You have to admit, some of the work rules were silly, like only being able to call you during one hour of the day. The Polar work rules were for scheduled carrier type ops. If you were still in the environment, I could understand your feeling, but there's no going back. We'll just have to improve what we have.

Most understand that ACMI is different and the company needs some flexibility. However, the days of just saying whatever the company needs to help them out is over. We give them them most flexibility in the industry probably. We deserve to be compensated for it!

I agree with you CandlerKid...

DC8, I think that the point that I wanted to make and certainly should have is that the business plan that "old Polar" had was not sustainable at the time that Atlas bought Polar. Had it stayed that way, Polar would not have survived...and I submit to you that the Polar business plan is now based on the ACMI model, but with only one customer, DHL.

I also like that a lot of the flights are capacity shared. It's amazing to me to see how many pallets are on Polar waybills and not just DHL. Usually on the intra-Asia flying. That's probably great revenue.

Where's OUR flexibility, didn't someone mention a trip trade module being implemented?

Trip trade software is sched to be out next month.

I am advocating for worldwide Gateway Basing in the contract. No imputed income, and your pay starts 1.5 hrs before your gateway flight. Your base is now your gateway. Kalitta and southern have home basing...this is almost the same, but more realistic for the company, as some people live in the boonies.

[QUOTE] If I were an RJ Captain with 1000 PIC I'd come to Atlas for the type in the hopes that it'd complete my resume. /QUOTE]

Why would u do that and give up your flowthru? All the major regionals all have flowthru sooner rather than later. Why would you do that and give up $15-$22k base monthly salary flying In China? Why would you do that instead of going directly to a major? Why would you do that instead of going to a ME carrier with a DFW base?...they will b forced to have US bases as the pilot shortage gets worse.

The pilot shortage will get worse and worse, until major changes like the above are implemented. Atlas could easily be left in the dust and not be able to get pilots, unless they drastically improve their contract.

[QUOTE=atpcliff;1694323]I can't speak to his case directly, but the majors hate the idea of a flow through. They would much rather steal from a competitors regional than deplete the stock of their own contracted regionals. Furthermore, some of the flow through agreements stipulate only to interviewing - not hiring - their regional conscripts. It's NOT a guaranteed position at a major at all.

Atlas is a great option for regional pilots looking to move up and bolster their resumes. Until we see a fair salary, work rule improvements, and a decent retirement package, the "flow through" will be more active at Atlas than at many of the regionals.

8

I agree that the Atlas business model is a more long term sustainable plan. I even understand the need for flexibility and the nature of the ACMI world. We just have nothing in our current contract that compensates us for our flexibility. I perhaps should have approached my original post a little more tact; but, after a day with 6 schedule changes in an hour, 4 rolling delays, bad catering and the preceding 7 days having to defend myself every day from illegal schedule changes, defending my basic rights under my CBA, threatened with chief pilot calls just for demanding what is provided for me in my CBA, it's really hard to have a good attitude and walk around drinking the Atlas cool aid (not saying you guys are). Things need to change here big time; I'm confident they will.

Not trying to suggest doom and gloom as I am happy to be new at Atlas and at my age, I hope to "age-out" from here. Also, I ask this knowing about DHL's 49% stake in Polar. Nevertheless, I wonder how deep the cuts would go, namely in the seniority list, if DHL pulls the rug out from under Atlas. Any estimates?