I am neutral when it comes to Air Atlanta, I have been with them now for 3 years , in which time I have read many post’s and never responded, today I’m about to change that.
I am not a yes man with Atlanta, far from it as many of my colleagues can testify too.
If I see something that I believe is wrong I speak to the management and tell them I am not happy, and they listen.
All the aircraft I have flown for Atlanta (B767 fleet ) have been well maintained, on some occasions I have had a difference of opinion with the engineer’s about a deferred defect, we have discussed it they have agreed with me and the item has been sorted prior to departure.
So that’s an insight to the standard of maintenance I have seen.
What about the foreign pilot aspect :-
Even before Atlanta had a uk aoc I felt I could standup for them with regards to the Foreign pilot issue, as their operation is world wide, and if you count the number of European pilots employed by Atlanta who choose to work outside Europe and the number of Foreign pilots working within Europe I think you will see it does equal out.
So people who want to write about foreign pilot issues should look closer to home, as many UK companies in the past have employed pilots from west of 30 west during our summer, some companies send European guys the other way during winter, but never equal number’s.
What about the low pay Atlanta pilots are paid, Well it’s not the best in the industry that’s for sure, I made over $110,000 during the last 12 months with a normal $ exchange rate that would have been acceptable, with the dollar @ 1.88 I lost 21,000 sterling compared with the exchange rate in my first year.
Getting home, Well this job does not suit all guys. If you have a family then it’s not for you.
I have been home only 10 days in 3 years, But that’s fine for me just now, however things will change in my life and then I have to exchange time off for reduced pay, But I choose when I work and when I don’t. What other company could I take 3 months of to discover South America.
I’m lucky because my out going are not hi and I can do that, of course I would prefer to change the present system to make the perfect world.
It’s also been said that the Icelandic guys get the cream of the work, Well that’s half true in that the company do look at seniority most of the time, From what I can see the Icelandic pilots that get the cream are indeed senior on the list so why not give them the choice..Some Icelandic first officers who joined the company from Iceland air where paid less than other first offices joining around the same and did not do well with the choice of base either.
Duty hours is another subject which seems to be a topic people are interested in. Yes on occasion crewing read the rules a different way to the way I read them, But I give them my interpretation, they don’t always agree but as the captain I always have the final say.
Air Atlanta’s future, With 9 747’s on long term contract, plus another 6 on short term contract’s and new work arriving every month, 7 767’s with Atlanta now cherry picking which contracts to take and which to drop, plus 4 757’s , the ownership of a large maintenance facility in the group, and other projects on the horizon I think there is no better place to be for job security.
Summary : most things in Atlanta are ok, the job does not suite everyone, Things that need sorting, Staff travel (economy travel, Strange routings for cost ,and taking buses to the simulator),paid days off and a good seniority system.
We have to let the management know what we are not happy about so we have a chance to make this job the job we want.
And to my colleagues in companies who are not doing so well just now I wish you all the best through the difficult times, I hope that things work out for you all.