Inside info on FedEx pilot hiring

[Goose17]

dondk

I think there is probably a majority of military at FedEx vs pure civilian background. However, I fly with pure civilian guys all the time. We have a WIDE variety of backgrounds here.

Your comment to the effect of why put in an app if the odds are against you is sad. The odds are against EVERYONE. If you are 1 app in a sea of probably 10k, the odds are against you. That said, we are hiring a ton of pilots. If you don't want a job, don't apply. If you would like a shot, apply. If you don't have any sponsors, dig deeper. We have pilots from all the branches of the military and from all the regionals I can think of.

Good luck.

Goose17

 

[klhoard]

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And remember that all of the active pilots (military background only) get a percentage of your $50 application fee whether you're hired or not!!!
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[dondk]

Goose17, you have a great point.. It is similar to the lottery, you can't win if you don't play. It just appears to be skewed towards a particular group of pilot's over the entire industry.

I have read on a few AirTran threads of some military guys complaining about the fact that Airtran only considers those with 121 PIC time. Again, a practice that decreases the whole pool in favor of a group of pilot's. Not too much of a difference from the FedEx policy.

once again, my .02

 

[jetexas]

military pilots are better!

Better at what?

 

[Maddog2]

16 guys in my class in November. 5 with no military background, 3 prior military working for other civilian companies, and 8 military only. Good mix of good guys overall. The all civilian guys were by far the youngest guys in the group, I would say by an average of 9 years.

 

[mongopilot]

My 2 cents, if you don't know the person you are recommending or have flown with them, the recommendation is worthless. That being said, I came straight from the military,so all the guys I know well or have flown with, u guessed it, are prior military. I have absolutely no problem with hiring civilian only pilots. I have flown with quite a few of them here and they are just as good as anybody else.

 

[seefive]

everything

 

[psysicx]

Since mil guys are getting on with lower time does it matter if its AD or reserves/guard?

 

[Mr Zog]

Ok. I wasn't gonna get into the military vs civilian arguement. But I have nothing better to do than "stoke the flames " a bit.

Psysicx,

I have to take a little opposition to your comment about "low time" with military pilots. I can't talk for the "fast mover" guys or the squids and jarheads, but for the "toads" the flight time is all about "quality." For example, a local four to five hour sortie would include a formation departure, a tanker air refueling, a receiver air refueling, and about two hours beating up the pattern (usaully get 4 or 5 touch-and-gos). Not to mention vast experience in oceanic crossings, ICAO, cargo operations, wide-body aircraft operations, etc... I am not saying that military is better than civilian. But you can't compare one hour of military time with one hour of civilian time, it is like comparing apple to oranges.

 

[walden]

We can't log taxi time either though some airlines either factor that in (SWA .3 x sortie) or are aware of the difference.
All in all I'd say it doesn't really matter. We can debate all day about the mil v. civ stuff, but what matters is what the interviewers think. If they like mil guys, OK. If they like civilian guys, OK. I'm sure there's subjectivity that favors either side at companies everywhere.

 

[HoursHore]

My Take:

Fed EX requires a sponsor as a way to both include thier current employees in the process and prescreen the applicant pool.

Having done both Mil and Civ flying, I think Mil flying is MUCH more conducive to networking and developing friendships that would lead someone to walk in a buds resume on a day off.

Civilian pt 121 flying is a job, and in the airlines, esp airlines with PBS, (since you fly with someone different almost every trip), there is really no time during a four day trip to really get to know someone unless its in a negative way. So if you are a regional Captain with a buttload of hours, but have no sponsor, you may be stuck cold calling someone you flew with years ago.

And its kind of hard to appear enthusiastic in your recomendation, esp. with the stipualtions laid down by the CP, (you don't want to attach your name to the one guy who fails out of training) for some you know of, but really don't know that well.

This opinion is worth what you paid for it.

 

[Tomnsolo]

rumor has it ...... the fedex acps are getting a little annoyed at the military pilots. A majority of Fedex military pilots show up for training, get paid $2000 a month before taxes, can't afford to feed the wife and kids, and then disappear back to their previous military jobs to make more money until 2nd year pay or upgrade.

If you were a bean counter, Who would you rather hire? civilian or military?

 

[Mr Zog]

rumor has it ...... the fedex acps are getting a little annoyed at the military pilots. A majority of Fedex military pilots show up for training, get paid $2000 a month before taxes, can't afford to feed the wife and kids, and then disappear back to their previous military jobs to make more money until 2nd year pay or upgrade.

If you were a bean counter, Who would you rather hire? civilian or military?

Another ridiculous rumor. Just like that post a few pages before claiming FedEx was going to have people sign training contracts.

I am sure there were a few isolated cases with reservists taking MIL Leave over the holidays that got a few ACPs irked. Next thing you know someone is claiming that FedEx is "annoyed" will all military pilots. FedEx has always been very fair in dealing with reserve committments. I am sure it will continue.

Enough with the rumors. FedEx uses a panel of ACPs, and each backgound is represented (ie Navy, Air Force, Civilian, etc.) They all give inputs to those that have gotten the "green light" for an interview. Do the military pilots have a better network than the civilian pilots? Yes. Refer to Waldens post. He hits the nail on the head. The individuals I walk into the ACP I have know for years, have flown with on numerous occassions, have been on 30-60 deployments with, know there family, and most importantly have seen them on a daily basis at work for years. That is not the case on the civilian side. I know, I have a good friend interviewing with Fedex in a few weeks whose sole background in civilian. That is his biggest complaint.

And as a bean counter, I am sure they are more interested in hiring individuals they feel certain will complete training. I would hire the most qualified applicant (military or civilian).

 

[Mr Zog]

Heck, I will jump head first into the military vs. civilian arguement.

A different viewpoint concerning flying in the reserves during your first years at FedEx (I did). This latest bid brings a situation to light. There will be a great deal of second officers who have been on the panel for 2 or 3 years (due to limited hiring and seat progression) who will be going to the MD-11 or A-300 right seat (the MD-11 arguably one of the more difficult training programs). If you are on the civilian side, you may never have flown an aircraft larger than 125,000 pounds. And now you probably have not flown a plane for the past 3 years. Are you going to be a bit rusty when you start training? Someone who flys in the reserves, at least has had the opportunity to remain somewhat current (and in the case of my old reserve unit is flying a plane very similar to the one he will be training in). They may have a slight advantage when in comes to the start of training? Something to ponder.

It really doesn't matter. Civilian or Military, everyone who meets the requirements is qualified. It is just getting in that is the problem.

 

[Ty Webb]

Considered a risk= furloughed or not a checkairman, that's pretty harsh. I thought Fedex was ALPA? If so how come no help from ALPA on putting fellow brothers and sisters back in the cockpit?

I find this especially interesting for two reasons:

1) I have heard so much grief from pilots on this board that AirTran will only consider pilots with previous 121 PIC and/or Milspec equivalent- imagine if we said now they also had to have been Check Airman . . . . holy cow!

2) Not interviewing furloughed pilots is a real slap, especially to the thousands of pilots that are giving Fedex guys a ride to work. My carrier has less to offer than Fedex from a total compensation standpoint, but we hire plenty of furloughed guys and gals, and it certainly isn't because we have a shortage of applicants! We hire pilots who meet the requirements and express an enthusiasm about working here. Too bad that Fedex can;t simply do the same.

 

[Mr Zog]

I find this especially interesting for two reasons:

1) I have heard so much grief from pilots on this board that AirTran will only consider pilots with previous 121 PIC and/or Milspec equivalent- imagine if we said now they also had to have been Check Airman . . . . holy cow!

2) Not interviewing furloughed pilots is a real slap, especially to the thousands of pilots that are giving Fedex guys a ride to work. My carrier has less to offer than Fedex from a total compensation standpoint, but we hire plenty of furloughed guys and gals, and it certainly isn't because we have a shortage of applicants! We hire pilots who meet the requirements and express an enthusiasm about working here. Too bad that Fedex can;t simply do the same.

I agree, it is unfair for FedEx to not consider pilots on furlough. I don't think it is management's official policy though. Either way, the pilot force should not be held accountable. Hiring policy is a management decision, not a pilot decision. Please don't take it out on the pilot's trying to get to work. Hopefully things will change.

 

[Huck]

1. I'm friends with the former MEM CP who now flies the line and does interviews. He told me they shoot for a "mix." I've never seen a class with fewer than 1/3 civvy only; usually more like 40-50%. MUCH better than some mainline carriers I could name (anybody still got some old UAL scantrons? I need to update - I'm getting tons of widebody FE time!)


2. "The Don," former 727 head of training and an old Navy fighter type, told my class he never saw any pilot subgroup that was more trainable or better prepared than any others. Good and bad come from all of them.

3. Ditto on the lack of airline networking. I got recommended to here by I guy I flew corporate with. The friends you make in the regionals tend to be your classmates - and you don't usually fly with them.

 

[sandman2122]

I personally sponsored an AA furloughed guy who interviewed with us at FedEx last month. I also have another AA furloughed buddy that interviewed the following day. A third who happened to turn down an interview back in 2000 may even get an interview.....I've also got a NWA furlough bud who's working on getting an appointment with an ACP....

FedEx is considering/interviewing furloughed guys. The door is open, but you need someone willing to sponsor you.

 

[Purpledog]

I too have buddies F'd by UAL and AA that have come to MEM for the grip & grin and I think got interviews.

 

[seefive]

FedEx is hiring furloughed guys. They have to have a sponsor of course. FedEx was burned in the past after furloughed pilots from several carriers were hired and then left following the recall from there original carrier. That left a bad taste in the mouth and has given the company pause in hiring furloughees. Bad deal but somewhat understandable. That being said, they are and have been hiring pilots in that situation for awhile.