Atlas STN

[anothercargopilot]

Atlas pilots ARE FORCED to work extra days, courtesy of the contract (both ALPA and AABO) which the company is taking advantage of.

ALPA pilots - work 17 days and up to 4 days extra if required by the company.

Since Atlas is so short-staffed, most pilots are being involutary extended those 4 days. Add on an extra day or 2 to commute to/from Europe if you live in the states and you have NO LIFE. If you are a STN F/O, you WILL be gone from the US about 22 days EACH and every month. They way you could possibly be scheduled it is possible to be out on the line over 42 days! 17 days+4 extra+17 days + 4 extra as you carry a line from one month into the next.

Since all new hires are STN based with NO travel benefits you will have to rely on the generousity of other carrriers to get you to and from Europe using the jumpseat. By the way, that generousity is wearing thin with a few carriers already. In the summer months the commute is EXTREMELY stressful since flights are full and you would face disciplinary action for not making it to work on time (usually FRA, AMS, GOT, or London).

If for some reason you can't make it to work, the company's answer is:
1) You knew about the commute when you agreed to work here.
2) Well, I guess you have to buy a ticket. $$$$$$
3) You should have left a day earlier so standy for disciplinary action.

As a new hire, you are a probationary ALPA member. You don't pay dues but the union can't protect you. The company can and WILL fire you without hesitation.

Don't excpect to get based in the US (get gateway travel) anytime soon. There are SOME 2001 hire pilots displaced in STN. ALL 2004 and 2005 hire pilots on the -400 are STUCK in STN. About half the 2005 -200 pilots have gotten back to the US. The rest have quit.

THAT is why within the first year over 50% of the pilots hired quit. By the second year I would say 75% are gone. After that most pilots seem to hang around. That is until UPS or FEDEX calls. Some Captains go to KAL or ANA under contract. Most Captains are staying put as they would take too much of a paycut to start over.

WHEN the contract bewteen Polar and Atlas is finally merged, the Polar pilots that choose to return will obviously return senior to the new hires. Again, more stagnation. Right now Polar pilots can ONLY return if the company adds more Polar flying (and to the Polar operation which is SEPERATE). When the combined CBA is agreed upon the company will fly both fleets as one and the pilots will be combined as per an already complete arbitration. That is why UNTIL then the company is forced to hire off the street.

I don't even want to talk about the training process.

Hope this clarifies a few things.