Jumpseat 101 for FEDEX Pilot.

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Rez - Mil guys may bypass the JO regional indoctrination, but they surely have spent their fair share of nights in a tent over in the sand box. Everyone pays their dues. Everyone makes their own choices on their career path. To group pilots into two distict groups is ignorant. I know some mil guys who are some of the finest folks I have every met, and the same goes for civilians.

Agreed! perhaps you missed my point... coming from MIL to CIV.. there is a learning to curve to the culture and how it works.. Just cause a MIL guy got a job at an airline doesn't mean he's Top Gun of the class. Most guys know this..some don't...

Some MIL guys don't get the whole union thing and still operate God Duty Country.

Some MIL guys think the jumpseat seat is an entitlement and don't understand how it is constantly fought for....

Some MIL guys have arrogrant cocky attitudes... wait.. it is just not MIL guys.. it can be anyone. Lot's of CIV cocky new hire's at the regionals.

 

[JDriver]

From my persepective, any professional with a lick of common sense knows proper JS procedure/behavior. What we may be experiencing is a buch of jackasses with the entitlement mentality. If someone is a a**hole, it does not matter where they trained or who they work for - They are still an a**hole. Perhaps they will have to learn a lesson the hard way before they get it!

 

[freightdogfred]

No dopey head, not the basics. I'm talking about specifics for a given airline or aircraft. For instance, in the previous thread someone spoke of introducing yourself to the FO at the bottom of the stairs and not bothering the Capt as the door gets closed. Stuff like that. If a guy isn't polite, just don't take him. That's too basic to be corrected in the jet-way.

I'll start: At Fedex, be sure to arrive the hour early that you are told when you book your flight. Some ramps won't check you in if you are late. Then, find any crewmember and ask them to point you in the right direction. It's that easy. See, I skipped all the 'be polite' stuff because you should already know that.

Gotcha...

Next Fedex guy who ain't polite, I won't take him...
Next Fedex guy who ain't there 1 hour prior, I won't take him

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[Purpled]

Gotcha...

Next Fedex guy who ain't polite, I won't take him...
Next Fedex guy who ain't there 1 hour prior, I won't take him

Thanks for clearing that up.

I don't care if you don't take someone who isn't polite and is a jerk, that's their problem. Or, take them and then publicly humiliate them here, if you like.

The one hour rule is imposed by our company, not sure why. Probably so the ramp doesn't have to change the W&B at the last minute. If it were up to us, you could get on with late-bulk freight, after the door is closed.

Good luck with your jumpseat war, I'm sure it will work out for you just fine.

 

[FedEx1]

Yeah, the one hour rule relates mostly to our different logistics. Especially in MEM, where getting out to the plane on a bus can take quite a chunk of time. Your bags have to be tagged, too.

Also keep in mind a pilot has to do the jumpseater brief- pax guys have flight attendants.

Jumpseat names have to go through our GOC, too, (dispatch) and their names have to be on the release. This takes extra time, and means ACARS or radio/phone calls if it has to be changed. Pax guys have gate agents that do this, and they do the manifest at the last minute (since they don't even know what paying pax will be there until then.)

And the final word- it is the COMPANY imposing it. Any of us pilots would gladly take any guy that shows up before the door shuts.

 

[freightdogfred]

I don't care if you don't take someone who isn't polite and is a jerk, that's their problem. Or, take them and then publicly humiliate them here, if you like.

The one hour rule is imposed by our company, not sure why. Probably so the ramp doesn't have to change the W&B at the last minute. If it were up to us, you could get on with late-bulk freight, after the door is closed.

Good luck with your jumpseat war, I'm sure it will work out for you just fine.

It's your attitude towards proper etiquette that brought on the whole thread.
Send me a PM with your name, so I'll know ta greet ya warmly when ya show up.

 

[Caveman]

Also keep in mind a pilot has to do the jumpseater brief- pax guys have flight attendants.

Not quite right. If the JSer is riding up front it's up to the pilots to conduct the brief.

 

[Purpled]

It's your attitude towards proper etiquette that brought on the whole thread.
Send me a PM with your name, so I'll know ta greet ya warmly when ya show up.

And you have a problem with proper etiquette?

For the record, it was my idea to share helpful hints on each individual airlines quirks to help guys out when they jumpseated. We've provided good info on Fedex, how about your airline? Which one was that again?

 

[talespin]

Can't we just all get along! You guys sound worse than an bunch of eight year old's. Just do what your mama taught ya and remember we are all in this gig together.

T.S.

 

[freightdogfred]

And you have a problem with proper etiquette?

For the record, it was my idea to share helpful hints on each individual airlines quirks to help guys out when they jumpseated. We've provided good info on Fedex, how about your airline? Which one was that again?

I have no problem with proper etiquette...I have a problem with your attitude towards proper etiquette. I learned it from doing this job for over 20 years, bumming rides from old-skool skippers at outfits like PanAm,Eastern and TWA, roughly about the time you were going thru puberty.

Send me a PM with your name, and I'll respond with my airline. Then we'll be be able to keep an "eye" out for each other.

 

[Purpled]

I have no problem with proper etiquette...I have a problem with your attitude towards proper etiquette. I learned it from doing this job for over 20 years, bumming rides from old-skool skippers at outfits like PanAm,Eastern and TWA, roughly about the time you were going thru puberty.

Send me a PM with your name, and I'll respond with my airline. Then we'll be be able to keep an "eye" out for each other.

And what is my attitude towards proper etiquette?

BTW, personal info in exchange for the name of an airline that you don't work for isn't quid pro quo.

 

[Brian a300]

I think what Thedude is talking about is the learning curve. How'd it be if a bunch of civilians joined your squadron.... as an 0-5 with attitude!

It sure is nice that the MIL guys have good CIV careers.. or sometimes even jobs, that they can transition to...

When the MIL guys go straight to FX, UPS, jetBlue, SWA, etc.. they are by-passing the JO indoctrination of the 'regionals'......

The CIV guys that have been in the airlines since flight hour 1 have been custodians.... And when the MIL guys show up they blend in well and become custodians of the Air Line Profession too....

Sounds like you should have joined the military, the JO Indoc in the NAVY is a heck of alot tougher than the Civilian Indoc.

 

[Beech Balls]

YOU GUYS SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF BABIES. IF I EVER FIND YOU ON MY LITTLE BEECH, I HOPE YOU ACT WITH POLITENESS, RESPECT, AND PROFESSIONALISM. PERIOD. THAT'S ALL YOU NEED, AND THAT'S USUALLY ALL I EVER FIND ANYWAYS!
Balls Out!

 

[Mud Eagle]

Sorry to dredge up a weeks-old thread here, but I was hoping someone would actually post something a little more useful...

I'm a military dude...have no airline experience other than riding in back, and I'm hoping to fly for a major when I'm done flying for the AF. I have been reading this website and elsewhere to get smart on the industry, and threads like this just show that I have a lot to learn.

Can someone, seriously, post a little jumpseat 101 for a military pilot? I gather that the polite thing to do is to greet both the FO and Capt, as well as introduce yourself...what are the other customs and courtesies that are expected as a jumpseater?

 

[Huck]

- Bring cookies for the gate agent and the crew. Makes a world of difference.

- It's nice to wait until everyone else deplanes before getting off.

- Be the nicest guy you can. You're representing your pilot group, and believe me, F/A's and others talk about the different types of pilots.

I was talking to a scheduler at GAC once who was a ticket agent 10 years before for ACA. I told her I was going to FDX, and she immediately told me how nice the FDX guys were who commuted out of IAD. Like I said, you're representin'.