FedEX Feeder dorks

[fokkers&beer]

I've been a feeder. I told everyone I worked for a hillbilly carrier in Idaho, and I bet my Jets cooler than yours.

 

[photopilot]

It is a loser move to claim you work for FedEx. Personally I go way out of my way to make sure everyone understands I do not work for FedEx. I have a good guess who the guy in SHV is. Don't worry, he annoys a lot of people. If it is who I am thinking of, most feeder pilots wouldn't want to claim him as one of our own.

You can't paint with too broad of a brush. Most of us just want to do our job and go home. We generally don't give a crap about impressing anyone. Most of us, if we could fly in blue jeans and an oily T-shirt, we would. I would say most feeder pilots are a different breed and about as cool as they come. But there is always one in every group.

Feeder pilots have never flown struck work. The reason FedEx doesn't hire us is that we are considered feeder trash. That is OK, plenty of us have found good jobs at places after life at the feeders. Afterall, wouldn't want us dirtying up the flight deck of the sky gods. *There is the occasional exception and occasionally you will run across a mainline pilot who will actually acknowledge your existence and say good morning. Mostly not.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

Photopilot,
I completely agree with that. There are many very cool feeder guys, probably 90% of the ones I've met I'd drink a beer with any day.
I could never take any of that respect away from them. They're doing a tough job for not much money and little thanks (especially from big Fred).
But there's a select few who feel the need to "stretch the truth" about their jobs. It would be a lot cooler if they just told the truth because they're not fooling anybody.
If you're under 35 years old and/or you fly a prop, chances are pretty good that you don't really fly for FedEX.


Fokkers&beer,
I have no doubt that your DC-10 is cooler than my little POS's. Heck, a Kia Sephia is probably cooler than the old bucket of bolts I fly.
But I'll be ya a case of beer that my Lear 24 can fly circles around that huge ostrich you fly(literally).

 

[dillfer]

Who would be jealous of the feeders anyway? They're some of the lowest paid people in the entire industry. I mean $52,000 for a 5 year captain at Empire and MAC. $62,000 after 13 years of service...that's disgraceful and there's no opportunity to move to jets either. And you have to fly all night long. And you don't get paid any more for flying more hours.
Damn, I'm getting jealous just thinking about it. You guys have it sooo good.

Oughta check your facts son. At Empire you get paid more after 80 hours but very few bases ever fly that much. I've only flown 160 hrs this year. The pay is low that I agree with, however if I hit 300 hrs. this year, which I won't, 52000/300 is pretty good money. As far as the flying all night thing about 90% of our runs are day runs.

As far as the jealousy thing we've already established that you're the jealous type.

 

[thunderworm]

daytona did your ex go to high school in spokane as well and if so what school.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

Oh dillfer,
Yeah, I'll double check my facts...you get paid crap and if you work more than 80 hours, you get even more crap. But you never work more than 80 hours so you always just get crap. Damn, I'm glad you corrected me on that one.
My god, man, you could get a nice cushy charter gig flying a fast, clean jet and get more than 300 hours a year. At that rate you'll be flying crap till you're 50.

Jealous...are you serious? You can do better than that. I made more as a first year FO at my company than a 4th year FO makes at Empire. And I didn't even make that much!
Try again...I'll check back tomorrow to see if you can come up with a better one.

At least I don't have to lie to women about what I do. You're one of those guys, aren't you? Admit it if you are.

Oh yeah, before I forget, here's a copy of your guy's flight schedule. It looks like almost half of your runs are at night or early morning before the sun's up. So where did this 90% stuff come from?
http://www.empireairlines.com/2504015/main/Content/ImageLib/121 web schedule.pdf


Thunderworm,
No, she's not from WA.

 

[dillfer]

I could never take any of that respect away from them. They're doing a tough job for not much money and little thanks (especially from big Fred).

Yeah, I'll double check my facts...you get paid crap and if you work more than 80 hours, you get even more crap. But you never work more than 80 hours so you always just get crap. Damn, I'm glad you corrected me on that one.

Man, you're all over the place. I'm very glad that you make a ton of money. Money's not everything, it sure helps with a lot, but it's not everything. Obviously I don't mind what I get paid otherwise I would go somewhere else, I enjoy the quality of life that Empire affords me. That may change in a couple of years but it works for me now.

When I was single I used to tell women, when they asked what I did, that I delivered boxes for FedEx. Which isn't really a lie. The pilot line never worked well for me.

And you have to fly all night long.

We do have a lot of runs that leave early in the morning around 6am. I was just stating that we don't have many where you have to fly all night long, like you said.

 

[Daytonaflyer]

Dillfer,
I don't make a lot of money, but when you claim that I'm jealous of feeder guys, I'll respond because there's nothing for me to be jealous of. Those other things you quoted were in response to other people's comments too.
The whole point of this thread was to point out that lying about who you fly for is stupid and makes you look like a phony and it's become very common among some feeder guys.
Non-pilots may not know better initially, but eventually, when they find out the truth, you'll look foolish.
The incident with my friend and that guy in Spokane was just the most recent example I've heard of. Of course there's this other one:

My old college buddy flies for MAC and lists himself as a pilot for FedEX right on his web page. He even has a couple pictures of him in the right seat of the ATR. Then he lists his salary at $45,000-$60,000. Who's he trying to fool?
He's only been there a year, so he couldn't have upgraded yet and MAC's FO scale doesn't even go above $38,000/year.

Even the regional drivers don't do it as much as the FedEX feeder guys. I rarely hear Eagle guys say they fly for AA.

 

[goodgig]

I rarely hear Eagle guys say they fly for AA.

So this implies that you did once?

Where is THAT thread?????

 

[say again]

So this implies that you did once?

Where is THAT thread?????

They werent using it to pick up his ex-girlfriend, so it doesn't affect him!!!:laugh:

 

[photopilot]

If you divide our pay by hours flown we are really well paid, per flight hour. However, we are at work a lot longer than we fly. A lot of our runs have down time where you are just sitting. Personally I would rather work harder and have more to show for it. If I am going to be at work for 10 hours anyway, might as well be flying and getting paid.

Breaking it down by hours flown really does us an injustice. We are poorly paid and there is no getting around it. 2nd year FO's at Skywest are making as much as 2 year Captains in out ATR's.

 

[Fblowjets]

Man I am a corporate guy flying out of SHV. Oh crap i just admitted to being in this dump of a city. STAY AWAY FROM THE RED HEAD... I got a box of rocks that are smarter.. Maybe Ill go get in on some conversations at the FBO..

 

[landlover]

Man I am a corporate guy flying out of SHV. Oh crap i just admitted to being in this dump of a city. STAY AWAY FROM THE RED HEAD... I got a box of rocks that are smarter.. Maybe Ill go get in on some conversations at the FBO..

dumb and hot?? sounds perfect, why would i stay away!

 

[Sawmill]

Hey daytonaflyer...what are you so fixed on what others make and letting everyone know you fly jets? Didnt your parents teach you its bad form to discuss what people earn...even if it is public knowledge?
As for making us all aware of your non-propeller flying job, one day you may understand that jets are not for everyone. I get 10 times the satisfaction flying props over jets...I found jets to get real boring, real fast. Thats me and I am sure others feel the same way. I think we'd all agree that what others choose to do or say is their business. Lighten up...and choose your battles more effectively. Most everyone (Im guessing here) is laughing at you because you are getting so worked up over absolutely nothing. And I am betting that episode involving your ex-girlfriend probably didnt damage her sensibilities that much. This is just my opinion so take it for what its worth. Ya gotta lighten up man...otherwise your medical will be revoked due to high blood pressure!

 

[districtpilot]

As a MAC Pilot, I really don't think it's that simple. Life is way too complex and fluid to simply state that I work for:
A. FedEx
B. MAC
Believe me if someone approaches me and cares enough to ask what I do for a living, then I would be more than happy to explain the entire scope of my employment. Of course every situation and person is different so I use critical thinking to proceed.