Fed Ex Pool

[Goose17]

Just creating a spot for info/rumor sharing on Fed Ex's pilot pool. I am a member of the pool and I am totally in the dark. I interviewed at the end of August, got a letter a few weeks later welcoming me to the pool, and that's about it.

Goose17

 

[AlbieF15]

Keep hearing Pireps classes resuming in Feb, with more to follow. Rumor only--about 200 needed after those two classes for retirement attrition and mail contract. Doing the math the traditional 16/month starting Mar/Apr would work. See furloughedpilot.com for the actual company email.

All this is 2nd or 3rd hand....have a backup plan.

Sorry you are treading water...perhaps you'll get some good news before Christmas.

 

[Goose17]

AlbieF15,

I have read the info on the furloughedpilot.com site before and the site actually interprets the info to mean that the TOTAL number of pilots will increase by 200 by 2004. This would be in addition to the retirements which are as follows from the Fed Ex site: (keep in mind these are known retirements and I have heard that they lose around 100 or so per year as unscheduled departures due to medical and various other things)

2002: 58
2003: 83
2004: 76
2005: 128
2006: 162

... and it continues in the mid to high 100's for a long time. I have also heard rumors of the Postal Service requesting Fed Ex doubles the current contract for mail. The same rumor also said that Fed Ex told the USPS not during peak.

I know there is alot of unverified rumors floating about out there as well as in my message above, but that is why I want to discuss this topic. We are kind of in the dark here and would all sleep a little better with some information.

Goose17

 

[Beaver]

I'm swimming with you as well. Had a friend that talked to the director of training and said classes would resume in Feb. I've heard the number of swimmers is between 50 and 70. I wouldn't expect to hear anything until after the new year. This is all second and third hand info so take it as you want. See you in Memphis.

 

[loungelizard]

I'm in the pool also. I was originally schedulled for the Nov 26 class but received the cancellation letter and "Congrats you're in the Pool" letter back in October. My letter said no classes until at least Feb 2002. Kim Daniels has told me I will be in the first class when they start up again for what that is worth. I was originally offered a 22 Oct class but could not accept due to Military committment(Bad Luck). I interview the first week of July and found out the first week of August.

 

[USMCFDX]

Right now there is a HUGE training backlog, and as I see it this in the main reason the last two classes of the year were postponed.
The USPS does want us to carry more volume, but FedEx wants only a little at a time to see how it affects route structure. I would bet that Fred wants to carry all that they offer, it will just take time to get it into the system. The number of orange mail bags in conatiners on ramp is amazing.
December is predicted to put a heavy load on the system. All seats except the 727 FE were offered vacation buyback this bid month.
Last rumor I heard is still 1 or 2 classes a month starting in Feb. With the first two classes being the two from 2001. No word when and if they will open up the app window again.
Good luck

 

[Buffy]

Not Exactly True (vacation buyback)

USMCFDX,
Vacation buyback for Capts and F/Os all aircraft. No buyback for S/Os.

 

[USMCFDX]

Thought I read that DC-10 backseaters were offered buyback. Maybe I had a dream about it while sleeping in the lounger during a Hub Turn. Sorry for the bad gouge. For what it is worth two good friends are in the back of the 10 and get used all the time while on reserve, while I sit in MEM and watch the Jerry Springer Show in my crash pad.

 

[AlbieF15]

Can you explain what vacation buyback is and what is means? I gather it implies you are quite busy (lots of business) when the company doesn't want you leaving.

 

[USMCFDX]

Basically the company has determined that it needs the pilots (all or some) who will be on vacation to fly. You end up getting paid for the vacation you would have taken plus an incentive to skip your vacation. It is spelled out in the contract exactly how and how much.

 

[Purple Haze]

I'm swimmin' --- Sep 21 interview. Keep the rumors coming!


You gotta believe

 

[T-38Dude]

Classes starting back up again

Great news. Got a call today from FedEx for a training class on 14 Jan. Beverely called and said the 14 Jan class will be for 8 people. She said there will be one more class of 8 in Jan as well. I tried to get as much out of her as I could about the next couple of months. She didn't have much more to tell about future classes after Jan. However, I have a bud that is in the "pool" and she said sometime in the Spring for him. He interviewed in mid Oct. So I would think probably pretty far down in the pool.

Just for your info as well. I interviewed back in Jun. I was originally sheduled for the 26 Nov class. That was the first one I could get to because of the old military committment thing. For you Air Force guys stuck in "stop loss", may want to try a waiver. The Air Force gave me one. I guess they figured they could survive without a T-38 guy. Best of luck to all.

 

[Goose17]

T-38Dude;

Thanks for the great news! Everything I have heard (all rumors) has said nothing until February. This is definitly a glimmer of hope. Like Purple Haze said, keep the info flowing...

Goose17

 

[Buffy]

Great News

T-38 Dude,
Great News! The more the merrier.

 

[Goose17]

a little more info...

The following is from Kim Daniels at Fed Ex:

Last week we got confirmation on two January classes, 14th and 21st (8per class). There are no positions in the pool but I do try to pull in the order they were interviewed with availability in mind. My plans are to re-schedule Nov and Dec classes first then start with the others in the pool. I feel pretty good that we will continue in Feb with more classes but no dates have been confirmed.

 

[loungelizard]

Got the call from Beverly Hyter on Monday the 17th. Scheduled for class on the 21st of Jan. Originally interviewed in July and scheduled for 26 Nov class. See you in Memphis!!

 

[Goose17]

More info

This rumor just in from a friend who spoke with the chief pilot...

There will be 2 classes per month 8 people in each from January through May. There are 89 people in the pool. They may take more than 8 in each class to get through the entire pool.

Goose17

 

[VaB]

Straight from the Sys Chief Pilot from the FedEx pilot website:

"New hire classes of 8 each on 14 & 21 January. Maybe two more classes
of 8 each in February. No firm plans for hiring after that yet...but maybe
a few more classes. LAX MD-11 domicile is breathing hard, but that's it so
far. Probably a bid in February or March. Off-line jumpseaters on our
aircraft are still being worked on. Still dependent upon door locks and
verification of employment. Lots of maybes, probablys and ifs."



Sounds pretty much the same as all the other rumors flying. Hang in there fellas.

 

[Goose17]

FAA inquiry notification

Just got notification in the mail yesterday from the FAA that Fed Ex checked on my records again. This is a good sign. I would like to think they are checking one more time before they call with a class date and an offer of employment.

Goose17

 

[Beaver]

records checked

Got notification that FEDEX made the records request from the FAA. Hope this is a sign.

 

[Goose17]

Fed Ex calling friends

Just another piece of information...

I was told by a couple of Fed Ex pilot buddies the pilot recruitment office called them in reference to me. Both guys were on trips when they called, so they only got messages on their machines. They will be returning their calls after Christmas. The guys are friends that I listed on the web site as references when I initially applied. I assume they are doing one more character reference to make sure I haven't been in jail or something. Who knows... maybe I'll get a late Christmas present.

Goose17

 

[Purple Haze]

Feb Classes

From a Capt:

2 more classes of 8 each in Feb. More hiring expected in following months. Currently asking pilots to voluntarily cnx Jan-Feb vacations.

Question for you: Are you calling Kim or just sitting quietly and waiting? I have not called and I feel like a buzzard waiting for something to die. "I want to kill something."

PS. Got my FAA records check notification dated 12/13

 

[Goose17]

Kim

I have contacted Kim, but she is tight lipped with information. There is more info on this site. I am now sitting idle with one hand on the phone. I imagine something will happen VERY soon. With the FAA records check done and my Fed Ex references called, there is only one thing left - CALL ME! (hopefully)

Again, please post any and all info to help out our fellow poolies.

Goose17

 

[NightFlyer]

I don't know why guys sell back their vacation. I figure if we all use our vacation then we will have to hire more pilots to cover the lost flying. That's good for you guys because you get a job and it's good for me because I get more numbers underneath me and I get to go on vacation. Not a bad deal. Well, good luck guys and we'll see you in the line.

NightFlyer

 

[profile]

Night,

I personally don't do it, but I do understand why they do it. If you are happy with your time off and not planning anything, selling back a 7 day vacation pays the same as flying a DFT trip. 7 day vacation is worth 49 credit hours, company gives you 24 more hours to sell it back. Pretty much DFT/VLT pay. That's why they do it! Personally, I take the vacation and those times I've wanted extra cash, I wait for a DFT that has a DH front and back so I can end up being paid as many or more hours than I spend away from home!

 

[Purple Haze]

Newsflash

The latest:
The USPS contract is increased by 45% immediately. Operations will continue at peak season pace: short of crews and airframes. They must hire at least moderately throughout the year.

Purple

 

[Goose17]

Source

Purple Haze;

I'm assuming the numbers you got were from the "inter Fed Ex" email that talked about the increase in the contract. I have not seen nor heard any details on how this translates into pilot hiring plans for 02.

Has anyone heard or has anyone else been called with a class date yet? Anyone called for February yet?

Still waiting in Memphis...

Goose17

 

[Goose17]

Hot off the press...

Hot news off the press,

I spoke with Kim Daniels this morning. The two scheduled classes in February (the 11th and 18th) have gone from 8 per class to 12 per class! I also asked her about the hiring plans for 02, and after a brief discussion with Beverly, she said that they will be hiring 250-300 pilots this year with 2 classes of 12 each month. She said this is not yet confirmed, but looking promising.

She also said that Fed Ex recently started hauling more mail for the USPS and that it would increase again this summer. That being said, the pilot hiring is looking good this year.

As for me, it is looking like February now. I went down to Fed Ex today and updated my drug test which appearently expired since my interview. Kim is also sending me some forms to update and next comes official notification!!!

Waiting in Memphis,

Goose17

 

[USNFDX]

FDX Rumor

Here's my rumor, take it for what its worth. Flew with a captain last week who said " so you're brand new?...Don't worry about, you'll have 500 behind you by next year" I responded "What have you been smokin'..." He said "no really I had lunch with umpty squat chief pilot so and so and he said "" That the USPS international contract that DHL owns is up this year, and the FEDs don't want to give it back to DHL because they are foreign and were a shoe in cause the US Anthrax service Loves us."" Anyway, that's my rumor. Sorry to DHL guys if in pans out.

 

[UPSmiling]

profile went secure...

Profile, I read every word you wrote with great anticipation to find out what advantage selling back you vacation would do, but you lost me with the FedEx company lingo. Could you explain? And talk slow I be an Aviater, avia, aviate, a pilot.

Thanks