Originally Posted by
visualapp
This might be a stupid question for some of you but here we go. I’m a 30 year old, married, no kids, Atlas 747 FO, been here for a little over 6 months. Obviously most of you know the current working environment at Atlas. Recently I received a job offer from PSA (AA regional airline), so the question is what would you guys do. If I move to PSA, based on some research and talking to other PSA pilots chances are that I may flow to American Airlines in about 5-7 years. So I can get to American Airlines before I hit my 40s (of course we can't predict the future, don't know if PSA or AA will be around for another 5-7 years). On the other hand if I stay with Atlas I can get heavy time (no really a lot), hopefully upgrade in another 3 years and just keep hoping that soon we can get a new contract with better pay which nobody knows how long it is going to take (it could be months or years). I'm flexible with bases and schedules, more concern about: Pay, Quality of life, Benefits and Job security. Of course while I fly for Atlas or move to PSA I'll keep updating my apps for the big 5. Thank you all and don't be too hard on me.
The 5-7 year flow to AA at any of the Wholly Owned regionals is something between a pipe dream and a flat out lie perpetrated for recruitment. The fastest flow to AA is sitting at right under 10 years for new Hires depending on how many classes AA runs each year (less classes = longer flow). PSAs flow is in the 12-15 Year point depending on outside attrition.
It will take 3-4 years before you’re a line holding captain at PSA and able to use the features of the SAP to boost your QOL. That being said you’ll log more hours than you would at Atlas, if that’s important to you.
I know at least one AA WO pilot who got feedback from the UPS folks that they’re looking for widebody international PIC time from his resume to make it competitive. How much of that is individual specific and not a universal truth? I’m not sure but he won’t be logging any of that at one of the AA Wholly Owned regionals.
If you like the Atlas lifestyle, stay there or go to another ACMI. If you don’t go to PSA. Don’t think PSA will get you to a major airline job any quicker though.