Abx- Is It A Career Airline?

[jimchi]

I have 31 more years in the industry. What's the probability that ABX will be around by the time I retire, will I want to retire at ABX, and what's the concensus of job statisfaction, QOL, pay, and benies? Anyone at ABX, please chime in.

Thanks,
jimchi

 

[Box-Hauler]

Is that 31 years to age 60 or 65. Not that it really matters that much just curious. ABX is a good place to work. I like the pilots, the schedules are good the pay is very good. There are alway complaints but read all the other forums and it is a universal problem (we all like to complain)

Benies are good. We have a good retirement program and are working hard to keep it. I do believe that ABX is in a state of flux. I do not know where it will be in 5 years. We could be a combined airline flying for DHL (my personal choice) or we could be an all out ACMI flying rubber dog do out of China (not my choice). There are quite a few unknowns right now. If you have 30 some years this could be a good bet, if we are somehow combined into a single DHL airline then this would be the place to be. It would rival UPS and FedEx and probably be even better. (DHL is the 800# freight gorilla of the world), but they (DHL) could loose there standing if they let the US market share fall more than they already have.

Back to ABX, Schedules are basically 15 or 16 days a month working with the rest of the time off. Generally broken up into 2 blocks of time off. If you live within 2 hours of ILN reserve is a good gig. If you are lucky enough to live at a outstation that you can hold a line flying into it is the best job in the world hands down. If you would like more specific answers please ask a specific question

Good luck with your descion....:beer:

 

[erichartmann]

It was. I'm not sure it still is. If I were junior enough to bail I probably would. To much is in flux now.

 

[ABXbooger]

I think this place is on a fulcrum right now, we could go either way. Lately I have been more optimistic than pessimistic, but management has a way of messing with that pretty quickly. Lots of things in the works, who knows. I would definately leave for Fedex or UPS, though.

 

[gearjockey]

I'm waiting for bitter to weigh in on this one.

 

[scarface]

I think ABX,in some form, will be around when you retire. I've been at ABX for 22 years and have 9 months to go and really enjoy flying for them.

 

[SIR MILO]

So with all the aquisitions and such, do you guys still think ABX is a career place. Or is it somewhere to get furloughed from as things change or sit reserve for the rest of your natural life.
Or get in now why you can.

 

[727flier]

If your looking for security get out of aviation. Go back to school and get an office job. The lack of job security in this industry hardly makes up for a really good view from the corner office. BUT IT'S STILL A GREAT JOB

 

[Medeco]

Im confused, is ASTAR the same as ABX? Are they all a part of the same holding company?

If yes, how does the pilot group feel about General Ted Mallory, is there much interaction with him in the way flight operations go day to day?

Medeco

 

[abxaviator]

ASTAR is in NO WAY affiliated with ABX.

 

[Medeco]

so how are they both tied to DHL?

Really, Im trying to figure this out.

Is ASTAR just a contractor for DHL?

Medeco

 

[abxaviator]

ABX and ASTAR are but two of the many separate companies providing lift to DHL. Technically there is no tie to DHL by either company, other than DHL being the primary customer of each.

 

[HeavyjetDC8]

To put it another way. DHL own the sort center, the equipment and the means of ground freight distribution (the old Airborne Express plus old DHL network) throughout the US. They don't however own so much as one single solitary aircraft, but contract out to ABX, Astar and several others for their lift requirements.

Clear? If not, I understand why. Sometimes I wonder where the pay check comes from, and more to the point for how much longer it'll be there.

 

[Dpilot]

In regards to "If you are lucky enough to live at a outstation that you can hold a line flying into it is the best job in the world hands down." from Box-Hauler... how long would it take to hold a line into the San Francisco Bay Area? I see a 767 at San Jose all the time. Glad to see they are hiring again.

 

[abxaviator]

10 years and I could not hold that, if I were to bid it; that's why I live in Ohio.

 

[erichartmann]

In regards to "If you are lucky enough to live at a outstation that you can hold a line flying into it is the best job in the world hands down." from Box-Hauler... how long would it take to hold a line into the San Francisco Bay Area? I see a 767 at San Jose all the time. Glad to see they are hiring again.

It's always been a bit of a crap shoot. You pick the seat you can hold for the city you think you can hold a bid for in a particular aircraft, and they pull the aircraft and put in something different. You lose. That was then. Now you might find yourself scrambling for a jump seat on Astar as DHL moves ABX out of the city and puts Astar in. Rumors abound regarding SJC. I've been told that after the 1st of the year it will no longer be an ABX station. Some seem to think a 72 will be used. Others think the freight will be trucked to OAK.

It's a nice gig if you can get it, but I wouldn't count on it. Things are not stable, and if the airline stagnates again you will be many years reaching your goal, if ever.

 

[Bitter]

Things are not stable, and if the airline stagnates again you will be many years reaching your goal, if ever.

You make it sound like the airline is not stagnent now! i agree, that there is some movement, but that is retirement based. We have lost as many airplanes as we have gained, and as an employee group we get smaller everyday.

A big roger on the not stable part.......How long before we start hacking up more DC9's?