He didn't say that: "Yes we plan to place more orders," William Flynn told Reuters on the sidelines of an aviation conference.

That's not a statement for growth or replacement. It's just an open ended comment that will produce speculation. Nothing more. Previous folks said they saw a few -8s at PAE. Maybe they've been moved back inside if they are there. None are outside with atlas paint unless we're going into the Lufthansa passenger business.

 

Yes it is but it's mostly junior folks - <3 yrs - departing. Any significant movement for quality of life is mostly on upgrades. The latest list has. 1044 pilots. That's not many based on hiring over the last 2 years. But hey, Atlas isn't going away. It's not a place I worry about the "F" word about, based on current trends.

Based on the recent Outbasing award they'll need to hire more folks to cover less volunteers for that. Of the 16 available 747FO positions for April only 7 were filled. Reduction in outbasing will require more pilots - I'm not smart enough to figure out how many, but more will be required. That should equate to more OT trips. Imagine if no one volunteered hiw much OT would be out there in April. As folks take vacation this summer the trend should continue.

 

No disrespect, but based on the rate at which they are hiring, 4-5 ain't much IMO. 5 per month is 60... For the whole year. If we believe one of the previous posters, the next 2 classes will total 42. We've already been hiring at a pretty good clip (hence the seniority list that has grown to 1044 from just over 1000) and all indications seem to be that it will continue. With the 4 added 767s for DHL, we already have growth, so one has to wonder what's driving the additional hiring? if they want to expand the airline, they need to have the bodies on property, a lesson they may have learned last summer when it was said by a management pilot that the company had to turn away business due to insufficient staffing. IMO, they don't want to repeat that situation, so I think they are plussing up in anticipation of adding business. What that business will be, who knows?

 

Hey, I'm not saying Atlas is going away or denying the growth that's going on. I'm just pointing out that retention is a problem, even if mgt won't admit it. We may be at 1044 on the current list, but as of Jan 1st it would have been 1004. The Jun 2013 list had 1028 and we've been hiring for the intervening 18 months.

Growth will be a challenge if we've just been treading water so far. Mgt admitted part of the staffing problem on the 767 was a lack of LCAs to conduct OE, so OE was getting backed up. Their solution - larger classes. Huh? Hopefully training can keep up with the increased demand across both fleets. Seems like the business/sales side of the business is operating better than the ops/training.

 

That's what I'm talking about KYTBRD.

 

I would be more then happy to work for Atlas. They seem like a good company to work for. I have sent in my resume and PAQ and now I am just waiting for a call.

 

Okay, to clarify, I was told that Flynn said at the check airman meeting January (can't confirm, since I wasn't there) that we would utilize -8 options to replace -400s are they time out. Perhaps he was being more open than he would be to a reporter, but as with all rumors, I'll believe it when I see the airplane on the ramp in our paint.

 

Same was said at the last ANC crew meeting, that the -8 options will be used to replace 400s as they age.

 

A friend I recommended received the test email two days ago took the test yesterday and was invited to interview on the 31st today. Good luck for those waiting.

 

When my class started just over two years ago, the bottom guy was #1042. So, with ALL the hiring over TWO YEARS, we are net plus TWO bodies. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, there is no attrition problem!