Maybe typhoon can enlighten us in that. I'm not 100% on this, but I'm pretty sure Alaska was a 320 (319?) and 'face' apparently played a major role in that incedent. My friend was very closely involved in their investigation there, and he was left just shaking his head, as the mechanism that is supposed to exist to short-circuit the accident chain simply doesn't, or can't exist because of this aspect of the predominant culture. The result of the investigation was no result. The decision was that there was nothing anyone could do to change the situation.

I really didn't think this was the sort of stuff fusion was after, so I just thought I'd let sleeping dogs lie ("amazing stories"), but now that he's awake and snarling... have at 'er! Did you hear about the 'dry-run' that was done prior to carrying the Prime Minister (?) on an economic pilgrimmage?

Like I said, amazing stories.

29chev · Post by **29chev** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:40 pm

the ANC incident was a 340-300 ......CAL has no 320 or 319 nevermind they don't have the range to cross the pacific

Vickers vanguard · Post by **Vickers vanguard** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:42 am

29chev.........correct ! Cal has no A320/319
Cal Cargo has B747-400 &- 200.....a lot of them leased and operated by Atlas Air which is a very fine company indeed.

Vickers vanguard · Post by **Vickers vanguard** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 3:47 am

and Airtids...you too are right regarding the service......it was excellent at that time(1991) and I guess now, is even better !!

29chev · Post by **29chev** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 6:07 am

VV,
Sorry but the 742's are long gone as are the wet leases by atlas air ,some where over 35 -744's though not to mention 12-a300-600,7-340-300,12-B737-800 and a growing fleet of 330-300 (will be 18 in the end) sounds like a lot has changed since you were in the area.
29

Jungle Jim · Post by **Jungle Jim** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:27 am

I flew with them a couple of weeks ago. They seemes to have nice planes . Served noodles on board. No complaints form my end.

Airtids · Post by **Airtids** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 9:25 am

Thanks for clearing that up chev.

Fusion · Post by **Fusion** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 10:19 am

well, not the exact info I was looking for, but none the less helpful. Always good to hear how over seas operations work. Thanks everyone