Latest and greatest at Southern

[FMEpilot]

Window appears to open again, expecting more flying more planes? How has the QOL life been there lately?

 

[I fLy pLaNeS]

Do they have a CVG base? What's junior?

 

[ERfly]

Do they have a CVG base? What's junior?

No.

Your house is the junior base. Southern home bases.

 

[parrothead]

Can anyone chime in on the QOL there now and where their contract negotiations are?

 

[weasel_lips]

QOL @ an ACMI ?

 

[gringo]

Do they have a CVG base? What's junior?

You're home based, but if you get assigned the 777 most of the DHL flying comes out of CVG. Quite a few former ASTAR guys are flying out of CVG, and they seem to enjoy it.

 

[JonnyKnoxville]

QOL @ an ACMI ?

I think the quality of life at an ACMI is probably better than at most legacy airlines these days....I know it is for me.

 

[GogglesPisano]

I think the quality of life at an ACMI is probably better than at most legacy airlines these days....I know it is for me.

I left an ACMI for a legacy and could not disagree more.

 

[bahumba]

I left an ACMI for a legacy and could not disagree more.

Yeah. gonna have to definitely disagree as well

 

[Talon757]

It's all in what you like to do. I enjoy ACMI a great deal. I get a kick out of not knowing really where I'm going when I leave home...that's part of the adventure. Crew resting in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Sydney, Hong Kong and Anchorage all in the same trip is something I enjoy tremendously. On the other hand, JFK to ATL to SLC three times a week isn't something that I'd like to do. That doesn't mean life is bad doing that, it just means that whatever fits you is where you'll find quality of life.

 

[OrionFE]

It's all in what you like to do. I enjoy ACMI a great deal. I get a kick out of not knowing really where I'm going when I leave home...that's part of the adventure. Crew resting in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Sydney, Hong Kong and Anchorage all in the same trip is something I enjoy tremendously. On the other hand, JFK to ATL to SLC three times a week isn't something that I'd like to do. That doesn't mean life is bad doing that, it just means that whatever fits you is where you'll find quality of life.

Amen! This flying is not for everyone and neither is JS'ing to work and paying for a "crashpad"!

 

[Royaldane]

Anyone interviewing at Southern in Aug. interested in Sim prep -please PM me

 

[weasel_lips]

I think the quality of life at an ACMI is probably better than at most legacy airlines these days....I know it is for me.

Pure Bovine Secretion! I have worked at both. ACMI does not compare to a legacy in any shape or form.

 

[tubineotter]

you are right you could not pay me enough to go to work for any legacy, ACMI rules!

 

[weasel_lips]

Yea, 20 day trips are wonderful! No 401k / retirement is a hoot! Got to love the 50-60 hour garantee. Nothing like 30 hour duty days! But hey at least you get to fly hazmat across the pacific ..... Flammable liquids, radioactive material, lithium batteries, explosives..... Joy joy

 

[ttuite]

Yea, 20 day trips are wonderful! No 401k / retirement is a hoot! Got to love the 50-60 hour garantee. Nothing like 30 hour duty days! But hey at least you get to fly hazmat across the pacific ..... Flammable liquids, radioactive material, lithium batteries, explosives..... Joy joy

Having flown on both sides of the fence I would choose the ACMI. I am not married, kids are grown and I want to see the World. On a 17 day shift I fly around 8 to 10 days. The rest of the time is spent in mostly very cool places, in very nice hotels, with great crews who for the most part like to enjoy life. Sometimes the days are long, and sometimes the destination sucks but that is life. If I had a family that I needed to be home for my decision would be different.

 

[tubineotter]

if ya don't like it don't do it, commuting, passengers, gate agent, galley hags and TSA are just about as much fun as all the detractors of ACMI.

 

[Talon757]

Exactly. The whole argument is vacuous. If you like scheduled service then that's what you ought to do. If you like ACMI then that's what you ought to do. One's not better than the other, just decidedly different and there's good and bad about each.

 

[tubineotter]

come on Talon you know we are grimy freight dawgs not worth thinking about by most, because we are not airline pilots, congress told us as much! Ok rant over

 

[johnnyb]

Having flown on both sides of the fence I would choose the ACMI. I am not married, kids are grown and I want to see the World. On a 17 day shift I fly around 8 to 10 days. The rest of the time is spent in mostly very cool places, in very nice hotels, with great crews who for the most part like to enjoy life. Sometimes the days are long, and sometimes the destination sucks but that is life. If I had a family that I needed to be home for my decision would be different.

Carry lots of lube with you?

 

[ttuite]

Carry lots of lube with you?[/QUOTE

I don't work for SA, but please explain yourself Mr. Smartass. Maybe if you ever held a real job in the real world outside of aviation you might know hard times when you see them. You come across to me like a spoiled brat!

 

[weasel_lips]

OTH it would be a good gig for homeless people.

 

[tubineotter]

most of us here are homeless and divorced, you can live on the road and never pay mortgage again. and my ex cant find me so screw the alimony! like i say its great come on over if it suits ya

 

[dontpost2]

Crazy were arguing about this. Everyone probably has a good reason for what their current career choice is. It speaks volumes to me that there are so many former Legacy pilots who I fly with at Southern and everyone of them has bypassed recall. I have yet to meet one who plans on going back.

 

[gringo]

In the last 18 months, I know of 2 who went back to American, one who took a recall to United.

Others have left for Virgin America, Jet Blue as well as a carrier in the Middle East.

Don't fool yourself; although the QOL of an ACMI pilot could be exceptional, you would have to work for an exceptional company for that to happen.

Atlas is such a company. This place certainly isn't. The QOL on the 777 is pretty good, granted, but you're going to be sitting right seat for a long time before you get a chance to upgrade.

The 400 flying is basically the same as the 200, with most trips starting off with a 24 hour commute in coach class.

Word on the street is that HR was hit last month with 40+ PRIA requests.

 

[spitfire1500]

No matter what the career choice 40+ PRIAs is a good sign...maybe some movement in the industry....

 

[Victor Meldrew]

No matter what the career choice 40+ PRIAs is a good sign...maybe some movement in the industry....

Give it a few months and all hell will be breaking loose with the old 65 farts finally retiring, then we will be seeing movement everywhere.

 

[CaptSeth]

Give it a few months and all hell will be breaking loose with the old 65 farts finally retiring, then we will be seeing movement everywhere.

I believe the accepted ICAO standard phraseology is "Gummers."

 

[Victor Meldrew]

I believe the accepted ICAO standard phraseology is "Gummers."

LOL I stand corrected and I thought that was a cheap Hooker in Anchorage!!

 

[tubineotter]

i think they prefer to be called geezers