Currently flying in China
 

Hi I am currently flying in China for the last 10 years making $22000 a month. I have a 2 months on and 1 month off contract in China. I just got hired by Atlas on the 747. I want to return to USA, but the salary difference is too big. I would like to hear if I should take the offer at Atlas or I should stay in China.

Read up the Atlas threads. Talk to as many current Atlas crews as you can.

You may want to hold out for a legacy position. Conduct a pay and benefit analysis. The potential for pay and benefits contributions may have you pretty close to your current net pay in a couple of years.

Overseas pay was a great way to accumulate a handsome nest egg. A position with a legacy will help keep your accumulations from invasion due to prolonged low pay received from the ACMIs.

I have no idea why you even bothered to interview without knowing you’d drop 80% in pay.

If you are not miserable in China I would stay there.

You will likely be unhappy at Atlas, making 1/4 the money.

This would be the worst move in the history of moves. Just wait for a legacy job to open up. Would you leave your China job to start as a regional FO? Atlas is in the same category as the regionals when it comes to pay and lags behind in other ways.

Lol. I'm at atlas thinking of coming to China soooooo...

Fwiw my ex GF was an EK CSV. Aka an Emirates flight attendant. She made 4000 a month untaxed (not including her layover allowance). That is more than most of our FOs make here at Atlas.

Let that sink in. First year guarantee is $3950 a month, before tax......

If I was considering something like Atlas I would definitely go Kalitta Air (K4) I have friends there that really like it. They may have the highest year one pay also. They are growing 767, 777, 747 fleets.

I left overseas flying 8 years ago and went to Atlas. Got in front of the huge hiring wave and currently a 747 CA. No regrets, but that being said it was very different 8 years ago versus what is available now. I think if you did come over you would be pretty miserable. Especially if put on anything other than the whale. My advice is to stick it out a little more in China and consider retiring early. Lord knows that if you come here you aren't making bank and you're going to be junior to 1700 guys on property. Just looking at the posts from us at Atlas shows you how bad this place has become and no contract in sight.

The irony of reading this thread and having an Atlas employment advertisement next to it.....

Priceless...