SpeedChecks360

Random question: How do most people pack for trips at Atlas (including those that use Gateway travel)? Do our Pilots pack everything into a standard airline-sized suitcase that fits into overhead bins while commuting or bring something bigger since our trips are longer...

neuro

Would love to hear some thoughts on guys based at ANC. Wife and kids are really interested as we near retirement in a military career full of crazy moves. I heard it is super junior? How long to hold a line, sit regular reserve etc? Trips, lifestyle, recommendations?

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akfrtdwg 57

Depends on how you want to live out of your suitcase. I have a 22” and a large backpack. I would suggest investing in cloths you can wash in the sink to keep the bulk down. But I see guys traveling with large suitcase as well. I refuse to check bags when DHing so the carryon size is the fit for me.

742Dash

There are many ways to approach this, from incredibly light to packing like the queen on a long holiday. But I think that the most common approach is to pack for 7 days. You can do laundry on the road, but you do want to plan ahead and not run yourself down to zero clean clothes because of schedule changes.

There is also a thing called "travel clothing", which is similar to some hiking stuff. Light weight, sink launder-able, dries overnight. I usually buy it from REI. Along the same lines one or two sets of ExOfficio underwear in the mix with your normal underwear can really extend the time between real laundries. Look up Merino wool socks.

Laundry detergent is made in sheets, which packs much better than the powdered stuff. You can find it on Amazon. Also on Amazon are disposable/emergency rain ponchos for $1-$2 each. I carry two of them during the warm weather for preflights in the rain. But if you are on the 74 keep in mind that you are just one schedule change from being on the other side of the equator, so don't get too confident about the temperature range that you are packing for.

You don't need as many uniform shirts as you would think, especially if you don't make a habit of doing the passenger flying. Embrace the freight dog that is in all of us. I pack 2, occasionally 3.

Be ruthless and don't let yourself fall into the trap of over packing. It is surprising how little you actually need.

Personally I use a barely legal carry-on sized bag, but I do check it. A pair of spare underwear and socks in my actual carry-on/flight bag "just in case" and that is that. I can count on one finger the number of times that I have jumpseated on a passenger airline, and I have been here for a long time.

LPT. If you do check a bag turn your PCD OFF and keep it OFF until you have your bag in hand at the destination. Do not be that guy in the airport with a checked bag who is looking at a schedule change. Let that be scheduling's problem until you have all your stuff back in hand.

YMMV.

Twin Wasp

Anchorage is the junior 747 bases with way more F/Os than any other base. Two hundred eighty versus eighty some in ORD and LAX. Why, no one knows?It’s a pain to get to unless you live on the West Coast. And you have to get out of the normal airline mindsets of hard lines and reserve lines. Reserve lines, with some exceptions for DHL in CVG, just mean Scheduling hasn’t figured it out yet. It’s very rare to sit spare anywhere except CVG and that’ll because DHL requires spare bodies. Bidding is done the third week of the month prior. So you’ll know what days you’re working a week before the month starts. If you got a reserve line it will normally fill in with flying before you leave the house unless it starts the first few days of the month.

SpeedChecks360

Thanks! I pack much different for Military flying trips (bring whatever you want and put it in the cargo area) than I did at the regional airlines so the feedback is appreciated.

Elevation

This is a really good question. I still pack like I did when I was doing 4-6 days on the road, and I just plan on doing laundry. On my current pattern schedules changed and, instead of having access to free in-room laundry I paid through the nose elsewhere. So no judgement on the guys that take a steamer trunk or 6 bags.

AboveMins

I have the taller Luggage Works bag, and usually pack for 7. I bid 60 day lines, and my average trip is 12-14 days, so I end up only have to do laundry once.

C17B74

22 inch Luggage Works plus half size pro gear roller bag that can latch on the back. CPAP slides onto the Luggage works handle nicely. 1 extra uniform, 3 Undershirts, 3 T-shirts, Sweats, Dress cargo pants x 2, 3 Collared Shirts, Swim trunks, 1 Pullover Fleece, 7 pairs of socks, etc. Toiletries, hat and 3 backup masks of course. Laundry in Anchorage, Hong Kong, Germany, Kuwait when able.

Tripilot25

I been trying to figure it out but it seems it is easier to jump into the Southern side than Atlas in this days. Anyone out there can explain the difference on this, There's any set lock between the 2 certificates? It seems pay rates are not the issue now. How's the pilot group between the 2? What's the current Upgrade time on the B74,77&73? Any magic word?