RyeMex

Sent you a PM.

sandstorm

Well then, you are in the minority. Keep in mind though that this is a job and our careers, not your personal vacation or sightseeing trip. No one else in the industry works as much as we do. I sat on the jumpseat on UA a couple days ago and the senior FO was saying that he didn't want to bid to one of the widebody's (I forgot which fleet), because they do long 10 day trips (or used to). I thought is eyes were going to pop out when I told him a 10 day trip is on the short end for me.

If you like being gone for more than 17 days, that's up to you. However, any one of us that is gone that much deserves to be paid for it then. Me on the other hand.... I work to live, not live to work.

HPIC

The general consensus in my class would indicate that you are the one in the minority. Out of 24, about 18 of us prefer to go out in one block, then have a big chunk of time off. Granted, we'd all rather work fewer days per month, but personally I'd rather work them all at once instead of a typical junior schedule at a legacy.

I don't live in a base for any airline I want to work for. That means commuting. That turns 4 day trips(or reserve) into 5 day trips. 2-3 days off and then repeat. Plus the stress of commuting. No thanks.

That being said....if our new contract doesn't measure up to what we deserve for the schedule and flying we do, I won't hesitate to go elsewhere...but I'm going to give it a go at Atlas and fight for what we deserve.

Respectfully,

A newbie 747 FO

Flying Enoch

FWIW, I got the "we're interested" email with almost the identical quals you have. No internal rec either. I'm sure it won't be long

Flying Enoch

Does anyone know where to find a current copy of the CBA at for Atlas? Can't seem to find it anywhere online

Ludicrous Speed

I know this is our job/career (this is only my 5th ACMI). As for vacation/sightseeing, well, I do my best to experience everything I can on layovers should my rest allow enough time. Although I wouldn't want management to see it that way, damn right that I try to make my trips as much of a vacation/sightseeing trip as I can.

I fully agree about deserving the pay. I am not sure why you differentiate yourself by saying "me, on the other hand......", but I too work to live and I most certainly don't live to work. Heck, I try not to take myself too seriously and have as much fun as I can. Obviously, the way I live is different than your way.

So anyway, if you're taking issue with my post prior to this one, I am not sure why. Different strokes for different folks, that's all I am saying.

744driver

Atlas Pilots Protest at Annual Meeting | Aviation Tribune | Aviation News

CandlerKid

Big chunks off are great, but 17 day trips are nuts. I think the point is keep the long chunks off but have shorter trips. Some of you guys seem to like being gone that long or think it's normal in this industry. No thanks for me!

JetSwag

Congrats Inigo! Catch you at the firehouse.

DC8DRIVER

Pilot's opinions about ideal flight schedules are like armpits ; Everybody has two and they all stink (except mine!).

Ideally, our next contract will have no "set" number of days "owed" to the company. Some pilots like to spend time at home and would rather work for min guarantee 10 days a month and some would like to go out for twenty days to make tuition money or the boat payment. Atlas, unfortunately, does not give you any options like this.

Schedules are but one of the many items that we need to address in our next contract. Personally, I have never used Pref Bidding but I think it would be a much better system for Atlas on a number of levels, including time efficiency and cost savings for the company. But, whether we move back to Preferential Bidding or keep Line Bidding in place, improvements must happen.

Now, if we can only get the cowards to show up at the negotiating table, we could get one step closer to that goal.

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