Originally Posted by
captainv
I came to Atlas for the exact reasons you mentioned. My regional was dying and it wasn't worth starting over.
Will you make more here? I had RJ captains in my new hire class who were breaking $100k pretty easily. I've been here 4.5 years and didn't break $80k last year. (although if hired into the 747 I would've by now)
Will you upgrade here? Currently it's below 5 years for both airplanes. I was promised a 2-year upgrade at the regionals. It took 6 and lasted less than a year. Here, you'll have 1300 guys ahead of you (not including Southern guys). How long will it take you?
Will Atlas make you more marketable? You could come here and get the 767 type and apply to FedEx, like every other 767 pilot here has done. (They've hired three of us so far!) Does a 747 type get interview boards all hot and bothered? Sure, coming here means you can pretty much handle anything, anywhere - but does that make you more qualified for flying narrow-body passenger hub turns than, say, an RJ guy who already flies narrow-body passenger hub turns 5 times a day? Is FO time here more valuable than CA, LCA, sim instructor time at the regionals?
Those are interesting questions for all of us.
I was recently at the NGPA event in PSP. I flat out told the recruiter I had a date with Atlas and asked what would be more favored, stay at my regional or split for Atlas. He said Atlas, but then walked over and asked the head of pilot hiring at Delta who was also in attendance. The head honcho also said leave the regional. That is why I am coming. Honestly I hope that Atlas ends up with a great contract and I can call it my forever airline, but I am not blind to the fact that it may simply be a stepping stone to add some weight to my resume so that Delta or FedEx take note and give me some attention.