Here is some Polar information for those interested. I have been flying the 747-400 at Polar for over 2 years. Although JFK is the only base, most trips do not begin or end there so we usually commercial to/from home to begin or end a trip. Most -400 trips begin and end at ORD. ORD is by far our busiest city in the US.
Schedules vary and obviously seniority will get you a better schedule but trips are usually 16 days. Line holders can not be junior assigned so you get 14 or 15 days off in a month. Also, you can wave rest at the end of a trip which can get you home a day early. In a 31 day month, I usually have 16 days off. It's actually a good schedule here. We have some 60 day lines which often have trips which are shorter. I generally have a line that will require me to be away 5 days/11days/16days throughout a 2-month period. The -400 flying is almost all scheduled service to major airports. The aircraft is very reliable so I seem to stick to my line most of the time. The classic does a lot more charter/AMC flying so you tend to go to more out-of-the-way places and military bases. Of course, the classic has much MX issues so it is more difficult there to stay on your line.
Reserve line holders have 16 days of RSV. They can be involuntarily extended for 3 days. I was on reserve my first year and was extended 1 time for 3 days.
Polar has been flying a lot of freight and it seems like business has been good - especially the PVG routes. PVG is full every flight and we are turning freight away there. We get 3 more slots in March and I'm sure we'll use them. The problem with Polar is that all of our growth (there has been a lot) is being flown by Atlas airplanes so there hasn't been much hiring or movement here. I was hired in 2002 and maybe 30 guys have been hired behind me on the -400. There have not been many upgrades since I started so I really haven't moved up the list.
Whether Polar is profitable remains a mystery. Being a wholly-owned sub of Atlas makes it difficult to get financial info on the Company.
Pay at Polar is not bad.
www.airlinepilotpay.com has the rates. 1st year pay is $55 - 2nd is $65. Overtime here is really lucrative. Some guys who like to work on their days off make a lot of bonus pay. Days off flying is all above guarantee and there is bonus pay of 2 hours on the 1st day, 4 hours on the 2nd day, and 6 hours from then on. An FO can make 100K if he works a lot of OT.
Overall, Polar is a pretty good place to work. Most of the guys are pretty laid back and the crews seem to get together a lot on layovers. Sometimes the schedules are tough - being away for over 2 weeks is difficult on your family but all things considered - with everything being so bad at the pax carriers I think I am fortunate to be here.
Anyone who wants any more info, feel free to e-mail me.
