Maybe someone else on the board has some info on Pace, I've heard the purchase rumor but that's it. I know ABX is interested in accquisitions, so it's possible they are looking at Pace. I don't think any of the Delta 767s will be flown as pax aircraft. As far as I know they're all scheduled to be converted before we take delivery. Those are all coming with standard cargo doors, by the way.
ABX aircraft w/o a cargo door use a "C" container and special loader. Airborne Express was in the overnight express delivery business and the C container has some advantages for that type of business. It's actually more efficient for some of the sorting operations. Any freight that is too large for the C container goes into the belly compartments. I've heard that virtually all of the freight that ILN handles will fit into a C or into the belly.
I'm amazed at the legs this thread has. I'm not that senior at ABX, but I do not expect to be furloughed and I think that confidence is shared by most of the pilot group here. That having been said, I try to keep my network up. I have a resume and I even have a couple of applications out. I began my first airline job over 30 years ago (as a ramper) and I have been continuously employed as a pilot for 26 years now. If I have learned anything in that time, it is that there is no sure thing in this business. FedEx and UPS are the cream of this business today and, if I were flying there, I would feel pretty confident about the future. At least as far as having a job until retirement. But it's incredible how fast the flying business can turn upside down. What's going to happen to the U.S. & global economy if oil prices stay at current levels or increase? NO company that operates airplanes is immune from hard times.
If a pilot is successful in this business it's because they worked hard and then were in the right place at the right time. I've always worked for good companies with good equipment. I've never been laid off, always had a paycheck, my wife didn't have to work (her choice) and I've lived where I wanted to. That's not because I'm a genius or super-pilot, far from it. I worked hard and then was at the right place at the right time. I have plenty of friends who worked just as hard, were just as good a pilot and now they are on the street. My point is that I don't think that pilots at successful companies somehow "deserve" or "earned" their position more than the pilots who are furloughed or working at less desirable companies. I don't appreciate the sniping or "flamebaiting" that comes from a self-righteous attitude. I'm glad I work at ABX, I think it's a great airline and I think we have a future. Whether you're flying at UPS, AS, Astar or Kalitta I accept you as a peer and hope that we ALL prosper. I feel the same about this business as I did about sports: play to win, play within the rules, respect your opponent and share a couple of beers after the game.
I hope this post isn't too "touchy-feely", it can be a pretty rough crowd on this forum!