FedEx Lifestyle, NOT Sugarcoated!!!!

[TonyC]

Count me out though - I'm in F/O upgrade right now.

Turnin' it down?!?!?!

Apparently you've never had a Ruth's Chris experience.



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[Bosshog1]

I love a good steak too! I thought about that, but I wasn't sure that would be appropriate. I am based in MEM so I guess I'll have to just track down some FedEx guys and talk them into flying with me over to Gaston's on White River...Great steaks! We have had some guys go over to FedEx recently, but I never flew with any of them and didn't really know them. Thanks for the advice.

 

[TonyC]

I love a good steak too! I thought about that, but I wasn't sure that would be appropriate.

Oh, wait. I never said it was appropriate.

I was just brainstormin' out loud an idea for how to get to know a FedEx pilot and give him enough information to go to bat for you. My scheme would give you flying experience, social experience, and the background to honestly say "I'd enjoy hangin' with this guy on a 5-day schedule of back-to-back hub turns."


Hmmm . . . well, maybe not. Maybe you'd have to fly several times on several consecutive days, and try different restaraunts each day. The cost for bribes could go up quite a bit.


Seriously, though. I wouldn't be beneath bribing a FedEx pilot that I already knew to walk my resume to the System Chief Pilot. OK, call it "exchanging favors" if that makes you feel better. Trying this with a complete stranger would be quite a stretch.

Anybody else have any good ideas to start up a bribe farm? They pay, we refer. It can't be a PFT (Pay For Tellin'-em-I'm-a-good-piloy) or illegal in Tennessee, but it can look that way. We'd hafta devise a scheme to use other pilots to submit the referrals - - if The Company caught on, our referrals could be instantly worhtless. Maybe we can devise a scheme of commissions and bonuses. We might even reserve a block of time in an airplane at Olive Branch to reduce operating costs. Candidate pays fee up front, candidate and "Referring pilot" get prepaid time in the airplane. Candidate picks up dinner tab. Referring pilot goes to web site and makes referral if he likes the candidate. Up or down, the program administrator gets a percentage of the fees.


OK, I'm outta ideas. Anybody else?

 

[MAX ZORIN]

The bottom line: 25 % of FDX pilots will medical out before 60. Don't know what the pax airline number is.

25% seems a little high. Can anyone at UPS confirm a similar number?

 

[RichardFitzwell]

I'll probably get flamed by the retards but here's my take on FedEx...



I worked there for 5 years. Three as a S/O and two as a F/O on the B727. I can honestly say I didn’t like it. I came from the Regionals and I was excited at first but the nights truly sucked. It's very boring. One guy told me when he was in the military he couldn't wait to get in the airplane, now he can't wait to get out. That really summed it up for me too.



You spend a lot of time by yourself. On layovers most guys have different sleep schedules so getting together to do anything (even dinner) is tough. Time off is spent trying to readjust to a "normal" sleep schedule. Some can adapt better than others but I had a hard time.



I heard over and over about guys leaving early for medical reasons and didn't want to be in that position. The people that do the best are the ones that live in Memphis and stay senior enough to fly days. I didn't want to live in MEM so commuting was my life. It was funny (not really) talking to guys at 0200 during the sort and noticing how beat they looked. They would brag with blood-shot eyes about how they just picked up a west coast trip for $$$. I couldn't stop wondering - why? FedEx has lost a lot of aircraft over the past 6 years because the job is very demanding on the flight crew. I think every accident has been related in one way or another to pilot error. Wonder why?



I was offered a job at a passenger airline flying the B737 and took it. What a huge difference. I actually enjoyed flying again but my timing was bad. Sept 11 and I was laid off. Recalls have started and I'll be back in April after a 4-year furlough. I can't wait to get back.



FedEx is a great place to work if you can handle the schedules. No passenger carrier can offer the same stability. Would I make the same decisions over again? Probably. Life is too short to be miserable for the mighty buck. Just my opinion, I’m probably wrong. Good luck.

 

[Laughing_Jakal]

Fitzwell didn't fit well.

I agree with all of Rick's comments. This job isn't fun...it's business...though with the right crew and right trip, can be a lot of fun.

The boeing will put you in an early grave if you let it. Balance money with life....drop trips instead of pick them up. There are always opportunities to work more and cash is more addictive than.....(well I don't know as I have never had an addiction).

That being said, I can't imagine any 121 operation that isn't boring after a while, unless you are enriching your life by notching your crew bag for every FA you bag...If you operate safely and legally, according to the FOM, you will never impress yourself in an airplane again.....which is a good thing.

What FedEx allows you to do if you don't chase the almighty buck too hard is allow you to have a multidimensional life. If your life revolves around the next seat bid, or aircraft acquision, or next pay raise....then Fred will absolutely love you.

That being said, I did move to Memphis to spend more time with my family, and with the exception of the city, it was a great move....

If money is what you are really after, I can tell you that no amount will be enough.

Fitz.....glad to hear you're going back to work....sorry to lose you though, sounds like the kind of guy we like around here.

Jakal

 

[TonyC]

I'll probably get flamed by the retards but here's my take on FedEx...

To which "retards" were you referring?






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[FN FAL]

25% seems a little high. Can anyone at UPS confirm a similar number?

Although I don't work at FedEx... this month alone, we lost three pilots due (one is not for sure, but I doubt he's going to overcome the issue) to medical issues. Two are going to go because of rotator cuff problems and one went due to heart disease. There was one a few months ago that went out becuase of heart problems.

Age has a funny way of catching up with you and not getting proper sleep can accelerate it. The poster that said he was working at getting back into shape by working out is on the right track, it might only add a few years to his life, but it will significantly increase the quality of his life as well.

 

[PastFastMover]

This has been about 13 years ago, but I flew with a relatively new FO that had quit FEDEX to come to our company. He lived in MEM but could no longer tolerate the schedule. He was just short of making captain at FEDEX but did not want to live on the back side of the clock while the rest of the world lived on the front side. At the time he said he had not regretted it for a minute even though he now had to commute to work. I have not spoken with him since so really don't know his current feelings since the changes to most of us since 911.

 

[PastFastMover]

...If you operate safely and legally, according to the FOM, you will never impress yourself in an airplane again.....

Jakal

I really had to laugh at this. Truer words were never spoken.

 

[RichardFitzwell]

To which "retards" were you referring?






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Sorry, that could have been taken the wrong way. I was referring to the mental giants that have nothing constructive to add...not to FedEx pilots.

IMO - your type of flying is the most demanding in the industry. I have nothing but respect for any pilot at FedEx, UPS, etc.

 

[Fox2]

Great info! Can anyone provide an example of a typical schedule? How are lines typically built for the junior guys? How many Reserve days in a row; per month? How commutable for new hire heading to Memphis?

Thanx

 

[active_herk]

To any 727 F/O or S/O

Being ANC based, I'm not in the loop to alot of stuff that goes on in MEM, but just recently talked with a buddy of mine who is in the back of the boeing. He told me the schedules have gotten progressively worse over the last few years with very few DDH and a lot more out and backs. He was going to hang out in the back a little while longer to make life a little more friendly (he's a commuter). Anyone care to comment?

 

[Z_Pilot]

Being ANC based,

Is ANC primarily night flying too?

 

[PanelApe]

Junior Schedule

First of all let me say that things are moving pretty fast right now. Chances are you will not remain junior as long as some have recently.

The junior guys typically get reserve A (basically midnight to noon). The typical Reserve A line has about 6 days of reserve, 5 days off, 6 on , 5 off, etc. If you don't put yourself on first fly, you'll probably fly about every other day. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Commutable. Yep. It helps if you are a "good commuting" city. Several FedEx flights each day (Dallas, Chicago, Indy, etc). If not you can stil commute, but it gets a little more difficult. I commuted to reserve from a small city for 18 months without a problem.

Easy. Nope. But it is stable and growing. Pay is good. Seniority is getting better. I guess if you take care of yourself and work at staying healthy it is a good decision. I'll let you know for certain in 20 years when I hit 62 (after they change the age 60 requirement).

I had the chance to go to SWA earlier this year and chose to stay. Don't know if it the best decision or not - again will find out in 20. BUT....things at FEdEx don't suck so bad that I knew to jump ship right away. I guess it is what you make of it.

Hope this helps. If you have specific questions I can answer - pm.

Good Luck

 

[LEROY]

Qol Issues

PanelApe is right; things are moving very fast right now. I've been on A reserve for three months, but I can (and will) bid a line next month.

Reserve has been used heavily this month. Lotsa AM out-and-backs, lotsa layover trips. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. The plusses way outnumber the minuses at this point.

P.S. PanelApe, when you graduate to the back of the -10, do you become a "PanelNeanderthal" or a "PanelCroMagnon"?

 

[active_herk]

Is ANC primarily night flying too?

Its hard to put a specific label on ANC flying. We primarily fly international to Asia, but do get the occasional run to the lower 48 or to Europe. With international legs, we see a little bit of everything. I've had trips where the whole trip is during daylight hours, but with circadian shifts your body feels like its at night. I've also had night hub turns at Subic. I guess its all relative. I don't know if this answers your question, but hopefully gives you a little insight.

 

[sf340flyer]

my offer to any FEDEX guy (or Gal). Come to my house on an overnight (i'm in indy) fly Microsoft flight sim with me, and then to Mc Donalds we go for a great dinner. In return I would need a letter of Rec. Just kiddin.


I have heard that you guys get the weekends off and I have heard that you have 36 hour overnights on the weekends. Could you guys share some info on that. And also, If you need sometime off, for say a triathlon, is it hard to get days off.

 

[sleepy]

I work for about a year (before I was furloughed) in the international air cargo business. It is a tough lifestye. Most of the trips were a week to 15 days. Working on the backside of the clock gets old pretty fast (it usually took me about two days after returning home from a trip to feel normal again). I gained about 35 pounds in that year from the crappy lifestyle. I really don't miss it.


That said, FEDEX is a much better place to work than where I was. I am sure that the schedules are better than what we had. It is one of the strongest airlines out there, and that really matters the most. Since you are at ASA, go fly 4 or 5 DCA naps in a row, after the last one, that is how you will feel most of the time flying international night cargo.

 

[maddoggiestyle]

Flying the back side of the clock will always exist here at FedEx, that's the nature of the business, but it is only part of our very broad range of schedules.
It really depends on what equipment you are on and where you are based.
I am based in ANC and the flights to Asia leave in the late morning and the ones to the lower 48 leave in the afternoon. There are no a.m. out and backs here. About 80% of the flights out of here are international so, you have to deal with jet lag rather than shifting sleep cycles.
Since we started the postal contract a few years ago , our ratio of day to night flying is 50/50.