FrancesTheMute

Couldn't agree more. Way too much negative bs.

tuktukdriver

Too much negativity is true. This is exactly what mngt wants, and what f&h advise them to do (Divise the group, create emotional chaos). If you really like this job, then you'll have to fight for it to be right (unfortunately). And that start by getting your voice, you message heard by your union, stand behind them, fly the cba, stop flying vx, hold the company accountable, etc...
Now, if going to go work elsewhere is your plan then great, but while you're here, keep your head cold, and fight for your job.

FrancesTheMute

I got no problem with people flying vx. There will always be a certain a percentage of the pilot group that does no matter what. Whether you vx because you want a new jet ski or to pay for kids college tuition, either way, it's none of my business. Not to mention if your turned in for harassing or intimidating another crew member for flying vx, your all but guaranteed to be terminated for it and the union can't save you since they don't condone it all.

tuktukdriver

I agree that harassing people on vx flying is wrong, and have no problems with it in normal times.

BYOB

I've been reading and active on this thread for a very long time. I've had my application in for years before I finally received the interview and job offer. The negativity on this thread as of late is appalling and I honestly considered turning down the job offer because of it. I went back and read all of the negative posts and who was posting what and I realized it's the same group of people. Some of whom I read their first posts about receiving the CJO and how thrilled they were, just as I am. I read their posts about how much they love the flying and the crews. One day all of that changed and they became bitter and angry. That one small group of Atlas pilots can't represent the entire population. I start class on the 22nd. I hope that management does the right thing and realizes the climate in the industry and that they offer a contract that is commensurate or better for the flying that Atlas does. While I take that chance by leaving my cushy left seat CRJ gig, you can bet your ass that will be ALL IN, I will fly the CBA, and I won't let all the negativity into the cockpit when it's my turn in the rotation up front. Positive thoughts, teamwork, pride and respect for the job we do and for each other....this is what it will take to put pressure on management and F&H and make them sweat rather than the other way around. The pilots of Atlas are more than 1250 strong in numbers. Atlas has 2,000 employees. Think about that. More than 65% of the labor force that makes Atlas tick are the pilots. Standing together, unified, all in, we can make the next CBA better than imagined, especially with the record profits that Atlas has been posting, the attrition rate, and the amount of hiring that legacy carriers are doing and will continue to do in the coming years.

You can ***** and moan or you can stand together and do something about it and be a positive impact on the place you work and your career. The choice is yours. I know where I stand and I'm not going to allow anyone to change my mind. I'm bigger than that and a hell of a lot stronger in the mind to allow that to happen.

-BYOB

Brokenwind

Nice BYOB!

I like the way you looked cleanly through the rhetoric and pressed on with your plans for you and for Atlas.

As much as the talk makes you think it is a sinking ship and the rats are jumping overboard you can bet your life that it will not be that bad at all...

Mgmt. is greedy and divisive towards the pilots right now, that is their job and they do it well, you can't let emotions get in the way of that. Got to keep an eye on the ball.

With that said, management is probably keenly aware of the gun they are playing with is loaded and if they force a substandard contract on the pilots, then they will have everything to lose. There will be no manpower left to move their planes and bring their plans for future expansion into fruition.

They (management) have to be careful too. Simply said...

plift

If some *****ing and moaning on the internet has you flustered realize you'll have to deal with a lot more than that actually working here. Yes there is some *****ing and moaning on the flight deck. I wouldn't say its at a bad level, but you almost always get somebody complaining about one thing or another. Most of our pilots are good to fly with though. That said, if you are in your 30s or 40s you will have somebody asking you if you have apps out to other airlines on almost every flight. Usually they're asking because they think you should have apps out, and if you don't it can get tiresome answering why. If you do have apps out, there's also a slight chance they're asking for the opposite reason. That they're tired of all these young pilots just coming to Atlas to fast track themselves to a major. The biggest thing that can wear you down though is having to constantly make sure the company is giving you CBA compliant duty, rest and travel.

aerosky

FWIW...I had the Check Airman on my OE a year and a half ago ask me who I had my apps in with....after sensing my confusion and apprehension on why he would be asking me this...he told me that if I didn't (which of course I did) I was a complete idiot.

He was a great guy btw, no malice behind asking ... he was just curious.

Radials Rule

I am not sure about your definition of "normal times" and I too agree that harassment is wrong.....in most cases....the exception being, pilots on furlough.

As for discouraging VX, I personally think that should be saved until later, say at an impasse during negotiations. If or when that happens, then VX'ers should be shunned, much like those that refuse to wear the Teamsters lanyard.

In any case, now, we should all be following the CBA to the letter, not make deals and not do them any favors.

iPilot

I think the debate over VX is putting a lot of effort into something that really doesn't affect operations much. What would the company do if we all stopped VX? With our current CBA probably spin everyone's schedules willy nilly to make it all fit. We saw it over the winter when there was so much extra flying being offered even with everyone VX'ing to their hearts content they still had to blow up schedules to fit in the extra flying.

Point being, pilots have many other ways show solidarity and put pressure on the company. Following the CBA religiously, not doing other people's jobs to get the planes out on time, and even making sure everyone has their silly yellow lanyards on shows the company that we mean business. Whether pilots VX or not is small potatoes compared to DHL throwing a fit when Atlas can't get the packages delivered on time.

Plus besides showing the company how much pilots do for the operation as a negotiating tactic, I think it's a good lesson to get the non-pilot employees to pull their own weight. The company as a whole will work a lot better if incompetence is not tolerated instead of passing issues along for pilots and other employees to deal with.