mpilot153

Exactly what is it about Omni that makes everybody want to leave? Is it the pay? Or the culture? Are they even hiring right now?
I've flown with them as a passenger to a crappy location before. I was very jealous that they got to take off and leave.

Atlas Shrugged

From the Omni pilots that I have talked to, the work conditions, contract, general company policies, etc. are better at Atlas. This seems to be the case with all the ACMI carriers contrasted with Atlas. Therefore, Atlas is a really good job. I am grateful that I was hired at Atlas. It has been a great experience.

The big lesson is that human nature compels us to compare our situation with others. But you have to realize that it is all relative. We soon take for granted what we have and then want what other people have or at least what we perceive them to have.

It is a dangerous trap.

seoceancrosser

All a person wants in life is a little more than he/she will ever have. That's not asking too much is it?

Atlas Shrugged

Not if you can get it! LOL

DC8DRIVER

I was hired at Omni prior to going to Atlas. If fact, I was on my way to Omni ground school in Tulsa the day the Atlas phone interview came through.

I chose Atlas because of the pay, the gateway basing, and the new(er) equipment (and, I have to admit, the 747). But more than all of that, after being furloughed from a 14 year career at DHL, I did not want to be furloughed again. I know, this is a difficult call these days as no one knows who will furlough and who will not, but of all the airlines that I had applied to and most importantly, those who interviewed me, Atlas offered the best chance to have a nonstop journey to my retirement.

In my opinion, Atlas has the profit history, the business model, the size, the equipment, the executive management, and the broad and diverse customer base to endure most downturns that could befall an ACMI company. I am willing to sacrifice the assured schedule, the 17 days away, and some retirement and benefits to work for a company that is aggressive and successful at running and growing a profitable ACMI airline. Look at the AAWW bottom line from the past five years and you'll see what I mean.

Oh yeah, and as a bonus, I get to fly new 747's, go to cool places, and maybe upgrade before I retire in 12 years.

8

chip1

With a new contract (maybe around 2015/16?) Im not going to vote for anything close to whats in our current contract. Lets just pick one thing: retirement. The retirement is a JOKE compared to what some of our competing airlines' (in terms of attracting/hiring the same qualified pilots as Atlas) retirement is. Do you really think that a qualified pilot would pick Atlas over UAL/DAL/AA/FEDEX/UPS (whoever is hiring in 2015 or 2016) with their nice hourly rates and awesome retirements? I mean, UAL gets a 16% 401k match! DAL isnt far behind and they have relatively young contracts. The other guys' retirement is enough to sway a qualified pilot away from Atlas. Take their huge match and compound it over a 20 year career... Atlas is getting a 50% match up to 10% of salary contrib. Thats a joke and has to get into the same ballpark as anyone else who hires the same pilots Atlas does. Otherwise, the junior guys who get hired with Atlas will leave to far greener pastures, or eventually Atlas wont be able to hire the type of pilots they want/need...you know, the type that are at the very top of our list right now??

Come here knowing that there is a ton of potential for improvement. But its going to take teamwork and its going to be difficult.

Talon1011

Who would pick Atlas over Delta/UAL/AA/FEDEX/UPS? Well...me for one. Enjoying what you do is worth a great deal. I've talked with many friends who had left my previous airline (ATA) and a couple from here and the story is the same. They are indeed making more money but it's no longer fun; it's a job. I do love wandering the planet to random locations and the changing schedule is part of that. It keeps things interesting. Seattle to Philly to Chicago three times a week?...no thanks. As far as money is concerned, all things are relative. As a second year F/O at Atlas I made the same as a 13 year 737 captain did when I flew for ATA. This is not to say that the ACMI life is for everyone. That's OK. It's far more important to do what you love than fly for any one particular airline. If a schedule set in stone is important then by all means follow that lead. It's not better or worse, just different. This place is a good fit for me and I'm happy to be here.

xjtguy

Atlas Air, awwwwwwwww

Wallstrip - Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc. (AAWW) - YouTube

Dated, but still funny.

NightIP

Can't really go into much more detail at the moment, but relations with management are very strained.

It was touch and go last year when the DC-10s were parked, but attrition negated the need for furloughs. There should be a lot of hiring this year based on attrition alone.

Said it better than I ever could! The simple fact that AAWW made money through the 2008 meltdown says a lot to me. I used to be a commuter, and I have absolutely no interest in ever commuting again, or moving to most of the hubs major airlines operate from. And constant hub turns? Done it...not my style.

CATIII

Why the poll, it's almost a no-brainer if you know ANYTHING about the two....

in the world of ACMI, it's Atlas>everyone else..