FedEx Seat Bid

[Falconjet]

Sorry to start a new thread but I didn't want to continue the debate about the sim stuff in the last FedEx thread.

Just thought I would pass along that I heard today that the seat bid would come out on Aug 5th. That was from flight ops folks who seemed to be in the know, but of course there was the caveat that things could change.

Hopefully it will come out as scheduled.

Anyone else heard anything to dispute or confirm?

FJ

 

[mongopilot]

Sorry to start a new thread but I didn't want to continue the debate about the sim stuff in the last FedEx thread.

Just thought I would pass along that I heard today that the seat bid would come out on Aug 5th. That was from flight ops folks who seemed to be in the know, but of course there was the caveat that things could change.

Hopefully it will come out as scheduled.

Anyone else heard anything to dispute or confirm?

FJ

I heard that the Paris domicile might be back on My understanding is that they might hold the bid until the Paris domicile is decided on. But like u said, everything changes at Fredex by the minute.

 

[jacko123]

Does Fed Ex TDY pilots to domiciles or just create through trips in domiciles around the world. If they do TDY's, how long and were are they.

 

[donger]

Just say NO to France

 

[Goose17]

Does Fed Ex TDY pilots to domiciles or just create through trips in domiciles around the world. If they do TDY's, how long and were are they.

Domicle only in Subic Bay PI over seas. That is closing soon and the sort facility is moving to China. No word on the pilots yet. Currently Europe has no domicle. The Airbus has crews that do "European SIBA" where they bid it, get trained in it and fly double dead head trips to and from there.

Goose17

 

[Pecan]

Rumor

Was in the AOC today (sitting Airport stby) speaking with this Capt who just interviewed for an LCA position. Anyway.....next Monday was his rumor concerning the bid. Also....he mentioned that the MD-11 training folks are trying to implement a program that will put new hires directly into the right seat of the Mad Dog. A sign of things to come???? Who knows?

 

[Kav]

Mad Dog for newhires...

The MD-11 program for new hires is a true one. I've been in the Mad Dog FO training program for about three weeks now. Every single instructor we've been through, including Buck himself, has mentioned it. All say they are moving along at warp speed to get it up and running by the Oct 05 timeframe. Not a single one of them is very enthusiastic about it though.

 

[Miyagi]

... Not a single one of them is very enthusiastic about it though.

Can you explain the lack of enthusiasm? I have heard that the training program was designed to progress from SO to FO. Is it just too much of a culture shock to jump straight into the right seat?

 

[NightFlyer]

I really don't see what the big deal is about hiring into the right seat of the MD11. An airplane is an airplane and it's not like there aren't other companies doing it already.

 

[PurpleTail]

I really don't see what the big deal is about hiring into the right seat of the MD11. An airplane is an airplane and it's not like there aren't other companies doing it already.

I agree an airplane is an airplane BUT, and it is a big BUT, take some regional pilot who has been flying their same small city feeding the the large hub of say DFW, EWR, MSP and throw them into the right seat of the -11 in ANC and ask them to fly to Almaty in the winter in Meters instead of feet and QFE instead of QNH. Thats what concerns me. We go anywhere and everywhere in the -11.

With all the glass cockpits out there today new hires can learn the FMS and get threw training no problem...crap, its on auto pilot 90% of the time anyway. It is the international ops and having to learn about the company, bidding, scheduling, trip trades, deviations, etc etc that would overwhelm a new hire.

I have no problem hiring into the right seat, as long as it is into the Airbus domestic or the 72, DC10.

 

[FedEx1]

Airlines hire into right seats all the time- look at World, Omni, North American, Polar. All are heavys going all over the world. We have put new hires into the Airbus for Subic. Sitting in the back seat of the Boeing not flying, and going to Grand Forks isn't going to help you prepare for the MD-11.

The MD-11 program is so long, since the FMS portion is taught as if the student has had no FMS experience. And after the type ride, there are 2 more weeks of training, inclding 4 days dedicated to international ops. IOE is required to have an ocean crossing for the f/o's, and 2 ocean crossings for the captains.

I don't have a problem with new hires going to any seat they can hold. Besides, if our trend to hire furloughed major guys holds, well, we are tapping in to some good experience.

 

[FoxHunter]

New hires will do just fine in the right seat of the MD11. The civilian commuter pilot will probably have the least problem making the transition. International operations are not hard, just different. If there is a real problem it is Captains coming to the MD11 with little or no international experience.

 

[klhoard]

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Did someone fart? I mean one of those wet, smelly, persistent Taco Bell farts?
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[Echopapa]

The civilian commuter pilot will probably have the least problem making the transition.QUOTE]

I disagree.

A commuter pilot has probably flown glass, which is a good thing, but they have never flown a heavy aircraft nor flown internationally.

A US military fighter pilot is also disadvantaged...no heavy time and some, but not a lot, of international flight experience (Unless they are based in europe, most transit flying internationally occurs on the tankers wing as the tanker handles all clearances and navigation). Fighter pilots also have little instrument flying experience, and have had limited experience in different airfields or high volume civilian airports.

On the other hand a US Military heavy aircraft commander has already flown glass, flown cargo in a heavy airframe, and has taught and flown in the international flight enviroment. I suggest that this individual has the best background to excell in upgrade training.

I am in no way implying that civilain commuter pilots are substandard, they are some of the best people I have flown with.

 

[FoxHunter]

On the other hand a US Military heavy aircraft commander has already flown glass, flown cargo in a heavy airframe, and has taught and flown in the international flight enviroment. I suggest that this individual has the best background to excell in upgrade training.

Obvious, this type of background would be the best or one with heavy international 121 experience, but the civilian commuter pilot would be second.

 

[FoxHunter]

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Did someone fart? I mean one of those wet, smelly, persistent Taco Bell farts?
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Sonny, did you mess yourself again? Reach down and check your diaper. Your mom will get you out of them as soon as you can handle it.

 

[MemTrash]

I finished Bus Capt training last month. I was on the 11 for 6 years as an F/O. The guy I was paired up with was a new hire going to Subic. He flew G4's in the Navy and corporate. I'm not sure who is best at what but he smoked the program. Every instructor couldn't believe he was a new hire. Neither of us studied the FMS much at all and we had no problems with the program.My comment is that I think new hires would do better going straight to the 11 over the Bus. The MD works all the time the Bus does not. The FMS is weak and flawed. You have to watch it all the time. It climbs out over 250, it does not honor any restriction going up, and screws up a lot of them coming down. Asia flying is easier than the US anyway. May be sour grapes but I miss the 11 and will go back ASAP. Hub-turning again sucks!

The original ? was about the bid. I heard it was ready to be sent (200 WB capt) but that the Paris domicile was back on they didn't know weather they should go ahead with the bid and have another bid for Paris, or hold this bid and do it at the same time. Also, he said we had 57 A300s waiting and that most of the movement would be to the Bus. Anyone else hear anything like that?

 

[twgordy]

If Paris is a hub would it be A300 or MD11 crews based there?

 

[mongopilot]

If Paris is a hub would it be A300 or MD11 crews based there?

A300's would be doing the flying.

 

[FedEx1]

More rumors..... that when we move the asian base to China, MD-10's will be the aircraft out there, not the Airbus......