WhipWhitaker

How long have you been flying at Southern?

kolt66

Why would any Atlas or Southern pilot come onto an online forum to encourage people to apply and make it seem like it ain't so bad when the rest of us are fighting like hell to get a new contract? Your actions are harming the rest of us.

Screwed

Why would anyone come onto an online forum and make it seem like it ain't so bad when it really does suck at Southern and Atlas.

Do you want to be treated like **** while making **** wages? Do you want to watch management award themselves tens of millions of dollars in bonuses while they direct scheduling to lie to you on a daily basis?

Daily violations of the pathetic turd of a current CBA. Sr. Execs are not even remotely interested in negotiating a new CBA, just having an arbitrator shove one down our throats. Do you want to be sued by those same Sr. Execs?

dogo

Is this only at southern? Looks like the same playbook DSoapy brought to ABX. Union busting 101.

Birdsmash

The best thing Atlas management has done to improve the life of Southern pilots was to let Soapy know he was “retired” one morning when he came into work at the SouthernAir office. All the Southern pilots feel bad that he reappeared at ABX. I’m sorry he wasn’t run over by a bus “accidentally” in the parking lot.

Braniff DC8

That people are joining now thinking a contract is imminent. The type of flying and the uncertainty of the merger and what it will mean, also, the hostile and miserable culture is what will keep qualified or quality people from applying. The regionals have improved due to poor treatment and pay for years. A company has to improve it it wants to retain staff and improve it's business.

SilentLurker

This..... !!!!!! 100%

I also believe for the very same reasoning people are staying at the carriers they are not happy with.

1. Hopeful belief things will improve within a year, or a few short years.

2. Fear their flying career,educational records, are not competitive. A) Fear or refusal to give up Command, and become an FO and go through training again at a new carrier. B) Simply unable to get hired elsewhere for a better career @ Kalitta FEDEX, UPS, Big 4 passenger mainline, and career destination LLC’s)

Diesel8

3. Stuck because of seniority/age/position. Making ok money (only due to seniority/longevity) by not anywhere close to what should be paid. Too old to recover losses by going to another carrier. Not able to get hired anywhere else because your too old and have too much experience.

Atlas Shrugged

You hit the nail on the head.

This is the reality of a seniority system shackled by the Railway Labor Act. It is what it is, and pilots coming to Southern better understand this thoroughly.

CaptDave

nobody is cheerleading the company. Just telling as I’ve seen it, so far. The “not too bad” pay reference is in regards to what regionals are paying.

The downsides that are reality:
1. no systems class (not enough people to teach one) so you’re basically self-teaching a type rating,
2. Training schedule is pretty grueling (there is a week or two window where you’re off but after that, any time to go home is long gone,
3. Training pay blows ($1600/mo plus $60/day per diem),
4. If you screw up your bidding, it is very possible to be 34 or more days on in a row,
5. If you’re in 737, be prepared for every idiot 777 driver to tell you how their plane is so big you 737 fuselage can fit in to their engine nacelle (eyeroll),
6. The whole contract thing....however, if/when a new contact comes to fruition, it won’t be a bad place to be.

The good I’ve seen:
1. The flight crews are top notch in terms of experience and qualifications,
2. While the training is tough, it’s manageable, like every other 121 airline,
3. The -800 fleet is getting started May 2 and lines are showing better pay and more flight time,
4. The whole contract thing....however, if/when a new contact comes to fruition, it won’t be a bad place to be.

Everyone has to make their own decisions on where they end up working and if you don’t like it, leave. It’s literaly that simple.