Getting back to the original discussion that Atlas air's current,short term contract with BA to operate 1 747-200 between Stansted , Hong kong and India is depriving EU pilots of work.I take entirely the opposite view,I think this argument is poorly informed. There are at the moment 69 pilots and flight engineers employed by Atlas air crew services limited,based in Stansted,the vast majority with UK or EU licences,along with a number of mainline Atlas pilots who hold EU passports. The number of aircraft that are wet leased to European companies does not justify the number of pilots that Atlas employs from europe, this excess of European pilots are used to fly work such as US military charters.
The IPA I believe need to take a positive line towards Atlas and try to pursuade them to employ more UK and European pilots,rather than protesting against a contract which is in the interest of european pilots.As for Balpa their protest have nothing but self interest in mind.