Status of Atlas Air - Latest News?

[Heavy Set]

What is the current status of Atlas Air? I heard through the grape vine that a number of pilots were laid off recently. Is that true? I also heard that a number of 747-200s have been parked. How does this impact Polar Air Cargo and its operations?

Good luck to all involved!

 

[dogg]

Seems like ALPA has really let down Atlas and Polar. Why there has not been a single carrier filing for them is strange. Mgmnt has managed to play the two MEC's off of each other and I don't even think that they know it. Polar is out hiring off of the street and Atlas has guys on furlough......too bad for all of them

 

[b747dogg]

Alpa has not let Atlas or Polar down. Alpa is a tool and how good it is depends on how you use it. Remember the MEC is voted in by the membership to represent them. Things are bad at Atlas and Polar but they would be much worse if Alpa was not on the property. Alpa keeps the company in check. The management are the only ones to let down the crews. They are a bunch thieves and crooks who don't realize that their bonuses will be gone as well as their jobs too.

And the crews sure do know they are getting it dry and even without the common courtesy of a reach around.

 

[LAZYB]

And the crews sure do know they are getting it dry and even without the common courtesy of a reach around.

Great reference material -

Sgt. Hartman

 

[dogg]

b747dogg, you are right. I am getting info from friends there and it seems as though the MEC's are bickering with each other over who is flying what with whose airplanes etc.... which is exactly what mgmnt wants. I thought that ALPA national would step in and broker a peace between ATLAS and POLAR and then file single carrier status so that the two can no longer be used against each other at contract time....Seems as that is not happening to the detriment of all of the Atlas World Wide Holdings pilots.....

 

[GCD]

I believe that Atlas is parking airplanes in an attempt to shake-up the owners of the airplanes and get the lease prices lowered.

I flew a -200 down to Smyrna Christmas night. The folks down there said that they are parking it on the ramp and not even doing the "A" check on it for a month. Meanwhile, they were expecting a -400, due in shortly after us, and they were going to turn it's "A" check around within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, I am sitting here reading my "Termination" letter, effective 31 December.

Speaking of ALPA, I talked to the Vice MEC last night. Supposedly, ALPA is working on a side letter to change the terminated folks to furloughed status. As far as ALPA National is concerned, I am considered FURLOUGHED, not terminated, and my new ALPA card will say FURLOUGHED. We'll see what the MEC can do for us.

As far as single carrier status is concerned; There are some legal reasons for not merging the companies. If the companies were to merge, FedUps would be in court the same day filing lawsuits to claim some of the routes, as they did with DHL.

I know, you are going to say the DHL suit was over foreign ownership. That was really a bunch of smoke and mirrors for what they, FedUps, really wanted; market share. Some of you may or may not know, but DHL's US business is very small compared to their world-wide business.

I think there is some strategy for filing Chapter 11 concerning the FedUps issue, and to also whipsaw the pilot groups. I know, I'm giving management a little more brain power credit than they deserve, given the fact that they have run the company into the ground with stupidity. Or was it by design?

 

[Jack Ernie]

So in the grand scheme of things...I guess is was a good idea not to be available for a June or July 03 class like they wanted me to be when they called in April 03 huh? Best of luck to all involved especially the pilots!!

See you on the radios.

 

[b747dogg]

A free B747 type is always nice!!

 

[5$world]

anyone know if and when polar is going to have a class?

 

[CCDiscoB]

Anything for that 747 type. I hear ya. Although I don't know if it's worth jumping into the mess that is Polar/Atlas.

 

[Long Time Gone]

According to an ALPA Fast Read that I just received, Atlas Air Cargo filed for bankruptcy protection today. This includes all operations with Polar Air, also.

LTG