Originally Posted by
MTSTCK
sky jet goinaround I hear what your saying about Atlas and the Pathway program they are starting. From what I have been seeing, the hours seem to be about the same at Atlas/Southern than it does with USA. Is that not the case? Also, what is upgrade time like with Atlas/Southern? With this pathway program, it seems like it will flood the pipeline and make it hard to upgrade (also hearing seat locks will be 36 months). Not only that, the pay doesn't sound like it will come close to 100K as a FO for a couple years. Finally, how much does it differ with 73 vs MD88 time with a company like FedEx/UPS? Curious to know.
I don't know the hours at USA Jet or Atlas. I don't know the answers to most of your questions as I don't work either place. I do know that the DC-9/MD-80 type is a dying airframe. Kalitta Charters II and USA Jet are some of the last to operate it in he US. There are many more operators of the 737 plus the fact that SWA obviously loves those guys. I haven't flown a 737 in nearly 11 years and I still get offers several times a month for jobs around the planet through various agencies. I haven't even updated with them in years and still I get request to interview for PIC positions. I doubt the Douglas guys are getting that type of action.
I don't think FedEx or UPS care how you got your time. I do know that many Kalitta Air and Atlas guys have moved on to both of those. Both K4 and Atlas/Southern fly for DHL so perhaps the two big US freight players value that type of operational experience. Good luck. With your background you can probably not really make a bad decision on a job right now and most likely would be best served by taking the first job offered, getting your time and moving on to the job you really want.