Originally Posted by
Oklaflyer
I passed on them. I no showed the ATI interview and cancelled the ABX. ABX is the way to go if given the option of the two. I just dont see the pay going anywhere but down. Talked to guys on both sides and pretty much confirmed what numerous post on here indicate. The ATI pilot group has been beaten with the worst negotiations in history and the process has just spelled out loss after loss after loss. They make substantially less and will be held to ABX like a knife in the throat. I guess the ABX and ATI unions literally won't even speak to one another. If things are like that management is probably going to laugh when ABX is release to self help. Its a sad situation... Could be a good job but until things are worked out its going to be for time builders who aren't looking long term.
I know Motor think I might be an ATI or an ex-ABX guy. None of that. I interviewed and received the May 9th class invitation.
I much appreciate that, but after many considerations, thoughts I have to say I don't think ABX will be my future. Probably, tomorrow, I will call Tracey and let her know to call someone else for the 9th.
I think ( or at least aviation in the last 20 years thought me that ) if something is too good to be true, them, maybe, it's not true.
Interviewing at middle management level ( Jeff, CP, etc ), doesn't say anything. They only can hire you or not. However, they can not and will never know the company's future. They are in dark as much as any line pilot. Maybe, they will know something a day before the line pilot, but nothing else. If I learnt something out of aviation in the last 20 years is that don't believe it until you fly it and stay away from Kool-Aid staff.
ATSG got 20 planes split equally between ATI and ABX. ABX will hire 50-60 pilots by the end of this year to fulfill the need for the extra planes. The rumor Amazon is gonna need an extra 40 planes ( that way to double the pilot force ) is just a rumor. Nobody knows how this deal will work out. Present deal is just for 5 years.
50-60 pilots means 260 total. If 50/50 ratio CAs to FOs, that means probably 2-30 pilots will get upgraded to CA. With 120-130 CAs, for the new 50-60 guys( these are us, the new hired ) to make CAs will take ( if the business stays the way is forecasted ) almost 15 years for the first of 50-60s to become CA. That's a lot of time.
I know the money is good. But to be an FO for at least 15 years ( most present junior CA is 1992 - that's 24 years back, and 50-60 new guys means nothing ) until the first of us to be able to bid for CA is a long time. I know the FO makes as much, even if not a bit more than a CA for some other companies. But I'd rather be a CA for that kind of money ( even if underpaid by ABX standards ). Home based is a biggy too.
Presently to ABX hiring 50-60 guys means nothing. No coasts. Cheap labor. The training is in the house, they pay no hotels, no per-diem. If we make it through the training, still for one year we have no protection, which means if you **** off any of the present guys ( they know each other furt' smell ), you are out. 43 G salary is nothing to them. They pay us the normal training cost as salary. Excellent deal to them. Also we gonna need a crash pad for many years to come.
If ABX will be doubling the fleet in the next 5 years, then becoming CA faster might be a possibility. But again, for ATSG to get an extra 40 planes is just an APC rumor. For us to become CAs faster will requires the pilot number to be increased to 500-520 and that requires a double fleet.
Will Amazon be that successful? I really hope so, but I doubt it. I don't think it will compete FedEx or UPS. It might take away some of their business by shipping their own staff and using the two large one less, but not competing.
If Amazon becomes very successful, the government will want ( it already wants that) its cut. So taxes will be a huge turn off for Amazon buyers ( better go to the Mall then. At least you see what you buy ). If that happens, the present/future business model might not work. That means ABX fleet might not double ( just a rumor anyway ). Then, there will not be a need for 500 or so pilots, so I would never make CA until 50 pct ahead of me will retire. That if I don't get furloughed.
I wish ABX a great future. A great company with a great past but I will pass.