FedEx to temporarily suspend hiring

[Goose17]

I just heard from a captain that had a buddy interview a few days back. The interviewee was told that we will be stopping classes for about 6 weeks while the big bid posts, closes, and the training letter is published. This will allow the company to target where new hires should go more efficiently. The captain said KD also confirmed this via phone.

Goose17

 

[Phaedrus]

The interviewee was told that we will be stopping classes

I hate to be obtuse, but that sounds like they are stopping classes, not stopping hiring. Can you not be hired into a pool at FedEx?

 

[WorldOnTime]

I just heard from a captain that had a buddy interview a few days back. The interviewee was told that we will be stopping classes for about 6 weeks while the big bid posts, closes, and the training letter is published. This will allow the company to target where new hires should go more efficiently. The captain said KD also confirmed this via phone.

Goose17

Sorry Goose, this is kinda old news. Yes, no new classes until after the MOAB clears and the dust settles. Should be around the end of March, early April. Then they are going to go as hard as they can, possibly 70 per month. Newhires will be placed into a pool of sorts. Popular thinking is this will allow them to hand pick who they put into the right seat of the -11.

 

[stonewall]

Sorry Goose, this is kinda old news. Yes, no new classes until after the MOAB clears and the dust settles. Should be around the end of March, early April. Then they are going to go as hard as they can, possibly 70 per month. Newhires will be placed into a pool of sorts. Popular thinking is this will allow them to hand pick who they put into the right seat of the -11.

I heard someone mention the whole "they want to hire MD-11 guys" idea. How would that work? If out of class of 20, 10 had MD-11 experience and there were, say, 10 MD-11 F/O slots, there is no guarantee you could put those guys in those slots. It would all be based on seniority within the class. If they wanted to have a class of all MD-11 F/Os, that would mean they'd have to put guys in a class possibly out of order by DOH. It seems they'd have to manipulate alot of factors to make it happen, and I'm sure there are some contractual obstacles to that. Thoughts?

 

[WorldOnTime]

I heard someone mention the whole "they want to hire MD-11 guys" idea. How would that work? If out of class of 20, 10 had MD-11 experience and there were, say, 10 MD-11 F/O slots, there is no guarantee you could put those guys in those slots. It would all be based on seniority within the class. If they wanted to have a class of all MD-11 F/Os, that would mean they'd have to put guys in a class possibly out of order by DOH. It seems they'd have to manipulate alot of factors to make it happen, and I'm sure there are some contractual obstacles to that. Thoughts?

Now, this is just me pontificating-so take it for what it's worth. My guess is that they will get a pool of people, then run classes based only on aircraft type. For example, they will hire 15 people into one class and that class will only have 15 MD-11 slots available. Of course, the fifteen pulled from the pool for that class will be the ones they want to put into the -11. The next class will have only 727 f/o slots (or whatever seat they need). Again, just a guess on my part I think UPS has a similar system, kind of a competetive pool.

 

[SmackYourPappy]

I heard someone mention the whole "they want to hire MD-11 guys" idea. How would that work? If out of class of 20, 10 had MD-11 experience and there were, say, 10 MD-11 F/O slots, there is no guarantee you could put those guys in those slots. It would all be based on seniority within the class. If they wanted to have a class of all MD-11 F/Os, that would mean they'd have to put guys in a class possibly out of order by DOH. It seems they'd have to manipulate alot of factors to make it happen, and I'm sure there are some contractual obstacles to that. Thoughts?

Coming straight from the schoolhouse here and this is how its gonna play out... There will be no "split" classes- just pure WB and pure NB F/O classes for a few months out. That way the company can pick those in the pool who have heavy/glass time and stick them in the WB while the others will go to the Boeing. After a few months/classes like that, then we'll resume hiring to the SO slots like it never happened.

No back to my regularly scheduled SFTD studying....
-Pappy

 

[blzr]

Will FE's be a thing of the past at FedEx? Just wondering if there are alot of Fe's that will or want to remain in that position for the duration of their careers.

 

[Frac Daddy]

Coming straight from the schoolhouse here and this is how its gonna play out... There will be no "split" classes- just pure WB and pure NB F/O classes for a few months out. That way the company can pick those in the pool who have heavy/glass time and stick them in the WB while the others will go to the Boeing. After a few months/classes like that, then we'll resume hiring to the SO slots like it never happened.

No back to my regularly scheduled SFTD studying....
-Pappy

So........if I am reading between the lines correctly, there are only going to be seat locks for a couple of months?

 

[AlbieF15]

Sounds like good business to me. Everyone gets a job, and everyone gets a line number. Guys who seem to be a good "fit" for WB/Intl get early shot to it. The rest still get line numbers and a good job too.

Here's an interesting math equation: What is better for long term earnings? Seniority number 30-50 higher and a narrow body F/O (or even S/O) job with a 2-3 year wait for training, or a junior number but straight to a WB FO seat?
In the big picture--the CBA ain't gonna matter because it doesn't apply UNTIL YOU ARE HIRED. I just know a lot of guys will be wondering the pros/cons of various options--interesting to see the numbers.

 

[pilot141]

Will FE's be a thing of the past at FedEx? Just wondering if there are alot of Fe's that will or want to remain in that position for the duration of their careers.

Until we get rid of the 727/DC-10 we will have FE's. Some guys choose to stay in the back for a VERY long time; some guys roll back there after they turn 60 - it's all about what you want to do.

We will hire guys into the FE (S/O in FredSpeak) position in the future. This whole temporary suspension of classes followed by entire classes of Widebody and Narrowbody F/Os is so the company can fill the seats that it needs to fill without putting someone through three training cycles to get there.

After the initial bum-rush of widebody F/Os I'd expect the newhire classes to settle down into a decent mix of WB FO, NB FO and SOs.

 

[pilot141]

Here's an interesting math equation: What is better for long term earnings? Seniority number 30-50 higher and a narrow body F/O (or even S/O) job with a 2-3 year wait for training, or a junior number but straight to a WB FO seat?

With the list approaching 4700, the 30-50 numbers difference is at or less than 1%. Unless you end up being on the extreme end of a screw job (ie you miss your earliest Boeing Captain upgrade by one number and they don't run a bid for another two years) the extra year or two of widebody pay would probably be worth more.

This is going by BLG time, of course....you can sit in that Boeing right seat and pick up two extra days of flying a month and make up the difference.

 

[jeroom]

When are the A380's supposed to show up?

 

[PurpleTail]

The interviewee was told that we will be stopping classes for about 6 weeks while the big bid posts, closes, and the training letter is published. This will allow the company to target where new hires should go more efficiently.

And avoid paying any passover pay to anyone already on property. If you are on the panel and want to fly anytime soon get out while you can. Otherwise it might be awhile until you see a window seat or a significant pay increase, FWIW IMHO.


YES, FedEx is still hiring and creating "selective" pools.

 

[seefive]

Although FedEx isn't dying to pay passover, the purpose of the seat locks is to reduce to a minimum the number of training cycles each pilot goes through. Especially in the first two years. Some guys have been to training three times. Just not efficient.

If they put new hires in all right seats like they have planned to do, this will trigger all sorts of passover pay. According to management, paying passover is millions of dollars to the good side for fedex as compared to the cost of multiple training cycles (too many pilots on property not creating revenue). This makes sense really and will be good for the company long term.

 

[Ninerfan]

Anc

I'll wager that a pretty high % of the WB FO slots will be MD11 to ANC. Just based on JL's emails so far concerning expansion at that base. New hires may be facing an early decision on heading up there, hopefully with a moving package from the co. Might want to prep the frau for some dark winters in her future.