All of my friends are happy at Spirit, but only four days off at a time... Having two weeks off at a time means you have vacation every month.
It all depends what you want. Every other place except UPS/Fed Ex comes across to me as a regional.

Maybe you did make six from the start but that can all change tomorrow for someone hired today. And that 19 month upgrade isn’t guaranteed either. Planning on anything more than guarantee is foolish.

When I was there(Kalitta) my classmates and I were debating whether to take the “quick upgrade” on the classic or wait the three to four years for the 400. Next thing we know here comes notification of impending furloughs and the talk changed from upgrade to having another job lined up.

I recommend Kalitta or Omni over Atlas, ATI etc for short timers that feel the need to get out of their regional, expand their resume, acquire a new type, whatever. But don’t plan on making a career of it.

The upgrade times have dropped(shorter time and more of them) at Legacy carriers for those that want it ...Or you can sit in the right seat and top 200 year two at UPS/FedEx. The work rules will earn you superior pay when hit with those schedule changes and you’ll still be in your “footprint”. That’ll never happen in ACMI. You will have to work yourself hard and/or give up days off to earn the extras.

FWIW— I’ve felt more rested and had a better experience(not including abysmal pay) at Atlas... but overall same circus different tent.

In you opinion, is that a bad thing? If so, why?

I'm concerned about all of the ACMI carriers long term. The work rules and retirement are so far behind at all of them that there's not much motivation to stay if you can get out with 10 years left.

With ACMI flying and night flying/shift work in general:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-8b99rGpkM

If you cannot sleep on an airplane, do not come to Kalitta. With that said, it seems most of the flying I’ve been doing lately, the sun has been up for the majority of it. There’s no hard set rules here on the 74 except that you will get a giant variety of conditions. I’ve came home and been a total morning person, getting tired around 7 pm and waking up at 4am every morning for the two weeks, to being a night owl, sleeping in til 11am for half the time home. By far the hardest thing on your body is how much you sit. The catering can be a struggle for those who eat out of boredom. Most people gain a lot of weight, the dedicated health nuts of course manage to keep the weight off, but even they tell me about the struggles of just saying no to temptation.

Yes I believe it's a bad thing. As an ACMI carrier especially the ones on the DHL ramp there will always be whipsawing. You are at the mercy of idiots who us multiple carriers to move their product. Right now Kallita is the chosen one... they just signed a contract, hiring, upgrading, holding hands and singing cum by ah! Next year Atlas, Southern, or knows maybe Western Global will be awarded their flying because they are cheaper. This is how DHL operates all over the world. At Federal and UPS the numbers decide the pay and the contract says who flys the freight. It's their own product. To count on a carrier tied to idiots like DHL and Amazon with contract flying is foolish. Non ACMI, UPS, Federal....or PAX with a retirement.

Historically, ACMI/Cargo/Night Freight was a choice when other options were not available.

It's bad for your Health, and it doesn't require a PHd in Neuroscience to figure that out. But, also historically, Not Eating due to a lack of income is also detrimental to one's overall being.

We have always known the effects of sleep disruption in shift workers.

This type of flying is SO much worse than going to work every night at 11pm and coming home at 7am. You are rarely on ANY sort of a rotation that allows for even that level of a messed up circadian rhythm. You are always changing when and how your body "sleeps" and very much of the "sleep" on the road is, questionably, beneficial .

I don't care whose name is on the side of the aircraft or what the pay scale is. Bottom Line :

" This $h!t is BAD for you. "

But, like whiskey, Ho's, and so many other things...It sure can be a LOT of FUN.

:)

STK

You really don’t understand much about the Kalitta business model. Connie played and lost at that game with AIA and will never go down that road again.

I will only speak for what I have been told about Kalitta. We are not being whipsawed by DHL at all. We only do short term contracts with them. This is by Connie’s design not theirs. Connie does not want long term contracts with any companies. Unfortunately, for the others we are probably the whip in the saw. We can operate at a lower cost even not being Flag and also not biasing our fleet. Most of that comes from low financial obligation and the synergy of the internal maintenance done through our Oscoda facility which is not part of the airline.
Kalitta will be here for a long time long after Connie leaves. It is valueless in any other form than an airline, and the board that replaces him know that.

Thinking that all this security is great and that as a young pilot this is your home forever? Not so fast. Connie seems to be of the school of businessman (like me) who say, show me how paying you more makes more money for me. Our guys got the contract done because Connie wanted to expand. Either expand into the void left by National and others and the addition need for worldwide lift or face what ABX/ATI do, fighting over crumbs, looking for a way to grow on the back of another company. My opinion is that once the growth is over and the economy cools down we will be back to no pay raises and another very long negotiation.

The real danger in ACMI? Cabotage and single Captain remote FO, widebody freighters. We will be the first to go. Good news is, I will be retired by then.

After 20+ years of night freight and and 14 with DHL I think I have a pretty good handle on how your company, my company and all other ACMI carriers operate.
You can polish a turd all you want its still a turd. Your business just like all ACMI carriers depend on renewable/ cancelable contracts. Things are great right now at K4..yipee. we have all been the chosen one in the DHL circus. There are much better airline jobs available than working for ANY ACMI company whether you want to believe it or not. But if someone wanted to fly night freight...UPS or Fedex with fantastic no overtime pay and retirement are the only options. Also ATSG does all their own maintenance also this is not a new concept.