Originally Posted by
Ewp1000
I figured this would be a good place to post this, but I have a question about the Atlas app, and I want to ensure I do it correctly. Filling it out when you get to the logbook submission part says to use the "link at the top of this page to review the logbook submission requirements." This link doesn't exist, so I'm wondering how I should go about this. Anyways I'm about to graduate with my 1000 hours, R-ATP, and a 4-year degree at 21 years old, and Atlas seems super appealing. Any insights as to how life is on the 737, what's the good and the bad, how is upgrade time, how would it stack up compared to Frontier(which I can also apply to through my University at 1000), or a regional carrier?
The 737 is low stress but low flight time. The good is its all US and we’re all opened up. The bad is it’s all US and low flight time.
We’re also hiring pathways types into the 767 if they show aptitude. I’m in a transition class with a couple of those new hires (initial for them). They’re sharp kids (the 76 pathways folks) and I’m certain they’ll do well in the industry even if they don’t stay. Is that you?
We have 20 some odd 767s and 8 737s.
>>>How does it stack up against Frontier?
Well where do you want to live and what do you want to fly eventually? This is a very personal question and we’re also making a ton of assumptions about how the business models of each carrier will evolve over time (in your case potentially several decades). Heard rumors of LCCs going to Europe soon. We do it with the 767 now along with Asia and you might realistically hold that if you do well as a CFI and in ATP-CTP etc.
Being a unionized worker in a field that is effectively commodity labor with shop seniority is kind of like geopolitics. Sure a worker gets hired, but not all prospective employees are created equal.
Diving back into the analogy: Some people are born in the US (hired at legacies). Some are born in China and some Ukraine (call those LCCs and ACMIs - you can win big but there’s also a large chance of instability and disruption). Some people are born into the Korengal Valley as a woman (some dirtbag 135 or 91 shop that will demand you do illegal stuff or Great Lakes or a Hulas operation).
So you can be born with a silver spoon up your rear or never have a chance, but there’s also a lot of in-between and a lot of unpredictability with the upstarts.
Circling back to the airlines, you make a choice and hope to hell it works out. I got laid off twice, once for an airline closure. With that being said I’d stay the hell away from the regionals. My take is they’re circling the drain.
Can’t help ya with the app, sounds like it was a totally different process for me. You have the advantages of youth and time horizon.
TL;DR: take the first job offer you could see yourself staying at “forever” if you don’t get another choice before a recession hits.
Also, seniority is a form of golden handcuffs.