CAL 08-08 System Bid Results

[skypine27]

I'll trade you...

Did you fly night freight for any extensive periods before you went to FDX?

People either really love it or really don't, I don't know of very many in-betweens. I did it for a number of years, so much that I sleep better during the day now, even 6 years later, than I do at night.

Sorry to hear you aren't crazy about it. Good luck to you!

Nope, NEVER flew freight, PERIOD, before FedEX. Left CAL for FDX simply because 2nd year widebody pay at FDX is $128 /hr. The money I make here after just 1 year of seniority is better than I would be making at CAL after 2 (as a 73 captain), but again, to be honest, I'd rather be flying people in NYC than boxes in SFS...

Though specifically, SE Asia has some HUGE +'s for an American male, though they have NOTHING to do with being a FedEX pilot.

 

[skypine27]

Double post

 

[Lear70]

Nope, NEVER flew freight, PERIOD, before FedEX. Left CAL for FDX simply because 2nd year widebody pay at FDX is $128 /hr. The money I make here after just 1 year of senority is better than I would be making at CAL after 2 (as a 73 captain), but again, to be honest, I'd rather be flying people in NYC than boxes in SFS...

Bummer.

It's a hell of a transition. Some people come by it easily, some don't.

I personally prefer boxes in a 727 domestically than any international flying (legs are too long). Not that I don't like people, I just prefer the peace and quiet of no flight attendants, no people, just flying.

Some people don't. Sorry, but maybe you can bid down to min hours each month and still make the same money you would at CAL. My buddy there only flies about 20 hours a month there and has 20+ days off every month.

 

[skypine27]

My buddy there only flies about 20 hours a month there and has 20+ days off every month.

That's EXACTLY what I do too. Fortunately FedEX doesn't have a problem with people who do stuff like this right now, but the future scares the S h I t out of me.

 

[Flopgut]

Hey Skypine27: What has you anxious about FDX that you wouldn't be worried about at CAL? Just curious?

 

[Lear70]

What's CAL's policy on re-hires?

No, I'm not kidding... there's a lot to be said for money, but if you're going to be too burnt out to enjoy life by the time you're 50, maybe going back to the pax world is what you need to do?

Would suck, but which is worse? Hard decision right there...

As far as being anxious, I think he means he doesn't know if he'll be able to bid min time like that in the future.

Sometimes when you can't get more time away and need it, you might go a little nuts...

 

[CAL EWR B737]

Reading this kind of pisses me off. I was an Aug 6th 2005 new hire at CAL, and quit in Dec '06 to go to FedEX.

While I don't regret flying at FedEX, I can't say I truly enjoy it either. To know I'd be a 73 Captain at CAL in EWR (I actually LIKE New England, grew up in Connecticut) kind of pisses me off.

I guess they say it for a reason. Hindsight IS 20/20...

The grass is always greener, I have some buddies Skyp'ing me to rub it in.

If you did any do diligence before you left you have known two year captains were in the offing. That being said I think you made the right decision. I came very close to getting hired at FEDEX in the summer of 87. I have regretted not getting hired at FEDEX for twenty years.

 

[Lear70]

Speaking of due dilligence... seriously... how long is upgrade looking for people hired today?

Age 65 increases notwithstanding.

That would be pretty wild if they stayed in the 2-3 year range for the next 5 years or something crazy like that.

 

[skypine27]

Hey Skypine27: What has you anxious about FDX that you wouldn't be worried about at CAL? Just curious?

Two fears:

Where I am based, SFS (Subic Bay, The Philippines), is probably the last, great deal left at FedEX. Big money, 84,000 per year tax free on top of it, easy flying, and being an Expat who lives half in the Philippines and half in Thailand. I don't even have to elaborate for any guy who has been to either place. This is all coming to an end with our opening of an HKG (hong kong domicile), which will be quite, quite horrible in comparison.

Two, cost cutting. I thought the cargo industry was far more immune to penny pinching than the pax side, but gradually, I appear to be more and more wrong. And if you think pax flying is bad under cost cutting, just try it flying night freight!

When I started at Cal, Aug 2005, we had no idea 2 year captains might be possible. When I quit, in Dec 05, we still had no idea.

Anyway, I guess it's still impossible to know if I made the right choice. Not for a long time to come.

 

[Flopgut]

If any of us were smart enough to do due dillegence (not jacking you up, just don't want to repeat the error), would any of us be big time flying? I don't think so...we'd be in real estate or something.

That being said: I think the smartest due dillegince given this career would lead you to FDX?

 

[Flopgut]

Two fears:

Where I am based, SFS (Subic Bay, The Philippines), is probably the last, great deal left at FedEX. Big money, 84,000 per year tax free on top of it, easy flying, and being an Expat who lives half in the Philippines and half in Thailand. I don't even have to elaborate for any guy who has been to either place. This is all coming to an end with our opening of an HKG (hong kong domicile), which will be quite, quite horrible in comparison.

Two, cost cutting. I thought the cargo industry was far more immune to penny pinching than the pax side, but gradually, I appear to be more and more wrong. And if you think pax flying is bad under cost cutting, just try it flying night freight!

When I started at Cal, Aug 2005, we had no idea 2 year captains might be possible. When I quit, in Dec 05, we still had no idea.

Anyway, I guess it's still impossible to know if I made the right choice. Not for a long time to come.

I hear ya. Cost cutting is worrysome sh!t, and Fred is a zealot I'm sure. But it seems like you've got a durable brand there with durable profitability. (Profitability outside the realm of airplanes alone) What about your coworkers? Are you pretty happy with your fellow pilots and feel you can rely on them in a fight?

 

[skypine27]

Im not trying to say anyones right or wrong here.

I guess we all know when we hit 60. Or 65, assuming we don't die first.

 

[skypine27]

What about your coworkers? Are you pretty happy with your fellow pilots and feel you can rely on them in a fight?

That remains to be seen. A very, very important LOA vote closes on the 10th. Many of us voted No (myself included). If the LOA passes, then the answer to your qestion is a huge NO, I can not rely on my fellow pilots at this company.

 

[Lear70]

Hey Flopgut, where's the Avatar?

As far as being in Real Estate... my Aunt does that, big Lake Homes, multi-million dollar properties, and has been having a TERRIBLE time of it lately. Everyone's hurting, except the MBA's, Corporate Lawyers and, of course, Senators/Congressmen or Sports/Music/Movie stars.

 

[Flopgut]

That remains to be seen. A very, very important LOA vote closes on the 10th. Many of us voted No (myself included). If the LOA passes, then the answer to your qestion is a huge NO, I can not rely on my fellow pilots at this company.

OK. CAL is about the same pilot group wise, with one important exception: A FDX pilot can tell you what it's like to have fought for, and won, an indusrty leading contract. Your fellow pilots have "walked the walk". CAL pilots are all talk, it's very frustrating and I really wish it weren't true. These CAL guys have absolutely NO frame of reference for a great contract and have almost zero former successes to point to. That, however, does NOT preclude them from making outrageous claims about what their capable of and how they're going to do it.

Good luck with your LOA, I hope it goes well. CAL guys have already revealed themselves with the age 60 deal I'm afraid. They can't be relyed on in the least...I guess we should have known that wouldn't change.