Reactivity

As a general rule, anything that can go wrong at home will go wrong right after you head out the door for a 17-day stretch. At least that's been my experience so far.

woog315

There were a lot of people riding the JRM gravy train in 2016, no doubt. But there were also a lot of people on probation with absolutely no choice but to bend over and have their holiday plans ruined by forced jr manning. Please stop trying to claim that you just tell scheduling to shove it and hang up the phone- if you actually do that you are the only one I know of who gets away with it. Forced jr manning is a part of the ABX contract, and anyone who comes here should know that. It's not voluntary. Yes, when they have plenty of people on staff you can ask them to call the next guy and they usually will but if they don't have anyone else you are on the line with no options. I have had it happen to me, and so have most other guys. To reiterate for anyone thinking of coming here- ABX has a forced jr manning policy in their contract, and if you refuse an assignment you can face disciplinary action. Period.

And...if I were a betting man, I would bet you have plenty of jr man assignments to your name. Could be wrong.

nitefr8dog

BS....I can name as many crewmembers who did not accept JRM assignments. I have never worked a day I did not want. You get a red NAV on your schedule. Try it! Those that made barrels of money month in month out let it happen dropped d6 days and enjoyed their time off. P.S. I never have nor will I ever let any employer force me to do anything. If you do you are foolish.

ocskyguy

I'm gonna chime in. Just because I had dinner with one of the other old guys and we remarked about how crazy it was that we are probably going to retire from K4. Who would have thunk?

The ACMI cargo world is so diverse that you have a tough time nailing down exactly what the lifestyle is. I see a lot of disgruntled folks who complain about the off the clock sleep and rotten commutes. That is true for some. But, honestly, it is not true for all.

Been a K4 guy for over 25 years. Have had a sh**t load of fun seeing the world on somebody else's dime. And, at least at the current contract level, have made more than my fair share of $$.

But, there are compromises. You need to see if your significant other is okay with long periods at home alone. Unlike the regionals and majors, our schedules are often comprised of long blocks of days on. But, that comes with a kind of cool payback as you move up the list. You can bid first half of one month and last half of the next and get a month off without missing a paycheck. How cool is that?

I have close friends at most of the majors. To a man (woman) they are jealous of the K4 lifestyle. Even if it comes with a few less retirement bucks. It's all about the fun. Right?

Skyguy, out...

Globemaster2827

Do you really think they're jealous of your lifestyle? I've got buddies at all sorts of Majors plus FedEx and UPS and none of them envy the ACMI lifestyle. All of them openly discuss how abusive the "Lifestyle" is. Many of them left good seniority numbers to start over at the bottom of other lists and the "Lifestyle" was the #1 reason followed closely by the pay and retirement.

There are good reasons to work for ACMIs. There aren't many good reasons to stay at one if you can get out.

Lockheed

He said HIS lifestyle not yours
I can assure you his lifestyle is different then yours

No Land 3

How much you want to bet that if you were at Kalitta right now, you wouldn’t be ****ed off, and maybe even be happy? I look at the other ACMI’s and I do not see an equivalence in the industry. Atlas is not because of the toxic work environment and sub par pay. Should they get a new contract that makes them happy, then they will be an equivalent.
As it stands right now, K4 is on track to be one of the largest operators of 747’s.

Colt45

Well just wait until Atlas does get a contract, it will probably leapfrog ours and K4 will be in the rear with the gear once again.

No Land 3

I hope it does, and eventually we leap frog them. That’s how it is supposed to work. Let’s just hope inflation doesn’t get to the point where 300k a year is chump change...

Globemaster2827

Looking at how K4's retirement is WORSE than Atlas's... My Apps would be out and I'd be furious to be working with people who think that's fine. I wouldn't complain in the cockpit, but I'd be searching for an airline that has a plan for my retirement. That airline wouldn't be K4.