Cbusbased

Hey y'all, I'm thinking about applying but want to make an informed decision and make sure it would work for me. I do not want to apply, get the job (assuming) and end up hating it there. Current 135 capt on a hawker 400. 4K total, 3k MPIC, 1K TPIC. I live in Columbus, OH so CVG would be nice, if awarded that. All I know about ACMI carriers is what I read on here. I have a buddy in INDOC now on the 74, but don't want a biased input since he just got hired. So:

What are the schedules like on the 74/76? Can the company extend days on?
How does commuting work there? (I've never had to commute)
What is the approx. gross pay for first year?
Current upgrade times? (more so just out of curiosity)
Junior bases? Likelihood of CVG?
Any other details that make the contract look attractive? Or bad?

My current schedule is 15 on 13 off and I have a newborn at home, so not looking to be gone more than that (on average).

Thanks yall

fishforfun

Before someone has a heart attack I'll gently suggest you go back a year at least and read everything in this thread. Not much has changed from what I understand. I'm on the outside looking in as well and have found all the answers to your questions posted somewhere in this thread. There is a lot of general BSing you will have to sort through but even doing a specific search within this thread will help. Good luck.

portfo

If this truly matters to you, stay where you are, or look elsewhere. You will owe Atlas 17 days a month and the likelihood of you being gone less than that is slim.... And if you are lucky to get home a day or two early it will most likely come with a pay hit.

The rest of your questions have been answered several times on this thread.

Globemaster2827

1. On the 747 the schedules are either 17 day lines that usually end up being 15 or 16 days or 60 day lines that consist of 3 11 or 12 day trips. They can and sometimes do extend you which pays you extra if you aren't a volunteer. To avoid extension you can use a "GDO" at the end of your pattern to get you home for something you needed to be around for. You get 3 of these that you can only use the first 9 months of the year.
2. Atlas has "Gateway" and the company buys you a ticket to your base and gets you a hotel. You may pay income tax on the ticket and hotel. For a CVG guy you'd either be home based on the 767 or you'd be ANC based on the 747. You'd have to either Gateway to ANC and risk getting taxed OR you could jumpseat from CVG to ANC on company airplanes which would be much easier for a CVG guy.
3. My guess is that you'd make $1600 times four months, then you'd make $5760 plus per diem then subtract deductions (taxes, health care, retirement...etc)... That's $80 an hour times 72 hours. Prepare for a rough year as now we make far less than any of the majors on first year pay. Also, your guarantee is only 50 hours a month after clearing OE and getting off of "Training Pay", so you'd better make sure you fly.
4. The junior Captains are 4.5 year employees out of CVG on the 767. We've hired a TON of people since then, so it could be longer for you unless the company expands. If you're just applying today we're hiring 24 people every 3 weeks. A boatload of people are leaving and going to the majors. Our contract doesn't compete with them and you'll probably want to leave too if offered.
5. CVG is a very junior base and you'd be able to hold it on the 747 in the first year unless you end up stuck in ANC behind 767 seat locks that expire. ANC and then HSV would be where you'd go prior to that. ANC is probably easiest for a CVG guy.
6. The contract at Atlas is a mess. Opening negotiations start this fall and we're hoping for much MUCH better. We deserve it. We make around 55-60% of what majors do. You'll make less than you make as an RJ captain your first year and then you might make a little more if you're on the 747. The pay raise off of first year pay on the 767 is a joke. You only get a $5 an hour pay raise. Coming here could be the best move you ever make if you hit it just right and we get a good contract plus expand. I think the safer move could be to wait for a major.

One added thing I'll throw out there... Because CVG is so junior... You'd be able to hold it and hold it well as an FO/Junior 767 Captain/Junior 747 Captain. Many of the lines start in CVG and return during the middle of your trip. Because Atlas duty days are so long you're owed "Heavy Rest" in the middle of your trip which can be something like 60 hours. I've seen trips out of CVG that I held when I was very junior that had me fly out to Asia for 5 days and then heavy rest in CVG. Then do the same thing and that was my whole month. The way the line was constructed that was a full month's worth of work and I got my 72 hours... You'd only be gone around 10-12 days holding lines like that.

Best of luck, but keep in mind that for the next 18 months (at least) you'd leave this job if offered something like DAL, AA, UA, UPS, SWA...etc.

NJAXRated

Confirmed, got an offer letter today for the class on the 20th.

Cbusbased

Thanks, I probably just didnt go back far enough.

fishforfun

Someone just left a great summary. It's good to see a summary like that every once in a while to know what's current.

Geronimo4497

Congrats! Postal Mail or email?

FrancesTheMute

I've been in contact with a bunch of folks from the last interview sessions and nobody's heard a thing.

NJAXRated

Email, but I interviewed several months ago so I imagine the people who interviewed more recently are probably getting phone calls.