Originally Posted by
Atlasvet
There are actually some pretty goood folks involved, the CPs don't have enough time for day to day involvement. The panels have some pretty seasoned HR personnel, most with airline experience, Fortunately most of those involved are either retired Capts with a Union Rep on most HR panels. Pilots get a solid vote on the Tech Panel and most often the HR Panel is one HR rep and two pilots. So Flight Ops most often have the most weight and can always down a candidate, but HR and background checks also play an important role.
We work hard to weed out bad eggs and I think we catch a lot of them. However, a few sneak through and then have to survive training, OE and a year as a probationary employee.
I interviewed summer of 2023. Lots of PIC and heavyjet time. I am currently senior at a large successful US carrier. I flew ACMI years ago and loved it. I will say that my interview and contact with all of the people involved was great. Good people and professional. I did not get a job offer. I blame that on myself. My logs are 30 plus years old and pretty comical compared to the way younguns keep records today. Think copied pages from the little red book type of records. My thoughts on the post mortem of the interview is as follows and Im posting purely for the people that are trying to get hired now at Atlas.
Record keeping is important. Newer generation pilots keep things like electronic records. (plus)
I blew an answer that was totally obvious and my fault on the tech questions part with the retired Capt. (bad)
I was asked what my biggest concern was leaving my current job and I repeatedly said money. Honest but I dont know how that was received.
My takeaway is this. They really like regional pilots. Not a been there done that retread like me. Newer regional pilots are well trained and disciplined.
Also like mil heavy pilots. They know the job and the lifestyle.
Atlas seems from the experience that I had like they are trying to do the right thing. They were honest and straightforward with me during the whole process and I always felt welcomed and they were trying to get to know me and not just ticking the boxes on the interview question sheet. I have many past and current friends and coworkers at Atlas/Polar some very senior from my non-sked days who said the interviewers would think Im crazy to leave where I am to go to an ACMI carrier. Maybe that weighed on their decision as well. But all things being where they stand the decision was made for me and I had a great time talking and working with them.
So do it! Apply. Have fun and have even more fun if you get to the line.