Global Supply Systems.
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Global Supply Systems.
Any one know anything about GSS at STN?
Capt/Fo's Rosters,Pay,Benefits etc?
Looking for a change of direction. Any info would be really appreciated.
Capt/Fo's Rosters,Pay,Benefits etc?
Looking for a change of direction. Any info would be really appreciated.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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I can't give you much on the roster and terms. That is kept from those of us at Atlas Air, Inc. which it's holding company (AAWWH) own's 49% of GSS. The other 51% was donated by Atlas Air World Wide Holdings to an EU citizen. His name eludes me at the moment (?James Porter?). Probably was done to meet the requirement of EU ownership requirement for the certificate. Everything material is leased from Atlas Air Worldwide holdings(A/C, Parts, Dispatching, and a few other things) to GSS. GSS gets wet leased by BA for cargo operations Atlas was doing originally. AAWWH gets the same contracts they had before, they just jumped through some extra hoops, spent some more money, upstream the funds back and now have mostly EU's flying it instead. As I understand it now, the BA pilot group gets to bid into GSS upgrades and flying. So hiring off the street may result in you pulling the gear for a long time. That's a complaint I have heard from a GSS f/o. That's unless you are a BA guy bidding over.
GSS was an outcropping from Atlas Air Crew Services (AACS) a crew leasing company which was formed in STN by AAWWH immediately after the Atlas Air Pilot group unionized and the UK law required the wet leasing with BA to stop unless on a EU certificate. So while AAWWH expanded AACS in STN to act as leased replacement pilots against the newly formed pilot union at Atlas Air, the holding company began work on starting the GSS certificate when the UK decided AACS was not satisfactory for meeting the wet leasing requirements under its law. So AACS, originally was set up for killing two birds with one stone was now down to just being a crew leasing company formed to act as managements leverage (union busting) against a newly unionized pilot group at Atlas Air and to train those that would be going over to GSS as initial cadre.
I believe they currently have 3 747-400s. I think they were talking about adding another, but I don't know how that worked out.
During the Polar strike, GSS was scheduled to acquire 4 747-400s of Polar's (A/C and Polar Owned by AAWWH) and the original GSS A/C would be moved back to Atlas Air, Inc. A dog and pony show to circumvent certain sections of US law and side step the Atlas Pilots union contract on supporting the Polar strike. I think they called it project "Granit" from what the management staff has told me post strike. In the end, Atlas Air pilots support for Polar helped end that eventuality thus the transfers never came to be.
Hopefully that will give you an overview of what you would be dealing with.
GSS was an outcropping from Atlas Air Crew Services (AACS) a crew leasing company which was formed in STN by AAWWH immediately after the Atlas Air Pilot group unionized and the UK law required the wet leasing with BA to stop unless on a EU certificate. So while AAWWH expanded AACS in STN to act as leased replacement pilots against the newly formed pilot union at Atlas Air, the holding company began work on starting the GSS certificate when the UK decided AACS was not satisfactory for meeting the wet leasing requirements under its law. So AACS, originally was set up for killing two birds with one stone was now down to just being a crew leasing company formed to act as managements leverage (union busting) against a newly unionized pilot group at Atlas Air and to train those that would be going over to GSS as initial cadre.
I believe they currently have 3 747-400s. I think they were talking about adding another, but I don't know how that worked out.
During the Polar strike, GSS was scheduled to acquire 4 747-400s of Polar's (A/C and Polar Owned by AAWWH) and the original GSS A/C would be moved back to Atlas Air, Inc. A dog and pony show to circumvent certain sections of US law and side step the Atlas Pilots union contract on supporting the Polar strike. I think they called it project "Granit" from what the management staff has told me post strike. In the end, Atlas Air pilots support for Polar helped end that eventuality thus the transfers never came to be.
Hopefully that will give you an overview of what you would be dealing with.
Last edited by mercpc9; 1st Aug 2006 at 23:38.
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Many things pending at GSS at present. Namely the renewing of contract with British Airways World Cargo (BAWC) next year. BA secondee issue, looks like at least 50% of the commands will be established by BA first officers on a 3 year secondment. At present not all of these positions are filled, but they will be !! Some Secondees nearing the end of their tour want to stay and who can blame them - having to go back in the right seat for up to 10 years must be a daunting prospect.
Retirements: Well all depends on the new laws etc - Capts till 65 etc. Although the DFO had decreed that GSS will only employ Capts till 60, they do have the option to swap seats. Up to 10 Capts will be in this position within 12 months.
Life style: Can not complain about time off, you will be contracted to work 18 days. Many crewmembers live outside of the uk as far away as MIA and DXB, these guys have the advantage of tax reduced salaries. Downside can be long trips (up to 9 days away - with 4-5 days by yourself in Indian Hotels)......not fun. And no room parties or CC.
Pay/ Allowances/ Pension - These have all been well documented on previous threads. Suffix to say are not the same as BA or VS. The romantic 's of operating a 400F soon wear off after a 13 hr sector from STN- HKG a few beers down Dust till Dawn and then back to work 16 hrs later for a night sector to DEL and immediatly position with Jet Airways to MAA for a few days lay over (by yourself).
The people: A very friendy and basically happy enviroment to work in, from the Office staff to the trainers. The Management are approachable but can't produce miricles - after all GSS is still in a fairly embrionic state, they will and do however react to crewing /commpassonate problems down route - which is fantastic.
In Summary - Remember GSS is not BA or Virgin. At interview all prospective new Pilots are briefed about the T/C's - so if you sign on the dotted line you should know what your lot is going to be. Initial training is conducted at Lufthansa Flight Training in Frankfurt - You will not recieve salary till succesful completion of base training, although you do have Hotac and a small daily allowance to pay for food and incidentals.
The Future: All depends on re-newing contract with BAWC. A 4th Aircraft would alliviate some promotion prospects. Union (BALPA) recognition could help to improve T/C's. If you are seriously thinking about joining - Dont think for one minute that life is going to be easy - You spend long periods of time away at a time mostly in solitude ( Hotel Rooms in China/ India/USA - the execption being HKG, which is always Fun ---- Good luck.
Retirements: Well all depends on the new laws etc - Capts till 65 etc. Although the DFO had decreed that GSS will only employ Capts till 60, they do have the option to swap seats. Up to 10 Capts will be in this position within 12 months.
Life style: Can not complain about time off, you will be contracted to work 18 days. Many crewmembers live outside of the uk as far away as MIA and DXB, these guys have the advantage of tax reduced salaries. Downside can be long trips (up to 9 days away - with 4-5 days by yourself in Indian Hotels)......not fun. And no room parties or CC.
Pay/ Allowances/ Pension - These have all been well documented on previous threads. Suffix to say are not the same as BA or VS. The romantic 's of operating a 400F soon wear off after a 13 hr sector from STN- HKG a few beers down Dust till Dawn and then back to work 16 hrs later for a night sector to DEL and immediatly position with Jet Airways to MAA for a few days lay over (by yourself).
The people: A very friendy and basically happy enviroment to work in, from the Office staff to the trainers. The Management are approachable but can't produce miricles - after all GSS is still in a fairly embrionic state, they will and do however react to crewing /commpassonate problems down route - which is fantastic.
In Summary - Remember GSS is not BA or Virgin. At interview all prospective new Pilots are briefed about the T/C's - so if you sign on the dotted line you should know what your lot is going to be. Initial training is conducted at Lufthansa Flight Training in Frankfurt - You will not recieve salary till succesful completion of base training, although you do have Hotac and a small daily allowance to pay for food and incidentals.
The Future: All depends on re-newing contract with BAWC. A 4th Aircraft would alliviate some promotion prospects. Union (BALPA) recognition could help to improve T/C's. If you are seriously thinking about joining - Dont think for one minute that life is going to be easy - You spend long periods of time away at a time mostly in solitude ( Hotel Rooms in China/ India/USA - the execption being HKG, which is always Fun ---- Good luck.
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They are recuiting at the moment, or were last week at least.
Friendly bunch, informal interview, but the killer is the wages. £38,something as a basic, £2 an hour duty pay, and a £25,000 bond for 5 years.
Oh and no salary, except for £30 odd a day expenses for six weeks or so, until you start line training.
No staff travel, no BA perks, but I think there is lol insurance and maybe health cover too.
Could be a nice job except for the joke pay.
Friendly bunch, informal interview, but the killer is the wages. £38,something as a basic, £2 an hour duty pay, and a £25,000 bond for 5 years.
Oh and no salary, except for £30 odd a day expenses for six weeks or so, until you start line training.
No staff travel, no BA perks, but I think there is lol insurance and maybe health cover too.
Could be a nice job except for the joke pay.
