FedEx Walk Through

[islandpirate]

How many current FedEx pilots did the "Grip-n-Grin" before getting called for an interview? Civilian or Military? How long to get the call?

 

[Seeniner]

Grip & Grin Feb 2005. Call for interview last week for October.

Military, furloughed NWA.

 

[AdlerDriver]

G+G Mar 05, Call May 05, Interview Jun, Class July.
Mil, Furloughed UAL.

 

[cantgivenomo]

what's "grip n grin" and where do we find out about the next one. Thanks

 

[Seeniner]

Your sponsor has to set up a "pre interview", the grip and grin.

You need a sponsor, a FedEx pilot, for this process.

 

[mule]

From what I have heard, your availability date plays a big factor in when you get called. What were your availability dates in relation to when you got the call?

 

[pilot141]

The timing has been fluctuating wildly lately. One year ago guys were walking in and getting called for the interview a month later. Then we went on the steroid-induced hiring binge, but apparantly the 'people to call' pool got pretty large. My buddy did the G&G the first week of April and finally got called for the interview at the end of August. He interviewed the first week of September and starts.....well, today, technically. It seems like the HR dept may be getting over 'the hump' of spring, but there was that e-mail from the ACPs about a month ago that said to not bring anyone new in for the grip and grin for the next 2 months.....we have all the bodies we need. Bottom line for any FDX hopefuls....you NEED to have a FedEx pilot sponsor you, which will most likely entail a trip to Memphis (or LAX/ANC) to meet the ACP that you are working with. Once you do this, expect to wait (at this time) at least a few months before you get called for an interview. However, the interview to class times have been extremely short recently; sometimes inside of two weeks. So when you get the call, be ready to come to Memphis! Good luck to all....

 

[moresky]

In reference to the whole process at FedEx, could anyone explain the sponser thing and what is an ACP? So the inside track in basically the ony way to get an interview? Thanks fo the info....

 

[Flycast]

Any FedEx guys know if more interview calls are going out this year?
thanks

 

[Falconjet]

ACP= assistant chief pilot. According to one of my instructors last week there will be one more class in Nov and one in Dec, that is it for this year. Don't know if that is for sure, but it is all I have heard. My guess is they will start back up to 30 a month after the new year, and I wouldn't think they would do interviews in Nov or Dec, but that too is just a SWAG.

The last word from my ACP was that the grip and grins were pretty much done for the year as well, again to start up again after the first of the year I would think.

Right now you do need to have a sponsor go to bat for you in order to get into the call to interview pile. Just the way it is right now, don't know if it will change next year or not.

FJ

 

[skytrain]

Wrapping up MD11 training and heard from one of the instructors that they will be going from 16 crews/month to 24. That's going to create a vacuum at the bottom. And that's just the MadDog. Granted they'll slow down hiring for the next two months due to peak coming. But after that, they might go to 50 newhires per month for a while. Granted, that depends on a lot of factors. But if your availability date is close and you've done the g&g, then odds are good that you'll get a call. The glass is half full!

 

[rk772]

I've had an app in for a little while now and my sponsor is in the top 30 on the senority list. However, I only have one other internal pilot LOR. Will having only 2 Recs be a show-stopper for me or will having a sponsor, who has been at FedEx since the beginning, compensate for my not having 3 Recs.

 

[Echopapa]

I've had an app in for a little while now and my sponsor is in the top 30 on the senority list.

I wouldn't focus so much on the senority of your sponsor. All that senority means is that you have been at FedEx a long time...it says nothing for your sponsor's skills or his reputation with his ACP. What matters most is that he is not a "problem" child and that he has plenty of experience flying with you. Its even better if your sponsor is a check airman, flex instructor, or VP of flight operations.

They want a sponsor that has an in-depth flying history with you. If you went out and rented a Cessna and flew together one time just to fill a box then he is not going to be a good reference. If you haven't flown with him at all.....ouch.

As far as how many.....I have always heard three....but of course that depends. From what I have heard, mostly on this board, it seems we have a backlog, so they are being very picky.....so I would say at least three.

Keep working your contacts and good luck.

 

[Falconjet]

There are always exceptions to every rule (or guideline) so I wouldn't sweat it too much. 3 seems to be the minimum number, but it only takes one person to go into the CP's office and make your case. The more folks who go in on your behalf the better off your chances are, but I wouldn't think that it is impossible with 2, particularly depending on who the one is.

And while I agree that the seniority of the sponsor may not matter, I sure wouldn't be so bold to suggest that a well placed (even non-flying) sponsor wouldn't have a little extra pull. That would be true anywhere.

Good luck.

FJ

 

[Huck]

[T]hey will be going from 16 crews/month to 24.

And they are starting a new-hire RFO program. Like United's "cruise f/o's". New hires will be trained in the MD11 but will not keep landing currency. You heard it here first....

 

[sandman2122]

YGBSM!

Do you have a source you can post?

 

[Huck]

Just a captain I flew with. But he sounded pretty convincing....

 

[SF3CA]

I have heard that "cruise F/O's " are a posibility for the A-380 because it will be hard enough to keep the capt's current. The other idea is to have F/O's start their trip with a trip to the sim for 3 takeoffs and landings and then start their trip.

 

[klhoard]

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I heard the "cruise F/O's" are going to be foreign nationals. . . .
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No, not really, I just made that up. . .
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[FedEx1]

I heard the cruise RFO rumor, too. I guess Quantas does it. You will only be able to be at the controls above 10,000 ft, so you won't need takeoff and landing currency. Pay would be less than a regular f/o.