what is the typical time from clicking submit on the application, to getting the online test, to getting an interview, to getting a class date?

 

1. Most likely a bargaining ploy - trying to get us to "buy back" Gateway if they threaten to take it away.

2. Depends on your definition of a good contract. Certainly the Negotiating Committee will settle for nothing less. Don't see any desire from the company to move anywhere in that direction. Most guys wanting to stick it out here are basing it on the huge potential upside of (hopefully) being the backbone of Amazon's fleet and growing it to rival FedEx/UPS. The guys who are leaving are choosing proven success over potential success.

 

Atlas management wants to get rid of Gateway and no home-basing. One should seriously factor this into your decision to come here. If you don’t live in base you’d be jumpseating to work for little pay. Keep that in mind. Sad!

 

Also keep in mind the junior base is ANC and the majority of lines are reserve. So you will be jumpseating to Alaska to a self funded crash pad or hotel room for up to 17+ days/nights. Good luck with that. Management have decided we will have a basing and commuter model the same as the other "network" (their words) carriers. One problem.....we don't have a network to commute/jumpseat on. The twilight zone expands.

 

That's what I am afraid of. If they take away the gateway and home basing it would make an already tough commute almost impossible. Looking from the outside in, I want to be optimistic that management would to agree on a good contract and keep the backbone of their operation happy. Unfortunately, everything I read seems to say otherwise. Good luck to all you guys that are in the thick of it. If it looks as though it will change for the better, I may just have to put in my app.

 

One of many things I do not want is every flight into a hub FILLED with jumpseating crew.

8 guys in a 747 deck sucks, especially when you are taking your rest and looking to relax.

NOBODY here is conceding Gateway or a Home base design. The company tells the negotiating committee every time that they want a “book” contract....well this is “book” and the entire group joined under Gateway or Home Base.

Stand together thru the storm!

 

An open letter to the CEO from an Atlas Captain (not me):

Dear Boss,

I came here with high hopes. I (mostly) believed the rah-rah speech delivered to us in new-hire class: How you were going to start negotiations in good-faith early, how we were going to get an AA “lite” contract or better, how the company was going to greatly expand – 2,000 pilots in 2 years, etc. I used to be the first one on the crew bus and used to fix my hotel and transportation problems when the ball routinely got dropped. I was a highly self-motivated employee and had an innate desire to “accomplish the mission” that was trained into me from my military service. I also brought over 25 years of world-wide flying experience with me. I was very glad to get the job and frankly, also thought you were pretty lucky to have me.

A short 3 years later everything has changed. NONE of the things promised have come to pass. Rather than a collaborative environment, we work in a hostile one. Rather than make a deal with us, you sue us. You don't appear to be negotiating in good faith. The CBA is routinely violated. We don't have an adequate support staff, which in and of itself is crippling the operation. Our pilot turnover is atrocious. I can only imagine the $millions we are wasting on training because most people leave here as soon as they get the chance. Our new-hire experience level is plummeting because people with real experience don’t bother applying here anymore. Why should they? Other companies compensate their pilots fairly and they don’t try and blame all the company’s woes on them.

My motivation has turned to disillusionment. I’m a Captain here now and even as old as I am, I’m considering leaving. I wonder if you’ve really thought through your current strategy to its logical conclusion. Even if you “win” and end up shoving a crappy amalgamated contract down our throats, you’re going to lose. You won’t have the pilots left to man the operation. While you may see us as little more than cannon fodder, that is not the case. WE are what generates the revenue. WE are the ones that enabled you to become $66 million dollar men. WE are not the ones burning this place down. I implore you to put the matches down and rethink your position. If you will but make a reasonable deal with our union negotiators, we can work together to make this an industry leading company that we ALL can profit from. Otherwise, we will burn into an ignominious pile of ash. And that will be a sad day for all.

Sincerely,

One of your Captains

(Previously posted on Twitter & FB)

 

I wouldn't have wasted the time to pen that. They get plenty of resignation letters (the ones that really matter) and nothing has changed.

 

Does Atlas participate in the FFDO program?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Does the company do "side door deals" for deadheading to work? For example, pilot is LAX based but actually lives in BKK, and the trip starts in NRT or HKG? Will the company do a trade and buy the ticket from BKK if the pilot notifies them a few days in advance since that would be a lot cheaper? Heard that happens at a lot of other ACMI's...