Atlas: The good...
11-02-2021, 03:01 PM
#11
On Reserve
Joined APC: Oct 2021
Position: CRJ CA
Posts: 14
How about crew scheduling? They are pretty bad at my regional. They micromanage and the famous phrase for their decisions is that we line pilots "don't get the big picture." They do a lot of things that don't make sense and treat reserve pilots like pawns on a chessboard. How's it over in Atlas?
11-02-2021, 07:04 PM
#12
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Sep 2021
Posts: 31
I post this somewhat objectively, but definitely subjectively based on my own priorities on the 74. Not to be argumentative, but just to be me.
I preface the below with - Basic Good, some Great and a couple of Fantastics’ as I normally walk thru life with: “It could be worse, it could be raining!” - Young Frankenstein. I know it’s not all Beer and Brats here, but I’ve had more than most in a lifetime. It’s all your own priorities as the grass isn’t always greener as it seems.
- 17 Work Days vs some other ACMI outfits are 20, but like K4, Former Polar 16 Work day is greatly missed. 60 Day lines help to kill the monotony at times. (Yup, I pushed it too far)… not recommended for homebodies per say.
- 50% DH credit vs 33% or whatever it was. Maybe 1:1 next time, go gett’m gents!
- 50% 401K matching is now 60%, increasing in 5% increments, per year of signing, maximum of 80% a few years down the road. Hopefully better next time.
- Per Diem increases (Good to have something to fall back on after the $4 CVD19 adjustment)
- Several MOU’s have helped or are still helping. Hostile and CVD19 increases to various areas.
- Over 8hr legs = 3 Pilots, Over 12hr legs = 4 Pilots splitting workload down the middle sort of speak.
- Cruising in comfortable clothing.
- Big Boy Sick Call/Fatigue program.
- Single adventurous life thrives here. Having a strong independent better half is a must.
- Gateway Travel with Hotel awaiting - Not Home basing, but better than jumping/crash pads. Half the pressure for other places is getting to work.
- Business or better International travel and the Domestic travel is significantly better. Trips to/from HI, AK, etc.
- Hotel Committee working hard and it shows. Food is better and they’re striving hard and I am thankful. Tough job, wouldn’t want it.
- Decent increase in pay rates - taking into account last years 10% as well. I know we’re behind or leap frogged soon, but an increase is better than current book!!!
- Ability to increase your pay exists, seniority helps of course in many cases but you will work for it. Never out-based but it’s an option.
- Variety of flying to locations no other outfit could offer: Good, Bad, the Ugly - it’s all an experience so I am traveling on company time.
- As a Foodie having lived abroad and having family in Europe and the Far East, it’s great to have the ultimate authentic experiences.
- Good Crews from all walks of life solving the worlds problems at 35,000ft+/Mach .90
- Caveat: Most of the fun was pre-CVD19. Some areas have lightened up and others are quite worse. May we return to stability someday.
*Not waking up at 3AM every day, 3-5 days straight, 3,4,5 legs each day with pax or sleeping my days away doing hub turns with 2-3hr lounge chair naps. Not as many cookie cutter runs, but must admit we have our days and if you don’t mind change this isn’t for you.
- Getting better at least, not leaps and bounds but better which isn’t backwards.
>Thanks to those leading the way and the committee’s working hard to create betterment within our profession<
I preface the below with - Basic Good, some Great and a couple of Fantastics’ as I normally walk thru life with: “It could be worse, it could be raining!” - Young Frankenstein. I know it’s not all Beer and Brats here, but I’ve had more than most in a lifetime. It’s all your own priorities as the grass isn’t always greener as it seems.
- 17 Work Days vs some other ACMI outfits are 20, but like K4, Former Polar 16 Work day is greatly missed. 60 Day lines help to kill the monotony at times. (Yup, I pushed it too far)… not recommended for homebodies per say.
- 50% DH credit vs 33% or whatever it was. Maybe 1:1 next time, go gett’m gents!
- 50% 401K matching is now 60%, increasing in 5% increments, per year of signing, maximum of 80% a few years down the road. Hopefully better next time.
- Per Diem increases (Good to have something to fall back on after the $4 CVD19 adjustment)
- Several MOU’s have helped or are still helping. Hostile and CVD19 increases to various areas.
- Over 8hr legs = 3 Pilots, Over 12hr legs = 4 Pilots splitting workload down the middle sort of speak.
- Cruising in comfortable clothing.
- Big Boy Sick Call/Fatigue program.
- Single adventurous life thrives here. Having a strong independent better half is a must.
- Gateway Travel with Hotel awaiting - Not Home basing, but better than jumping/crash pads. Half the pressure for other places is getting to work.
- Business or better International travel and the Domestic travel is significantly better. Trips to/from HI, AK, etc.
- Hotel Committee working hard and it shows. Food is better and they’re striving hard and I am thankful. Tough job, wouldn’t want it.
- Decent increase in pay rates - taking into account last years 10% as well. I know we’re behind or leap frogged soon, but an increase is better than current book!!!
- Ability to increase your pay exists, seniority helps of course in many cases but you will work for it. Never out-based but it’s an option.
- Variety of flying to locations no other outfit could offer: Good, Bad, the Ugly - it’s all an experience so I am traveling on company time.
- As a Foodie having lived abroad and having family in Europe and the Far East, it’s great to have the ultimate authentic experiences.
- Good Crews from all walks of life solving the worlds problems at 35,000ft+/Mach .90
- Caveat: Most of the fun was pre-CVD19. Some areas have lightened up and others are quite worse. May we return to stability someday.
*Not waking up at 3AM every day, 3-5 days straight, 3,4,5 legs each day with pax or sleeping my days away doing hub turns with 2-3hr lounge chair naps. Not as many cookie cutter runs, but must admit we have our days and if you don’t mind change this isn’t for you.
- Getting better at least, not leaps and bounds but better which isn’t backwards.
>Thanks to those leading the way and the committee’s working hard to create betterment within our profession<
Speaking from firsthand knowledge, do you consider Atlas just another resume padding station for purple/brown? Or do you think that it could be a legitimate career destination for the right person?
11-02-2021, 07:15 PM
#13
In a land of unicorns
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Position: Whale FO
Posts: 6,633
You definitely had a lot of good to say. All the feedback is appreciated!
Speaking from firsthand knowledge, do you consider Atlas just another resume padding station for purple/brown? Or do you think that it could be a legitimate career destination for the right person?
Speaking from firsthand knowledge, do you consider Atlas just another resume padding station for purple/brown? Or do you think that it could be a legitimate career destination for the right person?
11-03-2021, 10:27 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,409
You definitely had a lot of good to say. All the feedback is appreciated!
Speaking from firsthand knowledge, do you consider Atlas just another resume padding station for purple/brown? Or do you think that it could be a legitimate career destination for the right person?
Speaking from firsthand knowledge, do you consider Atlas just another resume padding station for purple/brown? Or do you think that it could be a legitimate career destination for the right person?
As for whether this is a destination for the right person, that all depends on the person. You'll never impress anyone with Atlas Air stickers on your bag. That's not to imply that pursuing a feeling of "making it" is dumb, but that's an itch you'll have to scratch some other way. The newness of our flying wears off over time. The joy of flying to Peoria is about the same as the joy of flying to Ramstein. I still like flying, but the destinations become less important over time. That said, no crash pad, no commuting space-a and the ability to set your own level of involvement is pretty good.
Hope this helps. If not, sorry to make you read this much.
11-03-2021, 06:41 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: 747
Posts: 362
How about crew scheduling? They are pretty bad at my regional. They micromanage and the famous phrase for their decisions is that we line pilots "don't get the big picture." They do a lot of things that don't make sense and treat reserve pilots like pawns on a chessboard. How's it over in Atlas?
11-03-2021, 07:16 PM
#16
In a land of unicorns
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Position: Whale FO
Posts: 6,633
11-04-2021, 12:24 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2013
Position: No Hats No Jackets No PAX
Posts: 1,581
Scheduling issues has been about my approach to the situation. Just my personal experience as a former mil guy and Chief of Scheduling once upon a time long ago. I know what most immediately think, but I have been assimilated into the ranks of doing my “job”, but I still do my due diligence with a few solutions to the problem before I call as it has benefited me with better opportunities to fix each situation way more often than not. I know it’s a firestorm job and don’t want any part of it ever again. I never call with a WTF attitude and have seen that turn dismal rapidly with others. Keep it internal (emotion, I know it’s hard) if you can and use as many work arounds as possible, contract knowledge, stewards, etc. Just my thoughts and I could be totally wrong, but I believe there might be notes attached to us - just saying.
*Just me - I have acclimated to the water temperature here and found my flow. Way more positive outcomes than not, but there have been just a few nuclear moments so my approach has helped and I definitely do not have the Big Picture - but remember - “There is no normal life here, it’s just life!”
Thx Swakid8 - for the Sick/Fatigue program answer earlier. Abusing our goodness is not my thing. Different programs/requirements from most of my friends at other outfits you can ask around.
Elevation is spot on. You just get to go to many more international areas faster than others who wait 5-10 years or more. Some great, others not so great but variety is unmatched to others having been at other places for decades. Definitely a niche if you enjoy it and it does wear off a bit but I think of the alternatives just for myself and just keep on. My friend really wanted that United T-Shirt, etc. An Atlas sticker gets you “Where are you going this time!” at best….or not.
I can tell you this: my neighbors ask me a lot more travel questions than the Purple or Brown guy(s) just down the street as I have a great time abroad (pre-CVD), but then again they don’t ask me for any investment $ or loans either.
*I am here for the long haul per say as long as they keep the doors open and don’t have two decades left, but more than one. If you’re in the younger category, stability/longevity should definitely be a high priority. $, seniority, benefits, scope, wife, kids, weekends, vacation, health, short periods off/long periods off, etc. etc. you can be the only one to make the call and I wish everyone the best. I have no Crystal Ball, just an 8-Ball. Life is what you make of it, all of the other things above grant you freedom and you only have OneLife! As a great friend told me here: “The grass is always greener but you still have to mow it.”
Godspeed to everyone’s endeavors!
*Just me - I have acclimated to the water temperature here and found my flow. Way more positive outcomes than not, but there have been just a few nuclear moments so my approach has helped and I definitely do not have the Big Picture - but remember - “There is no normal life here, it’s just life!”
Thx Swakid8 - for the Sick/Fatigue program answer earlier. Abusing our goodness is not my thing. Different programs/requirements from most of my friends at other outfits you can ask around.
Elevation is spot on. You just get to go to many more international areas faster than others who wait 5-10 years or more. Some great, others not so great but variety is unmatched to others having been at other places for decades. Definitely a niche if you enjoy it and it does wear off a bit but I think of the alternatives just for myself and just keep on. My friend really wanted that United T-Shirt, etc. An Atlas sticker gets you “Where are you going this time!” at best….or not.
I can tell you this: my neighbors ask me a lot more travel questions than the Purple or Brown guy(s) just down the street as I have a great time abroad (pre-CVD), but then again they don’t ask me for any investment $ or loans either.
*I am here for the long haul per say as long as they keep the doors open and don’t have two decades left, but more than one. If you’re in the younger category, stability/longevity should definitely be a high priority. $, seniority, benefits, scope, wife, kids, weekends, vacation, health, short periods off/long periods off, etc. etc. you can be the only one to make the call and I wish everyone the best. I have no Crystal Ball, just an 8-Ball. Life is what you make of it, all of the other things above grant you freedom and you only have OneLife! As a great friend told me here: “The grass is always greener but you still have to mow it.”
Godspeed to everyone’s endeavors!
Last edited by C17B74; 11-04-2021 at 12:58 AM.
11-04-2021, 06:04 AM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,409
Our pilot support staff actually do a lot to help crews and get solutions into the field. That program seemed like a gimmick to me when it rolled out, but it's been extremely valuable. A lot of headaches I remembers from regional, contracting and 135 life don't exist thanks to this system.
11-07-2021, 09:39 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Position: B747 FO
Posts: 1,261
Get hired, choose fleet, enjoy!. Footprint for every fleet has been shared before, go back a few pages and you'll find plenty of information.
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