Polar/Atlas The Saga Continues
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I've worked 3 total involuntary days this year but I'm not junior either. Maybe you need to get creative to make a point with them. Don't ask me how to do that 
. Being Junior has little to do with it other than if they need an F/O or Captain. More on how much of a fuss you make when they do it and/or your creative spirit.
Having said that, I think we should be able to get something along the lines of what Polar has in their contract making it extremely expensive for them to extend you. Our current Atlas involuntary extension rates are a little light monetary wise if the extensions are as bad as you say they are.
. Being Junior has little to do with it other than if they need an F/O or Captain. More on how much of a fuss you make when they do it and/or your creative spirit.Having said that, I think we should be able to get something along the lines of what Polar has in their contract making it extremely expensive for them to extend you. Our current Atlas involuntary extension rates are a little light monetary wise if the extensions are as bad as you say they are.
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Originally Posted by nitty gritty
I've worked 3 total involuntary days this year but I'm not junior either. Maybe you need to get creative to make a point with them. Don't ask me how to do that 
. Being Junior has little to do with it other than if they need an F/O or Captain. More on how much of a fuss you make when they do it and/or your creative spirit.
Having said that, I think we should be able to get something along the lines of what Polar has in their contract making it extremely expensive for them to extend you. Our current Atlas involuntary extension rates are a little light monetary wise if the extensions are as bad as you say they are.
. Being Junior has little to do with it other than if they need an F/O or Captain. More on how much of a fuss you make when they do it and/or your creative spirit.Having said that, I think we should be able to get something along the lines of what Polar has in their contract making it extremely expensive for them to extend you. Our current Atlas involuntary extension rates are a little light monetary wise if the extensions are as bad as you say they are.
One CA said he's had 36 mos straight of 21 days. Another 10 yr guy, 400 FO I think, said he's out 21 all the time.
We all feel bad that you guys have to go through that, ya'll look beat down and abused. Fatigue is a serious issue, and I see fatigue in most of the 5Y pilots I cross.
Any rate, the known devil is gone....Hopefully we trade up, not over or down.....
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I bet it was one of those "resign or we will fire you" deals. Usually disclosed by the company to the public as a a quality of life move by the resigner. Hopefully an improvement to ours, but I wouldn't leave your guard down.
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I think he was asked by upper management to "spend more time with his family." Specifically, I bet that since the Atlas/Polar merger is about done, one way or another, that there was no longer any use for the barracuda.
Ejet and Joe Tommy - The data doesn't bear out what you have been told or what you are saying. Personally - I have been here just over 9 years and can only find about 30 X days that I know the company has taken from me. the 36 months straight of 21 days is pure BS. From some previous work I did, I know the company plans on using about 300-350 X days a month. If every crewmember were working 21 days a month, that would equal 2600X days a month. There have been one or two times in the last decade that Xday usage has been over 1200 days a month - which would be just under two days per crewmember. So you can see why I say that the data doesn't bear our what either one of you are saying.
Ejet and Joe Tommy - The data doesn't bear out what you have been told or what you are saying. Personally - I have been here just over 9 years and can only find about 30 X days that I know the company has taken from me. the 36 months straight of 21 days is pure BS. From some previous work I did, I know the company plans on using about 300-350 X days a month. If every crewmember were working 21 days a month, that would equal 2600X days a month. There have been one or two times in the last decade that Xday usage has been over 1200 days a month - which would be just under two days per crewmember. So you can see why I say that the data doesn't bear our what either one of you are saying.
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Joe_tommy, you said: " Today, junior Atlas crewmembers are working at least 21 days a month."
You are incorrect. I am a "junior Atlas pilot". I have only been extended one day in two separate months this year. It is impossible for the company to schedule you against your will greater than 21 days. 17 + 4 involuntary extensions is the MAXIMUM. But you will say what about travel to and from work? Well, that works both ways too. I have been home well before I was scheduled to be home "on paper" and sometimes it has taken longer.
Many months this year I have had standby days where I could have been forced to sit in base but the company skeds has let me have residence standby. Sometimes I need to go to base.
The company has to pay a decent premium to extend you beyond 17 days which I will be the first to agree is not enough, but that is an issue for our negotiating committee and they know my feelings on the subject.
There are always those who would rather chase the almighty buck than have a life outside of Atlas. That is their choice. Those folks are at every company. They call skeds and say they are available to be "extended" whether involuntary or not. Again, their choice because the contract permits it.
Don't confuse commuting to this job with other airline jobs. A good many pilots with other companies commute on their own time and on the jumpseat or space available or offline. With Atlas I can live anywhere in the US and get a bought and paid for ticket to where I need to start. If the plane I commute on is delayed or breaks, NOT my fault. Commuting is a sacrifice you make to live where you want. With Atlas you can darn near live ANYWHERE in the world. From ANC to NYC, SYD/MEL to BKK, Greece, Poland, Italy, England, South America. There are folks here that live all over and make it work.
Atlas is NOT perfect, but it is a good job with some great crews and we are hiring. I agree with TheMessenger. At least those of us at Atlas and Polar have jobs. One shouldn't complain when EVERY major is stagnating or reducing their fleet size and MOST are furloughing.
If Cato has really resigned, I know there are lots of toasts around the world wishing him "interesting days ahead".
Cheers
You are incorrect. I am a "junior Atlas pilot". I have only been extended one day in two separate months this year. It is impossible for the company to schedule you against your will greater than 21 days. 17 + 4 involuntary extensions is the MAXIMUM. But you will say what about travel to and from work? Well, that works both ways too. I have been home well before I was scheduled to be home "on paper" and sometimes it has taken longer.
Many months this year I have had standby days where I could have been forced to sit in base but the company skeds has let me have residence standby. Sometimes I need to go to base.
The company has to pay a decent premium to extend you beyond 17 days which I will be the first to agree is not enough, but that is an issue for our negotiating committee and they know my feelings on the subject.
There are always those who would rather chase the almighty buck than have a life outside of Atlas. That is their choice. Those folks are at every company. They call skeds and say they are available to be "extended" whether involuntary or not. Again, their choice because the contract permits it.
Don't confuse commuting to this job with other airline jobs. A good many pilots with other companies commute on their own time and on the jumpseat or space available or offline. With Atlas I can live anywhere in the US and get a bought and paid for ticket to where I need to start. If the plane I commute on is delayed or breaks, NOT my fault. Commuting is a sacrifice you make to live where you want. With Atlas you can darn near live ANYWHERE in the world. From ANC to NYC, SYD/MEL to BKK, Greece, Poland, Italy, England, South America. There are folks here that live all over and make it work.
Atlas is NOT perfect, but it is a good job with some great crews and we are hiring. I agree with TheMessenger. At least those of us at Atlas and Polar have jobs. One shouldn't complain when EVERY major is stagnating or reducing their fleet size and MOST are furloughing.
If Cato has really resigned, I know there are lots of toasts around the world wishing him "interesting days ahead".
Cheers
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So you can see why I say that the data doesn't bear our what either one of you are saying.
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Invol Extensions
I been with the company for almost 10 years and have been involuntarily extended 3 days maybe one time, two days a few times and one day probably too many (a dozen or so) -- nobody likes to be extended when you have something going on back home --I'm sure there are some crewmembers that have flown 21 days straight for 36 months--but it was probably voluntarily and they were bragging!
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I think they already have a guy picked as a permanent replacement for the VP of Operations/human resources. Some Ex TWA - American guy. Well spoken of guy. So RR will probably be only temporary. Kind of nice to have R.R. put in ahead of M.B on the pecking order though.... M.B. seriously needs that.
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I can appreciate that some or many of you have never or rarely been extended involuntarily but why even let the company have that right. I think you should get the Polar attitude that if you extend me it is going to cost you dearly. Also is the JNC going to just start negotiating off the top of their heads or are they going to put out a poll to the crewmembers to determine their desires?