Staffing Amazon Planes
 

As Amazon grows their fleet with their unlimited budget, how will they staff them with these carriers horrible schedules and abismal pay?

Would any new/young pilot choose these jobs?

Hopefully the lack of applicants brings these carriers on par with FedEx and UPS.

Ha in your dreams.

Easy solution: Amazon should just pay people minimum wage to set up fake picket lines. Watch the ATI pilots run across them with glee.

It's not rocket surgery. Have at least three contractors to whipsaw. They in turn will have multiple companies to whipsaw. Bonus points if you can convince the various companies that they need separate unions...

The supply of pilots has to be drying up for these working conditions.

Clearly a hard core union at each carrier is essential to bring all these pilots up to FedEx and UPS.

“Unlimited budget” and “abysmal pay” are mutually exclusive things...

I am a capitalist, through and through.
Screw socialism.
But Amazon needs to be split apart and corralled.

The market will dictate the going rates. 1500 hour flight instructor who has a bad taste in his mouth about the regionals would gladly skip them for a Boeing type. In fact, today while browsing Facebook, Atlas had an advertisement asking for pilots with 1500tt. They are now targeting the same pilots the regionals are.

I applied at ATI because I am sick of regionals, too, and was TBNT’d with ATP and three types, no checkride busts, no accidents or violations and a 16yr old minor misdemeanor history. Aviation is the worst career decision I’ve ever made. I’ve made more money in the last 3yrs chasing tornadoes than I’ve made in the last 15yrs of flying. Wtf?

As of today, I’m sick of aviation in total Honestly, I hope the shortage is real and all these companies get exactly what they deserve and were “unprepared for” and it either forced to close or give you guys the pay you deserve. Until then....

Phukem all.

Permanently signing off of APC,
CaptDave

Capt Dave,
Buddy, no worries, you'll get hired! ATI is a great place to work, great people. Don't listen to all the negativity on here. Aviation is not the worst career decision, as this is historically the best time to get into this game. Hang in there!!!!

I just got my TBNT (thanks but no thanks) today. I know it’s a great place and was excited for the next 26yrs there to finish out my career, since I’m at that point in my life where any movement will only hurt my end game. However, unless their hiring needs change any time soon, I’m not being considered.

That said, I’ve lost that spark after 15yrs of trying to break the circle to give my family and myself a better life only to be met with bankruptcies, furloughs, divorce, and for what? I’m exhausted with feeling as though I’m not good enough or cut out for this industry.

(Sorry for being off-topic and long-winded. I just enjoy talking to people).

CaptDave, I am sorry all this has happened to you. But is there a way you can keep trying, just letting rejections roll off of you? It happens to almost everyone. Many of us have had tough times, some more than others. But why not just keep on trying? This is the best opportunity you will ever have. Bust your a$$ for each interview, get the blocks checked, get application/interview prep, and you will get a stable job sooner or later. This will all be history. We are going to run out of people to hire at FedEx sooner or later, along with everyone else. Opportunity is here now, if you give up, you could regret it.:(

Remind us all why Ati is a great place to work?

Because working at ATI (or any other cargo carrier, for that matter) is far better than watching my wife bear the brunt of financial responsibility alone and gives more consecutive days off per year to keep my presence in my family secure.

I’ve been busting my butt ever since the economy led me to furlough back in ‘08. I keep hoping that it’s a clerical issue since I heard that I wouldnt hear anything until after the window closed so I was surprised to get that email today.

Cpt Dave - where do you work now? :confused:

For 8yrs I’ve run a business that provides media outlets video footage. So,

I film things like this
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ieU7Ivpb4EM

And edit things like this
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wdj0Rv10pCs

Haha. That was a bit of a stretch, but funny!

The last sentence wasn’t.

Do you have a recency of experience issue? You need to fix that if you do. Doesn't matter how many types, TPIC, and TT you have, if you have no hours flown in the past year.

Perhaps, at least in part, that we aren't saddled with a bunch of bitter complainers who can only point fingers at others for their own woes?

"Great" is a relative term. ATI has certainly seen its low times, but in general, it's been a great ride over the years. I trust you'll never stoop so low as to wear an ATI ID.

CaptDave, if you're still here, sorry that you are in the TBNT club. Sounds like you've been through quite the wringer. Been there plenty of times myself, so I can empathize. All I can say is keep trying.

IPC/FR current 1/29/2019.
FIRC 12/04/2018

TBNT's are not easy to deal with since we really are unable to learn from them as failures. It just makes you feel like garbage. However, I'll never stop pushing. I didn't fight this hard just to come this far and give up.

Do you have at least 100 hours in the last year? If not, that tends to be a showstopper...

I think what nl3 ment by recentcy was 121 or even 135 recentcy
K4 wont look at guy who even with big jet time hasn’t done it recently
You may have to go to a regional just to get current

Yeah, I almost wrote last time that 121/135 recency or 100hts in 12mos is something I’m lacking right now. I was hoping to avoid the regionals for the rest of my career but after looking at everything, it seems that is the real issue at hand so I am going to have to do what it takes to get both of those resolved before anymore “bigger” attempts.

Also, thanks for all the moral support, everyone. It’s a lot more appreciated than you all know. Sorry to hijack the thread....back to the original topic. 🌪

Well, I just got mesmerized by 10 minutes of tornado footage. Well done.

I think one of the biggest concerns is that ATI signed (in their most recent CBA) a version of a no strike clause. The side-letter [Labor Disputes Letter] addresses Picket Lines: Sympathetic Actions, Struck Goods, and No Strike/Lock Out Agreement, all done in "the spirit of labor-management cooperation". Therefore should another action occur, anywhere with anyone (ABX, Atlas, FDX, UPS, DAL, AAL, etc.), ATI will be willing to work those areas.

Most newbies won't consider strikes and historical practices of past unions and companies. I know it wasn't on my radar as I progressed early in life. Of course this is like a parent trying to instill life lessons to a child....if they only knew or would listen to why one is trying to make their future (and life) better....

Yes, I was talking about 121/135. Right before Kalitta interviewed and hired me, I received a TBNT from allegiant, and was pretty down from that. I couldn't be happier today that they gave me a TBNT, and K4 said yes. Do what you need to fix your issue(easy fix) and you will have a great career in aviation.

Awesome videos!

Of course they’ll be willing to work through picket lines. How could they show Amazon how desperate they are to be “Amazon Air” if they let pesky little things like strikes get in the way?

I’ll be perfectly honest... You likely would have avoided years of frustration if you just went to to regionals. Having flown 135 and regionals, the regional airline I worked for was more professional, offered far more time off, prepared me very well for the next step, and ended up paying quite well (I was making over $100k as a CA, without picking up trips).

Unfortunately almost every employer post-regional requires currency, and less than 100 hours/year will become an auto TBNT.

I'm sure the pilot wives at ABX feel the same way....

What the wives at ABX understand is how a greedy CEO can destroy a career/family future just for heck of it. What JH has done at ABX (in general, not just to the flight department) is criminal.

Negative:mad:... what’s worse is an employee puts an employer before the family. Clearly what destroys the family unit.

Same goes for allowing the company ruin one’s career.

So you are saying that JH is not at fault. I understand not allowing yourself to be a victim but giving a pass to a greedy CEO is too much.

JH didn’t have to do what he has done. He could have increased his company’s value and at the same time protect the future of the employees who helped him be the millionaire that he is. He’s done as well as he has because the ABX employees bent over backwards to make ABX (Holdings) succeed. Then he turned his back on them. Just ask any maintenance manager with more than 15 years at ABX.

IMO, it's Captain Expat's way of saying "why don't you just leave." While this approach worked for him in the bed he's already made, that was a cruel, insensitive thing to say to a demographic that you and other ABXers belong to. The concept of "Career V1", "Golden Handcuffs", etc aren't in his lexicon.

You’re way off the mark Captain Domestic. Never did suggest “Just leave”.

1) What makes you think that I haven't flown some international ? :p
2) "Same goes for allowing company to ruin one's career." Although you did not explicitly tell gumpscheck to leave, that statement at least implies that he should leave, much like abused wife should leave abusive husband.When career trajectory takes a turn for the worse at subject company, leaving is certainly an option, but depending on age, family situation, etc, may not be the best option. Putting forth commentary (spot on, IMO) on CEO's adverse actions towards one of his subsidiaries doesn't make one a victim card player.

I agree. However, everyone’s situation is dynamic. Age, and future longevity, family health issues (health insurance coverage) certainly, effect game changers in the decisions to stay, leave, or embark in a new field of endeavor.