130drvr

I am with a 121 cargo company and am now MIA based, wondering if some of the FDX guys could comment on JS'ing MEM-MIA. I live in Little Rock and do not want to try any of the pax carriers, as full as they are these days.

I went to the company jumpseat website and saw the procedures and phone number, awesome that OJSers can list 24 hrs prior.

Just looking for any FDXers opinions/observations. Parking options would also be helpful.

Thanks for any help in advance.

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nitefr8r

If your airline is on our CASS list, you're certainly eligible. Call ahead of time and check on the loads on the various flights to MIA -- some get really full with commuters. Once you havea reservation you'll need to get to the FedEx AOC (Airops Center) and then check in with jumpseats. It's an easy enough process though it can be a bit bewildering due to the sheer size of the MEM ramp.

Anyway, as usual, its at the Captain's discretion but I've yet to run into anyone who's said no ... though I'm sure it's happened.

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130drvr

I'm with ATI and we are in the CASS systems. Is there a particular time of day that is busy with commuters? I noticed there was an afternoon flight and 2 late night flights. Was hoping for the late night flights.

how many seats are open? I know on the DC-8, we have 2 jumpseats, but also 2 courier seats.

I assume it is 1st come 1st serve for listing by phone, do FDXers use the same system? Or do the usually just show up. Just trying to see if I would have a handle of my chances prior to driving to MEM.

__________________
The 3 rules of life: Timing is critical, It is good to be lucky and There is no justice....

FDXLAG

The seat availability will vary with day. Monday night into MEM and Friday night out are historically tough. If you get a reservation you are safe, make the drive. FDX guys use a parallel system. I don't think you can be bumped inside of 24 hours (or is it 72).

MacMan

A quick look at our schedule, I came up with this:

Monday- 1 AM departure A-300 4 to 6 seats
Tues-Friday-3 am depts 727 Forget it unless you're desperate
A-300 4 to 6 seats
MD-10 or 11 2 to 4 seats
1 PM dept MD-10 or 11
Saturday- 1 AM dept MD
1 PM dept MD
Sunday- 2 PM depts MD's

The AM departures show around 2 am the PM departures show around 2 pm.

130drvr

thanks for the info fellas, another guy at ATI suggested FDX, said it was the best jumpseat experience he has ever had and has done it several dozen times. It makes being displaced from home-based to a MIA base a lot easier.

__________________
The 3 rules of life: Timing is critical, It is good to be lucky and There is no justice....

Jetjok

He must have jumped on one of those 6th Thursdays of each month, when, the company splurges by catering each flight with steak and lobster and a bottle or two of a nice wine, all served by scantily clad babes.

Purple Nugget

Some more info for you...

- If there are seats open within 24 hours of the flight, no matter what a/c type, you can reserve it, and then it's yours. A FedEx pilot can NOT bump you. Only FAA, and operational emergency types can bump you. (One of the only positive-space jumpseats out there.) Of course, all seats are at captain's discretion, but if your CASS, you will not have a problem.

- Seats vary on a/c type.
*727 - 2 (in cockpit)
*757 - 3 outside cockpit + 1 in cockpit
*A300/310 - 4-6 outside cockpit + 2 in cockpit
*MD10/11 - 2-4 outside cockpit + 2 in cockpit
*DC10 - 2 outside cockpit + 2 in cockpit

- Availability also changes daily, although Monday nights into MEM and Saturday AM (Friday night) out of MEM are typically heavy commute days.

- FedEx employees use the same system, just we can reserve a seat up to two weeks in advance. To guarantee a ride into and from work, a FedEx pilot will typically reserve his/her seat well in advance. Same day reservations are rare.

- Parking: I have spoken with other airline pilots that jumpseat on FedEx and they say that parking is available for you in the parking lot off Democrat, just across the street from the MEM Air National Guard building. (Main FedEx hub parking.) Tell the security guard that you are jumpseating, they will call to check, and then let you park in the main lot just to the left of the guard shack. (The pilot lot is another separate lot straight back with another gate.) You will either need to walk back to this 'pilot lot' to catch a shuttle bus with the "AOC/DEM/TRAINING" sign. There is a bus stop for jumpseaters outside the pilot lot, but you have to make a big effort to waive a bus down, as they typically don't pick up people there. The normal buses take rampers to the hub; not where you want to go. AOC = Air Operations Center = where the pilots & jumpseaters go.

- Don't forget, you can get schedules at: Jumpseat Finder
but there may be some flights that make a stop enroute that may not be listed there. (MEM-FLL-MIA)

- Just call the offline jumpseat number 1-866-357-5711. The folks should answer any questions you may have, and help you with flight schedules.

Good luck!

Jetjok

Great post PN. Lots of good information for off-line guys.

130drvr

Man Nugget, thanks for the very helpful and detailed hookup. I was totally dreading trying to JS on American or Continental only to get stuck in DFW or IAH. This takes a huge load off my mind, since I got displaced from a home-based DC-8 to a MIA 767.

__________________
The 3 rules of life: Timing is critical, It is good to be lucky and There is no justice....