The latest at Polar?

[timetoquit]

What is the latest with hiring and training at Polar?

 

[UPSer]

Don't know about their hiring or training, but there is an off and on rumor at UPS about us buying Polar for the -400s and their route authority. Any current Polar crewmembers heard of this at all?

 

[FarginDooshbahg]

"for the -400s and their route authority." But not the employees, I'm sure. Smells sickeningly like another Challenge Air Cargo deal. If I was a Polar guy, I would pray this was just another unfounded rumor.

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

UPSer,
If they did purchase Polar from Atlas Holdings and aquired the 400's, where would the crews fall? Would they have their date of hire at Polar over at UPS or would they go the the panel of a 72? I have a friend who was there when it started and is in the top 5 seniority numbers. I would think it would not be pretty to be a 5th or 6th yr 400 capt and get the boot to a panel.

 

[I.P. Freley]

I certainly hope that none of this happens... One of my best friends in the whole wide world just started there (about to get his type), and was in GS with two other friends, and a third in a later GS.

I hope this is all hype. Then again, getting in at UPS doesn't sound like a bad deal. Not at all... It's only bad if they end up getting the boot.

 

[UPSer]

UPSer,
If they did purchase Polar from Atlas Holdings and aquired the 400's, where would the crews fall? Would they have their date of hire at Polar over at UPS or would they go the the panel of a 72? I have a friend who was there when it started and is in the top 5 seniority numbers. I would think it would not be pretty to be a 5th or 6th yr 400 capt and get the boot to a panel.

Strictly my personal opinion based on working at UPS and on UPS' past history with Challenge, I think UPS would just take the assets they wanted, mainly the -400s and the international route authority. To this day UPS claims we are overstaffed and therefore I'm sure they would feel no need to take any of Polar's flight crews. I believe if UPS ever does buy Polar or any other similar type operator the chance of them just taking assets and not the employees is very high.

Just look at Challenge, all UPS wanted was the SA authority, they didn't even take over any of the 757Fs that Challenge operated.

 

[English]

Two Polar managements types recently left to go to Aloha. Maybe they knew something was coming.

Then again, why jump out of the pan and into the fire?

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

Strictly my personal opinion based on working at UPS and on UPS' past history with Challenge, I think UPS would just take the assets they wanted, mainly the -400s and the international route authority. To this day UPS claims we are overstaffed and therefore I'm sure they would feel no need to take any of Polar's flight crews. I believe if UPS ever does buy Polar or any other similar type operator the chance of them just taking assets and not the employees is very high.

Just look at Challenge, all UPS wanted was the SA authority, they didn't even take over any of the 757Fs that Challenge operated.

Jeez...that would not be good. Typical management decision....take the planes and routes and leave the already current/qualified crews on the street.
All UPS has now is the 100's if I am not mistaken, right? There would have to have a 400 training program built and I think it is also a different type also?

 

[I.P. Freley]

Yes, it is a different type rating.

Gawd, I hope this is all chatter....

 

[B-atch]

The big difference between the Challenge takeover and a possible acquisition of Polar would be the working agreement in place at Polar. Merger policy is strictly detailled and enforced. Any successor and/ or purchaser would have to merge both pilot groups. Any attempt to by-pass Alpa successorship by-law would prove a challenge to any carrier.. including UPS....Challenge, unfortunatelly, did not have a merger policy in their scope language..The rest is history...Another SNAGG exists pertaining to route authority...Polar's slots into Narita, and a few others, are NON-TRANSFERABLE...They must be operated by the Polar certificate.