6 months a year at 64. Vacation, sick, training,

3 months you may get some high 120’s.

then you will be burn out. Maybe get 70-80 the other 3 months. Lol.

Training twice a year, my last training month credited 150 hours. My vacation month credited just over 100. Last time I called out sick at an airline was 4 years ago. If you call out sick 3-4 times a year, you might have a problem.

Far from burnt out, the schedules are so easy compared to regionals.

Well done! You probably don’t conflict bid, unless your bid line wasn’t high enough and you gambled with them to create a higher line or they kept the first portion you were awarded that had high leg times - it’s an art. VX/OT during vacation, another good deal if one desires trading time off for some extra clams . I disappear for nearly two months sometimes more and forget I have a job for the min guarantee so that’s the flip side (I do get restless near the end to roam globally again). Bullseye with calling out sick 3-4 times a year depending on your track record in other areas = attitude, fatigue, etc. Haven’t done the litmus test on this, but know a few who who press up to 5, but they tend to mitigate the spot light with VX/OT tactics to their benefit. It’s all recorded so YMMV.

*Regionals, Main Line, Purple, Brown, etc. - hell hath no fury like the optimizer! A recent schedule of mine had several art33 double turns drop out and replaced with multiple back to back domestic runs with min rest. Initially thought what a sweet deal being a pay protected line, but after those continuous monotonous repetitious back and forth groundhog days with boring layovers I was spent. Definitely prefer variety and I’m made for odd hour/rolling departures with longer layovers vs daily status quo salt mine flying schedules seeing nothing new (just not me, others definitely prefer it.) Don’t know how you guys did it - it’s exhausting for myself. ANC continues to kill it, good stuff right there.

**Hopefully everyone can see there’s more than one way to skin a cat here. Not black and white - definitely gray.

Thanks. I know the official agenda for some is just to present the worst case scenario and say that is the norm here.
There is so much variety at this airline, and within your fleet with a little bit of seniority you can vary that almost monthly if you feel like it. Atlas is the least black and white operation I can imagine existing anywhere.

Atlas air 737 roster
 

Hi,

Just wanted to get an insight on the roster pattern for 737 out of CVG & others bases for an FO.
Also what are your thoughts on commuting from Oz ?
Any suggestions/ ideas will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Coldbay

You have a typo on your home. Oz...? If you live near Chicago or Baltimore you will be quite happy with the current patterns. Most start with a commercial deadhead on day one from CVG and commercial deadhead return on the final day to ORD or BWI. A few are limos to ILN. Lots of 17 day blocks in the middle of the month on the 30 day lines. 60 day lines are a bit more broken up, with 3 to 5 blocks to cover the beginning and end of the month(s).

However, everything can change next month, next quarter, next year.

Oz = Australia

Commuting from Oz would result in you burning 4-6 days commuting to/from each trip. Add that to 17 and it sucks. Add that to a split line going to work 3-5 times in 60 days and it really sucks.

If you’re commuting from anywhere in Oz other than SYD…this would be even worse.

Personally i would recommend something other than the 73 and on the west coast or Anchorage

Nobody that is being pushed toward the 737 has the experience Atlas is looking for to put them in a widebody fleet, so that probably won’t happen.

I agree with you that a ANC or SoCal base would be far better for somebody commuting from Oz.

Atlas air 737 commute from Oz
 

Thanks HPIC , Clue & Johnny for the info & suggestion aswell .

I thought it would be better to ask the question than not asking at all .

I am also thinking the same at this stage to i.e once I am finished with training on the 737 then maybe move to CVG and work from there after 6 months from the start .Or perhaps live in ORD or Baltimore if commute becomes too hard basket initially ( to australia & back ) but I do want to give it a try and see how it all works out.

I am also 50/50 on the 76 out of west coast if I get it once I am through E3 and other paperwork. I understand as a junior I may end up in CVG and then eventually move to a 76 base in ONT west coast and probably commute from ONT to Australia

Lastly , Would it be okay to live at base ( like CVG ) and work from there and by doing that does one miss out on the extras $$ at all.

Thanks & appreciate your input .

Coldbay

If you move, you can make it work. Living in base saves you days commuting. Your pay has nothing to do with where you live.

That said a lot of people who live in base make a little more money by sitting reserve and vxing. Not my jam, but it works for some.

atlas 737 roster
 

Thank you Elevation. I appreciate it

Coldbay

Could you expand on how reserve works at Atlas?

Is there a long call reserve? is it short call reserve?


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For those on the 767, what are the chances of a new hire getting a line that's 17 on and 13 off regularly? Is there a particular base that would be better suited for such a pattern for a new joiner? (CVG vs ONT)

Based on conversations. We are getting away from 17/13 on the 767. It’s too hard for rest apparently and the new hires don’t like it.

17/13 will still be a thing for R2/3 however reserve on the 767 in those blocks goes very senior.

We have three types of reserve assignments, home reserve (R1, 10 hr call out), hotel reserve (2hrs) and airport reserve. There are some considerations with extendability if you are a reserve.

People who live in base seem to do well on hotel reserve. As always someone can correct or add context here.

We also have secondary lines, like but not identical to buildup lines elsewhere, which are worth a separate post.

We have a mix that includes a good number of 17 day lines. Chances of you getting a 17 day line are decent, especially on secondary lines.

While we are on the topic, does anyone have experience with the 767 Fixed Pattern Lines this year? Are you typically being utilized every day, or are you occasionally being released early. How is scheduling using you; are they building consistent trips for you keeping you in the seat, are you sitting a lot of R2/R3, or are you taking an airline deadhead most days to fill in gaps and operate just a few legs each month. Or, as was theorized by a friend, are you taking up residence in ICN every month? Do you think you have come out generally ahead in the payroll department, or resigned yourself to a year of minimum guarantee? Are you seeing a variety of flying through the entire system regardless of your base, or are you being assigned essentially the same trips as what the other folk at your base get?

I am considering bidding for this. The single monthly commute would work great. Also knowing my schedule for the year would really help on the home front and hey, I could get a half the kid's birthdays, my anniversary, and the Christmas Hollandaise off. However, I'm a big fan of money. I like it, I use it, I have a little. I keep it in bank account that keeps getting smaller. I'd like to put more in that account. That's where flying a lot comes in.

Any tales from the line would help. There are just so many known-unknowns that must be balanced with the two known-knowns before making a yearlong commitment.

‘Secondary lines on the 747 are like build up lines. 10 times out of 10, I’ve had a schedule built up once the schedules are published..

Can you elaborate on what secondary lines are?

Also, just confirming those lines would be 17 in one hit and then consecutive days off?

Secondary lines are a block or multiple blocks of days (this month, my base was mostly sets of two blocks) in a month that are blank slates when they're awarded. The contractual requirement is that you check your schedule 2 days prior to the start of your block (between 17&18z) to see what they've built for you. If it's blank, you check again the following day until your block is up or they've added some flying to your schedule, at which point, you aren't required to leave home until the following day. There are some contractual protections about how long they can leave you sitting out in the field and when they must return you to base/cut you loose. Essentially it's a long call reserve with no requirement to sit around and wait for the phone to ring and protections against being extended.

Those are pretty good explanations of buildup lines. I think I may have accidentally posted a few duplicates earlier today. Sorry about that.

Another one most likely answered previously, is there a point during the interview, class, etc. that one is asked their airframe/location preference. Obviously nothing more then a dream sheet. Just up to the phone screening this week.
Thank you again.

Only on this thread there are 1925 pages full of answers to aaaaallllll those questions brother. You do get asked airframe preferences during interview.

Appreciate the advice chief. After the first 1400 pages of reading mostly banter and union progressions
I thought it was best to save what few years I do have left for more pertinent tasks and just come out with the question fresh.

I'll refrain further until pages are scoured first.

Best

There's a lot of stuff to wade though. You'll get asked what plane you want, then they'll offer you a class date on a particular fleet. You can pass and wait for another class date or take the seniority number.

However if you pass on the first offer, you are not guaranteed another one

This is very true.

Thank you Elevation.
At my age I'll be surprised if they offer me anything but they did offer a phone screen so I'll go as far as they allow.
A lot of good info.

Best.

Put your best foot forward, you may be surprised. If one has any recency, the proper attitude and decent experience, age is not much of a factor.

Bunch of older types in my 747 class. Oldest is 61, FYI.

To add to everyone else's comments about age, you'll be brining some experience and a good chance that you'll stick around for a few years.

Over a decade ago we also had a 61 years of age in a class behind us. Great guy, phenomenal experience good and bad (Braniff time, Pan Am then TWA…) Still had an amazing attitude after the tumultuous timing he had. You can learn so much from folks who have really experienced the tough sides of life, especially thru the lean years.

*Age isn’t a concern here at Atlas and as Elevation indicated it brings longevity at times.

Appreciate the words of encouragement all. At 60 I realize I probably won't get to the left seat but am actually okay with that. Coming from a whole different sector of the industry I'm sure there's loads of learning to be had from the other side before my time is complete. If anything there's probably some good stories to be had. Thank you..

This year I have flown with many who are 55-60ish who have no intentions to upgrade when eligible, even for a couple of years. They seem to be just enjoying the ride. More to life than than left seat, especially if you have planned accordingly. There is so much to get into while abroad (now that things have lightened up) or slam click your door, read books you have always wanted to read, catch-up on the sleep you never had, or just continue to try to find the end of the internet. Nothings perfect, but it’s what you make of it.

*In my early fifties myself and life is too short so like Han Solo told Chewbacca when flying amongst the empire fleet - “Keep your distance though, Chewie…but don't look like your tryin' to keep your distance. I don't know…fly casual.”

**Flew with an early retirement due to CVD19 guy from Delta who absolutely is enjoying the globetrotting. He doesn’t need this obviously, but it’s a different world for him. Doubtful he has apps in elsewhere.:rolleyes: (but I have been wrong before)

Enjoyed reading this. Thank you! Pretty much my sentiments. Kids are grown and gone and the wife would love some time to herself. To be able to just blast out of town for a few weeks and meander the skies with some good company would be very welcoming. Even offer free drum lessons after 45 years playing to anyone who's interested.

Blue skies..

Yup, you’re one of the same with the early retired Delta guy. He was an empty nester, his wife still works and he was so bored and poking his eyes out that he threw an application into Atlas and away he went. Enjoy it til you don’t which is a luxury. Some love it, some don’t. Hopefully it’s something that will suit you well.

Thank you much. Impressive selection of metal you've flown. Safe 4th..

Atlas now advertising Australian roadshows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Wonder if we'll see a dedicated commuting option in the not to distant future...