How does Atlas retain pilots with these levels of pay and the working conditions. I'm looking at my options for moving back to the USA after 21 years overseas and would rather fly cargo or corporate after 19 years of pax flying but this thread has put me off Atlas

 

Alright 8, I'm bored so I'll bite.

Little background just because you decided to go into such detail. I am all about the boot/shop movement, I can't really control the boot from my side of the pedestal, but as for shoping, I have never picked up a trip, never done anything extra to help this place, enjoy every second of my time off and will continue to do so and encourage everyone to do the same, so same same on all that.

What I will not do, is lie about my experience going from making $1,800 a month at a regional, 8 days off a month, to my relatively good schedule, fun layovers, and better pay here to someone who asks. Can it get better? Hell yes. And I'll be doing my best to boot/shop until then.

Also, unless you're talking about literal asphalt, you didn't pave anything for me. But I am sure whatever you paved was uphill both ways.

 

In defense of the RJ guys, YES, Atlas is infinitely better than any RJ job. Don't skew the facts 8:

$121 hourly as you claim, at an RJ job is far far and away at the top of the pay scale which would require you to be there 12 years or more vs year 3 at Atlas to make $137 as CA on the 767.

Saying that first year pay at an RJ job is "better" than $78 hourly at Atlas first year is predicated on a signing bonus usually not paid out until the end of the first or second year or at least until the end of training and is perhaps attached to a signing contract as well. And if somehow none of that applied, year two at an RJ job hourly rate drops back down to the $30 hourly range. I'll take the Atlas hourly rate.

We get rig at Atlas so 10 months out of the year we are way above 62 monthly guarantee to the tune of about 78 - 82 hours monthly just being on the road. I USE my sick (when I am sick.......strategically!!)....and I bid DH's on the front and back end to maximize days off. I could NEVER have done that at a regional. I spent 9 years at a regional and as I Captain, I left at $76 hourly rate, I always commuted and never had more than 10 days off a month at home in two day blocks spread across the month. At Atlas, I have can have my time off every month in one fell swoop....., so YES, FOR ME, Atlas has been infinitely better.

Yes we are being sued and contractually we have a long way to go.....I also do my part with BOOTing and SHOPing, but my life got better coming here. No one is slamming your position, just keeping it real.

 

Regional pilots do indeed fly the same city pairs as legacy pilots, but NOT the same equipment! Atlas pilots fly the same routes in the same equipment. THAT is what supports a peer to peer comparison.

As to your second point, that has no logic at all! I know several of them and, Yes, they do consider the other carriers as peers. But until Atlas has a CBA in line with industry peers, pilots will follow the money.

 

Unclear on the concept.

Encouraging pilots to work for Atlas IS helping Atlas out and you've never done anything but encourage pilots to come to work here.

It's not that hard to understand, is it?

"Better than the regionals", "Fun to work here", "Good schedules".

It's pretty clear which side you and Davetastic are on.

Maybe someday you'll decide that working on the side of our union and the pilot group is a better thing than working for the company.

 

They don't retain pilots... Atlas is a pilot training mill for greener pastures. This year Atlas will see about 20% turnover.

 

Your comments make you stick out quite a bit. But, you seem to want to learn more than your regional experience has provided up to this part of your "long" aviation career. Do you know the metric used when placing a particular airframe into a certain pay group or band? No this is not a trick question.

 

So let me get this straight.....because you omitted pertinent facts relevant to your position, I am the enabler? Whatever 8, it is clear that no matter what anybody says, if it appears that they are not part of your "grassroots effort" then they must be company men right?

 

This just simply isn't true. I don't want to call someone a liar but this is absolutely untrue. With a late Z start and a early Z end the rig is well, below what is stated. On the DHL network a split line with 2 late Z starts and early Z ends will credit in the 60's. Also any vac, sick, or training conflict drops you to guarantee. I am 7th year, I average 3.5 hours over guarantee when I divide my over guarantee pay over the year. 65.5 hours average credit per month. Just the facts, no spin.

If you don't call in sick, and don't take vacation, you could reasonably average in the 70's but expecting 80 hrs is unrealistic. At least for now, I am sure we will get that fixed in the next two years.

 

Y'all, here is the deal. End of the day I am just happy to be here. It's better than where I came from. I fly a nice plane, see some cool places, and generally hang out with a lot of fun laid back other pilots. I know we need a new contract, more pay and more time off is always appreciated. It pains me though to see a split pilot group. Some are chill and laid back and just waiting on a contract to come, while others seem to devote their life to it and it consumes them. I fully appreciate those who make the sacrifice and have that time in their life to fight the good fight. Thank you. Just don't make Atlas out to be a bad place...it isn't at all. It could be a lot better, but it could also be a lot worse. Just my $0.02.