I just returned an application to ATI and was wondering about QOL, schedules, upgrade, etc.? I've searched all the old posts and the info is pretty out-dated. A letter with the application said there would be September and November classes. After the change in ownership I'd like to know whats up. Thanks

 

Things have been pretty rough since the change of ownership. The company is trying to run on shoestring by cutting back on personnel and parts inventory. Morale is rather low amongst the crews and maintenance. I'm not sure why they're considering hiring when we just parked a -71 and we'll be losing combi business in October. Hopefully things will look better in the long term. To answer your specific questions:

QOL- home based. You are obligated to work 16 of the 28 days in a bid period. Domestic travel for the most part does not count as duty (there are exceptions). Hotels are OK, but tend to be on the lower end of the scale. All travel is in coach.

Schedules are usually about 8 on, 6 off. I assume you read my previous post regarding reserve scheduling- hasn't changed.

Upgrades- Many Captains presently downgraded. 767s supposedly coming online next year, but it sounds as if they'll be parking -8s as they 767s come online. I've heard rumors that they'll actually be hiring second officers, so you'll have to upgrade to FO first.

At this time I wouldn't recommend this job to anyone unless they're unemployed and have nothing to lose.

Good luck.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the reply. If the job has to do with a SO position I'm not interested. But I'm currently a Capt on a Lear with a on demand 135 company. If I could get a set schedule and a bigger airplane that would be huge. I would have to take a pay cut for the first couple years, but then I would be making more money. I know things are dicey now, but what about the future?

 

No way of knowing. To me, it seems like a rudderless ship wandering aimlessly.

 

Kalitta is hiring FOs--flyin' the whale all over the world. I start training next month. Company seeems to be doing pretty well from everything I've heard and read. New TA currently being voted on -- results sometime after 21 Jul.

 

I have a lot of friends at ATI and the QOL is not FDX but it's not that bad either. I think it's definately better than Omni, Southern, and maybe Kalitta.

l8fr82hub is right, the company seems to be in limbo with no serious long
term plan. The dicey part right now is being on the bottom of the seniority
list, it could spell furlough in Jan.

I heard all the new hire pilots would be FO's.

 

ATI isn't a bad place to call home, the problem is keeping that home. Probably, check that, definately the best group of guys and gals to fly with. If you can get in now and can tolerate the risk of POSSIBLY being out of a job come January, go for it.

 

Lets say they do furlough in Jan. Has the company been good about recall rights in the past?

 

They have a union contract and the recalls have to be in accordance with that. I think its a good company to work for overall, and if you have a job you can fall back on in case of a furlough, it would be a good place to get some international experience and big a/c time.

Good luck.

 

Does ATI have any hard line schedules with regular routes? (ie toledo to LAX twice a day, 4 times a week) Or does everybody work 8 on 6 off and its all on-demand type flying?