More New Hires at FedEx

[Echopapa]

There is hope out there yet:

If I hadn't met the pilot myself I would not have believed it. The other day a new hire, 25 years old, jumpseated with me. He only had one sponsor, from his church, who he had never flown with. He has an all civilian background.

My point is that you can make it without 10 military guys going to bat for you who you have flown with.

And before you ask, no his last name wasn't Smith and he wasn't related to any of the pilots or pilot managment.

 

[AlbieF15]

FYI...

I have had quite a few folks from Pinnacle, Mesa, Air Wisconsin, ASA, and Mesaba hired. FedEx ate them up... In addition to being good pilots and good workers, they are proud to be at their first major and bring a lot of enthusiasm with them to work. They also NEVER take military leave...

I've also had several young military guys not so lucky. A lot more successes than failures, mind you, but it is never "automatic".

I'd say I have a pretty good idea of the folks FedEx has hired the during the last year. Anyone who thinks it is all a "military flying club" is showing their ignorance. We have a lot of folks, both mil and civ, who have met with CPs and ACPs the last six months who are still waiting for their turn to interview. There are simply a heck of a lot of folks competing for a few hundred slots every year. How do the regional guys get in? The same way the rest of us did...NETWORK! ASA guys help ASA guys, Pinnacle bros help their friends, etc etc.

And as for "automatic hiring"...well...there are too many good aviators from both mil and civ backgrounds who have gotten the "no thanks" letter to have me believe there are any gold tickets. Your buddies can get you the interview, but you still have to execute on your big day.

...and Nightrider...I have to take your bait. I've learned a lot flying 121 ops, but get a grip. I've been a CFI/CFII, a jump pilot, a GA aircraft owner and an airline guy flying night freight. I'm not a captain (yet), but I've done the CAT III approach thing a few times, landed in the snow right at ops spec limits, crosswind landings, etc etc. Every bit of it is challenging and requires your full attention and professionalism. However, my F-15 flying, especially as a mission commander over Iraq during NFZ enforcement, required a much more dynamic awareness and thought process. Teaching BFM and pulling Gs is much more demanding, both mentally and physically, than any other flying I have done. My bros who have flown Navy equipment have done all the same things (although...c'mon...not NEARLY as well ) and THEN had to land on a boat. None of those skills may make them a better airline pilot directly, but your comments show an envious and resentful streak behind your very clear lack of knowledge on the subject. That aside--please go negotiate yourself a very good contract. We are ALL on your side on that one...

 

[F-15.Ramps]

Well done Albie...as usual.

See you in MEM in August (I'm guessing the 15th).

 

[klhoard]

FYI...

I have had quite a few folks from Pinnacle, Mesa, Air Wisconsin, ASA, and Mesaba hired. FedEx ate them up... In addition to being good pilots and good workers, they are proud to be at their first major and bring a lot of enthusiasm with them to work. They also NEVER take military leave...

I've also had several young military guys not so lucky. A lot more successes than failures, mind you, but it is never "automatic".

I'd say I have a pretty good idea of the folks FedEx has hired the during the last year. Anyone who thinks it is all a "military flying club" is showing their ignorance. We have a lot of folks, both mil and civ, who have met with CPs and ACPs the last six months who are still waiting for their turn to interview. There are simply a heck of a lot of folks competing for a few hundred slots every year. How do the regional guys get in? The same way the rest of us did...NETWORK! ASA guys help ASA guys, Pinnacle bros help their friends, etc etc.

And as for "automatic hiring"...well...there are too many good aviators from both mil and civ backgrounds who have gotten the "no thanks" letter to have me believe there are any gold tickets. Your buddies can get you the interview, but you still have to execute on your big day.

...and Nightrider...I have to take your bait. I've learned a lot flying 121 ops, but get a grip. I've been a CFI/CFII, a jump pilot, a GA aircraft owner and an airline guy flying night freight. I'm not a captain (yet), but I've done the CAT III approach thing a few times, landed in the snow right at ops spec limits, crosswind landings, etc etc. Every bit of it is challenging and requires your full attention and professionalism. However, my F-15 flying, especially as a mission commander over Iraq during NFZ enforcement, required a much more dynamic awareness and thought process. Teaching BFM and pulling Gs is much more demanding, both mentally and physically, than any other flying I have done. My bros who have flown Navy equipment have done all the same things (although...c'mon...not NEARLY as well ) and THEN had to land on a boat. None of those skills may make them a better airline pilot directly, but your comments show an envious and resentful streak behind your very clear lack of knowledge on the subject. That aside--please go negotiate yourself a very good contract. We are ALL on your side on that one...

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And the Chicks dig it when you're shooting down your Rolex. . .
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[AlbieF15]

...well...I own a Seiko that I DON'T shoot very often, and if we are on a trip you are a whole lot more likely to hear me chat about my Navion (a SWEET '62 Rangemaster), or my kids, or a trip somewhere fun than some BS Eagle tale. However, I have met some fine folks in the business...and made some lifelong friends...

 

[TonyC]

3.) Which leads to reason 3, they were making lawndarts out of so many a/c that they grudgingly needed civilians to keep the military guys out of the grass.

I was removed from a trip just last week because they couldn't find a civilian Second Officer to keep an eye on me and the ex-Navy FO. Boy am I glad, because I know we would have ended up in the grass if left on our own. I'm so glad you explained to us why they put that restriction in the FOM - - now it makes perfect sense.




That is an utterly ridiculous thing to say. Do you even have any idea what the backgrounds were of the pilots involved in ANY of our hull losses? The DC-10 that burned in Newburgh? The MD-11 that rolled at Newark? The MD-11 that swam in Subic? The 727 that landed short in Tallahassee? The MD-10 that went "4-wheelin'" in Memphis? If civilian pilots is the answer to the problem, then I suppose the last one didn't really happen.


Have your opinions about Brown vs. Purple, or military vs. civilian, or whatever vs. whomever, but when you start making accusations such as this you speed right by "not funny" and well into the realm of unprofessional. I think we can behave better than that, don't you?




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[zonker]

nm...

 

[MD11Drvr]

I have to agree with TonyC on this. I was in the Army, an enlisted guy so not in "the club" of officers. I fly at an airline that for many years hired mostly military guys and then went through a switch and hired mostly civilian trained pilots. Now things seem 50-50 in the recent classes. I have seen some really great military pilots and I have seen some that made me question some IP's judgement but no more than I have thought about some Civil trained pilots. My observation has also been that I usually don't care to hang out with the "in the club" types anyways. As for blue or brown I would love to work for either but without a 4yr degree Brown is the only chance I have. I would not even consider either one except for the changes going on at World have me thinking about warming up the re'sume again.

This whole thing just seems like a silly argument.....

Just my humble opinion and if you find yourself in Humpy's or F-steet I buy the first round or two.............................

 

[JethroF15]

Well done Albie...as usual.

See you in MEM in August (I'm guessing the 15th).

Hey Ramps... hate your AVTAR! Go Vols! Se you in August Dude!

 

[stonewall]

I've got a bud asking me lots of questions. He starts here shortly at our illustrious Purple airline, and all this contract/strike talk on flightinfo has got him pretty wigged out. I'm still a probationary dude and don't have the answers to his questions, but what happens to the new hires in class if the rock fight escalates into marching? Are the new hires ALPA? Do they skip class? Stay in class, get trained, and then join us? Anyone?

 

[TonyC]

I've got a bud asking me lots of questions. He starts here shortly at our illustrious Purple airline, and all this contract/strike talk on flightinfo has got him pretty wigged out. I'm still a probationary dude and don't have the answers to his questions, but what happens to the new hires in class if the rock fight escalates into marching? Are the new hires ALPA? Do they skip class? Stay in class, get trained, and then join us? Anyone?

Tell him to not worry about it - - focus on plumbing. When the time comes, ALPA will provide all the information he will need. There will be absolutely NOBODY left wondering what they're supposed to do.




For the record, the only rock fight in progress is the one that resides in the mind of the SCP.






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[atpcliff]

Hi!

I was a military pilot, and you're right, I couldn't think outside the box.

I always liked women too much.

Cliff
HEF

 

[FedExFlyer]

I've got a bud asking me lots of questions. He starts here shortly at our illustrious Purple airline, and all this contract/strike talk on flightinfo has got him pretty wigged out. I'm still a probationary dude and don't have the answers to his questions, but what happens to the new hires in class if the rock fight escalates into marching? Are the new hires ALPA? Do they skip class? Stay in class, get trained, and then join us? Anyone?

He'll be CA before any of that goes down.......we are still a couple of years from crossing that bridge. We probably won't have an agreement till early 2007......and thats wishful thinking on my part.

 

[Lrjet55]

Well I am still hopefull. Did the CP interview and have 3 letters of Rec but still nothing. All the guys who were did the CP interview that day are all online by now, I was the only civie. But then I just had a military friend interview and not get it so I suppose there is no reason for who is getting in.
I figured the CP interview was supposed to make the actual interview a sure thing, maybe not.

 

[FedExFlyer]

Well I am still hopefull. Did the CP interview and have 3 letters of Rec but still nothing. All the guys who were did the CP interview that day are all online by now, I was the only civie. But then I just had a military friend interview and not get it so I suppose there is no reason for who is getting in.
I figured the CP interview was supposed to make the actual interview a sure thing, maybe not.

The CP must have found out you were a Gator fan Keep the faith bro' ........everything happens for a reason.