FedEx: for those who don't know Jack Lewis (Chief Pilot)

[Goose17]

Another thread was started referencing the "Jack Lewis Email". It was long and basically said we are growing rapidly and trying to keep up with pilot staffing and advancement. Here are some exerps from the rather lengthy email that might interest perspective pilots:

"We are also looking at hiring directly into the B727F/O and DC-10S/O seats to alleviate some of these training cycles. Every B727S/O on the property now will be senior enough to hold a different seat within the next 2 years and probably a different seat again within 2 years after that. This results from retirements, S/O "retreads", a fifth aircraft fleet type (B737?) and many incremental aircraft (Maddogs and Busses), even though we are swapping 3-man for 2-man aircraft. In the middle of all this, we may have a Europe domicile, we increase our India and Almaty frequencies, the A380 shows up, and we try to hub in China...

Planning considerations might be:
1. If a Europe domicile occurs, it won't happen until at least summer of '06 (no decision where yet, either).
2. If B737s happen, earliest line flying would be late spring of '06 (next bid maybe).
3. A380 arrival in mid '08."

Over the past few years, pilot movement has been slow (but no furloughs). Now, the bean counters realized we are way behind and we are hiring and moving up at full steam ahead.

Good luck to all interested.

Goose17

 

[FL717]

Hey... wait a minute! Shouldn't this be MOVED to the Cargo board?!! Where's a moderator when you need one.....

Just kidding. Congrats on the good news for you all. I'm real happy to hear that there are real "Major" Airlines out there still kickin' a$$ and taking names. I get jealous whenever I'm in Memphis.

I never check the Cargo board so please keep posting all the FedEx stuff right here..... because you never know... the way things go in this industry, I might be knocking on your door some day.

 

[LearLove]

"a fifth aircraft fleet type (B737?) and many incremental aircraft (Maddogs and Busses)"

Maddogs????

"and we try to hub in China..."
And some people think Colgans' outstation bases are a bitch to commute too...

 

[sluggo]

Kick ass, great news!

I just got the rejection letter today. I'm doomed. Best wishes ~ this industry sucks, should have went to law school. For those of you that don't make it to the top, your suckers. Thanks for your support, seriously. Later

 

[TonyC]

"We are also looking at hiring directly into the B727F/O and DC-10S/O seats to alleviate some of these training cycles. "

Of course, you realize there is a contractual issue involved here. In order for this to occur, there would have to be a vacancy posting where those seats went unfilled.


This contractual issue is the reason they chose to limit the number of FOs at Anchorage. Through their secret practice bids, they evidently determined that that seat would go unfilled, and it would be available to new hires. Given the average applicant, I don't think that's a bad idea; JL disagrees.

He thinks that one should start at the bottom and work his way up seat by seat, covering all the seats in the fleet before reaching MD-11 Captain. Of course, this route to MD-11 FO would involve 4-6 training cycles per person rather than one, which also seems to be the problem he laments in his latest email. Too much trainin' goin' on for his pleasure. It's a classic case of wanting to have his cake after he's eaten it.

 

[Goose17]

"a fifth aircraft fleet type (B737?) and many incremental aircraft (Maddogs and Busses)"

Maddogs????

"and we try to hub in China..."
And some people think Colgans' outstation bases are a bitch to commute too...

Maddogs = MD-11s

A hub is not a pilot domicle, rather a sort facility. The flights from those hubs start with a first class deadhead to the sort facility in the proposed China.

Goose17

 

[VaB]

The flights from those hubs start with a first class deadhead to the sort facility in the proposed China.

OR, you operate your way over there,

OR, the Subic domicile is moved there. hmmm, live in China. Ya think they have good Chinese takeout?

Tony,

The contractual issue you refer to is probably the reason he mentioned POPA and not to worry about it until after the fact. Maybe.

 

[klhoard]

Doesn't UPS's "Master Payscale" solve the problem of guys seat-hopping? One payscale for all then let seniority figure it out??

 

[sandman2122]

Yes it does! The most junior Captain at UPS is on the 747!

 

[klhoard]

Well, there you go. .
.
.
.
. . . .do the 12 hour time zone hopping while you're young and tough; then do the domestic weekend layovers when you're - (ahem) - more seasoned. . .

 

[Goose17]

Well, I'm no UPS guy, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express

I would think that guys would be seat hopping anyways. There is always a more desirable seat/aircraft. For us, it is mostly pay driven. For UPS, I would imagine guys are trying to get into the "senior planes" that have better routes and schedules.

Unless an airline has all the same planes, flying all the same routes, I think there will be lots of training while guys work up the seniority list. (Southwest?)

Goose17

 

[semperfido]

I just got the rejection letter today. I'm doomed. Best wishes ~ this industry sucks, should have went to law school. For those of you that don't make it to the top, your suckers. Thanks for your support, seriously. Later

Jeez, I have had many a rejection letter. Big deal. It stings a bit. Just wasn't meant to be. All is not lost. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. You will be fine as long as you hang tough. Oh.....there is no top.