FEDEX Hard Landing in MEM

[405]

Why?

The huge FedEx logo on the side of the accident aircraft has been painted over. The fuselage is solid white with a purple tail now. What's the reason?

 

[WorldOnTime]

The huge FedEx logo on the side of the accident aircraft has been painted over. The fuselage is solid white with a purple tail now. What's the reason?

So no one will know who's it is! ;-)

 

[405]

So no one will know who's it is! ;-)

Yeah, no one will know now. Shhhh. All of the other planes that are white and purple won't tip anyone off.

Glad the crew made it out okay. No flame intended here.

 

[MJG]

Someone mentioned something about maintenance. That got me thinking about something I once read or heard about FDX. Isn't the FDX fleet one of the oldest fleets in the world, relatively speaking?? Old planes do break from time to time, I remember seeing the number of hours that NW hydraulic pump had on it when it failed and let that -9 go hauling off into another NW aircraft. Something like 67,000 hours of operational service on that pump. It's got to be a chore to keep the older fleets running smoothly.

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

Just because I happen to be one of the best pilots in the world, does not mean I lack humility!

Aaaah, the Oracle of Fedex has spoken and I kneel in awe of your presence!

 

[AceCrackshot]

Early word is mechanical on the MD-10 in MEM, so good news for the crew! Probably did a excellent job escaping with their lives, let alone salvaging as much of the plane as they did.

See you at the M&G Malter!

 

[Benjamin Dover]

Actually, you've got it backwards. We went to the new system because of the ********************-birds that were hired years back who didn't have any references.

Shouldn't "We" be "Jack Lewis". Good thing "JL" has that "no legacy carrier" hiring policy of his that you guys all claim is out of you hands. We've been torching so many airplanes at the "majors" the past few years that I would hate to come over to FDX and jeopardize that stellar purple safety record the past several years ;-). Oh yeah - we've got bad attitudes. Despite the facts, JL says we all "passed" on Fedex and went to the airlines

 

[MsFan]

Shouldn't "We" be "Jack Lewis". Good thing "JL" has that "no legacy carrier" hiring policy of his that you guys all claim is out of you hands. We've been torching so many airplanes at the "majors" the past few years that I would hate to come over to FDX and jeopardize that stellar purple safety record the past several years ;-). Oh yeah - we've got bad attitudes. Despite the facts, JL says we all "passed" on Fedex and went to the airlines

Huh??

 

[Purpledog]

How does that joke go.... Navy pilot and carrier landings?

The last MD10 gear collapse we had that was actually found to be due to improper landing was flown by someone hired from a commuter. Not that it makes a bit of difference. I'm just a little sick of those comments. People that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. It could happen to anybody.

 

[Champ42272]

IMHO, we at FedEx have got a HUGE MAINTENANCE problem with the MD-11/MD-10. The landing gear is NOT supposed to collapse upon landing. Once is bad, twice is worse, but three times is a systemic problem (and that doesn't include the China Air crash, in which the gear collapsed the same as the Newark MD-11 crash).

We got a problem, and it aint the pilots fault.

Champ 42272

 

[Wildmanny]

Guys:

I've been reading this thread for a couple of days and the recurring theme(s) are: FedEx has a problem, FedEx isn't so great after all (dripping with self-superior sarcasm), and "I know what really happened" attitude.

Having been a target of SPECULATION in an earlier life, we should guard against doing it in this case or any other. Nobody really knows exactly what happened except the crew and a few select people in the company, I'm sure. Why not let the investigation take its course and the FACTS will come out? Small details will always leak out, but I hope we all don't reach for conclusions that aren't there.

As for those of you out there laughing at FedEx with your mirth and sarcasm, channel your charm and go pile on somewhere else.

My .02

 

[filejw]

"Might be a maintenance problem" Good for the crew it hope. I often wondered about cycles on those DC10 at FedEx.Most long haul carriers do about 8 hrs per cycle and FedEx maybe 3? That's lots of landings and could explain some gear problems.

 

[Malter1]

OK, now we're getting somewhere in the conversation. I'll forward my resume to you in the morning.

Seriously, its my own humble, inexperienced suggestion. Take it or leave it. HR departments love easily comparable metrics, like flight time. It does provide some basis for comparing two individual aviators, but is the type of experience someone is bringing to the table what our organization needs?
I don't know. I do know people that interviewed aviators at TWA, and some of the regionals. All spoke of the type of flying, versus time, as being more important than amount, and attitude as most important of all.
So, perhaps the answer is to politely excuse the HR departments from the process. I'd like to see it industrywide. I'd also like to hit the powerball, while I'm dreaming. Or get on at FEDEX.

Landing accidents would suggest to me that bad approaches are being salvaged. Why? I don't know. Pressure to get to the sort on time? Cowboy flying? There is an answer. Can't write them all off to bad luck.

AceCrackshot,
I hope you feel like the jackA$$ that you are after all the rediculous posts you've made on this thread. After all, you named this thread "FedEx Hard Landing in MEM". Now, indications are that it may have been a mechanical failure. What sort of "professional pilot" is first to play the blame game. Sounds more like a moronic newscaster from CBS to me. Go back and re-read what you've written and tell me I'm wrong. While you're at it, go tell your sponsor what you think of FedEx, the management, and the training department. Let him screen you out of the process early before you waste anyone else's time.

 

[Lake Alice]

Hard landing, crew fatigue, mechanical or whatever other reason might have caused the accident FedEx hiring and training policies should be looked at.

If you are not military you have a slim chance of being hired. And as for hand flying the airplane, well, don't.

Things need to change because it is a great company.

 

[WorldOnTime]

If you are not military you have a slim chance of being hired. And as for hand flying the airplane, well, don't.

This is the biggest load of bull******************** I keep hearing. There are plenty of commuter/corporate guys here. Maybe it has just been lately, but "we" are here and more are coming out of the pool. It's not that FedEx or any other airline hires more military, I just think that overall, military guys network better and also take better care of their bros. I think that may be starting to change.

And yes, HAND FLY THE AIRPLANE. If the training department is indeed doing that, they are the root of a big, big problem. It may have nothing to do with this latest MD-10, but is a retarded policy to not have the crews hand fly the airplane.

 

[Lake Alice]

WorldonTime,

Most of what you said is spot on except the military folks taking care of their bro's better.

It has very little to do with airline or corp guys not networking properly and more to do with military guys doing the hiring and interviewing and wanting mainly military. Those are the guys JL wants to hire so those are guys JL and the board will approve for the interview.

Fairly simple really.

 

[WorldOnTime]

WorldonTime,

Most of what you said is spot on except the military folks taking care of their bro's better.

It has very little to do with airline or corp guys not networking properly and more to do with military guys doing the hiring and interviewing and wanting mainly military. Those are the guys JL wants to hire so those are guys JL and the board will approve for the interview.

Fairly simple really.

Jack hired me, the ACP I interviewed with was prior military...so what's up with that? I was never in the military, ever.

I wasn't talking so much about civilians not helping each other, but when you live/eat and breath together (and God knows what else with you crazy Navy guys!) on base/ship for three years at a pop-you've probably got a little more of an advantage.

 

[Purpled]

Let the Whine-Fest continue.

When I started here, all I heard was about how we didn't hire any civilian guys...50% of my class was pure civilian. Oh yeah, we didn't hire furloughees either...but we had a couple of them (U, AA and USAIR). I've even seen a few guys from active majors get hired here; even though we aren't hiring many of them, they do exist.

Sounds to me like some folks need better sponsors (or personalities) rather than better excuses.

 

[dee48eal]

as a long time purple guy - i agree that people need to hand fly more and we need to do more xwind landings in the sim. mho

 

[Tomct]

It come's in threes.

NWA diverts to Saginaw.
FDX in SDF
FDX in MEM

Are we done?

:blushon't forget AA 777 that was headed to LAX from London...Diverted to JFK after engine was shut down in flight!

 

[filejw]

I went back to the gate the other day does that count too......LOL

 

[flyn96]

The last MD10 gear collapse we had that was actually found to be due to improper landing was flown by someone hired from a commuter. Not that it makes a bit of difference. I'm just a little sick of those comments. People that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. It could happen to anybody.

Yes they did fly at a commuter, PRIOR to working at 2 other MAJOR airlines, before FED EX.

 

[Purpled]

Yes they did fly at a commuter, PRIOR to working at 2 other MAJOR airlines, before FED EX.

Yeahhh, ummmm, His point was that by this time in one's career their background doesn't make a difference when it comes to the accident investigation.

Unless, of course, your were making an arguement against commuter and legacy guys, which would lead me to conclude that only folks right out of the military should be hired[absurd, no?]. You'll have to take that one up with Ben D.

 

[LEROY]

How many other majors still have a 2-day, simulator-included, interview process?
How many others fly FedEx's number of cycles on aircraft built in the 1960's?
How many other majors have non-unionized maintenance which was PURPOSELY undermanned in MEM as a way to cut costs (nothing against FX MAINT - they are simply undermanned)
How many other majors have NEVER lost a human life in an aircraft accident? (yes, y'all can balk about the boxes, but then ask yourself, how many passenger fatality accidents took the life of the front-seaters too?)
How much thought have you given to the fact that there are folks out there who stand to make and leverage billions if they can spin the idea that FedEx pilots aren't up to snuff?
Points to ponder;nomex suit on (that's FLAMEPROOF for you civvies LOL)