FedEx Class ?????????

[waitinginline]

Please someone shed some light on the pool.. It is cold in the shade..

Just wondering if there are any rumors floating around or are we destined to swim til the point of drowning???

I have heard some good and some bad.. Hoping the bad is very wrong (18 months).. I heard April or May I hope this is right, any input from any FedEx types would be appreciated..

 

[t38dude]

Haven't really heard any new rumors. However, I can say this. They are drafting like crazy in the back right now. I live in Memphis and they were driving me (and my wife) crazy until I finally got on the computer and told them not to call anymore. I have two other S/Os in my reserve squadron who were also getting desperate calls from crew scheduling. The last time crew scheduling called I told the gal that they needed to hire more guys. She agreed. Now only if we can get the higher ups to agree

Hang in there. See ya on the property soon, hopefully.

T-38dude

 

[dixieflyer]

I flew with a FO who said he had a three day trip canceled last week b/c schedualing could not find any SOs. No reserves or draft takers to be had. I cant imagine the company can afford to do that very often.

 

[FedExpert]

I just got called about an hour ago for a double-deadhead draft trip. I would rather sit and read this forum. Maybe they are starting to run out of those guys who always pick up the draft trips.

 

[switchbiatch]

t38 dude "I live in Memphis and they were driving me (and my wife) crazy until I finally got on the computer and told them not to call anymore."

I also am a local and got on VIPS the other night and cheked the " DO NOT CALL ANYMORE FOR DRAFT" box.

When you work every reserve day and then want you to sit at the desk on your days off, well I 'd rather be at home with my family. I do not think we will make it through another peak season staffed at the level we are currently at. And look at the # of 27 F/O's;there are actually 10 less in that seat than in the back of the 27 (349 as compared to 359 on the bid list). Like I stated in the past, I do not think anything will be announced til after the Board meeting in March, when in March that is I am not for sure.

 

[adqrip]

wait may not be long

Just as has been stated in the past......

From scuttlebutt:

Pool should be drained this year, late spring/early summer classes start to replace attrition/retirements. No leads on window opening or any new hire plans.

30 S/O's on the DC-10 to be excessed, I was #33 from the bottom and it appears that now I will be #27 from the bottom, so a few DC10 S/O's went back to the 727 (S/O seat) most left from above me.

Gut feeling: Probably drain the pool in 04 to keep crews at present level, no new airframes on the property till contract is complete, (Yes Sir, I'd like a window seat in a 737- (???), but not likely). Drafting & flying the reserve guys to meet the schedule. Nothing like the Postal contract to give us a big hiring push.

 

[C-17->Majors]

Some thought on flying draft...

I used to enjoy getting the draft calls on my days off and saying no. It felt good in a way to feel like I was helping myself and my hiring pool brothers. After a while this grew tiring so I stopped answering the phone when crew scheduling called. Finally last week, wanting a few hours of sleep I went into the computer and told them not to call, they did anyway at 12:30 am!

I think that I have heard most of the arguments about the reasons to accept or not accept draft assignments, i.e. it allows us not to over hire then furlough, it is a part of FedEx culture, we make up for our less than industry pay by flying draft trips, if you don't do it someone else will, etc. I have even flown two draft trips in my two years here.

Some FedEx friends spoke with a member of the hiring dept here in Memphis last month during a chance encounter and asked her about future hiring plans. She replied that there really is no need as long as we keep volunteering. I think we are at the point now where one person can make a difference for their seniority and the future of the rest of their panel brothers and sisters. If they have to cancel lines due to their poor S/O staffing, then maybe they will hire. I don’t think that our eight new excessed engineers will make any difference. BTW, do your keep your wide body S/O pay?

I am not advocating any self-help action because previous posts indicate that may be illegal. I just wanted to share my thoughts on this with you and give some food for thought while you enjoy your second or third year narrow-body S/O pay (have you checked out the fourth and fifth year tables yet?).

 

[FedExpert]

Every time I correlate accepting draft assignments to delaying hiring, I get shouted down. What better hiring barometer than reserve useage and difficulty getting volunteers. It is not just about what is legal according to the contract but what is right for the group, including the poolies.

 

[AlbieF15]

God Bless you MEM guys with the fortitude and restraint to pass on the draft trips.

I passed on one two months ago (only one offered this year), but being a commuter that really doesn't buy much "moral high ground". You local boys passing on making those bucks is awesome, and for what its worth I appreciate it.

I agree that this isn't a "work action", but rather some SO's finally realizing that if we continue to accept draft assignments then we are basically chaining ourselves into our current seat. If you want to make 1.5 times your pay, upgrade! You won't likely upgrade if we keep on supporting the undermanning model of doing business.

And no, I don't hate Fred, FDX, or anyone in Mem. I just would like to see the hiring and upgrading continue...

 

[waitinginline]

Thanks!!

To all the guys/gals that responded thanks...

It has been a LONG 18 months so far.. Any word is better than no word!!

I hope spring/summer projections are right.. Thanks again..

Waiting

BL how you doin??

 

[switchbiatch]

WAZZZZZZZZZZ UPPPPPPPPPPPPP!

Doin good at this desk job just cant wait to get a flying seat. Enjoy that wiz jet now b/c soon it will be all over and the side saddle job on a 45 year old plane pouring coffee will be your new job title.

 

[USNFDX]

...heard that after 2 yrs in tha pool that it would be purged and necessary to re-apply? what up wit' dat homey?

Posting trash like that causes some 55 guys to into defib. I'm not an expert (like fedexpert) but I have never heard of Fedex doing that.

I spoke with my ACP and BH last week and both of them thought the poolies would start classes in April.....But nothing is for sure.

Also, we are getting short in many seats right now....727 F/Os as well as S/Os are getting abused on reserve. A300 F/O useage is way up as well. All three of these seats have been pretty fat in the past. The "Pig in the python" may almost be a terd.

Last Monday and Tuesday while the the DC10 S/O excess bid was being posted they were calling guys for draft!

The Company has no choice but to start replacing 727s with somthing. When the 100's have been going in for major inspection cycles, they have been failing for corrosion, and the cost to fix them is more than they are worth. My guess is that they will slowly start replacing them with somthing, probably 737s. It will be a long time before the 3 hole to 2 will negatively effect crew numbers. Initially it will require a significant increase in crewforce size.

I don't see how they can make it thru next peak with current manning.

I hope I'm right. Hang in there poolies!

 

[Spur]

Latest from the school house.

Had my sim the other day and got this "update"

1. New class probably in April
2. All -100s gone in a year
3. -100s replaced by a lease of 737-300/400 on property in 18 months.
4. 727-200s being replaced over the next 8 years by 737-800s

FWIW

 

[de Pez]

No real details on it yet, however a friend left a message on my machine about being called by FX for an interview in March!? Perhaps something's up..

 

[NightFlyer]

I stopped by the pilot recruitment office yesterday when I was in MEM and I heard the same thing from one of the recruiters. I hope it's true.

NightFlyer

 

[Falconjet]

Tough Week

I flew every day on reserve this week, and even the Captains and FOs also on reserve were complaining about how they were getting abused. A couple of things to think about though. The week leading up to Valentine's Day is another mini-peak and so there were a lot of extra trips added on this week. I don't know if they will be around after the flower push. The scheduler was almost apologetic yesterday when she called, because I have been getting long trips with late returns to the planet and a barely 10 hour long rest period between R days. These are some long days.

All that being said, I also think that we may finally reaching critical mass in terms of needing to hire. We actually had a leg removed from our trip last night because the Capt was already assigned another long block hour trip tonight and would have busted the 8 in 24 if we did the leg due to our delay getting out of Mem yesterday. Evidently they needed to leave freight on the ground somewhere in order to preserve the Capt for today's trip because they are running out of Capts too. Talk about robbing Peter to pay Paul.

I did one trip with an instructor and evidently they are all getting the same gouge, because all of the rumors sound the same. One thing I noticed though, was that some of the info wasn't correct, according to the recent training letter for the excess bid, so it made me wonder about the credibility of the info they are passing out over in the schoolhouse. My thinking is that they are just as in the dark as the rest of us, but hopefully not.

I can't imagine the company can continue to operate with the seats this thinly manned for too long. You can only get so much blood from a turnip. Lets hear it for some new blood!

FJ

 

[klhoard]

Do Not Call List

Put myself on the scheduling "Do Not Call" list yesterday. I was getting 2-3 calls per day for draft in the F/O seat.

We'll see if it helps.

Goose and Albie, I'm ready to trade up my seat!!

 

[Goose17]

airplane tidbit

There has been a lot of discussion on aircraft acquistion lately. Here is a first hand experience.

All month I have had maintenance delays on EVERY flight in the 727. The planes are worn out. I was told by a recent flex instructor that his buddy on the aquisition team said they are in a panic to try to get planes on the property - behind the power curve.

Yesterday, they finally ran out of usable 727-200s and they actually pulled an old -100 out for my trip to Wichita and back. We ended up leaving freight behind going in both directions due to lack of space.

We need more planes and pink bodies to operate them.

Goose17

 

[sandman2122]

Turned it down

Turned down 2 Draft calls last night in "Memfo" - they were waaay short on coverage - and I'm on da Airbus! Go figure!

 

[Falconjet]

Another call for draft

I got another call for draft for an airport standby (am). My streak of not having taken any draft continues.

I did a pm standby last week and they were out of spares, so I didn't even have any 72s to preflight. Wish they would have sent me home, but I could have replaced another SO so I had to stick it out.

I don't mind guys taking draft, at least that is time and a half (even though I value my off time more than that, it could be different if I could ever get off reserve) and I don't mind helping out when the company is in a bind and the freight needs to move. But that shouldn't be the normal ops, which it seems to have come down to.

Guys picking up extra trips out of open time at straight pay is really a bummer. Working extra days at straight pay is a REAL killer for the poolies.

I prefer to see everybody work their BLG/RLG and call it a day. The only time I have worked overtime (twice, this month included) is when I have dropped R days and picked up a trip or two to make up for them. I'm going to keep it that way.

FJ