Originally Posted by
Sonny
So what was the pilot group/union's opinion about being out for 17 days? Did they try to negotiate that number down or is it something the company is not willing to even address? Heard there are some new hires quitting during the first year because Atlas is leaving them out for a full 17 even if they've finished their rotation in 14. Even though there is no way for scheduling to use them, the pilots are not permitted to go home. Can anyone confirm this?
Ok, guys, listen up...
Atlas is not a carrier that goes by a schedule of flights per day, week, or month. The company flies schedules FOR other airlines and they determine where they want our airplanes to fly...these schedules are in a constant state of flux, sometimes several times a day, and the flight ops team tries to manage trip sequences for 500 of us. As does Southern, World, Evergreen, Kalitta, etc.
THEY OWN YOU FOR 17 DAYS...there is no such thing as a trip being 14 days long, and then you get to go home. Once you finish your 14-day sequence, you might get to go home, but you may also be flying till your 17th day is over, or you may be extended into days off, within the confines of the CBA.
I gave up two off days this year...TOTAL. It is not a normal thing to be extended, but it does happen. And people do volunteer some of their scheduled days off...
I have said it before, as have others...if you can only work a 4 day, with English-speaking ATC, radar coverage, and only two or three time zones...ATLAS IS NOT FOR YOU.
However, if you want an adventure, see the world, fly with great crews, and fly some great airplanes...give it a shot.
Sorry for the harsh tone...please don't send any nasty-grams. I'm not interested and not going to reply to them.
And no, I am not defensive about the QoL issues at Atlas...I just don't have any patience for people that take these jobs and claim that they didn't know what they were getting into...there is plenty of information here (APC) and other web forums (PPW, PPRUNE, etc).
Good luck...744driver