EK to give all freighter flying to Atlas...

[Kapitanleutnant]

Heard a few days back EK to give all 777 freighter flying to Atlas Air in a big contract to Atlas, which helps the current shortage at EK.

Would make sense but it has to be an expensive venture if true.

K

[Avid Aviator]

How is it expensive?
Pay will be less than EK mainline package, based in US and Europe somewhere, frees up B777 pilots for the DXB pax operation. The freighter op is very inefficient, uses a lot more pilots per hour than mainline.
Pity for EK guys though to lose all that flying, promotions and destinations.

[Kapitanleutnant]

Avid…

I take it you're not an EK guy? If you were, you might understand that this is a good thing for us in that it will, if true, relieve the 95 hours plus we do each and every month across so many time zones it makes your head spin.

[striker26]

Seamen - i think because Emirates has such a vast fleet and route network, is fair to say they didnt prepare for the future. Too much depended on "we'll always have applicants to support out growth". That being said though, EK contracting Atlas is not a bad sign, many airlines do it and many cargo companies contract out third parties to do their work too.

I do think its fair to say though that in order to prepare for the future you have to PLAN accordingly, lets see how they fair in a few years, i really hope their training staff are ready for quality over quantity!!!

[flite idol]

This idea was run up the flag pole a while back. I think it was the original plan to CMI the freighters when that operation was fully moved to DWC. Seemed to lose traction but who knows? No idea how Atlas could crew any more airframes, attrition is significant at the moment and will get worse when American Airlines open the hiring fully. Interesting times.

[Keelhaul]

Why Atlas instead of Southern? Southern already has a proven 777 operation. Experienced 777 crews ready to go tomorrow.

[striker26]

I think EK had Atlas doing a few cargo runs for them for a while now, maybe they negotiated a good deal idk....Atlas Air also leases a few aircraft to Etihad just as an example that EK is not the only airline expanding its cargo capacity.

[Kapitanleutnant]

Striker... I agree but a few years ago EK elected to stop doing that and fly the freight with their own crew and dedicated 777F's. But now if this is all true, it's a sign of how short we really are of pilots!

[Wizofoz]

If we did so, Atlas would have a sudden need for a large number of 777 rated pilots, GCAA license an advantage.

I wonder where it could find some.......

[uba737]

Wizo, I THINK they also need an FAA license and US Residency unless Atlas sets up a subsidiary outside the US to do this kind of flying?

[flite idol]

BTW.......who is operating the 747BCF for Qatar that was supposed to kick off on Aug 1?

[flite idol]

Atlas still have the bones of GSS in STN. The certificate apparently is gone but a crew leasing outfit would not need one......just thinking out loud.....

[Wizofoz]

Atlas does or at least did operate the EK 747Fs with A6 rego, so their pilots would have needed a GCAA licence. I don't know if they were dual licensed to fly the N reg aircraft as well.

They don't currently fly 777s, so the entire fleet would be on the UAE registry.

I also don't think you need US residency to fly for a US company not based in the US- but I stand to be corrected.

[flite idol]

Well I will correct your first point. All of the 747-400F that Atlas ACMI'd to EK were N rego.

[flite idol]

True....Atlas do not operate 777 but they have the program in place and the check pilots typed and qualified, just no airframes as of yet. If they were to operate them for anyone they would be N reg.

[Popgun]

Well I will correct your first point. All of the 747-400F that Atlas ACMI'd to EK were N rego.

Correct. Atlas has never operated UAE-registered aircraft.

PG

[Keelhaul]

Having two check pilots vs an entire AQP trading program are very different things.

[Keelhaul]

Sorry, training program, not trading.

[Wizofoz]

Fair enough. For some reason I though a couple were A6 reg.

Still, it would create even more opportunities for our US guys.

[Fear_of_heights]

I am amazed to see you guys think its good... Downsizing company means less airplanes, less pilots ,less upgrades , less destinations. The only positive I guess is less hours...