411A obviously has a little knowledge of Atlanta which is now well out of date.I don't work for them,but a best friend does,and he regularly tells me of the goings on in AAI. It would be nice if AAI's work,particularly on the 767 was seasonal as 411A suggests,as it would ease the leave situation.The only seasonal bit left is the Excel contract which reduced from three to one plane over last winter.Those two spare aircraft were used almost immediately on other contracts which are continuous,and more and more work is appearing all the time.The Ozzies are probably leaving AAI so they can have a small amount of regular home life,as the Far Eastern companies they are going to,are not only based closer to home,but also have a commuting system of rostering.One of the niggles my mate has with Atlanta,which has been mentioned in previous postings,is that if you are Icelandic,you are on a special local 'golden balls'contract..paid year round whether sick or on leave,3 weeks on 3 weeks at home..every Christmas and new year off..pick of the postings ..and so on!The rest of the non Icelandic crews have to run around taking any leftover leave opportunities and doing the s...t contracts,and touching their forelock as they do.No pay when sick,no pay when on leave,no roster or at least inefficient rostering by (said to be)lovely people who have little rostering experience and who frequently leave the company as they find the pressure too great,based miles away from the coal face,monosyllabic communications if any,a contracting company which is owned by AAI and therefore not working for its contractors interests..just AAI's... are just a few of the things my mate tells me about down the pub(my other mates are ex-AFX or still with them,so we have happy evenings together!The AFX crowd seem more cheerfull at the moment..they even buy a round occasionally,so they must be getting paid!)) My mate with AAI,says that the maintenance is fine,and that the decision by AAI to start AAI Europe(or is it AAI uk?)will mean even higher standards being imposed.His worry is wondering if the costs envolved with those higher standards will not bring the whole thing tumbling down.Maintenance,rostering,pay,conditions etc will all have to improve to gain the AOC..and costs will soar...there will be interesting times ahead..and many work jobs created.
But then he is happy doing what he does,even though he's miles from home,so it does suit some.
I flew a Cessna411A once...it was a CofA testflight..and the only way to have got it through would have been to cheat on the single engine climb check..so it failed.Obviously 411A takes his nom de PPRuNe from somewhere else!