Australian Based Pilots working at Atlas
 

I was fortunate enough to attend one of the recent Atlas roadshows held this week. Just wondering if anyone is working for Atlas and commuting from Australia (particularly west coast) and how they go with flights etc.

Also any feedback regarding the job (training, rosters, fatigue, morale etc) would be greatly appreciated

And how does tax work with the ATO and the IRS?

https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/I...king-overseas/

Lots of good information on the ATO website.

News Article came up today that Private Equity Company, Apollo Global Management, are in talks to buy Atlas. Not sure what that would mean for Atlas and their staff............

Apollo-led investment group in talks to buy Atlas Air - sources | Reuters

Ahem. Lower salaries.

In this market? They are losing too many crew now. Just what Bain did at VA though :mad:

With the prospect of Atlas taking hundreds of Aussie pilots a year, the Australian airlines will continue to to be ignorant to the terms and conditions offered here, blaming everyone else, only to go crying to the government asking for access to foreign pilots to plug the shortage.

Thanks DC. Its for this reason that I'm looking at other avenues.
So I guess, back on topic....... keen to hear from current pilots at Atlas

Yeah I got a bit off topic.

I’m sure you are all over it but are you on the FB page “e3 Atlas air wannabes” ? There is some good info there…..

My understanding from the roadshows, was it is very much not a commuting job - any blocks off that enable you to come home are just a bonus. I guess it depends how happy you are sitting in the back of a jet.

The male FO on the roadshow lived in sydney and commuted. Am I wrong in thinking that your 13/14 days off are not allocated in a block?

Definitely possible to through bid lines once you have the seniority to do so. On average this seems to happen after around 6-12 months. With seniority, you can consistently hold 17/14 bid lines. It is a commuting contract - within continental US. Beyond that, it's up to you. Very doable from the Europe, Asia and the East Coast of Aus. Bit harder to WA, but also doable. May just cost you an extra day either way.

As mention, the FB group is a great place to start, with sample rosters, bid lines, bases and pay estimates.

airlinepilotforums (dot com) /atlas-polar/ .... is also a good source of accurate and current info.

Commuting from anywhere is going to suck the life out of you. Commuting from WA would be pretty terrible IMO.

Commuting is probably doable. Should you though? Probably not if you value your health, sanity, lifestyle, relationships etc...Can't speak on the rest but there is a reason they need to hire so many Aussies to keep ops running, and it isn't because its the greatest place on earth to work.

Take it from someone who commuted a five hour trip to work: it only works if you get a two week stretch of days off, and it really adds to your fatigue. I only changed three time zones but it got to be horrible after awhile. Finally the toll on my relationship put an end to all of that.

Yeah thanks for all the insight.

looks like the 13/14 days off in a row only come once the seniority allows for it and even then, it’s still a bid not a guarantee.

Commute would be a ball ache too.

If you're looking to commute from the west coast, National Cargo might be worth a look. They are commuting E3 Australians via their hub in Dubai.

you we’ll pay tax there and receive a credit and that credit goes towards your tax here say if you rent your house out while your gone
as I have just found out

From what I have seen with the National Airlines contract they commute you from Australia to where ever in the world they need you. All your commuting is done during their time so at the end of your tour you will get the full 13 days off at home.
I could be wrong but his is how I have had it explained to me. This might be more beneficial if commuting from Perth.

Commands will be a hell of lot quicker than anywhere else.