With every major/legacy hiring indefinitely in large numbers, it will be interesting to see what happens to the younger generation of Giant pilots. I've already heard through the grapevine mgmt is concerned with what many will do when hiring floodgates open industry wide. Will the contract here at Atlas stay the same for another 4 or so years while other airlines make their contracts more attractive? Or will a crossroads arrive that will force many to reconsider whether or not Atlas will be in their long term plans. Atlas is a great place to be - no argument there/here. But I believe the pilot / hiring paradigm will soon shift allowing the pilot to be in the drivers seat as to where he/she would like to be forcing companies to actually listen to what the pilots groups want. The current contract here is better than it was based upon my experience, but has it "arrived" - I cant say that it has. Even a union-tree hugger can't say its everything they have ever dreamed of (understanding perfect does not exist). I understand that many reading this will say "well, it's better than my former/current brand X airline," but as professional aviators, it is in everyones best interest to make the company/industry even better and more competitive. Atlas is still a 747-driven union/mgmt company with a fraction of the attention to the light twin community - although it is improving, i.e. how many months went by before "open time" trips were offered up IAW the contract? Looking at the UCAL contract there is a lot that can be benchmarked from it - and yes, I do understand there are significant differences between the two companies. The bar has been raised here at Atlas, but we must strive to continue to raise it as employees and future candidates.
Please no poo throwing - this is not a rant but intended as re-group and re-attack.