FEDEX feeder to Mainline FEDEX

[skeeter666]

Hey, does anyone know if FEDEX has hired any feeder guys or if FEDEX has a no hire policy for these pilots. As long as you have all you time and degree and now a sponser, nothing in thier policy forbids it, does it? Thanks- Skeeter

 

[FreightNazi]

I think FedEx has a flow through program where you start in the Caravan, the work your way to F-27/ATR F/O, the Captain and then you can flow through to mainline FedEx. Ran into a FedEx Caravan pilot awhile back who told me about the program.

 

[clownhater]

Where does one apply for the caravan pilot positions? Is it FedEx that operates those or is it another company entirely? Thanks

 

[Ill Mitch]

From time to time, a feeder guy will make it to the mainline, but it is very rare.

Clownhater,

Just about all of the feeders are hiring. You can checkout the list at:
http://www.caravanpilots.com/operators.htm

 

[Zulu]

I think FedEx has a flow through program where you start in the Caravan, the work your way to F-27/ATR F/O, the Captain and then you can flow through to mainline FedEx. Ran into a FedEx Caravan pilot awhile back who told me about the program.

That's news to me -- I could be wrong but I've never heard anything about a flow through with the feeders.

While I've been in here I've run into a couple (but not a lot) of former feeder pilots. Since they're employed by totally independent companies I don't think there's any bias for or against feeder guys.

Z

 

[ILStoMinimums]

Its probably much easier to get hired with FDX while flying with another company not affiliated at all with them.

BTW, can somebody explain the 'sponsor' required to get an interview?

 

[FearlessFreep]

You've got about as much chance as a snowflake in a blast furnace to "flow through" from the feeders to the mainline.

I don't know currently but I believe there is no flow through program.

One of the requirements is:

a minimum 1000 hours PIC in fixed-wing jet, fixed wing multi-engine turbo-prop, or multi-engine recip over 20,000 LBGW or combination thereof.

This requirement makes it very difficult for a Caravan pilot who might have a lot of turbine PIC, but it doesn't count because it is not in multi-engine turbo-props.

If you've got the 1000 PIC turbine requirement as defined above you probably have just as much of a chance of getting on with Fedex as anyone else does. Most of the 'Van drivers don't, so it is very difficult for them even if there was a flow through.

I have heard a rumor that actually working for a feeder contractor is more of a detriment than a help as Fedex sees that they are expending money on you in training costs, so they would rather see you stay where your at.

 

[flyboyzii]

I've been flying the Feeders for 5 years now. I haven't heard of any "flow thru" program. My experience is that Fed Ex looks at feeder pilots as gum on their shoe much less being classified as actual pilots. They want "heavy" time now. It doesn't matter that I fly "in the weather" every single day collecting massive amounts of ice and dodging t-storms. "We" just aren't good enough. I'm really not trying to come off as bitter..really I'm not. But, I just look at it as their loss not mine. I have flown for years without an incident or accident. O.K...........I'm bitter!!!! LOL

 

[Smoking Man]

Years ago flying for one of the feeders only one person in the History of my previous employer had been successful in going from feeder to fedex.

Your place was as a feeder, and people made sure you knew it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NookyBooky]

What does it take to get in the driver's seat of one of Fedex's own Caravans?

 

[falcon20driver]

That guy up there in Fresno, I don't know what his deal is, but Empire, they hire once in a while, and MAC is hiring van drivers constantly, ya might have a problem livin in SoCal though.

 

[FN FAL]

That's news to me -- I could be wrong but I've never heard anything about a flow through with the feeders.

While I've been in here I've run into a couple (but not a lot) of former feeder pilots. Since they're employed by totally independent companies I don't think there's any bias for or against feeder guys.

Z

I hear complaints all the time from feeder guys about the lack of a flow through. It's always from someone without a college degree.

I know of two that made it up. Our old chief pilot and a guy that was sitting in our feeder pilot lounge waiting to jump seat out, who told me of his feeder days. His story was that he worked for fedex as a rampie while flying for the feeders and that was his hook.

I think the problem is that the feeders hire people who are going to stay a while, especially those who fit the profile of a long term employee...whatever that may be. I don't think the feeders discriminate against degreed people, but I don't think they hire many. We had a guy flying feeders by us, that had two master degrees three BA degrees and was retired P-3 pilot...and they still hired him at the feeders.

 

[FedEx1]

We had a former feeder guy in my new hire class last year. He flew the F-27. No one thought of him as "gum on their shoe." He got his PIC turbine and had his 4 year degree like everyone else. He probably knew more Fedex guys for recs to help him get on, so- if anything, being a feeder guy might have helped.

I hear complaints from the feeder guys that the mainline guys treat them poorly. I haven't really seen it, but I am sure it has happened SOMETIME. (Hey, I have been treated poorly, and I am mainline!! he he) It is hard to be smiley and diplomatic at 4 am waiting for the plane to be off loaded so you can crawl back in and do it some more.

If you are totally conviced of something (like mainline guys being jerky to you) than all you will do is constantly look for the evidence to support your theory. Every head turn, remark, and action gets taken out of context as "proof" that "those guy look down on us." Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar. Or in our case, a tired guy is just plain a tired guy.

In most cases, the mainline guys I know have the utmost respect for the feeder guy that might be single pilot, flying around in the crap, in the middle of the night, trying to stay awake, too. We know you have to fly at the altitudes wherew the ice and turbulence are the worst, into smaller airports with little services. Give it another chance, flyboyzii- maybe we will surprise you.

 

[h2oskier]

I worked at MAC from 92 through 96, and exactly 1 person from MAC got hired at FedEx during that time. He was an F-27 Capt. as I remember, and I think it required an act of Congress. We always wondered why the feeder guys and gals weren't given more consideration as there are no pilots anywhere more familiar with the FedEx system and hubs outside of the mainline pilots. Good luck to all those trying!

 

[FN FAL]

I hear complaints from the feeder guys that the mainline guys treat them poorly. I haven't really seen it, but I am sure it has happened SOMETIME. (Hey, I have been treated poorly, and I am mainline!! he he) It is hard to be smiley and diplomatic at 4 am waiting for the plane to be off loaded so you can crawl back in and do it some more.

Some of the guys I work with have made the same comment, but I never give it another thought...I'm not that social at the end of 15 hours on the company clock myself.

Most will go out of their way to say hi on their way through the feeder lounge, some will stay and shoot the bull...some will just want to find a place for some peace and quiet. I don't really notice anything. I ocassionally wind up letting a van full of FedEx guys into the building in the morning, because I get to work about the same time they do; those guys are just glad to not have to ring the bell and wait for 15 minutes to get in the building.

Last summer when Bush came to MKE, we had to divert to MSN right out of the midfield downwind. Kinda sucked, but when we got to MSN, the 727 Captain got all excited about getting a pot of coffee on for us. That was royal! He was a pretty good joe...made sure the flight planning room was available and extended every courtesy.

 

[skeeter666]

Thanks for the info....being a fedex ramper/courier for 14 years and loading more feeders and mainline than I care to remember has not helped much either......Hey, at least if I fly the ATR/feeder it looks like I work at fedex!

 

[ATRCAPT]

There is no official "flow-through" from the feeders to FEDEX. At Empire we have an "Executive Referal" program. Once you've been an F-27/ATR captain for three years our president will fill out the appropriate paperwork that is SUPPOSED to generate an interview fro you. It does not give you any advantage. We've only had one guy get called, and he was PROMPTLY turned down. He got hired at American the next month. Of course he was subsequently furloughed. We just had a FEDEX suit from Memphis in our ATR jump seat last week. He said the pilots union enforces an unofficial no hire policy against the feeder crews. He did not explain why. i told him I thought that was crap and he agreed.

 

[skeeter666]

That is real crappy.............if you could get proof, that would be a huge lawsuit!

 

[thunderworm]

i would rather get hit in the jimmy than hear that news atrcpt. not cool.

 

[TonyC]

We just had a FEDEX suit from Memphis in our ATR jump seat last week. He said the pilots union enforces an unofficial no hire policy against the feeder crews. He did not explain why. i told him I thought that was crap and he agreed.

The reason you thought it was a load of crap is it's a load of crap - - and a lie. There is no such policy. That would explain why he couldn't explain it.

I'd like to know what sort of "FEDEX suit," as you say, was allowed to jumpseat in an ATR.