Fed Ex; not so good news

[General Lee]

Ummmmm ok. What? Dude, you're getting weird on me. Time to relax now, ya hear? I am so honored that you are honored that I personally thought that Fedex was a Major.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[AlbieF15]

I'd like to fly a sexy 757 as much as anyone, but we have about 300 DC10 FOs and about 370 727 FOs right now. If we could "snap" our fingers and replace all our 3-hole planes overnight (guess we'd have to FEDEX 'em to ourselves! ), it seems to my untrained eye we'd then have 670 or so extra pilots on the property if we could instantaneously upgrade guys from the 10 to the A300 and the 727 to the 757.

Now...no training program moves that fast, and we'd likely lose 100 or so over 60 guys to retirement....but again...it seems like we'd have extra pilots. The MD11 needs more guys...but how many? I think we could absorb those guys without furloughs, but it certainly doesn't bode well for future hiring UNLESS we get some more growth. The domestic market seems mature, but Asia is a promising area. Time will tell I guess.......

Have any of your been around the block types (UAL 78?) been around a large AC conversion from 3 hole to 2 hole AC? What happened at your company when you changed?

For what its worth...no secret I want to upgrade to an FO job ASAP, but I hope the 727 stays around a few more years. Its cheap, paid for, does the job well, and employs a lot of us who might otherwise be on the street.

 

[Cardinal]

Re: Explain yourself Cardinal

So Cardinal for what reasons are you not sympathetic toward Fedex pilots? You'll have to enlighten me since fr8doggie has already established that I'm clueless. I just find it odd that you would have such contempt for fellow aviators because they have organized.

Sorry for being quite unclear. Contempt is the very antithesis of my sentiment. I proudly wear my union pin, and support and admire the FedEx pilots that fought tooth and nail to organize in a hostile environment. Please, fight even harder in 2004, so that I might reap the benefits someday! I've spent about a month as a handler while furloughed - I was merely echoing the sentiments I saw around me. Those are certainly not my opinions.

 

[Spur]

For what its worth...no secret I want to upgrade to an FO job ASAP, but I hope the 727 stays around a few more years. Its cheap, paid for, does the job well, and employs a lot of us who might otherwise be on the street.

Ditto Albie... just wish my darn seat would recline... my back is killing me

 

[General Lee]

Albie15,

I'll tell you what happened when we parked the last of the 727's and L1011's------about 1310 furloughs. Of course, we also parked some two seaters--like 737-200's. But, when they start parking planes WITHOUT getting replacements or getting feeders to fly 727 routes (ATR72s), then it gets hairy. I hope that doesn't happen to you guys. (But management will be looking to save a buck for their eventual bonuses....just watch)

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[USNFDX]

ATRs

The ATRs are not replacing the 727, they are replacing the Folker (I believe F-28) a Fedex Feeder. The domestic market is flat, but not in decline. The ATR is to slow and to small for what we do. I also do not believe it is big enough for our cans.

On the postive side: Scheduling was actualy drafting 727 FE this week. Guys on reserve are getting used alot. So who knows: maybe the MD-11 is starting to suck up some people.

 

[Spur]

According to the ATR website, the max payload for the -72 is around 18K... so I wouldn't be too worried.

 

[klhoard]

Re: ATRs

I also do not believe it is big enough for our cans.

I wouldn't be surprised if FDX has more invested in the cargo cans than any possible replacement.

This would give FDX the same problem as the military - The Army has the M-1 tank, so the Air Force has to build an airplane to carry it!!

I've noticed that the number of 727 F/O's on the daily reserve (R-A) levelling list has decreased from around 30-ish to 6 over the course of this month. I don't know if that is just a temporary issue, or a chronic one.

 

[Cardinal]

Re: ATRs

I also do not believe it is big enough for our cans.

Actually with the Large Cargo Door option the ATR42 can take 5 LD3s, and the 72 can take 7. Whodathunkit. With a 17,941lb payload the airplane would bulk out first, but it's pretty well balanced. http://www.atraircraft.com/atrcargo.htm

 

[JerkyHerky]

Hey AlbieF15 - What's that crack about FO's upgrading from the DC-10 to the A300? Thems fight'n words boy. Going from the 10 to the 300 is like going from Caddy with a big engine to one of those cheesy looking French cars you always see Peter Sellers driving around in the Pink Panther movies. Man, what a slap in the face; what a kick in the shins ....

 

[Spur]

Hey AlbieF15 - What's that crack about FO's upgrading from the DC-10 to the A300?

Methinks he meant SO's... Give him a break, he is a fighter pilot after all, it's gonna take him awhile to figure out this crew thing

 

[busdrver]

Hey AlbieF15 - What's that crack about FO's upgrading from the DC-10 to the A300? Thems fight'n words boy. Going from the 10 to the 300 is like going from Caddy with a big engine to one of those cheesy looking French cars you always see Peter Sellers driving around in the Pink Panther movies. Man, what a slap in the face; what a kick in the shins ....

Obviously, the ranting of somebody who is AFRAID of the Bus.... or have you flown the airplane?

 

[~~~^~~~]

The ATR72's Max Take Off is 48,501. With an empty weight around 30,000lbs and 4,500 (2.8 hours fuel without reserves) that leaves about 15,000 max cargo capacity.

How full are the 727's? Also the ATR burns about 1,600 PPH. If I remember correctly the 727 burns more than twice that amount, per engine!

Just curious because I would have never thought of comparing those two airplanes.

We have a number of poolies here at ASA. Good luck at getting the FedEx list moving again.

 

[WrightAvia]

Feeder management from Memphis told me to my face today that there will be NO ATR 72's at Feeder Operations. Only ATR 42's.

 

[AV8OR]

Since I posted on this subject on the previous page of this thread, I thought I'd post the latest on the ASTAR v Fedex, UPS thing....

Go to

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/yho...o&guid={4B8A9D77-BA8C-4B5C-9912-1457FC15C984}


Adios

Tom