boeingdvr

Lol. Doesn't quite work like that.

trip

Wow, this sounds brutal. Are you pretty much a walking zombie after 20 days? I always thought I'd like this bumming around the world after the kids are out but don't think I could hack a sched. like that.

dckozak

Your brutally candid assessment of your current employer and its T&C beg the question, "Why do you put up with it?". This is both a personal and collective question, one of which I understand your union is attempting to address, but at the individual level, why put up with it?
Things have never been better for a pilot wishing to find employment, at every level; legacy, express, regional, and I presume (without as much evidence) corporate, and fractional.

Reading your take on Southern makes many of us thankful we have better, but its disturbing that in the current environment that your employer can find and than keep FO's.

The junior on any seniority list have the most power to affect change as they have the power of choice. They have the least to lose from leaving and starting elsewhere and they have the most to gain when collective efforts are (successfully) employed to force improvements.

While the law, courts and government are stacked fore square against organized labor, no one can stop you from leaving for greener pastures. Senior guys can and do find excuses not to look elsewhere and in turn, fail to help improve the common good. Their reasons are often sound for them personally but don't help the cause of moving the group forward. Keep educating the curious about your company and encourage each other to find better solutions personally.

Spike from flyi

Whiplash6 speaks the TRUTH. I''ve been around the world five times in 30 days on two different occasions. You will be a zombie at the end of those rotations. Most stay because they are not hearing the phone ring. Atlas is a slightly better arrangement. If Atlas or Southern are your dream job, do yourself and all concerned a favor; do not take a job at either property unless or until a new CBA is voted upon and ratified by the membership. Trust me, you're happier at your regional/charter/corporate/fractional/banner towing job. Apply at the better airlines. After nine years at Southern, I could leave and go to Kalitta today and get a raise in pay. You will be viewed with contempt by the pilot group if you accept a job at Southern before a new CBA is in place. You have been warned.

Kerizbro

Just out of curiosity during a 20 day rotation, how many hours do you fly?

Riverside

Less than other higher paying carriers.

robthree

Its 39 hours to do an eastbound lap. Maybe 30 CVG-ANC-SEL-HKG and back. With Flag rules now in effect on any leg under 12 hours one pilot will be deadheading at half pay. If the leg is under 8, two pilots will be (or they will get the long layover in SEL and not get paid at all).

Guarantee is 60. Rig is 70. I would be surprised if you often saw much more than that.

Kerizbro

Are they currently in discussions for a new CBA or is management not even willing to discuss? Also after each lap around the planet is there any down time before the next trip?
Thanks

robthree

24 hours off in each station. Maybe 48 if the planets align correctly.

I once had five days in a row off in HK. (Woo hoo! It was like winning the lottery!) Another time I got stuck in Cincinnati for five days. (Ugg, it was like losing a wrestling match with a meth head who hadn't bathed in a month.) In the 747 days I once spent an entire month in the JFK Hilton Garden Inn. (I. can't. even.)

Management wants to "amalgamate" the Southern and Atlas contracts. Both of which were already amendable. So that's a non-starter. Unless something inspires them to be reasonable, is looks like they are in no hurry to make the job any more attractive.

maxjet

The problem of one "just leaving" is in a lot of cases easier said then done. Perhaps he has a problem that keeps him from moving. Perhaps he is close to upgrade. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, and it is none of our business. How many of my friends told me to leave K4? I listened to my friends and left Compass (Delta) for another airline that then went out of business. We had a lot of pilots go to Atlas over the past few years. Did they make the right decision? We are where we are and we are there for our own reasons. I know that you meant no harm. Perhaps it is not necessary for us to state what we think is obvious.