Originally Posted by
CrimsonEclipse
A little bit of advice:
If you're trying to better your situation and the overall conditions by discouraging pilots from joining Atlas, therefor increasing your chances of better pay and QOL... by yelling and them demeaning them, you will merely convince the new pilots that the problem lies with entrenched, bitter pilots that can't get hired anywhere else. It will destroy the credibility of your argument, and encourage them to join anyway, with the distorted idea that they can somehow race to the top of the seniority list at The Amazon Empire that is forming while everyone else leaves for green pastures or festers in their rage.
The term whipshaw is bouncing around. It's a saw with a handle on both ends so it cuts in both directions. Amazon is pulling you in both (multiple) directions.
Here's how it will work. Pay attention, there will be a test later.
My example is FedEx and their feeders. Fedex owns the ENTIRE feeder fleet. The managing (shell) companies, MAC, Empire, etc manage pilots, mechanics, etc at a MUCH lower pay rate and QOL under order from FedEx.
The shell companies are EXPENDABLE. Try to form a union, have a slow down, or a sick out, the shell company goes away, all routes and airplanes are transferred to one or more other shell companies and the flights continue without a hitch, the rowdy pilots are all taken care of in one fell swoop and will be an example to the rest of the feeders.
Amazon is the new FedEx.
There will be no mainline. Southern, Kalitta, Atlas, (and whoever I can't remember right now) will all be expendable begging for contracts, all of the airplanes will be leased by Amazon and transferable between certificates and the cycle will continue.
You are in the process of an industry disruption, and it's not going to get better.
You want to scare me?
Don't tell me that the job is hard. All cargo jobs are hard.
Tell me there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Tell me that there is no place for lapdogs on the "C" level thrones. Tell me that the golden age is over.
Not Quite.. We own Southern, and Kalliata is a privately held company- and thus far amazon wants large shares of the company that are flying the jets.
Furthering- why would Amazon buy 30-40% of an airline shares, just to whipsaw and watch the company go out of business.
The reason why Amazon purchase shares, was to prevent fed ex or ups from buying atlas or ATSG during this period, thus having to start over.
There are only 2 players for Amazon. ATSG, and Atlas. Both are 1224 local..
There are neither the planes or the pilots to
Play the whip saw games. We had to scour the world looking for 20 767's then convert them into freighters- etc etc, far more challenging the grabbing some old Turbo props laying around.
Atlas purchased southern long ago to start a 777 operation for Amazon undoubtedly, which will also grow ( assuming they have crews )
I highly doubt. Amazon and DHL want Atlas and ATSG go into the 4th without a pilot contract- maybe I'm wrong.
The world isn't getting smaller, and there are millions of pounds of freight to move- but not emough pilots, and planes to build quick enough.