FedEx Upgrade Times?

[Fox2]

Based on retirements plus projected min. hiring over the next few years, any idea on upgrade times, SO to FO, and FO to Capt. if one were to upgrade as soon as able?

Thanx

 

[AlbieF15]

a milliion lifetimes...

or maybe it just feels that way...

Hiring and upgrades are a cyclic process that are generally in phase with each other. Guys hired 8 months ahead of me can hold an MD11 in Memphis as an FO. However, other than ONE guy junior to me at Subic (FO on the A300), guys in my class (Jan 02) haven't been able to move off the SO spot on the 727. In fact, some classmates who went to the SO spot on the DC 10 have since been displaced back to the 727, although their class dates are at a very future date.

Long answer to a short question...but point is upgrades will depend on growth, retirements, future hiring waves, etc. Looking at someone elses history may not predict yours at all.

Want a "best guess?" Hired this year?

3 years SO on 727.

Year 4....right seat of 727, or Subic/Anchorage widebody FO. Bottom 20% in any case...

Year 5....right seat Memphis widebody....maybe

Year 8-10....727/narrowbody captain.

Year 15....widebody captain.

Your mileage may vary due to driving conditions.

Want to upgrade fast? Go to JetBlue...Airtran. Want to be a captain in 5-6 years at a very stable company? Try Southwest. Want to stick with a (historically) stable environment, have the options to fly almost anywhere in the world, have some good pay/benefits....then this (FDX) is a very good gig. There is a strong case for any of those choices, but don't come here with big dreams because an old buddy got to the right seat of a widebody in 8 months...I'm afraid that (at least for now) that horse has left the barn.

Wrong before...actually hope I'm being too conservative on my estimates.

 

[Huck]

Ditto. I have punched the retirement numbers, and unless the fleet grows, Albie's spot on.

Many people will tell you widebody within a year. He!!, they still tell ME that. Don't look at the bottom of the respective lists - look at the last pilot assigned there.

 

[h.simpson]

gotta remember--a fedex widebody f/o will make more than a jetblue capt, and have the better retirement. some feel capt is everything, but the pay/bennies are a big factor for me.

some also don't want to fly boxes. to me, you work for a company that you hope will be there when your retire.

just something to think about.

h.

 

[USNFDX]

I just flew with a DC10 Capt who JUST got checked out....In just over 10 years! He is a bottom feeder on reserve, but widebody Capt at 10 years is pretty awesome. With more than 2/3rds of the fleet being widebody, there is no better opportunity anywhere, to be flying heavy metal, right or left seat, while still young.

 

[maddoggiestyle]

In the last few months, I have flown with 2 captains now that have been at FedEx for only 8 years! They are both in ANC with this being are most junior MD base.

 

[donger]

I have a friend who has been on the panel of the 727 for eight years, and has his regular sked that he likes with double dead heads and all, AND he lives in a very expensive part of SoCal. He makes this works and claims birthdays, holidays and vacations are worth more to him than flying for more pay.

I plan on moving to Memphis and chasing the dollar... but I am single and have no life so that will work for me. But I would guess I would stay on the panel for at least 2 years before "upgrading" my paycheck and "downgrading" my schedule.

...And I can't WAIT!!!!!

KD my phone is on, PLEASE call me!!!

 

[skyward80]

Albie:

How much do you feel your estimates will change if FedEx replaces its 727s with 737s and starts to move toward having more two man (or woman) cockpits in the fleet? Is that still something that's going to happen? Isn't some of the long wait to upgrade due to the fact that are a number of folks hitting retirement age and then moving to the SO seat?

Just a question. For those of you who have moved to the SO seat at retirement age, I am NOT trying to start a flame. (I know this can be a sensitive topic.) I'm just an ignorant kid asking questions. Thanks!

Skyward80

 

[VaB]

For those of you who have moved to the SO seat at retirement age, I am NOT trying to start a flame.

There is no such person that uses Flightinfo. Those old guys don't know how to use computers (or, should I say, refuse to learn). So, flame all ya want, they won't know.

 

[NightFlyer]

Those are the guys that still prefer the green screen over the current system.


NightFlyer

 

[AlbieF15]

My highly unscientific prediction is based on the current fleet plan, which includes punting 727s and replacing them with 737s. It also assumes continued attrition in the DC 10 fleet.

However...both may happen slower than originally predicted. Great for guys already on the property...but if you get caught behind the seat contraction you could be stuck a while.

One factor that might mitigate this just a tad is FDX pays pretty darn good starting salaries compared to others in the industry. Even so, upgrading your first year to FO nearly doubles your paycheck, but in subsequent years the financial advantage to upgrading narrows a bit. Bottom line is life can be SOOO good at top of list here (compared to bottom) that many elect to wait out upgrades. So...what will happen to you? It depends. My point is simply not to base your predicted advancement on what happened to guys in 1999-2001 window. Those 7 year captains/10 year widebody captains were due in part to postal contract. While other good deals might be waiting for us down the pike, I wouldn't come here basing my predicted seat movement on that happening. Then again, a year 4 SO makes 85/hr here, and your FDX paycheck is usually easy to cash--so its not a bad place to be. Just come with open eyes as to what to expect. I obviously chose this place, and its been great to me and my family.