Hypothetical Bidding Question - FedEx

[Kav]

Alright boys and girls... a question from one of your fellow "Mil Leave" guys who hasn't been around long enough (been on mil leave forever) to know for sure how this would work.

Hypothetically speaking, of course (and correct me if this can't even start out this way), we get a bid out in the next few months for the new Zurich domicile... but due to whatever circumstances (cost of living, tax base, etc) it ends up going pretty junior. If I finally get off mil leave at about that same time as the bid and am senior enough, can I bid for Zurich (airbus or the Dog...whichever is there)? At this moment, I am still on the 727SO, but am unqualified as I've been on mil leave for almost 21 months now.

I haven't been around for the opening of a new base, so not sure just how it all works out.

Thanks in advance for the info... feel free to PM me if you prefer to chat that way.

Regards,

Kav

 

[active_herk]

Kav,

As one who was on military leave for a while and back at FedEx, I can tell you that the contract states if you are on a leave of absence, and a bid comes out while on that leave, you are allowed to go to any seat you could have held on that bid when you come back. There is a time limit once you tell your ACP that you are coming back to let him know what seat you want to go to. Its kind of a good deal for you since you will know exactly what percentage you will hold rather than using the 20% breakdowns. Hope this helps. BTW - I don't imagine the Zurich base is going to go very junior, but you never know!

 

[Kav]

Thanks for the info, Herc. But "any seat"... does that mean "any base" as well? Meaning... say they are going to fill Zurich at 40 pilots. They would, I'm guessing now, want those pilots there in position as soon as that base spins up. However, if I am not even trained yet in that jet... and training is not scheduled for another six months or so.... then what? Do they fill it with someone else?

All hypothetical... and you are probably correct, it may not go junior. But I did hear that Subic went pretty junior initially.

Kav

 

[sandman2122]

From the contract:

Return From Leave of Absence
A pilot returning from a leave of absence who would have been eligible for a relocation package but for his being on leave of absence, shall be afforded an opportunity to relocate and receive the applicable relocation package. In no event shall a pilot be entitled to more than one relocation package upon his return from a leave of absence.


Give the guys in the ALPA office a call/email or any ACP, I bet they will have an answer...

 

[Kav]

Thanks Sandman. Appreciate the info. I'll give them a call.

Regards,

Kav

 

[active_herk]

Kav,

Decided to do a little more research for you. Here is some more info verbatim from the contract (Section 13.A.6.c):

A pilot's crew position upon his return to duty following a leave of absence shall be determined as follows:

If no vacancy award occurred during his absence, the pilot shall return to the crew position held immediately prior to the commencement of the leave of absence. If, however, he was awarded a vacancy from a posting prior to the commencement of the leave of absence, for which he was not yet trained, his training date upon return shall be consistent with the scheduled or rescheduled training date of that bid award.

If a vacancy award(s) occurred during his absence, the pilot shall be awarded the crew position he would have held had he not been on leave of absence, as determined by his seniority and his standing bid as of 1700 GMT, 3 days following his contact with the Regional Chief Pilot specified in Section 13.A.6.a. A pilot may not be awarded a crew position at an FDA if that award would cause an excess at the FDA.

So I guess the answer to your Zurich question is that you can bid for it as long as someone junior to you bid it, but if it will cause an excess (since it would be an FDA - Foreign Duty Assignment) you wouldn 't be awarded it.

Get home safe!

 

[Goose17]

consider this Kav...

You have been out for a long time. You left right after getting qualled on the panel of the 727. When you come back, you may be able to hold any right seat, but you may want to hold off. Here is my thought process:

First off, technically you will still be on probation when you come back. You really don't want an upgrade training failure on your record while on probation. With that, you really haven't been exposed to the FedEx way of doing things. The learning curve would be REAL steep if you jumped right into the Airbus and had to learn the plane and all other facets of FedEx flying and living.

If I were in your shoes, it would be a tough decision. The safe bet would be to just get requalled on the 727 panel and hang out for 6 months. If that is not palatable, the next safest bet would be the right seat of a plane you are vaguely familiar with (727).

I really wasn't a big fan of the panel, but I got to live that dream for almost 3 years. I can understand if you don't want to go back to it, but it is the safest and most sure bet you have.

Just some food for thought.

Whatever your choice, I look forward to seeing you back around the AOC.

Goose17

 

[Kav]

That answers it, Herk. Thanks for taking the time on that. I appreciate it.

Regards,

Kav

 

[Kav]

Goose,

Yeah.... I've pondered that a bit as well. The earliest I'll get back to the company is Feb 05. With the last bid, da boys and girls right below me took the back of the Dawg and the 27FO slot. Training won't begin until May, I believe, for the one just below my seniority number.

No Ahlzheimers for you yet, bro! Your memory serves you well. I was brand spankin new, (just finished my IOE a week prior) when Uncle Sam asked me for this 2 year favor. So, for all intensive purposes, I definately don't remember that much about the 727. However, I DO remember enough about that lovely position that you held for three years to help me decide that I definately don't want to go back to it. ;-) I could go to the right seat of the 727 for a bit, come May. I think that would not be too much of a shock, since I've at least learned the systems in the jet, etc. I've jumpseated with the company a couple of times over the past year and did find the right type of jet, so I do remember something about FedEx. ;-)

We'll see how it all plays out. My reserve unit is also transitioning to the C-17 as I type this. So, half of us (me) will fly the 141 to the boneyard and the others are already 17 qualled. There is a chance that I will be handed my 17 school date to begin immediately following this activation. That will bring on the harder question... because that will push me back another six months before I make it back to FedEx and we will most likely have another bid or two by then that will open up Zurich... not to mention put me in the right seat of a widebody somewhere, possibly.

Good to hear from ya, bro. Thanks for the info here. You're always helpful to the people on here and I know they appreciate it. Egbert says hello. He left the B1 and is doign staff caca at Langley. He's in for life now.

Catch ya soon,

Kav

 

[Goose17]

Good luck Kav

When it comes down to it, it is nice to work for a company that bends over backwards for mil guys that get activated. If you are fully confident, go for the bus or maddog. Keep in mind what is at stake however.

See you when you get back.

Goose17

 

[sandman2122]

Zurich

Heard the ALPA and FedEx company suits just got back for Zurich and our ALPA guys had an "impromptu" meeting about the trip.

The Captain I'm flying with attended and came away not hopeful that Zurich would even open. Some of the points he brought up included numerous VISA problems (the furloughed SWISS pilots apparently don't like the idea of FedEx pilots coming over and working/living on their turf) , expensive cost of living - without any COLA from FedEx and no 80% initial tax-break like the Subic guys/gals enjoy......

Take it for what it's worth, I'm just passing on what my Captain relayed.......PM me if you want more info....

 

[Kav]

OUCH!!! Well... it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Althought the company is in the business of saving/making $$$... they are not ill-informed or idiots. They know the supply/demand world and understand that pilots simply won't bid something that is not in their best interests. I'll be very, very surprised if the company attempts to propose this base without any COLA for people who pony up to go.

The SwissAir pilot issue is interesting. What would be their beef, other than maybe us taking up a few of their jumpseat options over to Paris? Any clue?

Kav

 

[AlbieF15]

Kav,

Been wrong before but I'm pretty sure probation ends at 1 year...regardless of calendar...and mil leave counts. I had a classmate get recalled to active duty (special ops C130) and he got a note saying "congrats....you are off probation" while flying in one of the Stans out there.

Ask ALPA...they'll know.

You'll do fine on the Bus or 11...especially if you are flying heavies now. Geez...if an Eagle guy can do it you'll do great. Don't bleed for no reason on the 727 SO seat unless you really want to hold your hometown line or have some other agenda.

Good luck and thanks for the work you are doing....

 

[Los1]

kav-
Just so that you know...Spent almost 4 mos. of my probie year flying KC-10's for Uncle S...
When I came back, jim Ross said "thanks for everything, you are off probation"!!
welcome back-
Los1

 

[Goose17]

probation?

Well?

I based my above post on memory from when I was a new hire. I remember being briefed that probation ends after the 1st year of active flying. I tried finding something in print to back this up and was unable. I think we had a handout on probation, but mine has been long thrown away. I couldn't find anything in the contract either.

So, I am assuming it is not really set in stone and is up to the assistant chief pilot. I'm not sure if it would be different for a guy that was out a few months vs. out the entire time.

However, it really doesn't matter. Probation was a non-event. As long as the probation pilot isn't a total butthole, it is transparent. You have your forms, you get them signed, then you get your letter after 1 year.

As for your seat choice upon return to FedEx... probation or no probation, I would only jump to a different plane if I were VERY confident in my training/upgrade performance. I have heard not-so-great stories of guys coming off the streat in years past going directly to the Airbus and failing miserably. It is not because it is a tough airplane to fly, but rather you have to learn everything else that goes with FedEx flying as well. The instructors and check airman will assume you have a working knowledge of the FedEx system.

I am not saying stay on the panel, nor am I saying upgrade to a widebody seat. Just be aware of the challenge and make an educated decision, not just a financial one.

Goose17

 

[oldf4guy]

Kav,
I was in the same new hire class as yourself, and I too was out 18 months flying for uncle sugar. You should have gotten the email from jim ross about this time last year saying probation was over including the folks out on mil leave.

Now, with that being said, if they can arbitrarily end your probation early, i'm assuming they could just as easily reinstate it prior to 12 months of successful employment. So for myself, I'm still being a little bit careful.

As for the Zurich bid, it sounds like it won't be coming any time quickly. The union email discusses some of the problems that are arising with the Swiss. I was talking with one old timer who postulated that the Zurich domicile will never happen, because the same barriers that exist in France precluding a Paris domicile also exist in Switzerland. He went on to say that part of the company's move to domicile crews in Zurich is to put pressure on the French to be more accomodating or risk loosing the hub in Paris.

Now, none of this matters to me as I pour piping hot coffee at 0400 enroute to Grand Forks in a whisper quite 727, but I thought it interesting rumor fodder. As with everything, when its painted purple and in the bid pack its going to happen. Until then, its a rumor.

 

[igneousy2]

I thought the federal law said that the company had to treat you as though you never left. I don't work for FEDEX but I would bet paychecks that you are off probation and you will be paid at 3rd year wages.

Later

 

[Kav]

Yep.... I received that same email about a year ago. I just wasn't sure if it was true... or simply a standard mass email that went out to everyone in the class... forgetting that some of us were away on extended mil leave. Sounds like, from other postings from folks previous to us, that happened to each class. So, perhaps it is for real. I'm just going to ask the question now.

Interesting take on why all of the Swiss domicile talks are taking place (pressure on Paris). Personally, I would like to see it go further East to one of the former Eastblock countries. Much cheaper there... people are more welcoming, etc. Guess we'll just wait and see.

1.5 years away. Glad to see all went well and safe for you. Welcome back, so to speak. Not that I'm back... but you get the gesture! ;-)

Kav