Atlas Air Hiring
11-16-2017 | 07:25 PM
Line Holder
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,292
Likes: 2
From: 747
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)
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)
11-16-2017 | 08:21 PM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 0
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...
Keep in mind they are not obligated to and your success will depend upon the mood of whatever travel/scheduling agent you get on the phone. BKK would be an easy one because we have a freighter to HKG every day as well. With things going south between the union and company don’t be surprised if they axe this completely, as alternate travel is completely at their discretion.
Last edited by Crazy Canuck; 11-16-2017 at 08:35 PM.
11-16-2017 | 11:25 PM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
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...
11-17-2017 | 12:48 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 698
Likes: 0
11-17-2017 | 01:47 AM
Chasing A Dream
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: LR-45
I currently fly for a Part 121 carrier that opted out of the FFDO program. To rephrase my question: Are there any pilots at Atlas that are currently FFDO Officers?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
11-17-2017 | 04:33 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
From: Knuckle-dragging line pilot
11-17-2017 | 05:29 AM
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 832
Likes: 4
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)
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)
11-17-2017 | 05:40 AM
Line Holder
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
H.R. 4635, "Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act" moved to remove liability from carriers, and shift the responsibility onto the federal government for actions of FFDO's, and "Prohibits an air carrier from prohibiting or threatening any retaliatory action against a pilot for becoming a Federal flight deck officer."
An eligible air carrier CAN NOT prohibit its pilots from applying and becoming deputized. If you're really interested in the program, I suggest you start with reading the bill that made the program possible.
11-17-2017 | 07:46 AM
Line Holder
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 44
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