C17B74

Very good point and since there really are no absolutes other than death, taxes and roaches the “we are expendable” has reigned true throughout history. Arrogance is easily replaced with astonishment so why worry and just enjoy these years, this decade or whenever the inevitable lands at your station. Hiccups happen along the way, but the tech movement forward hasn’t stopped yet. Overall, we have no say, power or vote on such business efforts - Mongo just pawn in game of actual aviation tech progress.

*Always remember that if smart business can get rid of any expenditure for cost savings and profit it will. Who really knows what lays ahead except that change is inevitable.

**Regarding the question if this is the proper thread, no one here knows what the future holds just based on any pilots pay scale no matter where they work as none of us are Kings or King makers so even a far cry or reach is interesting at times. Maybe we’ll become scrap for a ship yard who knows.

3pointlanding

Both but the aircraft needs probably will not include the Queen of the Sky. To much gas needed. Have you seen any new 4 engine aircraft? Oh they will keep some as there is a smaller market but as much as I loved the Jumbo, reality tells me the days are gone. Purple knew that and could have bought quite a few for their expanings fleet but preferred out of the box 777s and 767s. They are looking for replacements for the MD11 and everything points to A350s or 777x aircraft. Mr. Smith wants an all Boeing fleet and although he is not in charge now will probably get his way.

SealingStemBolt

You really can't worry about such things at least as far as picking which airline to work for. If pilotless airliners become a thing then there's really nowhere safe to hide as a pilot. No airline will pass up the (supposed) cost savings and even airlines with fancy language in their contracts saying no to it will either figure out a way or will sink as they get eaten alive by competitors.

Pilots worry about statistically small boogeymen like this but yet not clear and obvious dangers such as losing your medical, dying or airlines going bust for all the regular reasons. The only safe options is to live well beneath your means and save, save, save until you're financially independent. Only then will it not matter what happens in the future.

Secondly, all this concern about Apollo doing this or that particularly with taking the gloves off in regards to cost savings: What do you think the existing management has been doing all this time? It was mere months ago everyone was whining about how miserly JD is and how pitiful the new CBA is blah blah blah. Fact is, I don't see Apollo doing that much different than when we were publicly traded. If anything, Apollo's resources might see more airplanes on property rather than mucking about securitizing aircraft debt through Wall Street. As for us? I just don't see management's motivations changing just because it's Apollo's show now. They'll still be constantly working on the tightest budgets that keep the operation moving to customer's satisfaction. If that means bumping the pay up for more pilots then they will but not unless it's absolutely necessary.

If anything, with the economy slowing down I imagine management would rather ride out the current pilot "shortage" expecting things to return mostly to status quo in a year. Much easier to do that than trying to roll pay back when the tide goes out.

dera

You say how management is trying to save money and operate on a tight budget, but at the same time they waste millions of dollars in inefficiencies and pure stupidity.
Thankfully in here, the inefficiency and stupidity often make this a very fun job, hope they don't change that much.

C17B74

Agree as the proposed buyers obviously have seen opportunities for efficiency gains aside from how profitable operation is regardless of the gaps. I capitalize on these gaps and that’s what makes this the best ever, so I am wary of future talent and any Purple/Brown optimizer or any Major’s optimizer if/when it becomes self aware.

***Giant Optimizer (Skynet) funding bill is passed in the AAWH round table, and the system goes online on August 4, 2023, removing human decisions from strategic cargo operations. Giant Optimizer begins to learn rapidly and eventually becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m., EDT, on August 29, 2023.*** End of message…

CRJJ

If that optimizer makes us work our asse* off but we are compensated accordingly…..I’d be OK with it. Or making the same we make now but getting all the flying done in 14 days for example.

C17B74

Correct assessment with the objective of $$$ and that would be a given with an optimizer making you turn and burn min rest and the flight hours would significantly increase; therefore, the $$$ would increase without even a raise. Unless looking to expand significantly less drastic hiring would be needed which thins the herd just a bit. Less VX if that’s something you count on, etc. Plug in an 81hr guarantee and they will get their 81hrs from the turnip, but your vaca months / training months would would be a win hands down , but no sense discussing a never will happen situation. 14 days would be phenomenal with a raise - isn’t it pay more work less (not just days). Totally agree though, 30+ more days off a year would be fantastic, especially if we didn’t end up staring at the floor of the crew van on our way to rest like a few other outfits. It’s amazing what the trickle down effects could be if you drill down even further and the noose can tighten even further in other areas I won’t discuss. Everything is a guess on how this plays out right now so the dog will whipsaw the tail any which way it wants. Hopefully it doesn’t chase or bite the tail really hard or worse case lop it off.

BrazilBusDriver

Well, I’m not a corporate lawyer or a private equity investor, but I suspect this is a bit of a wrench in the gears:

https://theloadstar.com/polar-air-ca...ing-and-fraud/

NoJoy

Hmmm. Interesting indeed. Let’s see how this will affect the upcoming acquisition-


Atlas Air, which in August agreed to be acquired by an investment platform, has not mentioned the case in any of its SEC filings. It told The Loadstar: “Atlas does not comment on potential or pending litigation.”

160to4

Sounds like a disgruntled customer. Good luck proving it.