Elusive Napkin

In my opinion, it's turning into a transient job because that's exactly what they want. No one on the top of the pay scale. Low expectations. Just like a regional in 1995. Novel.... I've said it since I got to Atlas. This place is run like a regional with big airplanes.

TimmyR

https://www.yahoo.com/news/first-ama...040123215.html

BayBum4Ever

As if anyone needs another reason to stay away from Atlas- The FAA is now requiring every 747 F/O to pass a full Captains P.I.C. simulator check ride when you go to MIA for your PC or PT. This is the FAA retaliating because Atlas will not implement an AQP program. Atlas is in a death spiral and the only thing coming up fast is the ground.

Love
BayBum

HVYMETALDRVR

Have the number of Fed rides increased?

HeavyDriver

If the airline doesn't have a defined IRO position and training curriculum then the FO needs to have been training and evaluated as a Captain...With regard to augmented crew operations...And I will add "I think" because what do I know.

Davetastic

Correct. A training standard and curriculum must be implemented and approved by the FAA before this can happen or any other training change for that matter. This is the feds pushing Atlas into an AQP program more than likely. The company has always talked about the cost of implementing an AQP so that is why AQP has stalled at Atlas. It has also stalled because of an apparent disagreement between the union and the company about how to handle jeopardy items. IMHO, this is a bunch of posturing and pre-mature hand grenades that will do nothing more than just inject more anxiety into the pilot group than is necessary. If you ask the union, they will tell you "once bitten, twice shy". If you ask the company they will say that the "union position is unreasonable". If you ask me, i'll just wait until the dust settles.

DC8DRIVER

Atlas is currently struggling to fill classes. I wonder how long it will take them to fill an additional 4 - 500 positions with all the no-shows and the attrition they have been experiencing in the past year?



The Seattle Times 08/04/16

In Friday’s Seafair aerial display over Lake Washington, online retail giant Amazon will fly its latest Boeing 767 widebody jet freighter, publicly revealing the new “Prime Air” branded livery of its fast-growing fleet of used cargo planes.
The company unveiled the plane Thursday at a media briefing closely coordinated with Boeing.

According to two sources with knowledge of the discussions, Amazon is talking to Boeing about the possibility of later buying new 767s for its air-cargo fleet.

Dave Clark, Amazon.com’s senior vice president of worldwide operations, insisted in an interview that “at this moment, that’s not something we’re pursuing,” though he added: “I’d never say never, … Who knows what the future holds?”
Amazon already is operating a fleet of 10 Boeing 767 freighters, flying daily out of its air hub in Wilmington, Ohio. Within two years, it expects to have 40 similar used cargo jets connecting its package fulfillment centers across the U.S.

Though the 767 flying at Seafair is the 11th to join the Amazon fleet, it’s the first to be painted in the new livery; in letters stenciled under the cockpit window, it’s designated “Amazon One.”
The jet’s tail sports Amazon’s smile logo. Yet the main branding, “Prime Air” in large letters along the fuselage, emphasizes the company’s focus on high-revenue Amazon Prime customers, who pay an annual fee for two-day, no-charge shipping, unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows, and other services.

Clark said Thursday the airplane fleet is needed “to meet the incredible growth we see in Prime customer demand for high-speed deliveries in the U.S.”
As a further nerdy nod to that goal, Amazon changed the Federal Aviation Administration registration of the jet to N1997A. The company went public in 1997 and that number is a prime number (a mathematical term for a number divisible only by itself and 1).
Company spokeswoman Kelly Cheeseman said Amazon will try to get prime-number registrations for its entire airplane fleet.

Amazon’s air force is just the latest arm of its ever-expanding delivery operation.
Last year, Amazon began deploying a dedicated fleet of 4,000 tractor-trailers, also branded Amazon Prime in large letters.
Amazon says these new ground and air fleets are meant to supplement, not replace, the third-party carriers — FedEx and UPS among them — that have long delivered its packages.
The aggressive expansion has raised suspicion that Amazon may one day turn its transportation network into another revenue stream by delivering packages for other companies, becoming a competitor to FedEx and UPS.

Yet Clark said the fleet of 40 widebody jets is intended strictly for Amazon business.
“Right now, everything going on those planes is inventory held in Amazon fulfillment centers and sold on the Amazon website,” he said. “And we have more than enough package supply to utilize the 40 planes we’ve procured.”

Clark also said Amazon for now is focusing its air operation on the U.S. domestic market and has no plans yet to expand internationally.

Could Amazon later buy new 767s from Boeing or perhaps even larger freighters such as 777s or 747s for international routes?
An aviation executive involved in discussions regarding Amazon’s needs said the supply of younger used 767-300 passenger jets suitable for conversion to freighters is limited and Amazon might want to ensure certainty of its supply by buying new.
That person said Boeing is discussing the sale of 20 of its 767s to Amazon.

The setting for Thursday’s unveiling of Amazon One was suggestive: Even though the plane was a used jet, not bought from Boeing, it was displayed in a Boeing hangar at Boeing Field, with many Boeing personnel present, including Bruce Dickinson, the vice president in charge of the 767 and 747 jet programs.
Boeing’s hosting of the event shows the jet maker is certainly keeping close to Amazon. Yet Clark deflected all queries about possible future purchases.

“Today the only thing we’re announcing is this plane and the 40 we have. We continuously evaluate and will add as needed,” Clark responded. “If that day ever comes, Boeing would be a great partner.”
Also present at the media event were Joe Hete, chief executive of cargo airline and lessor ATSG, and Bill Flynn, chief executive of cargo operator Atlas Air.
Wilmington, Ohio-based ATSG is leasing 20 of the 767s to Amazon and operating them for the retail giant. It’s also providing loading and unloading logistics for Amazon’s entire air fleet.

ATSG deployed its 10th Amazon 767 last week. By the end of this year, it expects to have a total fleet of 60 aircraft, of which 15 would be Amazon planes, with five more to be added by next summer.
Purchase, N.Y.-based Atlas Air is leasing to Amazon the remaining 20 aircraft and will operate them. The jet at Seafair is the first provided to Amazon by Atlas.
Last year, Atlas hired 375 pilots and is growing dramatically. By the time its 20-jet Amazon fleet is complete, Atlas is expected to have more than 90 aircraft.

Flynn said Atlas will hire 400 to 500 pilots just for its Amazon operation.
As this air expansion of Amazon’s logistics takes shape, the Seafair aerial display provides a high-profile marketing debut.
“We very purposely wanted to do this in Seattle … for our employees and to share with the community,” said Clark.
The Amazon plane will fly over Lake Washington on Friday through Sunday from 1:15 to 1:30 p.m., just before the Blue Angels display.

KYTBRD

On the Facebook pilot network group folks are asking if Amazon is hiring? How do we apply for Amazon? Ugh. Painful to read. Folks see a shiny new paint job and don't even bother reading the article associated with the picture. Those are the folks Atlas is targeting for their 4-500 number. Uninformed folks who don't put forth a little effort to find easily available information. If they can't bother to read the article then how would they ever really research a potential career at Atlas. I know that sounds harsh but if you think about it for a moment before whipping out your social media emotions you'll realise it's true. It would be a completely different story if there were a new contract or even if it were well underway, but currently that appears to be years away. Not to mention who else is currently raping Atlas of its crew force. At the present time they'll need about 4-500 pilots to be +100-150 pilots by Dec 17. I don't hate atlas or wish anyone any ill will, but the situation which has developed over the past 6 months is/will result in potential success being squandered away by the only group who will profit from our negotiations - lawyers.

BTW: when are the contract 2017 lanyards being mailed?

Fleron270

I don't know, they're still rejecting me. I know I'm a low timer, but I meet the minimums + college degree + 1 internal rec. 2000TT/700Turbine. Been applying for about a year, every 3 months.

KYTBRD

Atlas interviews are currently conducted by management and HR without the help of pilots. Retribution for picketing and WAI attendance. If you don't meet the bean counters criteria it's doesn't matter how many hours you have. Atlas isn't currently operating in reality. Major airlines are currently raiding Atlas and folks are happy to work less for more $ under a better contract.

I'm sure you're more than qualified for life here at Atlas but they are hiring like it's still pre 2012 when no one else was hiring. They haven't caught on to the fact there are better options on the table. Yesterday's Amazon aircraft advertising at SeaFair acknowledged they'll need 4-500 pilots to staff the 20 767 Amazon planes. Those planes are all supposed to be online by the end of 2018. FDX Delta and United are hiring that much and more in ONE calendar year. UPS is hiring as well but not to those levels. They're all pulling from the same pool of dwindling pilots which Atlas needs. In this current environment folks are even able to transfer between major airlines more than ever before: SWA to FDX, Delta to FDX , AA to DAL, etc. Our training classes have numerous no-shows as folks get hired to other airlines. Recently a 747 class was delayed. Which is interesting since I know 12 folks who have recently left to other carriers. Our IOEs are taking up to 3 months to complete after Miami. During that time folks have moved on to other airlines after being frustrated with not being able to complete IOE. Atlas will only be able to compete if they get a new contract that's very very close to other airlines. But the longer it takes the more likely the other carriers will have a new contract which will only put Atlas further behind. Altas is currently a great transient resume bullet. I wish you well and hope it works out. Good luck.