Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanker-driver
Lots of guys who were hired 10-15 years ago and basing that thought on what Atlas looked like then. Most balk at the long chunk of time on the road.
You have to keep in mind, the Atlas of "then" (10-15 years ago) isn't that much like the Atlas of NOW.
Back "then", the work rules WEREN'T what they are now, the pay WASN'T what it is now, the whole Stansted fiasco, etc.
In fact, the newest pay (and pay only) of the Atlas CBA wasn't too far off from what UAL was paying their 747 pilots before the most recent UAL CBA. Talk to your UAL friends about how up until the recent UAL CBA how great (not really) their reserve rules were, especially on the narrow body. LESS days off than Atlas, for a pathetic monthly grnty. No rigs/pay protection for a long time. There were ALSO times when UAL NB pilots were being flown right up to the max flight times, at min days off, with rolled/JM days off, etc etc etc. Toss in the guys that commute to all that glory that goes with saying they work for a legacy airline.
Last summer I had a UAL pilot JS'ing on my airplane. As usual, he asked if I've applied/trying to get out of the regionals, etc. I listed the places, to include Atlas. He tells me "they're contract sucks". I responded with "You're contract sucks". He gave me a dear in the headlight look and went quiet. About 5 minutes later he said "you're right, our (UAL) contract does suck".
When UAL still had line bidding I was chatting with the FO on the Airbus while jumpseating home. He was secondary line holder. Which means he was subject to the rules of a line holder. He was at min days off (11 at the time) as well as a 65 hr grnty for the month. His line that month was built right to 65 hrs, at 11 days off. On my pathetic little RJ paycheck, I was making MORE than him that month, with 4 more days off.