FedEx

[waitinginline]

Questions for some of the FedEx guys..

What are the retirement numbers for FedEx in 04'?

Guesstimates or rumors about future classes (new hires/poolies)..

Has Fed made a decision on its new fleet type 737, 757??

Will FedEx have class in late winter, spring, summer or wait until I have to start wearing diapers again and riding around on a jazzy scooter.. Just a little jokey..

I feel like I have been waiting forever, don't get me wrong I am grateful for being in the pool.. But my arms are getting tired.. I wish KD or someone would call or send an Email or something to keep in touch.. It is weird to be hired and never hear from them again, except of course when I call them.. Anyway, any rumors or anything would be appreciated..

Waitinginline



Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines

 

[PanelApe]

Fed Ex

Don't know what to say.

I'll start with the easy stuff:
71 Retirements for 2004 (could end up being more - we'll see).

Class rumors:
They did start a group of professional instructors (I've heard 4 and 6 people - not sure of the exact number). They should hit the line by Jan or so.

Have not heard anything from KD and the HR folks. Talked to KD in the lunch line about 3 weeks ago and she had no info to share. Still looking at March. They did pass on that before classes got up and running they would probably have to get everyone's information up to date....So I would expect that the first real sign of no-kidding classes will be when poolies get calls asking them to update their info (fingerprints, work history, convictions, etc).

I can tell you that the back of the boeing is getting WORKED during peak. Guys on reserve are exceeding their RLG's (Reserve Line Guarantees). People are getting drafted for trips and we're flying our butts off.

Keep your chin up. The job is great. Even for a guy with nothing but "juniority".

My best guess is phone calls after the new year for updates. Classes in March. Hire the guys out of the pool and start to interview by the fall. NOTHING BUT A GUESS!!!

Hope to see all of the poolies in the Falcon building soon.


Panel Ape

 

[Vikingpilot]

Just to add my two cents...As a S/O LCA, I have heard about the same thing as the above post. Except there are only three professionals going thru the pipeline. One big driver (my opinion) will be the next bid this spring. If there is a ground swell of Dec retirements and system growth, the company will have to hire by spring. It's difficult to talk numbers of new hires, but the Boeing can't sustain these vacancies too much longer. I would not expect to hear anything firm until probably Feb. Hang in there, you won't be left behind

 

[AlbieF15]

Concur on hiring but heard from an office person that classes may be "summer" vice sping.

Hate to spread bad news or karma but thought I'd throw that out...hope I'm 100% wrong.

Any experienced FDX guys explain to me why even though we are "undermanned" there aren't any decent trips in open time? What is going on?

 

[t38dude]

AlbieF15,

What kind of trips are you looking for? An 8 v 8 DACT off the sunny blue Florida coastline. Whoops! Wrong job right?

In that case there are plenty of Grand Forks layovers (especially in the Winter). Wait, what am I thinking. Your more senior than me and will bid that line next month. I'm screwed (so to speak)!

On a serious note to all you poolies out there, just like the other S/O's who live in Memphis, they've been calling me a lot trying
to get me to fly extra trips. It's been that way for probably four months or so (worse now because of peak). So hang in there. It's just a matter of time.

T38dude

 

[TonyC]

Re: Fed Ex

Class rumors:
They did start a group of professional instructors (I've heard 4 and 6 people - not sure of the exact number). They should hit the line by Jan or so.

I can confirm they started a group of professionals in 727 Systems class. I can verify it's at least 2, but don't know how many. (I'd guess 3 is closer than 6, but that's in the realm of educated guess.)

There's no "hitting the line" until there's a Basic Indoc class - - you know, the FAA-required course for new hires. Until then, these guys are just professional instructors getting 727 FE training. All it does is give them a leg up when the Basic Indoc class DOES start... they'll be at the top of the seniority number heap, and they'll be off to IOE as soon as Basic Indoc is over.

 

[t38dude]

Flew this month with a standards S/O (he was in the right seat). He said there are 3 professionals going through training and he is scheduled to give at least one of them their orals in December. Not sure when they will get on the line.

T38dude

 

[FedExpert]

Recent Norfolk cockpit gossip (J.L.) says to expect hiring (new classes) in January or February. There are currently 6 or 7 professionals in training, due to start IOE January. If ex-Air Force pilots would stop accepting draft trips, you poolies might have a better chance. 757 rumors are just that. Remember that switching to a 757 produces a surplus of over 300 pilots at Fedex from the Boeing alone, not to mention the 200 that will be phased out with the DC-10. Good luck,

Fedexpert

 

[Huck]

I stayed up until midnight Thursday and put in 4 swaps and 2 drops.

EVERY ONE was denied for "insufficient reserves," except one.

I've been denied before, but never for that!

And as for picking up time, the worst I ever saw was a Marine nonmember captain on the Mighty Dog who was proud to tell me he was timing out (getting up to 100 hours) on the 21st of that month. This while we're all backing up waiting for MD11 slots (in 2002 I was 175 from PANC; on the last bid I was ~600 or so away!)

 

[moneyshooter]

Any experienced FDX guys explain to me why even though we are "undermanned" there aren't any decent trips in open time? What is going on?

Hey, what's up with trying to pick up open time? Doesn't that peck away at your chances of moving into a window seat as well as the poolies prospects for getting classes?

 

[flycrjs]

Greed boys, greed, greed, greed...

On a different note, does anyone know how many instructors are left or ready to leave to go the line?!?

 

[Falconjet]

Midnight madness

I STARTED my attempts to move or drop reserve days during Dec at midnight on Thurs, when the open time came out for second officers. I was at it for several hours, and have been at it ever since. I have put in at least 30 different requests to move days around and EVERY one of them was disapproved due to insufficient reserves. I think we are short reserves due to the large number of extra "trash" lines in the bidpack for Dec, so the schedulers are going to hold on to those reserves until the last possible moment in order to cover peak.

In Nov there were 218 hard lines, 31 secondary, and 87 reserve lines in the Boeing. In Dec, there are 251 hard lines, 25 secondary and only 58 reserve lines.

As for the quality of open time, there was plenty of pretty good trips available when the open time was released at midnight on Thurs. It is ALL gone now, and most of it was gone by midday yesterday. I know a guy who had a hard line with am flying who dropped his entire line and picked up almost all pm flying instead. I don't think he made the line guarantee that he had, but at least he got Christmas off.

So some guys are just using the open time to increase the quality of their life/schedule. That is hard to do most months because there isn't that much open time to pick up. Dec has a lot because of all the extra lines and pairings put in just for peak. Most of the time if you drop trips its really hard to make them back up to avoid the "paystub shock" at the end of the month.

Then there are those who just pick up extra work at straight pay every month so the company can run lean, they make more money and we need fewer pilots. Personally, I can't understand why they do that, but it is in the contract to do so.

Hopefully the hiring will pick up early in the year and we can go back to not having so much open time and draft call-ins.

We'll see. FJ

 

[33A]

I'm in the back of the 727 and like everyone else I'm getting draft calls though it has slacked off in November.

Last month they were drafting for airport standbys and at one point two days in advance. In other words they were completely out reserves. Usually when they draft it is for a two day of three day and they have reserves but none that have those two or three consecutive days free. In this case they had zero reserves. It was the first time in my 18 months that I have seen them draft for airport standby.

I have to believe that classes will start spring of '04 because of the hemorrhaging of people we are experiencing in the back of the 727.

In the lastest bid the following numbers advance out of the 727 S/O seat per month:

Dec - 5
Jan - 5
Feb - 9
Mar - 3
Apr - 2
Jun - 2

This is a total of 26. In December we only have 61 reserves in the back of the 72! The latest bid wipes out nearly half the reserves by summer next year, ignoring the 8 or so professional instructors scheduled to go to the line. This is unsustainable.

When we cross the break-even point in staffing and the starting pistol is fired things will happen quickly. FedEx is notorious for hiring early in the year.

Regarding the new equipment discussion, I say the point is moot. Even if two crew airplanes were bought today, the timeline for cargo conversion, training instructors and maintenance, writing the manuals, FAA approval, etc is at least a year. We cannot go another year without hiring.

 

[PurpleTail]

Moneyshooter-

Picking up open time trips does not affect hiring or accelerate your chances for a window seat. If a regular line holder drops a trip and nobody picks it up in open time it just goes to a reserve pilot.

When pilots start flying their regular line AND pick up draft trips, that is what screws the poolies and future growth. I don't mind a guy picking up an occasional overtime trip but some guys whore themselves out which is ridiculous, get a life.


As far moving/dropping "R" days during peak, forget about it. It has never happened before and they aren't going to start now. Things are pretty predicitable Jan-Oct (schedules, trip trades, etc) but when Nov and Dec come all bets are off.

If we are so short in the back of the Boeing how come only the MD11 crews are being offered vacation buybacks each month?? It seems the company would be doing it for 727 S/O as well??? Anybody?

 

[FedExpert]

Purpletail,

Vacation cancellations must not be necessary because the Company still is having an easy time finding guys to take draft trips or working extra for straight time. When that becomes more of a problem, then management will be forced to look for other incentives. Here's another stick in the eye. I recently had my PC and the instructor under training was a non union, over 60 captain. He started telling me how he hated the over 60 rule. Try seeing how much he would hate looking for a job...

 

[moneyshooter]

Moneyshooter-

Picking up open time trips does not affect hiring or accelerate your chances for a window seat. If a regular line holder drops a trip and nobody picks it up in open time it just goes to a reserve pilot.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Huck]

Regarding the new equipment discussion, I say the point is moot.

I agree. Last year would have been the time to pounce on cheap aircraft, if we were a savvy company, and I believe we are one....

I'd predict the slow acquisition of more 300/310's, and the retention of a core of lower time 727-200's. It ain't broke.

 

[Falconjet]

Vacation?

I have two guesses on the vacation issue. One is that we aren't as understaffed in the back of the Boeing as the MD folks are in both seats. Also, the Boeing folks tend to be more junior and thus don't get quite as many vacation days as a group as the MD folks. Just a thought.

As for the open time grabbers, the thing that really chafes my bag is when I fly a reserve trip with a Captain that warns us that he/she hasn't flown in 3 weeks so watch them closely. I flew with one that needed 3 landings on an overnight trip to stay current, or go to the sim for a landing. One even bragged that he would bid reserve lines with carryover and not drop the carryover to protect min days off because he know he would still only fly once or twice a month, thus earning several extra days pay each month for sitting around the house.

That may be their perogative according to the contract, but you ought to have enough sense/compassion to keep your self-serving scheme to yourself when flying with some poor reserve making a fourth the pay and having absolutely no control over their schedule. Just adds a bunch of salt into the wound.

My main question is why do we (the union) allow so much carryover in the lines and why don't we counsel some of these types on the group effort thing? Perhaps encourage the membership to fly over their guarantee only if its a draft trip at draft pay.

Again, just a thought.

FJ

 

[USNFDX]

Different Perspective

It's kinda funny....You hear people bash those who do carry-over draft and vlt.....Then you see those same people whoring themselves out on VLT.

It really is all about perspective. If Fedex manned for peak and there was no VLT or Draft there would probably be about 20%(WAG) more pilots on the property....So you think, great I'll move up faster, get paid more etc. Reality is this, Fedex has never furloughed, not because Fred loves the pilots so much, it's because they can't afford to. Fedex runs leans, which may stagger seat progression and not allow as many new hires as we'd all like to see, but it also keeps us from being furloughed.

In the end, I prefer this to the roller coaster ride that many have and are experiencing at other airlines where there is a hard BLG.

I think guys that whore themslves out and work 27 days of the months are idiots. You wind-up paying for it one way or another with your health or your family!

That being said, If I'm offered a good draft trip, and it makes sense to take it, I will. I'll usually drop somthing later to make up for it.

As for the open time grabbers, the thing that really chafes my bag is when I fly a reserve trip with a Captain that warns us that he/she hasn't flown in 3 weeks so watch them closely. I flew with one that needed 3 landings on an overnight trip to stay current, or go to the sim for a landing. One even bragged that he would bid reserve lines with carryover and not drop the carryover to protect min days off because he know he would still only fly once or twice a month, thus earning several extra days pay each month for sitting around the house.

It's all a matter of perspective.

Carry-over reserve. I love it! I'll take it as long as we are not being used. Why not get paid more for sitting at home on Reserve. I rarely get used, because those who commute in put themselves on First fly.

That may be their perogative according to the contract, but you ought to have enough sense/compassion to keep your self-serving scheme to yourself when flying with some poor reserve making a fourth the pay and having absolutely no control over their schedule. Just adds a bunch of salt into the wound.

I know we all like to complain on occasion and I do my fair share, but I think what probably chafes others bags is when those who are lucky enough to even have good job complain about.

Last night I called at about 4am for a Reserve trip. The captain got drafted. He'll make about an $4800 for 4 hours blk, a hotel standbye, and DH home. I get RLG. I'm happy for him. I'm Thankful for my job. I'm thankful for being home for thanksgiving. I'm thankful for my health and my family.

Hope everyone had a Great Thanksgiving!

Regards,

 

[AlbieF15]

Watch the "greedy" allegations

Money shooter and FDX wannabes,

FYI...I surf open time trying to trade trips and improve my schedule, not work extra at straight pay.

I have dropped over 500 hours of trips (and not made them up) due to military obligations...and while I didn't do this as a personal "work actions" the fact is the ANG has needed me and 0-4/0-5 pay beats year 2 SO pay. I dropped my entire June line and ended up owing the company virtually all my July paycheck. My total income will be about 40-45k year 2. I have never accepted a draft trip. I work 2 jobs and have a family and am a commuter, so picking up extra trips is not realistic for me.

I only point this out as I resent the implication I'm one of the guys scooping up trips. I don't fault guys who do it...its legal, it keeps us lean and as USN FDX pointed out, there are some benefits to that--specifically less furloughs in down turns.

Remember--I helped prep several guys in the FDX pool. I'd like more business and to do that again. And like any pilot, I love to see my relative seniority go up. So...for family, military, and personal reasons I've worked my BLG only about 4-5 times in 24 months.

As for the "unsustainable" argument...until we can't deliver the goods then I would argue our manning is sustainable. I think the bean counters have said "prove it" when flight ops wants more pilots. If we get through peak without hiring, why can't we get by for another 6 months? I don't think we really know where the hiring more verses paying more extra line really favors the bottom line, but it sure seems like the company is moving to an ever leaner force.

For you guys on the property--I think all the standbys are there so when do they do call you for a draft trip, they only owe the 4:42 or whatever vice 6 hours if the trips cax, etc. How do you get paid when you fly a trip off a standby?

Griping about being an SO aside, and suffering from MD11 envy, the FDX act is a good gig. Hope the poolies all join us soon.

Fly safe