ATA to World Airways

[propjob27]

I hate to ask this but with our current financial situation at ATA....

What do any of you World guys think about leaving ATA for World? I called the World employment hotline and it sounds like you will be interviewing and hiring around a month from now.

I know at ATA we have several former World pilots who quit to come here. Now there are a few (maybe many) of us thinking of doing the opposite.

I've seen the pay at Airlinepilotpay.com, but how are the work rules? I know you guys do some seriously long trips compared to us. Whats the min # of days off for reserve and line holder? Etc.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CCDiscoB]

I hate to ask this but with our current financial situation at ATA....

Why, I doubt the USAir guys worried when they went to JetBlue.

What do any of you World guys think about leaving ATA for World?

I would say World guys don't think much it. I would leave ATA, unless I flew the L-1011. It sounds like the L-1011 may stay busy with military work.

I called the World employment hotline and it sounds like you will be interviewing and hiring around a month from now.

If they do it will be for the MD-11. The status of the 767 is still up in the air. Who knows, in a couple of months they could be hiring for the 767, which would be perfect for you.

I've seen the pay at Airlinepilotpay.com...

Which hopefully will go up soon when we get a new contract.

Whats the min # of days off for reserve and line holder?

Reserve pilots get 12 days off a month as do line holders. Basically two on two off. But that's not the entire story. Junior pilots can't hold reserve lines, they are considered open flyers. Open flyers get 12 days a month off too, the problem is you only know where 6 of them are. So if you don't get called one day, it was just a day off. The good news is the call back window is 8 hours.

 

[propjob27]

Thanks for the answers!

PS. Is there any retirement?

 

[bigsky]

definitely a tough choice.... I wouldnt do anything too rash although a back up plan in progess is not such a bad idea. I havent heard of any plans to hire lately although once again that is subject to change on short notice.

We recently lost our ceo, hollis Harris and the new guy has quite a few people nervous.... kind of wait and see I guess.
Once you are off reserve it is not bad as we generally work 2 weeks on/off or 1 week on/off. As a new guy our reserve system only guarentees 12 days off and only six our guarenteed and known. The other six can be bought back although they pay a penalty so I think they generally try to avoid this. As with any company when you are on the bottom of the seniority list you tend to take the most punishment. Some people dont fly for 6 weeks and someone else will be out 23 days in a row. As previosly stated the 8 hour call back, coupled with the fact that we are all home based makes our reserve system pretty liberal and offers a lot of freedom.

 

[bigsky]

I am sorry I didnt finish- have been having a lot of problems with the computer here in Taipei and didnt want to write too much and then it didnt work like the previous 2 attempts.

Most of the bid lines have 12-17 days off , we have some reserve lines that are normally 15 days off and open flyers are given 12 days off. The home basing is awesome and when you have 15 days off you are normally at home 15 days not having to worry about getting to work or living in a crashpad.

We have 401k, profit sharing, and some marginal retirement plan but I guess it is better than nothing.

As stated before we are in contract negotiations so one would like to believe that may improve although I think with the change in management-- many who are coming from a non union carrier- Trans Meridian, --they think we are "quote" the legacy carrier of the non scheds and feel we are highly over paid. I am sure this may be pretty ugly.

 

[BigEasy]

What is the hotline number and how does one apply?

I'm another ATA guy just being proactive and preparing for the worst.

Thanks.

 

[b747dogg]

Stay where you are. I have jumped ship to soon before and have regreted it. Just ride the sinking ship down, it might just work out. There is always work out there, no need to get a head start on something that hasn't happen yet. Starting over really sucks. Think about the guys who jumped ship from FedEx or SWA in the 70's and 80's.
They are both good airlines and I really miss that type of flying.
Enjoy what you have, it's what you make of it!!

 

[michael707767]

they think we are "quote" the legacy carrier of the non scheds and feel we are highly over paid. I am sure this may be pretty ugly.

We are all in trouble if 138 an hour for an MD-11 captain is overpaid.

 

[propjob27]

My sim partner for my last recurrent ride came from Trans Meridian. He didn't seem that "I Love flying. Id fly for free!" type of idiot.

Hopefully you guys at World dont have enough of those types to interfere with your new contract. Good luck getting it, and thanks for the info.