Plan for 17 days in a row, and then be extended 3 days. If you do that, then you will be "happy", as most trips are less than that. Trips range from 1 day to more than 17 days. I would say the average trip in the JFK base is 1-2 weeks. JFK is the most junior, I think, but bases don't matter much at Atlas as you airline from your Gateway, unless you live in base, and even then you may be airlined to somewhere else, as many trips do not start/end in your base.

Lately, even though I have been scheduled for 17 days, I have been doing some R1 at home, so not gone 17 days.

cliff
GRB

 

I flew Freddy a few thousand hours... You're right. But...size doesn't matter if you can't get it up! Traded the engineer for winglets - much happier now!

 

Can someone explain how reserve works at Atlas? I've seen a lot of guys talk about R1, which I gather means "home reserve". Is that only if you live at your base, or is that true home reserve wherever you live? Is there another kind of reserve besides R1, and if so, what is the callout time? It seems like this reserve stuff makes the 17 day a month committment a lot more palatable. Thoughts? Thanks guys.

 

I have not found Atlas to use reserve like most airlines. I have never had a full month of reserve days on my schedule. My schedule usually does not include reserve but some months I get a few days thrown on my line. With that said, I have only been here 9 months so take it for what it is worth.

There is:

R1 - (True Home Reserve)

Must call scheduling within 30 minutes of being contacted.

Must be able to depart on a flight at the commercial airport nearest to home within 5 hours from contact when contacted between 0700 and 1200 local time. You will deadhead into a legal rest period.

Must be able to depart on a flight within 10 hours from when you are contacted outside of the 0700-1200 time frame. You may end up flying or resting at this point.

I personally have sat R1 about 5 days in the last 9 months and have not been used on it at all.


R2 - (Hotel Reserve)

Can be at any hotel location and you must contact scheduling within 15 minutes of being contacted. Must report within 90 minutes of initial contact. Hotel and per diem is provided by the company for this type of reserve. Calculated Rig time (CRT) accrues during this reserve time. In other words, you can be paid about 4.85 hours a day for this reserve unless you fly a greater amount than 4.85 hours a day in the month on average.

I have sat R2 about 9 days in the past 9 months and have been called out 1 time.


R3 - (Hot Airport Standby)

You must be ready to block out within 90 minutes of being contacted. R3 begins when you report to the airport. You cannot remain at the airport for more than 6 hours.

I have never sat R3 nor have I heard of anyone ever sitting R3. Someone else who has been here longer needs to shed more light on this. I am not sure if the company ever uses this?

 

Do you like flying for Atlas Air and do you recommend working for them?

 

That really depends on you. Read this thread all the way through and you'll have a pretty good idea if you're a good fit. I think the biggest attribute you need at Atlas is flexibility. If you've got that kind of personality, you might really enjoy it here.

 

Has anyone had any luck being called back for a second interview and being hired from that second interview? I got turned down in January. Is the 737 type an absolute no-go from Atlas?

 

R3...has been used in the past during UPS/FDX/USPS peak season flying. I have done Airport/Hot Standby in ONT about 10 years ago. On one of the R3 days, we did go to HNL and got a 2-day layover in Waikiki out of it!

Rest of the Atlas system...R3 isn't a common practice.

facebook,
captainv is absolutely right...don't make this kind of decision unless you read this entire thread. Get a cup(several) of good, strong coffee or other adult beverage of choice, and make a go of it. This is likely the best (certainly the most current) thread out there about all things Atlas, but mostly focused on hiring, interviewing, and working at Atlas.
Good luck.

 

I take it they asked you the question about whether you have been keeping up with the folks at Higher Power Aviation?

 

No, they never did. They asked about the type rating several times during the interview, but never asked about Higher Power.