Which would you pick for QOL? Pros/Cons to either? Wouldn't mind throwing the hat in thewring for Brown at SDF eventually, but wife likes CVG so looking for somewhere I wouldn't mind long term.

With the ongoing Atlas negotiations to be bought out going on it’s a toss up as it’s an unknown quantity. ABX or any other carrier could be bought as well of course so there’s that. Both have been around the block for awhile and CVG is a solid bet for both as any. Atlas does have a diverse fleet to dabble in at CVG and the 76 is not their only game in town. Need change yet remain in CVG, venture to the 74, perhaps the 73 or 777. Schedules vary of course and there are slight or significant differences in pay, retirement, dh pay, per diem, vacation, soft pay, etc. so it boils down to the individuals priorities such as “CVG is where my wife wants to be!” Both are training grounds for Brown and Purple no doubt.

Hawaiian will most likely have CVG. Will have an answer in about 2 to 3 months.

I cannot comment on Atlas, but I just finished OE at ABX. I really like it, it is a much more relaxed schedule then I came from (135 charter), and we have some interesting overnights, good variety of ops. Certainly not as diverse as Atlas, but for a small company I think it’s pretty solid for an ACMI. If your planning on being around CVG a while it would work great for you. You could make some pretty good money etc. Lastly you will work less at ABX then atlas.

I can’t hold my tongue.
YOU have to make a RATIONAL decision based on what is best for YOUR career and your wife has made an EMOTIONAL decision that she likes it somewhere. Those two processes couldn’t be further apart.
How can she know for sure she won’t like it in Denver, Seattle, Houston or Anchorage ?
Has she even been to those places?
What’s the big deal about CVG?
Are you about to let someone who is likely not well versed in the ins and outs of the aviation industry make a career altering decision for you?
No offense…..that’s not very smart considering half the marriages end in divorce and you find yourself maneuvered into a dead end street.
If she’s a 100% behind you she’ll suck it up for a year or two in a place she “doesn’t like”.
I’m being polite here.

You're not married, are you?

No kidding....my wife of 30 yrs would eat him alive! I mean burnt steak till a new meaning of over cooked....whew! Now back to my corner of med-rare

Living in domicile is a no brainer good thing; living in domicile and it’s your dream location is a great thing. Relationships come in different forms and timing. New ones can do whatever it takes for a few years, others have family in preferred areas to support while you’re away. Many combinations out there. Only speaking for myself - I have dragged my wife around for over two decades in the military and it warranted pay back to live wherever she desired. Fortunately I don’t care for any domicile offered by any carrier so having the company cover my ride to work is priceless and we have moved three times to find a better lifestyle after my service. MEM blah, SDF blah, CVG blah, ANC blah, etc blah, but if it fits your bill you have won the lotto and I envy you. Otherwise, there are many of us who enjoy areas not supported by a drive to work and it’s truly worth it obviously. Priorities are different for many and hopefully you find what works for you. Living in domicile rules, but some types of commuting isn’t that bad. Heck, my last trip I operated on only 5 legs and had 7 commercial dead heads in Europe. Nice change, quite a few points, but it was starting to get old reviewing the premium service on pax birds.

If you wind up trashing your home life, none of the pay matters a damn. Atlas may be a little more diversified. ABX is good too. Hawaiian will probably have some benefits the rest of us lack. I'd talk to some of the folks and see where you could see yourself hanging out and being happy.

At ABX, if you do move to CVG, you’ll be able to maximize time home, while picking up the most valuable last minute emergency assignments.



ABX wants to see you work 16 days in a 30 day month and 17 in a 31 day month. All regular / reserve lines are built with 14 days off. Many local, senior pilots still bid reserve lines and list a preference of “Not fly” to gain as many days home.



Another method, once you can hold any line, use the Schedule Adjustment Periods (SAP) to drop all your trips and replace them with R1 airport reserve for the same number of days. For now this entails staying in a room at the Holiday Inn CVG till they call. You may find you often go home unused or just get a quick out/back for the day.

There is a flight credit bank system to allow you to bank time for future use or to drop trips and make it up at a later time of your choosing.

If you get displaced, you can’t be thrown on reserve. Your original trip is pay protected. They assign flex days. Then it becomes a game of strategy. You can wait it out and see if they assign you a trip within the contractual window or you have priority for bidding open time trips.

We are still a small company, hovering around 300 pilots. Approximately 76 pilots will hit mandatory retirement within 5 yrs and 6 yrs from now nearly 100 will have reached mandatory retirement. Not taking into account early retirements, resignations, medical issues, etc…those seem like promising stats for seniority.

ABX has a great culture. They’re very strict with calls/procedures. They have from the moment you step off the crew bus choreographed. Training is all seniority list instructors or ABX retirees that want to see you succeed. Many instructors hold classes throughout training that anyone is free to attend. Even as a new hire, the union / training team / company work together to help anyone who might be struggling.

Bottom line, you’ll find good / bad wherever you choose. All the ACMI carriers are facing the same fights. At the end of the day we all hop on the DHL Jazz Bus at CVG and share some laughs.