Did any Fedex poolies get a call?

[AlbieF15]

Zulu,

Welcome home. Just noticed the avatar change. I'm hoping we dont' get swamped in JetBlue regret/envy while stuck on the panel for the next five years.

Poolies...got no advice except I'd apply to Jetblue, SWA, AK, and AirTran "just in case". This could be a loooong wait.

I just wish our pilot group would quit flying vol/draft as long as the hiring/training was frozen. They could train a nominal 8 a month and drain the pool....and keep things moving "up". However, our group doesn't advocate "work actions" to help advance the careers of the junior crewmembers--they compain about pay scales at their respective seats. As long as guys will trough up the flying, especially on the "high margin" MD11 flying, demand for new aircrews will be small.

Jethro, T38dude, and Zulu, et al...I know I should be "patient" here, but I'm never been a rate fight kind of guy. I like to throw the nose in lead and try to make something happen. Seniority progression is the ultimate rate fight game, however, and right now I feel like I'm going around the circle in mil power with my gear hanging down....

 

[Heat]

Rate Fight?

LB,
So how's your nose position fight?
Heat

 

[moneyshooter]

Seniority progression is the ultimate rate fight game, however, and right now I feel like I'm going around the circle in mil power with my gear hanging down....

Anyone else tired of this guy with two jobs (one of them with a window seat and one of them at a major) whine about how he's not senior enough?

 

[AlbieF15]

Moneyshooter,

Sorry If my "whining" is offensive. However, the fact is increased hiring at FedEx will not only help me (and every fighter pilot knows the world revolves around him ) but the 60+ in the pool right now...and that is what this particular thread is about.

Based on your argument, I should sit back, shut up, and soak up the good life at FedEX and the ANG. Why not fly some volunteer/draft and earn some extra coin for momma and the kids while I'm at it? The answer is 1- I have a few bros in the pool and a LOT of guys wanting to join us at FDX and 2- In the long term, I'm just slowing down my own upgrade. Also--the fact is (and most guys doing ANG duty can tell you this) working 2 jobs, while fun at times, can also wear you out.

Since I've been on the line, I haven't work a full BLG except for perhaps 2 months. This isn't due to any "work action", but rather due to the fact if your unit wants you 7-10 days (weekdays at that), its very hard to satisfy that requirement and fly the number of days to get a full BLG.

Don't know what I posted that could have irritated you so much, but I've tried to pass out info and gouge to those interested in FedEx (or JetBlue) along the way, and encourage a few young hopefuls prepping for UPT on the military board. If any of that comes off as "excess ego" or "whining", it was not intended. I've got a stack of resumes from some GREAT people who want interviews at FedEx, and some of my frustration is I can't help them out right now in this enviroment. The sooner the pool logjam gets free, the sooner more folks can have a shot at a job they can "appreciate".

Fly safe...

PS..Heat...my frustration is there is NO nose position fight in this game--not what we are used to. Is this Heat a former Bonehead/former WIC IP?

 

[fox3]

I Understand your frustration

Albie,
Look on the positive side -- you're not going backward in seniority like the "10" guys are -- YET! The over 60 crowd is killing us. Plus, the conservative hiring practice, while not good for poolies, does allow for some sense of job security. And you have to love a pilot group that will subsidize a $200,000/yr career for a poor decision.

 

[PurpleInMEM]

I agree with fox3. I'd rather they put off hiring for a lot longer if necessary to shore up in a weak market. Domestic First/Priority/Standard and mail is F L A T ! As far as overtime...what overtime?!? Except for maybe getting stuck out on a day off due to maintenance issues, I haven't seen DRF or VLT in a LONG time. Maybe the oilers are getting some because of the Iraq activations, but that's about it. It sure isn't because the volumes are up. BLG's for the past 6 months or longer have been rock bottom and the carryover has been on the low side as well. As far as the maddog guys are concerned, well that's a different story.

Sorry if I sound pessimistic or one-sided, but a healthy bottom line is good for all of us...current and future employees.

 

[FDXBoxTrower]

So getting back to the original thread......anyone knows about the possiblity of a class date sometimes june???????

 

[fox3]

NO!

 

[LEROY]

Anyone remember the number to that truck driving school?

 

[MD80JAD]

Pool priority

Hey boxtrower,
Any insight on internal employees like yourself getting moved to the top of the pool after passing the interview (or pro-instructors). Or do you all enter the pool the same as everyone else by interview date. I know there has been a lot of different insights but were all still hoping for two classes in june.FISHON

 

[FDXBoxTrower]

When TwGordy was talking about internals, he was refering to 3 Fedex Corporate Flight Department. They have priority over anybody else after the have done the 3 years service. Once a class date is settled they get in that class without an interview because at the hiring date they went through the same interview like the line guys. That is their choice if they want to switch to line or to stay in the corporate department.
About Professional Instructors I don't know anything and I am surprised to read in this thread that they have to go through an interview for them to be able to hit the line. I believe if you can teach someone how to fly that piece of iron you should be able to fly it yourself also. But obviously Fedex considers otherwise. Maybe at the hiring date they don't have to go through the same interview process as the line/corporate pilots. Fedex could be very particular about some things.
About other internals hired as non-pilots?.... You have to wait 1 year without warning letters, no 1 minute late, without money, broken bones, many accidents around you, management picking on you because they know if you become a pilot you will be making more money than they will ever dream, generaly being very easy screwed like someone I used to work with who 2 days before 1 year to be up got a warning letter - that puting him out of competition (done in purpose by a manager). After meeting 1 year condition in a perfect status and flying in the same time to stay curent(very difficult to do because Fedex doesn't give you the time to do it being a very demanding company) when the company has pilot opening and any other opening for that matter, allows you to apply for the wished position. All position are posted internaly before externaly. After few months waiting period and you meet the hiring condition you get a call for an interview. THAT IS ALL THE ADVANTAGE YOU HAVE FOR BEING AN INTERNAL. You get an interview after 1 to 2 years of waiting. Not too many willing to take this way, but if you don't have "100 thousand" letters of recommandation from inside bodies, and you want to work for this company this is pretty much the only way to get a shot at. It doesn't matter if you are a 15000 hours pilot with Space Shuttle type rating because a 1500 hours pilot with the right connections will take the job. The interview does not guarantee you a job. IT IS JUST AN INTERVIEW. PERIOD.
But if you make it, you hit the JackPot we all know that. And to answer your question IF YOU MAKE IT you go for the first class date and you have seniority over the poolies.
You are on payroll after all.
Good Luck to all of us. It is a d&*n good company to be a pilot for and everybody has to do what he has to do.

 

[Huck]

Albie is my hero....

 

[busdrver]

The professionals do 2 interviews when they are hired, one with the training dept and one for the line. If they pass both then they are hired to instruct and then go to the line after a set period, which is now 2 yrs (I think, not sure, maybe 3 yrs). They don't get a line number until they get to the line, but they do have a spot waiting for them.

This was the procedure 1 yr ago. May have changed since.

 

[FDXBoxTrower]

Busdrver, thank you for the info. I am glad to hear that because it sounded weird. The instructors deserve that spot to wait for them.

 

[acarpe3448]

I don't know what Fedexboxthrower has heard, but I have been throwing the boxes down at the Sotheast Input for a while now. I have a few friends that have said that if you are already an employee and do get on as a pilot that yes you do go to the head of the pool. This is just from a few buddies of mine that have done it before. Not verified though. Anyway, I'm sure jealous of you guys that are in the pool. Being furloughed sucks. I'll pray for the day the hiring starts again.