FedEx Pilot Shortage

[h.simpson]

from what my buds say, this is very rare for the 727, especially SO's, especially in september. there were also requests for other equip/seats, but this applies directly to new hires.

From FedEx Pilot web...

Due to staffing needs, the Company is requesting voluntary vacation
cancellations in the following seats for the September bid month, per
contract Section 7.I.2.

* MEM B-727 CAP F/O S/O

this hopefully means hiring to continue for the forseeable future. all the info you hear is 24 per month or so indef. maybe not through peak, but being a new 27 SO i can say WE ARE SHORT.

hang in there fedex wannabees--it's worth the wait.

h.

 

[Spur]

They have also increased training for 727 Capt & FOs from 2 crews/mo to 5 crews a month starting in Sep.

 

[FedExpert]

Just wait until they have an aircraft shortage. Still no movement on the 73/75 to be seen...next peak should be interesting, maybe much more wet leasing.

 

[elkurro]

Yeah, when will the company start to accept guys with fe licenses but no the required PIC time in multiengine or jet? Open up for some T34 bubbas!

 

[Spur]

Still no movement on the 73/75 to be seen...

Latest word is the 737 deal is dead. I've heard rumors they found more buses and MDs to buy.

 

[USNFDX]

Yeah, when will the company start to accept guys with fe licenses but no the required PIC time in multiengine or jet? Open up for some T34 bubbas!

Unfortanetly with over 10,000 apps on file, they can afford to be picky.

 

[Candide]

Please define "picky"

Unfortanetly with over 10,000 apps on file, they can afford to be picky.

Lots of your fellow Navy and Marine Corps pilots have a buttload of experience and would be great assets to your pilot roster yet fail to meet the MINIMUMS! at FEDEX due to this capricious requirement that strongly favors civilian and multi-tour Air Force. Wasn't Fred Smith a Marine?

Disclaimer: I'm a pathological lurker who only posts when I'm really friggin' drunk.

 

[F18-FDX]

Dude, I love your disclaimer. I have to agree in this case, you must have been drunk when you wrote this. There's nothing capricious about the minimums, pretty standard. I don't see how anybody is "favored" over anybody else either. You can fly anything operational in the Navy except helos to meet minimums, which makes complete sense considering the type of equipment FedEx operates.

 

[VaB]

You can fly anything operational in the Navy except helos to meet minimums

That's true, I think. The only exception would be P3 (or other multi piloted aircraft) guys that don't get alot of PPC (PIC) time on their first tour and then wind up flying T34s. They wind up short on the 1000 hour PIC minimum. Certainly suks for those guys, but I wouldn't call it "capricious". It probably takes an act of congress for them to change their official mins and, since they do have so many apps on file, probably isn't very high on their "to-do" list right now.

gluck

 

[Los1]

Hello everybody-

This is my first post on flightinfo....
I am currently in ICN, a Mad Dog F/O out of ANC.
Justy interested in more FX rumors...
How short are we?
No 73's then what/when?
How many are we hiring next year?
Info in ANC is not as forthcoming (rumor control not as good) as in Mecca (MEM)
tx-
Los1

 

[VaB]

How are you online in ICN? I thought there was no computer there. or did you pay for it.

I've heard 200 and change over the next calendar year. But noone will know, obviously, until the 200th guy walks in the door.

 

[Los1]

Next time you're here, ask the front desk for a computer room (16th and 17th floors) and if they have them they will give them to you...also been told that access to a computer downstairs in the business room is free for fx bros

Los1

 

[LEROY]

I have also heard the 737 deal is on hold right now, but that it was REALLY close to reality. Also heard the 75 is still being looked at. FWIW, folks I spoke with currently in training are still hearing two classes of 8-12 per month, indefinitely. Of course, that's what they told me just before I sat in the pool for many moons.

 

[oldf4guy]

Is there another class starting today (2Aug)

 

[sandman2122]

An USAFR buddy of mine was recently hired and told by Kim Daniels to "expect a Sept 6th or 13th class" - great to hear.


An opinion on 737's: FedEx has a department that buys/sells/leases aircraft and apparently are very good at it. I doubt that the company would give up on only a very tiny group of 737's (US Air's in specific) when there are probably several hundred around the world available for purchase or lease. Heck, we continue to aquire used A310's from Korea and part/all of our door conversions are now being done overseas. This makes me believe/hope that FedEx has probably made offers with several unnamed second/third world opertors for their used 737 junk.

An all widebody fleet would be great, but I would guess 737's would be a better "fit" in our system and even physically on our ramps - like back in the Memphis NE Ramp, Germantown Ramp, North Ramp and Courtyard Ramp (@ 53 narrowbody gates in all). Put an airplane that carries a little more than a 727 (we'll say a 757) but takes up two spaces because it's too long and wide to fit in these various tight alleyways - could be a problem. I don't have the #'s for the 757 but the 727-200 is 153'2'' long/108' wide - the 757 gotz to be bigger than this - don't get me wrong, I would preferr 75's over 73's but doing my scientific TLAR method, I'm guessing the 75 might be too big. Anyone have 75 or 737 dimensions for arguement sake?

I just see FedEx getting a comparably sized aircraft to replace the 727. My glass of beer is have full vs. empty that's all.

Prost!

 

[LEROY]

I agree w/ SandMan on the footprint issue (and MY glass O' brew is half full as well) but what about the load and airspeed issues? I don't think there's a 73 out there that can carry as much freight AND fly as fast as the 72. My guess is it will take MORE 73's flying more legs (OUCH!!) to equal the load capacity of the 72.

 

[USNFDX]

Ok, here are the stats. The 757-200 is only 2 feet longer than 727-200. It does have a substantialy larger wing span though, which allow for a greater mtogw.

The largest 737(900) is significantly smaller, and much slower.

757 Advantages/Disadvantages
Adv.
Bigger lift
Faster
757/767 common type
Range/can cross the pond
Glass/FMS on all aircraft

Disadv
Heavy wake turb Cat
Loaders are not compatitable
Too Big

737 Advantages/Disadvantages
Adv.
Loaders compatitable
narrowbody wake turb
smaller/ ramp compat.

Disadv
small lift
slow
range
not all ac glass/fms






727 - 200

Length 153.2'
Wingspan 108'
MTOGW 210000
Cruise .88

757-200

Length 155.3'
Wingspan 124.10'
MTOGW 255000
Cruise .80

737-900

Length 129'
Wingspan 112
MTOGW 174,200
Cruise .785

 

[sandman2122]

Thanks for the info USNFDX, those numbers about the 757 may make it a candidate for replacing the 727. Only a 16' wider wingspan could probably fit in the 727 parking spots, just don't drive the fuel trucks and loaders b/t the planes!


The common 75/767 type rating is an excellent point too.

But we're just a couple of freight dogs, what do we know!

 

[maddoggiestyle]

Isn't the 757 considered a "heavy" to ATC because of its wake turbulence? Doesn't seem like the plane of choice in Graceland every night since it needs increased separation on takeoff and landings. Any 757 guys out there care to comment?

 

[johnnyV]

Their loss!

They are losing a buttload of high quality people to other good companies. Time will only tell if this will affect them in the long run.

Good luck.