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Atlas QOL Questions

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johnsonrod

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2006
Posts
4,218
Ok, some of these questions might be redundant or already covered elsewhere. If so, I am sorry about repeating the questions.

I am currently a regional PIC and I am hoping to leave the passenger airline industry and go to either fractional or cargo flying. So, I have a few questions about QOL at Atlas. I know that most newhires go to Stansted initially but I guess a few get to go to other bases. Here are my questions:

1. Do pilots still tend to work 18 on and 12 off or are there other schedules with fewer days on in a row? How long before you could bid a better schedule?

2. I realize that you don't have to live in STN to be based there. If you live in the US and you are based at STN, do you travel to/from STN on your days off?

3. If you are based in STN, what is the likelihood you will be placed on the 747-400 vs. the 200?

4. Are there QOL differences between the 400 and the 200 fleets (out of STN or elsewhere)? Does one fleet tend to fly more than the other (i.e., one is more ad hoc and sits around more)?

5. If you get based at STN, how soon could one potentially bid another base back in the States? Which US bases would be junior and possibly available?

6. Lastly, understanding that you could fly anywhere at any time for Atlas, if you are based in a certain domicile, does that impact where you might be flying more often? For example, if you are LAX based, would you "tend" to fly more Asian flights than flights to Europe, Africa, the ME, etc.? Would MIA based pilots tend to fly more South America and Europe vs. Asia flights?


Thanks for any QOL insight.
 
Rook said:
Honest question johnsonrod,

if you had a class date with Atlas on the -400 and another class with Netjets, which one would you take? I hardly ever see any posts about Atlas but everyone seems to love it over at NetJets.
Click to expand...

Clearly everyone seems pretty positive about Netjets and I have a few friends there who love it. In this case, I am just trying to do my homework to ensure I understand what life would be like if I were to go the Atlas path. It is difficult to get on with both operators, so, I am just trying to get as much info as possible.
 
Yeah I hear you but without the 'a plane is just a plane' cliche, would you rather fly internationally in a 747-400 or enjoy the QOL that NetJets has to offer? Personally, I'd like to fly internationally but I wouldn't balk at a chance at NetJets either.

Any Atlas guys care to chime in on QOL at Atlas Air?
 
Atlas and Netjets are two different animals. Understanding the QOL implications would be very useful because they can be very different. If flying around the world every month is appealing to you - Atlas would be the preferred option. That said, although interesting, long-haul flying can get very tiresome and old quickly. For that reason, getting some good QOL dirt on Atlas is a requirement before applying IMHO.
 
johnsonrod said:
Ok, some of these questions might be redundant or already covered elsewhere. If so, I am sorry about repeating the questions.

I am currently a regional PIC and I am hoping to leave the passenger airline industry and go to either fractional or cargo flying. So, I have a few questions about QOL at Atlas. I know that most newhires go to Stansted initially but I guess a few get to go to other bases. Here are my questions:

1. Do pilots still tend to work 18 on and 12 off or are there other schedules with fewer days on in a row? How long before you could bid a better schedule?

2. I realize that you don't have to live in STN to be based there. If you live in the US and you are based at STN, do you travel to/from STN on your days off?

3. If you are based in STN, what is the likelihood you will be placed on the 747-400 vs. the 200?

4. Are there QOL differences between the 400 and the 200 fleets (out of STN or elsewhere)? Does one fleet tend to fly more than the other (i.e., one is more ad hoc and sits around more)?

5. If you get based at STN, how soon could one potentially bid another base back in the States? Which US bases would be junior and possibly available?

6. Lastly, understanding that you could fly anywhere at any time for Atlas, if you are based in a certain domicile, does that impact where you might be flying more often? For example, if you are LAX based, would you "tend" to fly more Asian flights than flights to Europe, Africa, the ME, etc.? Would MIA based pilots tend to fly more South America and Europe vs. Asia flights?


Thanks for any QOL insight.
Click to expand...

1) Being STN based 17 day's in a row is a requirement. Most often reserve starts the schedule. Depending where you live, you may have to eat up a day off to get to Europe. On the other side depending where you finish your trip it may take some time to get home. The worst case scenario is the PBS system is not kind to you and you get back to back schedules. I have been online since fall and have not had that awarded it to me.
As far as seniority goes a more senior -400 FO would have to give his/her perspective. When you get based in LAX or JFK then the 17 day requirement goes away and your schedule can improve.

2) I think that answer is above.
3)-400
4) The -400's flying is based on long term contracts with EK, Qantas, NZ etc. The Classic's flying is the US Military and Ad HOC flying. So there is different flying.
5) With the growth going on LAX is the junior US base. Guys on IOE now will be based there by the new year. We should have a better idea by summer on the outlook.
6) The only US station's I have not seen being based in STN are HNL,LAX and ANC. I am sure it possible at some point but most often I get as far as the PAC rim and turn around and head west bound. The pairings I have seen the US based guys go everywhere.

NetJets sounds like a great opportunity. Atlas and NJA are 2 different life styles.
Do you have a wife & Kids VS being single. Where do you live? How much patience do you have?:D At Atlas, you will need it. Do you have a "adventurer" streak in you. You may end up traveling to/from a foreign country by yourself and be the responsible one making sure you do not end up going to jail because you do not have the correct docs to enter/transit the country. I didn't go to jail. :D
I hope that answers some questions. I wish I was more sure when you could see a US base but a lot is going on at the company and some questions need to be answered by the summer, ie. Polar.

Good luck w/ your choice. Let us know the pick!
 
sgu said:
1) Being STN based 17 day's in a row is a requirement. Most often reserve starts the schedule. Depending where you live, you may have to eat up a day off to get to Europe. On the other side depending where you finish your trip it may take some time to get home. The worst case scenario is the PBS system is not kind to you and you get back to back schedules. I have been online since fall and have not had that awarded it to me.
As far as seniority goes a more senior -400 FO would have to give his/her perspective. When you get based in LAX or JFK then the 17 day requirement goes away and your schedule can improve.

2) I think that answer is above.
3)-400
4) The -400's flying is based on long term contracts with EK, Qantas, NZ etc. The Classic's flying is the US Military and Ad HOC flying. So there is different flying.
5) With the growth going on LAX is the junior US base. Guys on IOE now will be based there by the new year. We should have a better idea by summer on the outlook.
6) The only US station's I have not seen being based in STN are HNL,LAX and ANC. I am sure it possible at some point but most often I get as far as the PAC rim and turn around and head west bound. The pairings I have seen the US based guys go everywhere.

NetJets sounds like a great opportunity. Atlas and NJA are 2 different life styles.
Do you have a wife & Kids VS being single. Where do you live? How much patience do you have?:D At Atlas, you will need it. Do you have a "adventurer" streak in you. You may end up traveling to/from a foreign country by yourself and be the responsible one making sure you do not end up going to jail because you do not have the correct docs to enter/transit the country. I didn't go to jail. :D
I hope that answers some questions. I wish I was more sure when you could see a US base but a lot is going on at the company and some questions need to be answered by the summer, ie. Polar.

Good luck w/ your choice. Let us know the pick!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great info. At this point, I have applied to both Netjets and Atlas but I have heard from neither. I meet the minimums but I understand that it is a competitive market out there.

Like you said, I do have an "adventurer" streak in me and I have always liked international travel - plus, like many aspiring airline pilots, I always dreamed about potentially flying a 747 around the world. Now that I have years of experience in the airline biz, that ambition has declined a bit because I know what the "real world" is like. Airline flying, in general, can be very difficult and frustrating. Understandably, there's a tremendous amount of anxiety in the airline business right now and that can be tiresome day after day... For that reason, Netjets and a few other fractionals appeal to me. Less hub flying and better QOL. But, I need to get called for an interview before I can really focus on that next path.

I have always been impressed with Atlas. I hope we can get some additional Atlas viewpoints here - and I might send out some PMs if a few questions pop up.
 
Done both and Atlas was a lot more fun for the single guy (me). I do miss the 400 and the beer tour.

Netjets is a bit stuffy, but it is the better job.
 

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