Originally Posted by NightIP

I know there's a fair amount of negative talk in this thread, and I know I've complained about things we need to have fixed, as well.

But, you're right: This is actually a pretty dang good job. I still get annoyed at those who call this a bottomfeeder airline (yes, they're out there), simply because I can tell immediately that they lack perspective. I made more my second year at Atlas as a 767 FO than I would have if I were a 5th year 767 CA at my previous ACMI carrier. Yes, we lag behind the legacies, but we're still on a 2011 contract; give us time. As far as other ACMI carriers are concerned, we are lightyears better, and I would know; I used to work for an actual scumbag, bottomfeeder ACMI outfit. I used to want to quit after every single trip, but it's not like that at Atlas at all.

The company is indeed lobbing grenades at us over certain areas of our CBA. The December vacancy award was a big one, but it was remedied quickly. Our loss of the breakfast grievance is another example of how the company is "pressing to test" certain sections of our CBA, and we can expect that type of thing to happen more as negotiations begin. But, if anyone thinks this sort of thing doesn't happen at Delta, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.

My real rambling, totally jetlagged point of this post is to point out that if someone is a complete miserable bastard at Atlas, there's a good chance he'll be a complete miserable bastard at Delta, too. People expecting happiness to come from a job will always be disappointed.

Me? I feel I make decent money here. $91k my second year on the 767, actually ($101k if you count per diem). It's not Delta 767 money, but patience is key; we'll get 'em in 2016. I spend my big chunks of days off surfing, growing a beard, and forgetting how to fly. I go to work and don't hate it. The annoyances on the road are generally minor. We're not getting suspended for 30 days for missing an R1 callout, either (yes, that happened at my previous ACMI). I live where I want. Life is generally not bad. As with anything else, it is what you make it.