Hey guys, I am in a bad spot right now and I thought the best way to get an answer to this question is posting here. The question that I have is - would you take an Atlas offer in a couple of months or wait 1 year for a confirmed UA offer about 1-1.5 years later?
My situation: I currently work at a 135 doing single pilot multi turbine cargo in PDX. But I am also in the Aviate program where I have a guaranteed class date with UA within 4 months of hitting 1200 TPIC which I should in about 1 year. My eventual goal is to be in a legacy airline.


Pros of staying with current company:

1. CJO with UA which gives me a guarantee to go to UA
2. Don't have to switch to Atlas only to switch to a major a few years later
3. I know the issues already with my company. But I don't know what demons to exect with a new company

Cons of staying with current company:

1. Safety risk wrt my pilot cert and my life too: part 135 single pilot multi turbine cargo in the PNW with no autopilot. Has been the most difficult job I have done
2. Really, really high fatigue. Currently work 14 hour days generally with 5 on 2 off
3. Burnout.

I live in PDX so the 767 gig would be ideal for me as long as I am able to hold it. A few questions:

• What would you do in the above scenario? Keep my head down for just a period of one year or discard the UA CJO (which doesn't disqualify me from joining UA)?
• If I do end up w Atlas, roughly how long does it generally take to get hired by UA or DL?
• What do you guys think about Atlas as a company? Do you really enjoy your job and/or do you see this as a stepping stone?

Thanks for reading throuhg this guys, your input will really help!

Are other people getting a class date within 4 months of hitting 1200 hours? Is this a real thing, and are the companies abiding by the agreement?

Do you have an Atlas offer yet?

No one has reached 1200 with the program yet but this has been confirmed multiple times by UA management that as long as there are no major 'issues' like 121/135 checkride failures, DUIs, major disciplinary issues, you will get to UA, no problem.

I do not have an Atlas offer yet but I expect to be able to get one without much diifficulty considering people I have worked with with similar profiles are getting offers once the app is put in.

Loophole meet garbage truck. Granted a checkride failure would bite other majors the same (or more) than United. Still.

Is there any chance that your current job will get better?

That said ... I would apply at Delta and American and wait.

There are no guarantees in life.

if atlas gives u a Cjo first then take it. U can always apply later to unitedcwith an extra type rating and in a better position.

aviate don't work in downturns.

Get your apps in at Delta and American. Go to the next available career fair. Plenty of career fairs in the early spring for you to attend. Use a prep service for the mini interview (face to face). If you have TPIC you’re competitive. United is playing you.

I hate to admit this, but this guy here has a good point. If you have a opportunity to move up in your career, move up. Worst case scenario, you do move on 1a to a non aviate carrier and United marks you down to not hire you for a year anyways.....

From the looks of it, you have nothing to lose to move on....

Food for thought. When you leave Aviate, you're ineligible to go to United for 12 months from that date (Think that's 12 months from the date before you can apply- talk to your Aviate coach to confirm). Additionally, United has a cap of 2 interviews. You spent one on Aviate. If you do poorly on an OTS interview after leaving, it's your only remaining shot to go to United.

That being said, Atlas is better than your current gig for sure. Some people really love Atlas and the flying, some people really can't wait to GTFO to something they think is better. In this Industry, I'd probably go with the next best thing until you find yourself content. But only go to places you'd be okay with getting stuck if the music stops.

Hey man. I was in your exact situation a year ago. Same base too. I chose to come to Atlas instead of upgrading to the E120 and waiting it out for Aviate.

Let me tell you, the QoL on the line is so much higher compared to flying for AMF in the PNW that I would do it every time even if it meant taking the one year penalty to reapply to UAL.

A year is nothing for you to get your ATP, type, and spend some time relaxing on the line at Atlas, and you'll undoubtedly get interview offers from all legacies just like a lot of people from AMF did as soon as they got their ATP.

DM me if you have any more questions. I know your dilemma very well.

Am I though? My TPIC is not in type rated equipment and is in single pilot ops.

Not to mention, my current airline has a track record of not helping out very much with ATP checkrides so might have to do that in a light twin if in some way I am given time off. Which is not approved 99% of times.