FedEx Lifestyle

[jetstream]

Just wondering if some of you FedEx guys could give me some details about what life is like flying for them. Things like lines, schedules, time on reserve, quality of life, commuting, and back side of the clock flying. I'm looking at trying to get on there but not sure if I would like it.


Thanks!

 

[FN FAL]

I'm looking at trying to get on there but not sure if I would like it.


Thanks!

I'm pretty sure that if you get an interview, they will try to sell you on working there.

 

[Reebo]

im sure it beats flying an rj

 

[sandman2122]

Lifestyle?

About flying boxes for FedEx:

The quick answer is it's not glamorous. On one hand I do like parking the plane at my hometown ramp then walking @ 100 feet to my car and being home in 20 minutes. On the other hand, no sexy flt attendants to hit on, but there are a couple of foxy newhire chicks I've seen @ the A.O.C. ;-)


Flying back side of the clock is different but not difficult.

Schedules vary by the aircraft: MD-11 vs 727 for example. Airbus vs DC-10. I would sum it up by MD-11's fly lots of hours long-haul, you're gone for longer blocks and have more exotic destinations. 727's fly 1 or 2 legs into a sort facility (MEM, IND, EWR, OAK) sit/sleep for the sort (@ 2-3 hours) and fly 1 or 2 legs out, layover for @ 15 hours and do it again for 4-5 days in a row. I sum it up by saying you have a choice as to what kind of lying you would like to do in your career - long-haul international, or stay domestic flying heavy (Airbus/DC-10) or narrow-body 727's, it's just nice to have an option.

I would also say the 727 is the domestic workhorse of the fleet, the MD-11 the international horse.....Week on, week off schedules are optimum, but count on a 1 or 2 day trip to be thrown into one of your weeks off, which isn't a big deal if you can trade or drop it....Lots of military Reserve/Guard guys drop a week of FedEx flying so they can fly with their unit and preserve their 2 weeks off a month. Or fly both, your choice really.

Our schedules "overall" according to the company are a 50/50 mix of night/day flying - generally the day flying will probably go more senior (in my experience).

Commuting is easy. If you have a FedEx flight available you can book it two weeks in advance and if you follow some easy "work-parameters" you're protected if your flight craps out due to weather, mx or re-route which results in you missing your outbound trip. They call it our "no harm - no foul" policy.

Quality of life? Subjective to say the least. I've enjoyed it. I like having a lot of control over my schedule, unlike what other carriers have to offer. Our vacation rules are the best in the industry as well as our sick policy. Since we're in contract negotiations the company has created some negative publicity for themselves with respect to some recent Safety Evaluations......but I digress.........

With the limited companies available to work for today, I would recommend apply to ALL of them and if you get hired by two, or three, then decide where you want to go. Don't put all of your "eggs in one basket" .

Just my quick observation, other guys can tell you their views....PM me if you have anymore questions....