FedEx anticipating training??

[Goose17]

a bit more info

Something else that was in the bid release was:

"Attached is Posting 03-01 which was developed using current available projected operating schedules, pilot retirements and aircraft deliveries/retirements through March 2004."

So... so much for the more frequent smaller bids as mentioned to us before. This sounds like there will be no more bids until spring of next year.

Sounds like I too will be looking left for "Traffic 12 O'clock" calls for the forseeable future. I count my lucky stars though that I have the job I do.

I think I will have to buy a flight sim game for my computer to remember what it feels like again.

Goose17

 

[Falconjet]

Bid numbers

The way I see the numbers the info is not as bad as it seems. except for us 727 S/Os who will now get another 25 senior pilots on our list. See if this makes sense:

108 MD11 Captains
38 A300 Captains
98 MD11 F/Os

244 new positions

25 "new" 727 positions (I read displaced from other aircraft)

Reductions:

27 DC10 Captains
22 DC10 F/Os
45 DC10 S/Os
62 B727 Captains
64 B727 F/Os

220 reductions

I read that as a minus 1 impact. Not good by any means, but not as bad as the other numbers. (244-245=-1).

Again, more senior folks on the Boeing S/O list sure doesn't sound good, but at least its not furloughs. Perhaps hiring will commence to replace the small number of retirements this year anyway.

 

[Rock]

Albie,
A few thoughts...
1. There's a couple wars about to start. There are plenty of assignments out there for guys looking for something a little more meaningful in life than pouring coffee.
2. Having observed the front two seats from my cramped S/O seat for a couple months, I can't really say I'm all fired up about moving up anyway. Except for the better pay, facing forward in a 727 seems only just a little more exciting than facing sideways. Besides, I get first crack at the coffee, and when I've got to take a leak, I just get up and go.
3. I'll stand on my head in the cargo area if it's a choice of that or getting furloughed.

Finally...I just picked up an all expenses paid trip to a large beach in Southwest Asia. There are a lot of guys just like me at FedEx (most of whom are probably S/O's) doing the same thing. No matter what your line number is, you are probably going to be a very busy dude for the next few months racking up all kinds of extra time flying the line. Live it up. There are worse things in life than getting paid for sleeping in nice hotels, pouring coffee and listening to a couple front seaters compliment each other for their smooth landings.

 

[AlbieF15]

Rock,

You are 100% correct. Complaining in out of character for me, but I was really hoping to get to try something different at FDX.

As for other your other points:

Yes...there are more "meaningful" jobs. Kudos to you, Zulu, Borgs and a bunch of other FDX guys going in harms way. In the meantime, I'll be doing as much as I can with my local ANG unit. I have no idea what if any contribution we can or will make, but I'm still glad to be part of the team.

Second...I don't work overtime/volunteer/draft whenever the hiring is frozen. FDX guys are free to do whatever they want, but I know as long as guys sponge up 10-30 extra hours every month the need for more MD11 FOs, more 727 SOs, etc will not be critical--and my chance to eventually move up will also be delayed. Not telling anyone else what to do....but I'm not soaking up trips while my bros tread water in the pool. Volunteering for a trip after a dropping trips is smart, in my opinion....work for 1.5 your pay rate when you get the chance. But...I average only about 2/3 of my BLG hours every month due to ANG committments, like I'm sure most 727 SOs will military committments do. We'd better keep our positive attitudes, however, as long as those guys above us keep doing volunteer, etc, however, because we aren't going anywhere for a while at our present rate.

Thanks again for your efforts in the sandbox...stay safe and keep everyone's spirits up. I know how miserable the deployment can be...I was a Ground FAC back in 91 in round one. Throw a post or two on the boards and let everyone know who things are going along the way.

 

[JethroF15]

Second...I don't work overtime/volunteer/draft whenever the hiring is frozen. FDX guys are free to do whatever they want, but I know as long as guys sponge up 10-30 extra hours every month the need for more MD11 FOs, more 727 SOs, etc will not be critical

Right on my purple Brother! I'm with you on the extra flying. But as long as the guys who fly extra every month work within the rules of the contract I refrain from bashing them. I don't agree with them but hey, it's in the contract for them to be able to do it. Personally I enjoy my time home with the family and, IMHO, work too many days each month already just flying the BLG.

On another subject, not sure how long you have been at FedEx Albie but you may get surprised on the bid. The bid that I moved to a window seat on showed that I wasn't going anywhere (from the practice bids). Then the final bid comes out and boom, off to training. Bottom line: bid what you want to fly and it may happen. If not, then hang on and sometime down the road it will. In any case I feel lucky to be flying for FredEx right now. There are guys here who served the coffee for 5 to 7 years before getting a chance to move! I cringe every time I talk to one of them and think that timing is everything!

 

[Zulu]

Fellas,
I had a little time on my hands (wonder why!) -- and the sky's not falling. 148 new wide body captains is going to generate a tremendous number of secondary bids -- I see on the order of 160 new wide body FO's coming out of this (counting the 98 11's they're giving out). Assuming that a lot of DC-10 guys don't transition to the same seat in another airplane, that's still going to open up quite a few opportunities for those of us at the bottom.

Later,
Z

 

[AlbieF15]

If any of you purple guys will send me your email via pm, I will send you a "tongue in cheek" letter on how we can speed up upgrades.

Zulu...by the way I read the bid, the 727 FOs and DC10 SOs who decide to upgrade to MD11s or the A300 won't be replaced. There WILL be an empty secondary hole (oh wow..a HUGE so to speak is required here! ) but it likely won't be filled. So...if Jethro wants to go be an MD11 FO, its likely he can. However, neither you nor I will move up into Jethro's seat...at least for a while.

All we can do is hope our 727 FOs and DC10 SOs are very happy where they are, and that many of the secondaries come from seats the company needs to fill (ie A300 FOs, ANC MD11 FOs, etc).

In any case, I have a great job with a great company, generally work with people I like, and still get to fly fighters every once in a while. Forgive the wah wah act, but if I wasn't always leaning forward and trying to get ahead I wouldn't be a fighter pilot.

 

[FastCargo]

I'll be happy...

...just being able to stay a DC-10 S/O for a while longer. Eliminate 45 S/O slots??? Doh! I don't wanna go to the 727, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna!!

(Okay, 3 year old temper tantrum over)

Seriously, I'm just happy I have a job...and I get my stick time (so to speak) with the T-38 reserves. I consider myself VERY lucky, especially compared to a lot of my classmates right now. Everyone I saw at my reunion flew for UAL...they're ALL furloughed....

Y'all going out to the sandbox, kick ass and we look forward to seeing ALL of you back on the line!

Fly safe!

FastCargo

 

[Ski]

"Y'all going out to the sandbox, kick ass and we look forward to seeing ALL of you back on the line!"

We are all pulling for you guys. Godspeed.

 

[Hornetkid]

Question

Dont want to sound stupid, but can anyone translate what all these numbers mean to the poolies.

Does this mean that fewer new hire SO will be needed this year?

Will training need to produce some new hire SOs soon to fill gaps from this bid?


Thanks

 

[Zulu]

Albie,
How about a pool on how many 727 S/O's will move up?

I say 70.

Cheers,

Z

 

[AlbieF15]

Last pool I started was in 1992, in the middle of Eagle MQT in AK. The "over-G" pendulum was swinging towards the "off with his head" end of the spectrum (grounding a week!). I started an Over-G pool in the doofer book...and..you can guess who the next chimp was...as in "I'll BE (Albie) d@mned, I over G'd", or "I'll be needin' some pineapple with these HAMS".

In other words, pools are bad karma for me. I'll stay on the sidelines and hope and pray for the best.

And poolies....ALBIE NOT flying any OT until the "other" pool drains....

 

[Ski]

To summ it up, this is a big bid and they will have to fill some second officer seats. Fedex is moving away from three crew airplanes but the MD11/MD10 is staffed at a higher level due to the RFO and international requirements. In my opinion Fedex will have to hire pilots to keep things moving smoothly. The number depends on a lot of variables but I would say 80-100 in the next year. Good luck. Ski

 

[adqrip]

18kid

Don't know if this will help, but.....

25 727 S/O's will need to be trained.

45 DC10 S/O's will have to move before 10 S/O trng will start.

It will depend on how many over 60 guys move to the back seat, I know one pilot (727 FO) that will be moving to the back of the 727 late this year. But most of the nose gunners are either Capts that can quit at 60 or younger guys that look to move to the left seat. I have been in the back of the 10 since last June & I have moved up about 30 numbers since that time. I have not heard that hiring will fall under the 150 mark. In the bid was a note that the freight for the 727 (mail & South America) was less than expected, so that was the reason (?) for no 727 slots.

Gut reaction is that FedEx will look at what this bid brings & then finalize/WAG numbers for 03.

One note after talking w/ Jack Lewis, (passing resume of buddy)... "We don't mind hiring a few extra S/O's over the course of the year because frankly S/O's during their first year don't cost the company much money"

 

[LEROY]

I am standing by, ready to assume the role of "not costing the company much money"!!!

Still treading water...