Oklaflyer

I just read that whole ATI thread and I guess from that thread and info I hear elsewhere Ill no show that one. I do have to make a post in someones defense on that thread I'll hold my nose while doing it.

Oklaflyer

One quick question?

I read through the ATI post and am confused. DO ABX pilots fly there also and how does that work. Looks like a bunch of post got deleted. You had one guy defending the pilot groups including the ABX group and he got absolutely dog piled and deleted. leaves me kinda dumbfounded.

vroll1800

O-flyer: For starters, both ABX and ATI are part of the same holding company, ATSG. This has been the case since 2007.

The DHL debacle of 2008, and subsequent severe downsizing of ABX led to the concessionary late 2009 contract. One provision in the contract was for Preferential Hiring of furloughed ABX crewmembers at ATSG subsidiaries. The only rub was that ABX crewmembers exercising that option had a 2 year (24 month) lock on ABX recall. Meaning they'd have to stay at ATI for at least 2 years before they could accept recall at ABX.

To backtrack on some things: I'll repeat- these furloughed ABXers got
Preferential Hiring. Not preferential interviewing, HIRING. No worries about coming up with a compelling TMAT or TMAY story, Hogan or MMPI screens, astronaut physicals, etc. "Interview" was more a meet and greet, are you sure you really want to come to ATI kind of meeting. Pass the mandated drug test and PRIA screen, and they're in. Once hired, they'd go to the bottom of the list, but would be paid on the ATI scale whatever ABX longevity they had. Since most ABXers were on the 12th year scale, they'd be paid at 12th year ATI rates.

I'll leave it up to the ABXers who went over to ATI to fill you in on other details, this is my Cliff Notes version.

motorclutch

Two seperate airlines. Unfortunately, it seems as though JV has worked his magic with ATI MEC convincing them to take what is essentially a b-scale for new hires and < 12 year crewmembers. Their good deal is home basing which management has assigned a value of $40k. Don't know about you, but I would rather have that in my pocket. Good luck wherever you go!

boyzarus

Everyone has personal reasons for the choices they make. So take this for what it's worth. I recently left ABX after nearly 21 years for a legacy passenger carrier. Not an easy choice. The airmen at ABX are extraordinary, but the contentious working relationship, critical undermanning and clear disdain for flight crew by management, pushed me to leave. There will probably always be whip sawing between ABX & ATI with continual downward pressure on wages and work rules. Maybe the two carriers will merge, that could be a plus. It's definitely not the good old days of Airborne Express, that was a proud airline.

The Amazon deal could mean great things, but I fear it'll be a long, hard road until the crews feel the love.

...food for thought

Larry in TN

There was no interview. We were contacted in ABX-seniority order and offered the job at ATI.

The deal included Capital Cargo as well but CCI management resisted but the issue was never pushed as only one ABX furloughee wanted to go to CCI.

ATI treated us, and paid us, as new-hires. Our ATI paychecks were ATI 1st year pay. Two weeks later we'd get another paycheck from ABX Air with the difference between ATI 1st year pay and ATI pay at our ABX longevity rate. All the extra money came from ABX, not ATI.

Radioactive

Why should they have been required to do a formal interview at ATI? ABX had(has) the most strict training and standards in the industry. There was no need for an ABX pilot to "prove" to ATI that he/she was good enough. Any ABX pilot can make it easily through any other airline's training. The reverse most definitely cannot be said. This is like a Delta pilot flowing back to a DCI commuter and having to interview that he's good enough.

Oklaflyer

Not to offend but that all seems like a huge mess. Actually getting hired by a sister airline is the right thing to do. I can't believe some had such issue with it as in another thread on here. Now some of the other posts make sense.


#######The latest and greatest. ########

Im taking a Pass on ATI but for someone looking here goes.

On hiring, I was able to get the contact info of an ATI captain through a mutual friend at Tinker. Basically his take was that the only way to make money is to stay out. Not just a few days but as many as 10 extra (25+) on something called open reserve which is no set schedule. I guess you work for days off, earn them for every day you spend out. Otherwise you WILL make basic guarantee. Basic guarantee is "bad" pay, mid 130's -140.. He's been there almost 20yrs most he has ever made was 142. He said there are guys there that stay out and play it and they make close to 185k. He claimed those individuals literally had nothing at home and thats all they do. EOY bonus for those over 12yrs but he claims its laughable and doesn't even cover COLA. Also said there are a few individuals moonlighting in business jets or doing other jobs.

Upgrades are going to probably come down to 7years but are now 15yrs for junior captain. He thought all downgrades are back in the left seat. Despite all the super rumors he said to expect 3 aircraft this year at ATI maybe 4. In the almost 20yrs there the company has furloughed half that, usually in Jan-Mar.

Last week management issued a Warning Letter against a merger with ABX. He stated that it read like a scare tactic and was pretty transparent saying a merger would doom ATI. Claimed that people are worried of another 7yr negotiations cycle before another CBA. Claimed they paid their own bonus last time (I didn't ask for details). I guess someone tried to recall the MEC a week ago. Sounded pretty unstable.

Flying outlook is really positive. He claimed he expected a ATI-ABX merger happening and its not a question of --IF-- but when. He claimed there are some Capital Guys that are really heartbroken over the last merger which is evident with another thread on here. Apparently its only a handful and they are very vocal.

According to him Rumor is they can't get new hires and are going to offer second year pay. He'd also heard they are looking at the small commuters like Great Lakes for new hires. He said one of the DO?/VP? kid just got hired out of Great Lakes with extremely low time.

Also added while in ILN be very careful because lots of people seem to be related there.

His advice was to do the interview if unemployed or personal issue would prevent Atlas, FedEx, Majors, Etc. Very open strait forward individual claimed its a fun job but as retirement looms near wouldn't do it over.

motorclutch

What does it say about a company that hires minimum qualified pilots just as ATI did? Can u say bottom feeder?

WTFover

There is a war brewing here between the two pilot groups. Hete et al will be smiling all the way to the bank as the pilot groups fight management and each other. The ABX pilots want it ALL, but that has always been their way; furloughs just meant more overtime to horde.