captainv

For all those instant-gratification types who would get upset when us thread Nazis would insist you read the entire thread, well, this is why.

- Gateway travel has been dissected ad nauseam at many points among these many pages. 747 new hires have been going to ANC as long as I've been here (2.5 years), but they've been able to bid out eventually as other classes followed. What's new is that with the 767 seat locks about to expire, anyone in ANC come September with less than three years on property will most likely be stuck there until they hit the three-year mark. It seems there is finally a price to be paid for earning 17% more than those senior to you who were arbitrarily assigned to the 767.

- We've also thoroughly discussed the hiring process, including the very difficult online test. (100 obscure technical questions in 60 minutes? We've said to utilize CRM almost every time this comes up.) What's new is that the old points system is gone, replaced by Do Not Recommend, Recommend, and Highly Recommend. I asked the VP of Flight Ops recently about those stuck in the pool for more than a year. He said they're aware of the angst it causes, and they would like to clear the pool over the summer. (YMMV) I would agree it's a good idea to call HR and remind them of who you are if you've been swimming a long time. But the pool has long been competitive here - your scores always mattered much more than how long you were swimming. I was in the pool for 9 months back when we were running classes every three weeks, while friends who interviewed much later went to class much earlier. I scored a 76 on the test, they scored higher. Simple as that. Applicants lately have been highly experienced. With the World/NAA shutdown, we have very experienced ACMI guys on the street, and they've been snapping them up.

Yes, there has been a shift in Quality of Life here lately. In part, it takes a while for the glamor to wear off - OMG, I'm flying big iron all over the world! I'm in a first class lounge at the airport! (I'm as guilty as anyone on this, but eventually you start to wake up.) But the company is definitely tightening the screws as well. Our pilot group could put a stop to a lot of it by getting to know the CBA: you don't need a backup flight, ever; hold the company to CBA-compliant hotels or travel, and use the relief granted in the CBA when they don't; and WRITE IT UP when they try something funny. The union can't fight what it doesn't know about.

On a recent DH back from Asia, another FO told me he'd been woken up by Scheduling 5 hours into his 24/7. They wanted to retroactively start his rest 4 hours earlier so he'd be legal for an assignment they'd given him. To his credit, he said no, and insisted the 24/7 be reset. But he never wrote it up or notified the union, until he casually told me about it a week later. On the same trip, Scheduling had notified him of a trip change properly, but they wanted a three-man crew to operate a flight that went 5 minutes past their max duty day. They asked him to take the trip and then they'd "fix it" en route. Again, to his credit, he said no, and - after asking every other FO at the hotel the same thing - they eventually put a 4th pilot on the trip, which finally made it legal. Everybody said no, which is great, but nobody wrote it up, which means Scheduling will just try it again next time. At least nobody accepted an illegal trip for a free $50 meal...

Those of you in the pool might think twice if offered a 747 class in the next few months. If you accept, be fully aware of what you face getting to/from ANC. (Thanks to Trout for the heads-up, I didn't realize the trips were so much shorter up there.) Personally, I would love it if you guys all told HR you'd like to wait for the next 767 class. Yes, it pays less, but you'll see continual seniority advancement and the commute to CVG is much less of a hardship, depending on where you live.

Lots of guys leaving, or trying to leave, right now. Management is basically unconcerned because we have a stack of resumes a mile high and long lines at the job fairs. Come if you want to, but do your homework and know what you're in for.

JerrySpringer

Great post.

Iron Maiden

I guess I shouldn't be so antsy to get on there...... I'll keep updating my resume every 200 hours or so because I still want to fly freight.

White Cap

Man, there is no way I am going to read this all. I stop looking around page 171, so could someone please send me the cliff notes?

Seriously, after being clued in by my compadres at the CVG breakfast table (I never knew this thread was in Hiring News), I perused the last 50 pages or so, and I got to agree with the Captain. There is no such thing as instant gratification here, or really anywhere in life if one punches a clock for a living. I came here to Atlas after working as an expat at a hugely higher monthly salary. Atlas fits my lifestyle well, I get to return to my home every month, and the QOL is quite high. Can I make more at a legacy-yes. Can I spend more time at home at a legacy-yes. Is retirement better elsewhere-yes. The caveat is that nothing is static. United guys were living large in '99, not so much for the next ten years. The same can be said for many legacies. The point is that I am confident enough to hang my hat on Atlas for the future, and I will fight tooth and nail for a much better contract. If things go south, there are lots of opportunities overseas. Chasing some mythical dragon to riches in the airline business is fool's gold. Come to Atlas, keep your mouth closed and ears open, do your time as junior galley/gear monkey, and fight for your fellow co-workers. You may be pleasantly surprised in the future.

Talon1011

Captainv hit it squarely on the head when he said,"Our pilot group could put a stop to a lot of it by getting to know the CBA: you don't need a backup flight, ever; hold the company to CBA-compliant hotels or travel, and use the relief granted in the CBA when they don't; and WRITE IT UP when they try something funny. The union can't fight what it doesn't know about."

Each and every time someone at headquarters has tried to fudge the contract with me they've backed off when I quoted them book, chapter and verse of how it wasn't allowed by the CBA. They will try to fill trips the least expensive way; that's their job (at least as headquarters sees it). I'd venture to say that's an accurate statement of any airline management you can find out there. My job is to be certain I know the contract and hold them to it. It doesn't get personal; I'm friendly with them and they're friendly with me. Nonetheless, I won't allow them to skirt around any protections our CBA may afford.

NightIP

Awesome post. In response to the 24/7 issue you wrote about: I wish more of our guys would learn the CBA, and hold the company to it. I've only been here a year and a half, and I'm having to explain the contract to pilots who've been here 10+ years. No excuse for that.

Also, we have too many pilots floating around who say that FCRs don't work, which is bull. I write FCRs for all sorts of junk, and I know I've helped get stuff fixed. The stewards are probably also sick of seeing my name pop up in their inbox, but they are a fantastic resource to help quickly resolve CBA compliance issues.

No deals!

4Green

But be sure to warn him of the morale on the 767....non existent!!!

TimmyR

+1

I was based CVG, typically flew in 1-day prior to all patterns and got home on the last day of my pattern. I am now at JFK, very junior, and typically travel on patterned work days, NOT X days (scheduled days off). Schedules change a lot. So YMMV. I personally intend to avoid ANC if at all possible.

Great post V. Spot-on. Do your homework and take an honest look at how this place compares to your other options.

BayBum4Ever

If you are under 40 with any airline experience, stay in your present job and just wait for the majors to call you.

StartngOvr

As the 767 seat locks expire, would new-hire FO's currently on 747 ANC theoretically be able to bid to the 767 JFK? Some may be willing to trade the QOL for the $$.