Most of us are constantly trying to leave. Over 200 pilots have left in the past year. We are just trying to give inquiring pilots the information they need to avoid making a career mistake. With the rate of hiring at the majors, getting heavy time does not have the importance that PIC time does when applying to career airlines. The majors are hiring future captains, not heavy metal cruise FO's which is essentially what Atlas new hires (in the 747) would be for the first couple of years here. Unfortunately, too many regional pilots have an irrational desire to fly the 747 and this clouds good career decisions. Aspiring airline pilots should be looking for the fastest path to a career destination instead of wasting valuable years beating up their bodies flying as a galley maid on 16 hour legs to what are turning into shorter and shorter layovers. It's not a great way to see the world. Better to get on with United and have the travel perks and money to take the family on a proper vacation rather than trying to sightsee (and get adequate rest) on a 20 hour layover.

Actually, your question is an insult those of us who are fighting a war over here with management. Obviously, more pilots on the seniority list would have nothing to do with anyone taking our jobs away from us. On the contrary, a larger pilot group would mean job security as the junior pilots would provide furlough protection for senior pilots. The only real negative of having new hires here is that they arrive and find that the first year pay is so low (despite our warnings) that they have to pick up open time just to make ends meet. This has the effect of weakening our contract because management sees that pilots are content to work 20 or 25 days a month and this becomes the new baseline that they start from during contract negotiations. They'll say: "well, it seems that pilots prefer to work a higher average of days per month than you are currently contractually obligated to work, so lets make our minimum days at work 18 or 20 days a month". Of course, this has little impact on the new hires as they are largely the group that is leaving for better jobs once the luster of the big jet syndrome wears off.

That's probably not what aspiring new hires want to hear, but the truth is that Atlas is not now a good career choice nor is it a pleasant (or lucrative) place to work. And based on the glacial pace that Atlas management is moving in contract negotiations, it's not going to get better any time soon.