742Dash

+/- 10% of the 747 fleet are passenger birds, if that answers your question.

There is no point looking at Flight Aware. This is not your normal airline. What happened last week has little to no bearing on what will happen next week. There is a lot of charter work on the 74 fleet, and even the long term customers will change the schedule on little notice. This is not like a regional where Delta/United/American have assigned a definitive schedule 90 days into the future.

My wife just walked in as I finished typing the above. She started reading this post, and I told her that a new hire was trying to figure out how much passenger flying he would be doing. She burst out laughing. "Does he know this is Atlas?".

EDIT: This comes across as a bit negative, which was not my intent. This is a very dynamic operation by its very nature. Some people like it, some people hate it.

Elevation

All the people make good points here.

I read ahead, but reading ahead screws some people up. I posted a list of reading material, but then I thought it best to take it down rather than interfere with anyone's learning process. If you want suggestions, feel free to PM any of us. Remember none of this stuff is FOTM approved, so its all just trivia to supplement not supplant anything you learn in the schoolhouse.

There are some references out there which you can use.

Your first chance to lose the job is airplane stuff, so limitations, flows, profiles, and such would be my first priority.

C17B74

Total Truth Above, nothing else like it based on everything mentioned before, regarding training, vast locations and scope of operations, etc. in the civilian world. Same as describing something on a menu that no one has ever ordered before. Until they actually taste it they will not truly understand the distinctive flavor it has.

Fixnem2Flyinem

I’m not at Altlas, but another ACMI carrier. This is geared towards those that are scrambling to get a job there, please please please have a good attitude about it. ACMI freight may not be where you seen yourself just 6 months ago, which is fine. But do remember that the pilots you will be flying with, especially the senior ones have made a career out of it. These were pilots that went and stayed there, even when other options were on the table. If things start to rebound in the industry, try to keep your excitement internal when opportunities to leave present themselves. That doesn’t mean don’t talk and seek career guidance, but refrain from belittling the current shop as much as possible. The last person someone wants to fly with for 16-18 days is another pilot who feels they’re better than the job they currently have. Know that you are joining a carrier during a time when the people already there have been fighting like hell to green their own grass, so fight the good fight with them but be positive and learn as much as you can from the ACMI style flying. If you fly with some sour grapes, take it in stride and don’t start spouting things like... well I didn’t have a choice, so..

I feel for those who lost their jobs recently, and hope this works out for you and your families. I’m glad this is an option for those that want to keep earning doing what they love, and who knows it may turn out to be the job you were looking for all along. Of the few friends I have at Atlas on the 74, the common theme is if Atlas had a much better contract it would be the best job in aviation.

ItnStln

Thanks! So after that time one one can transfer to the 777 fleet?

RyeMex

Again, the seat lock is 3 years. Not 2. But yes.

ItnStln

Awesome, thank you!

Purpleanga

Being gone for 2 weeks or more at a time is not for the faint of heart. Of course when you don’t have an option you have to do it but I think that’s the biggest hurtle new guys that didn’t plan on being there will have. Most are coming from 4 or 5 days on, totally different. Those times when you realize it’s only day 10, those are tough.

Fixnem2Flyinem

I say this as a husband and father of a toddler, it isn’t a cake walk but it’s not all that bad. Especially when you have 12-15 days off in between those trips. My prior career did involve 1/2 year or longer deployments tho, so I guess it’s all relative. The way I explain it to my airline buddies is unless you’re based at home and super senior, you work the same amount of days in a month but just in one long stretch. I have felt more in the loop with my family since starting the ACMI schedule. No more 2-4 days off where I am wondering where the time went as I’m packing my bags and checking the loads to LAX. If someone is coming to this world after living in base, flying 2 dayers or daytrips, yes I agree it will be a serious adjustment.

edit: A lot of that relies on your spouse if you’re married. I’m truly blessed with a kick a$s wife who is independent and doesn’t make me feel bad for going to work for two weeks at a time. I know that isn’t everyone’s story, and respect that. I was just saying don’t crap on the place that is currently keeping your lights on during these downturns. If it is an interim opportunity, that is great, just don’t tell everyone how you can’t wait to leave for the majors as soon as the hiring picks up. That’s all

atpcliff

Atlas IS different, and what really happens is you would probably fly with this pilot for one leg, and then not fly with them again for 6-9 months. Once, in a while, you might fly with someone for 2 or 3 legs in a row. I think the Southern 777 pilots may fly together more. And, there are quite a number of pilots who like it at AAWW, overall (no one likes the current contract situation). For example, I know an FO who was based in MIA who turned down a DAL class date about a year ago. I know another FO that could have been a 787 Capt in China with a big paycheck, or he could have commuted to KAL, but he decided Atlas was better for his situation.