DHL Pilots of North America
04-02-2015, 10:33 AM
#11
Lead Guitar & Vocals
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Posts: 146
Pilot Shortage
This thread is missing the key word.
Pilot "wages" Shortage.
Does it bother anyone that DHL (aka DPWN) is trying to establish pilot wages in the USA? Geez, they aren't even an airline!
All of the DHL ACMI carriers certainly deserve better wages/QOL etc.
Pilot "wages" Shortage.
Does it bother anyone that DHL (aka DPWN) is trying to establish pilot wages in the USA? Geez, they aren't even an airline!
All of the DHL ACMI carriers certainly deserve better wages/QOL etc.
04-02-2015, 11:48 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: 747
Posts: 1,290
Is DHL content to take a certain amount of reliability hit for scrambling to put piled up freight on several px airlines belly freight ? What is the tipping point there ?
Again, I don't pretend to know the exact answer.
I'll believe there is a true pilot shortage at the DHL system level when the suits from Germany see fit to hold a night sort pilot cafeteria meeting, and declare that they're going to treat their contractors as valued team members, and that their goal for all affected employees would be to view flying for a DHL carrier as a career equal to Fed Ex and UPS in compensation and benefits.
Again, I don't pretend to know the exact answer.
I'll believe there is a true pilot shortage at the DHL system level when the suits from Germany see fit to hold a night sort pilot cafeteria meeting, and declare that they're going to treat their contractors as valued team members, and that their goal for all affected employees would be to view flying for a DHL carrier as a career equal to Fed Ex and UPS in compensation and benefits.
8
04-02-2015, 11:57 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2010
Posts: 548
The particular company we work for does. You know, it cuts into those Sr. VP. Director types bonus's and stock options.
04-02-2015, 01:02 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: 747
Posts: 1,290
That said, however, DHL does look at the entire package of what their contracting airlines offer when it comes to awarding flying and pilot costs are a part of that.
At Astar, our performance was exceptional. Despite an over 99% on time record, we were shutdown about as quickly as they could replace us. Our downfall was a combination of old airframes (with 3 man crews), moderately high wages, and an owner who was at the end of his career, had made a fortune with DHL, and wanted out.
8
04-03-2015, 05:24 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2011
Posts: 182
Many of the "mid level" airlines like Omni, Kalitta, and Atlas are experiencing such a high turnover rate that their pilot ranks are well below optimum and, at least for Atlas, some flight segments are being cancelled due to lack of crews. Pilots are leaving for the majors before, during, just after ground school, and just after getting their type rating. And it is not just new hires and low time FO's that are moving. Atlas has had 2 767 captains leave for the majors this spring.
Canceling a premium pay open time trip does not mean that Atlas cancelled a flight.
Check HAWK next time an open time trip cancels. The aircraft are all still moving.
04-03-2015, 06:17 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: 777, sofa
Posts: 1,183
I ran into an Atlas 767CA the other day who claimed that year over year the Seniority list had grown by just 2 pilots, while 9 new aircraft joined the fleet. Assuming block hours increased as well, that means there is less slack in the operation.
At Southern we have parked 1 737 for April, and have previously hired Atlas or ABX to cover our 737 trips with their 767s. Almost all of our 777 guys are hard against the 1000 hour limit every month.
Point is, the low hanging fruit are quickly disappearing. This may not be the mythical pilot shortage, but it is a whisper of what it will look like.
At Southern we have parked 1 737 for April, and have previously hired Atlas or ABX to cover our 737 trips with their 767s. Almost all of our 777 guys are hard against the 1000 hour limit every month.
Point is, the low hanging fruit are quickly disappearing. This may not be the mythical pilot shortage, but it is a whisper of what it will look like.
04-03-2015, 03:08 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2014
Posts: 265
Interesting thread. At first I thought that there was something here, now it has deteriorated to a discussion of a potential "pilot shortage".
Where did the discussion of the solidarity of labor groups go? We are currently performing DHL work RIGHT NOW, and are proverbially being kicked in the teeth.
It's not about hiring more pilots, it's about a cohesive front to deal with draconian management at a number of different companies.
Getting pilots together and supportive of THIS kind of issue makes herding cats look easy.
So what do we do about the issue that is germane to this thread, organizing to protect our jobs and livelihood?
Where did the discussion of the solidarity of labor groups go? We are currently performing DHL work RIGHT NOW, and are proverbially being kicked in the teeth.
It's not about hiring more pilots, it's about a cohesive front to deal with draconian management at a number of different companies.
Getting pilots together and supportive of THIS kind of issue makes herding cats look easy.
So what do we do about the issue that is germane to this thread, organizing to protect our jobs and livelihood?
04-03-2015, 05:36 PM
#20
Lead Guitar & Vocals
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Posts: 146
I don't know about you, but I wouldn't tolerate anyone kicking me in the teeth. It it's so bad, why don't you quit and find a better flying job since it's the "great pilot shortage"? Or, are you the stereotypical SAI pilot who can't get a better job for whatever reason? If the latter is the case, you are screwed, as history has shown that DHL will always find a lower cost operator for fly it's freight.
Your main problem is the their is such a disparity amongst 1224 DHL contractors, that ABX isn't going to agree to any pay and benefit cut and SAI and Kalitta aren't ever going to get that big a raise to bring them to ABX levels.
You have Florida West waiting in the wings to be used to spank any 1224 carrier that doesn't play ball with DHL and then there is always the wildcard of NAC, who like a vulture, is circling waiting to clean the carcuss of the intransigent contractor.
Your main problem is the their is such a disparity amongst 1224 DHL contractors, that ABX isn't going to agree to any pay and benefit cut and SAI and Kalitta aren't ever going to get that big a raise to bring them to ABX levels.
You have Florida West waiting in the wings to be used to spank any 1224 carrier that doesn't play ball with DHL and then there is always the wildcard of NAC, who like a vulture, is circling waiting to clean the carcuss of the intransigent contractor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCPlFnTfxaA
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