Just got back from a trip and heard that more guys sent in their resignations.
Capts. & F/Os

As I am counting the days (35 to go) as well I'd love to see some improvements for my future ex collegues.

AAIops said,

'Now what is wrong with this? If I can count with my 10 fingers it seems to me that they are offering 10 more days then pilots had before!! What is wrong with that?'

This is still 11 off days less than others and still 7 days more work for less money. Nobody ever asked for a FFF or FIA contract but this offer is simply not reasonable.

As for the 6 month out of the home country (the EU rule you mentioned), already history for a number of years now (used to be 189 days).

People are drawing a line because nothing is changing - nothing!

oops - only 34 to go:)

AAI operations -

Thank you for coming to this board. I appreciate your input.

AAI drivers -

Do you guys live at base (ie: LUX/Jeddah/FRA etc etc) or do you guys airline
from your hometown to your base (LUX/FRA/Jeddah) on day 1 and airline back on the last day of your tour?

Also, how much deadheading do you guys do?

Do you have any ZED fares/ ID75/ ID90 deal with some airlines to get to your homeland/hometown on your days off if you live on base?

Appreciate any input.

Regards,
V1.

Here are answers to my good friend MaxBlow.


That is news to me. Have you got any names?


Well... as I said good things are happening. Did you expect that new management would change the contract deal to an FFF deal over night? You guys can't stick together (union thing), because of that you will have to except what the management hands you...


I would like to ask you to show us some numbers. What is an Icelandic FFF F/O and CPT getting total and net in comparison to a contractor?


Now how can you say that? You know that things are happening!


Thank you for your comment v1r8!

AAIO - would you be interested in hearing some of the real-world stuff that goes on?
I'll PM them, I would not air them in public.

Yes please.

AAIops,

if you're ops 'only' (as we're contractors 'only') how comes you know everything better?

Why should everything that you write be actual fact and all we know is rumours only ?

In my years of service for AP and there single client operator AAI I figured
that you guys (up north) actually really believe that your pooh doesn't stink.

A bit funny though.

I believe that you're just hiding behind this nick name and you're either a guy high up, one of the agency guys or the guy that just recently resigned from his position 'cause it was getting too much to handle and as a reward for this he placed himself on the -400s ?!?!

Whatever it is, fact is the guys are leaving for many good reasons, no input, suggestion or letters are answered or appreciated and that is why you've to constantly hire (and fire).

That's it for me, pm me if you want to say something- I'm happily serving my notice period.:)

Period!

This from AAI Ops dude...

"Well... as I said good things are happening. Did you expect that new management would change the contract deal to an FFF deal over night? You guys can't stick together (union thing), because of that you will have to except what the management hands you..."


Funny, I heard the same thing except that was 3 years ago. "New management" and "...things are happening..." are phrases you guys keep on using to keep the suckers at their posts long enough to get some more cash out of Saudia and Garuda and the like. I am so glad I realized AAI's line of bullcrap in time to move on, although I still kick myself for sticking around for the 1 1/2 years I did. You're speaking the same old lies all over again. Don't anyone believe this guy.

Dear MaxBlow,

I belive we've covered our topics, if we continue we'll start repeting ourselfs. :)

Have a nice day :)

Hello AAI Operations
Are you for real or just trying to get information as to who people are posting the problems here concerning AAI?
A few years ago crews tried to do something about this and stand together in KUL remember that?
We trusted one Captain to present our side, he threatned industrial action, none of us knew about this until after the fact.
So everyone involved was punished in one way or another.
What about all the crew members that refused to operate against the MEL"s and FDT that complained and nothing ever happened.
Some worked there for many years and helped build the company, when they had enough they left.
Now they are the bad guys.
AAI needs a whole managment change, from the chief pilot on down.
Lots of good dedicated people have left because of this comply or goodbye type thinking.
Every single one of us would have done anything for this company, but when we did break the rules it set a new standard, before long we had no standards at all, it became anything goes as long as they can cover it up.
So what has changed?

You're a brave man owning up to that statement on a public forum Earl.:suspect:

Ease up guys
 

A lot of old grips about the company are coming out here and I don't blame you guys. However, don't lay those hard feelings at the personal doorstep of the AAI operations person who seems to be trying to have honest dialogue with us. Who knows, he may not have even worked here three years ago, Earl.

If we shoot this messenger he will go away and we have lost an opportunity to get valuable information from him, and to have POSITIVE input to the guys in AAI operations in this informal forum.
I personally have seen some improvements here in the last few months. For instance, I am now called and asked if I will work on a day off rather than just getting notice of the trip shoved under my door. Conversely, we don't get any overtime pay for working on that day off.

THAT needs to change!

The pay here is pretty decent, but you have to be willing to spend long periods away from home. If you have a family, this isn't the place for you unless you get a fixed base contract.

I intend to write more later in this forum but there are some things to like about working for Air Atlanta as long you understand the deal. The checks always come on time and there are a lot of good guys here with tons of experience. We tend to be bashed by outsiders who don't have a clue about the quality of our cockpits. We do some of the hardest flying in the world at Air Atlanta. We go EVERYWHERE, with all the attendant problems of borders, politics, fly-over permits, hotels good bad and ugly. Half the controllers we talk to barely speech English. But we do it and we do it well, in my opinion.

More later, just don't shoot the messenger, okay?

You can't be too hard on the AAI ops guy, if he's up in Iceland there's every chance he's doing his best under tough circumstances and he doesn't know any better anyway. I'm more interested in this "Strategic Review".....they're up for sale?

I guess from Eimskip's perspective it makes good sense since Atlanta represents a lot of potential risk with all those contractors around the world working for the mysterious Airborne Personnel. Who owns them again? :}

Who is gonna buy?
 

another money laundry icelandic bubble company or Cathay Cargo,and they will automatically integrate all contractors below 60,into their seniority list,and of course all commanders get direct leftseat.....

chi,chaye,I dont think so....

-most prob. another icelandic money laundry company......

I don't know how to prove who I am with out giving my name


No, sorry :(


We will have to hope that things are changing as they are promising...


Thank you for your input Flying Guy, it is much appreciated.


My theory is that the company has already been sold. In yesterdays paper Icelandair says that they might be interested. If Icelandair will buy in the next couple of weeks they were just announcing this to comply with rules of the Icelandic stock market. Lets see how this will go :)+

p.s. Ask the correct questions VS1711 and you will get the answers you look for.

Thanks for the input AAI Ops. Interesting to think Icelandair might be the buyers although there's some logic in them seeking to consolidate. Another rumour is that Atlas are interested.

So what's the right question in your view?

Air Atlanta
 

Ok. Now anyone with money to invest and in their right mind would not touch AAI with a 12 foot pole. The company is in abysmal condition and chances that it can be fixed without huge layoffs and house cleaning with a firehouse in Iceland are slim to nil.
You want names AAI OPS. News for you here: Many of the people that have jobs elsewhere have not resigned yet or have not told the company. Yes I could give you names, but let's rather play a game. Leaving the F/E's alone that do not really have options, everyone with EU passport and JAA licence with experience that is employable in Europe is looking for or found another job. AAI is and will be a home for people that are inexperienced or on the Icelandic contract or otherwise unemployable.
How many guys and gals left AAI between January 1st and end of February. 3Captains that had all been with the company for 4 years or more and several First Officers. (Not counting the F/E's)
Flying Guy: Your posts have started to annoy me to an extent. A good salary. As your initials it is a total load of BS. Take the rose coloured glasses off and have a look. The salary from AAI with the USD/EUR exchange rate is CRAP, garbage really not even worth entering a discussion about. But then again over 60 guys dont really have an option where to work with a non JAA license.
Personally I took a 35% paycut since joining AAI. Not a pretty picture.

Thanks for the information folks it all helps.
AAI Ops, a page or two ago you mentioned that you were getting flooded with CV's from guys that did not have sufficient time. Could please indicate what the minimum time requirements are. I have the stuff off of the website but what is the company actually looking for with respect to times. Does command on a Turbo-prop over 20000kgs count for anything or is jet time required. If it does count how much is necessary. Any info in regards to time requirements for both Captain and FO would be great.
With regards to pay there was a note at the start of this topic of 185 plus 50 perdiems. Is this Captain's or FO's salary. Which ever it is could the other be given here as well.
Thanks DW

Thank you for your questions Double Wasp.

According to FOM minimum requirements are 500 hrs. but I know they want to see guys with AT LEAST 1000 hrs., turbine experience is a must.

Please refer to www.ppjn.com for pay.

You seem to have what they are looking for, have you applied?

AAI Ops thanks for the response.
The website you gave has some good info but it is dated 2004. Is it still the same pay or has it changed at all?
No I have not applied yet. I am still on a bond for a few more months and I don't want to break my word if I can help it. There is a couple of other possibilities that I want to explore where I don't have to pay for the rating first. I am not saying that these guys are the last resort but if I can get away without having to pay why not.
I do have one more question with regards to obtaining the rating. Do they provide this there and you give them the money for it, or do you have to go get it yourself somewhere else? And what is the going rate for a 747 type endorsement these days anyway?
Thanks for all your help.
DW

Yes, I think this is still the going rate.

Regarding the rating: they will provide it for your free of charge. I don't know the going rate of the rating, but I can't imagen that it is cheep. :)