TimmyR

+1 Been here just over 1.5 years and on the 767. There is a lot to improve, but there is a lot that I really enjoy as well.

captainv

3 years in October.

A bit of perspective - I was stoked to escape the graveyard spiral that was my regional airline and get hired by Atlas. It is much, much better than being a regional FO in most respects, and surprisingly worse in others (work rules, mostly). A lot of my new-hire buddies were RJ captains, and other than the see-the-world/fly-big-airplanes thing, they're worse off than they were. Certainly on the 747, the pay would be a lot better.

I loved the job when I first came on line, and there are many facets that I still enjoy. But a lot has gone downhill in the last three years. Atlas in a lot of ways still has a small airline/flying club mentality, certainly they staff HQ as if were were a 400-pilot airline instead of 1,000. A lot of the support structure is run on a shoe string and is showing signs of wear. Everyday QoL has suffered tremendously. I don't mind schedule changes, when they're legal, or any of the other ACMI tradeoffs I was fully aware of when I got hired. It's the illegal schedule changes, insufficient catering, and constant hotel/travel battles that get old. I'm happy to defend my CBA, but to do so on an almost daily basis is evidence of a much more serious problem. (In fairness, I talk to a lot of people, so perhaps I hear about a lot more problems than the average guy.) At my former regional, to have to quote the CBA to a scheduler/travel/chief pilot was an extremely rare occurrence. Here, it's commonplace, and even then it's not unheard of, especially for certain people, to say, "No, we're not going to do that." Yes, the union sets it straight almost every time, but it gets old. Supposedly they are making some internal changes, we'll see how that turns out. The daily scheduling crisis shows no signs of slowing down, however.

Atlas is "the Cream of the Crap" and yes, we're far behind the majors in almost every respect. I am hopeful the next contract will show gains in every sector. I am fully engaged in trying to make this a better place, regardless of whether I am here to see it. I try to convince my brethren here that by simply insisting that the company follow the contract, as they demand we do, will give us huge amounts of leverage in the days ahead. But we are often our own worst enemy - accepting non-compliant hotels, travel, catering, schedule changes without so much as a peep. It is astounding how many of us will trade our integrity for a $50 meal.

I have my app in at one major airline. If they call, I will leave - the staggering difference in retirement contributions is reason enough. But I would be sad to leave. I'm convinced Atlas will be the most fun job (at times, anyway) I'll ever have. I would be perfectly content to stay and help build this into an airline I'll never want to leave, but we're not there yet. Getting to crew force to simply read and live by the CBAG would go a long way into making that happen.

There's a lot of chatter about the upcoming union elections, as if picking the right name will make all our dreams come true. WE are the union. If the company is violating the CBA, it's only because WE allow it to happen. I don't put in even a tiny percentage of the work of others, but I try to do what I can. Can you say the same? (I ask in the general sense, not picking on a specific individual)

C5nwhaleguy

Easy there guys or you'll ruin the things that need fixing in 2016, management trolls these threads . As far as i'm concerned this place sux until it gets markedly better. We deserve more flexibility scheduling wise and to be better compensated in all segments for this lucrative all hours, all ends of the safe/unsafe globe. These aren't just miami nor la turns for the day.

Whaledriver

Just to give you a taste of life at Atlas, was awarded a Boeing LCF line, doing PAE, NGO, ANC flying, started fine. Then drug into a DHL trip, now headed to Africa. "This is the life you have chosen."

DC8 Driver

[QUOTE="This is the life you have chosen."[/QUOTE]

Not me.. I didn't choose this life, I was merged into this nightmare. I'd go back to my old Polar pay if I could get my life back. I'm bidding in the top 5% in my base and it doesn't mean a damn thing other than days off. We're all just a bunch of charter pilots. I am hopeful though for contract 16, I think we've got allot of young talented guys that are ready to take the gloves off and fight and I'm ready to give my support 100%.

744driver

Wow...I knew that sentiment was out there, but I have not heard it (or seen it written) out loud, out in the open.

Whaledriver

BTW, remember, there would be no "Old Polar" way to be at, if Atlas had not bought and then merged the two.

744driver

Ouch...for the record, I did not say that!!...I do wish I had said it though!!

DC8 Driver

I'm just being honest. I'm making an honest statement that I would go back to my old pay if it meant I could get back my old work rules and go to work without my schedule blowing up every 12 hours. This is not an Atlas v Polar statement, we are way passed that and if it's taken that way, then you guys are missing my point. My point is, QOL at Atlas from my perspective is horrible compared to my old job.

DC8 Driver

I was using the Polar example only to compare how degraded our current QOL is at Atlas from the perspective of someone who's flown at both airlines. I don't know how you interpret my post as having anything to do with "Atlas buying Polar" or having an issue with the merger. I wish we had merged years ago and could be working on a third generation contract right now. What I do have an issue with is all the work rules we lost in the process and how that affects the daily life of our pilots.