FDX: Hiring this fall - Opinions?
04-22-2014, 04:50 AM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 355
Originally Posted by Albief15
Flaps50,
You can go yell on the street corner all you want "they are going to hire!" It won't help.
I have had a few poolies ask "so what do you think?" I remind them the last poolies I helped got a call for class 4.5 years later. While I am not an MBA, nor even a SIG or PSIT guy, it would be remarkably easy for me to see how I could fly another 2-3 days per month without going over the min days off. I haven't had a BLG + line in months (by choice), and get the buy up consistently. You can add a trip to most of the MEM lines and absorb a LOT of flying. During 4a2b, reserve utilization went up, not down. Right now, guys are flying less on reserve, which tells me there isn't a whole lot of flying being held back. I'm sure the company can play games if they choose, but I really don't think they are all that worried about scaring us about the economy. They are worried about tweaking down costs, period.
Speculation is generally harmless, and APC is 90% fun and hot air anyway. That said, a handful of guys are living on pins and needles right now. In the meantime, United, Delta, American, and US Air as well as some others are hiring. I imagine most guys would rather be here than there…but what if the phone doesn't ring for another 12, 18, 24, or 36 months? I'd hate to see anyone pass on the potential job of a lifetime (and a legacy job IS a job of a lifetime--maybe not as good as what we currently have but better than anything they are leaving…) because of the false hope that good news from FedEx is "…just around the corner…" It might be. But it might also be years. And since we don't know, I just want to make sure any lurkers know the dangers of waiting around for an invitation to this dance. There may be some other parties down the street worth looking into...
You can go yell on the street corner all you want "they are going to hire!" It won't help.
I have had a few poolies ask "so what do you think?" I remind them the last poolies I helped got a call for class 4.5 years later. While I am not an MBA, nor even a SIG or PSIT guy, it would be remarkably easy for me to see how I could fly another 2-3 days per month without going over the min days off. I haven't had a BLG + line in months (by choice), and get the buy up consistently. You can add a trip to most of the MEM lines and absorb a LOT of flying. During 4a2b, reserve utilization went up, not down. Right now, guys are flying less on reserve, which tells me there isn't a whole lot of flying being held back. I'm sure the company can play games if they choose, but I really don't think they are all that worried about scaring us about the economy. They are worried about tweaking down costs, period.
Speculation is generally harmless, and APC is 90% fun and hot air anyway. That said, a handful of guys are living on pins and needles right now. In the meantime, United, Delta, American, and US Air as well as some others are hiring. I imagine most guys would rather be here than there…but what if the phone doesn't ring for another 12, 18, 24, or 36 months? I'd hate to see anyone pass on the potential job of a lifetime (and a legacy job IS a job of a lifetime--maybe not as good as what we currently have but better than anything they are leaving…) because of the false hope that good news from FedEx is "…just around the corner…" It might be. But it might also be years. And since we don't know, I just want to make sure any lurkers know the dangers of waiting around for an invitation to this dance. There may be some other parties down the street worth looking into...
along with the speculation & hot air, anecdotally I've heard many retirement eligible captains, say that when a new contract is signed they will go, either with hoped for improvements, or with the knowledge that retirement benefits are unchanged (nothing left on the table), with the following contract 4 to 8 years away, it won't change.
So if there's 500 retirement eligible pilots, and even 250 of them pull the trigger, that will be significant to manpower planning, and could change the dynamic of utilization & hiring. (and seniority ascension for the rest of us).
So--enjoy your days off this spring, summer & fall, you've earned them!!!
04-22-2014, 05:34 AM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: MD11 F/O
Posts: 653
Originally Posted by Flaps50
I hear ya, but that's reserve here at FDX. Scheds doesn't like to use reserves if they don't have to. However, they are going to fly the same block hours with about 150 less guys than last year too do to retirements minimum.
04-22-2014, 06:30 AM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Position: Pressing On
Posts: 524
If you are sitting on pins and needles waiting for the phone to ring or latest rumor to pop up on Fedex, it is a great idea to read and re-read what Barnstormer, Albie, and Cloudsailor posted above. Then read it again.
It might happen sooner than later, but the under/over line is still out in spring of 15 conservatively.
Putting aside that Fedex was the best job in the flying industry over the last 15 years, you have to ask yourself will it still be if and when they call you whenever that is? As others who are there have said it isn't gonna be the job they have.
Run the numbers with and without the DBP vs 15-16 B Fund, look at estimated times to left seat, and compare individual years pay rates not just year for year but maybe Delta or UAL second/third year pay vs Fedex first year pay.
Then keep updating everywhere. You can always quit if somebody offers you a better job and it works better for you and your family.
Easy.
It might happen sooner than later, but the under/over line is still out in spring of 15 conservatively.
Putting aside that Fedex was the best job in the flying industry over the last 15 years, you have to ask yourself will it still be if and when they call you whenever that is? As others who are there have said it isn't gonna be the job they have.
Run the numbers with and without the DBP vs 15-16 B Fund, look at estimated times to left seat, and compare individual years pay rates not just year for year but maybe Delta or UAL second/third year pay vs Fedex first year pay.
Then keep updating everywhere. You can always quit if somebody offers you a better job and it works better for you and your family.
Easy.
04-24-2014, 12:00 AM
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: B777 FO FDX, C130 ANG
Posts: 538
Originally Posted by slaveship
No excess and we need to get down to 3800 pilots before any hope of hiring.
IMHO.
IMHO.
This statistically makes no sense to me unless the company is planning on getting our contract to an arbitrator and trying to impose PBS somehow through arbitration. Regardless if they could fly the current schedule with 500 less guys they would in a heartbeat. I don't see how that's possible.
Albie,
In no way am I advocating that someone wait for FedEx to hire versus going to another job if they call.
I'm just looking for someone to make some statistical arguments as to why we can do it today with 300 less pilots than we needed two years ago if the form hasn't really changed. I don't see how we can't be thin right now in actuality.
04-24-2014, 04:44 AM
#25
done, gone skiing
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Rocking chair
Posts: 1,601
This thread is like a porn movie that everyone's seen, everyone agrees wasn't worth the trouble, and yet keeps talking about. 
For the Fedex "insiders" who keep speculating about when and if we will hire; put down the keyboard, pick up the "Honnie do" list and find something more productive to do with your time. This endless teasing of prospective new hires with rumor and poorly placed "facts" about when Fedex will hire only give false hope, create emotional turmoil (for those) who's efforts could be better directed at real prospects.
For the Fedex wannabes. Don't worry, you won't miss out on a open opportunity to fly at Fedex. You will hear, no doubt, only shortly after the rest of us know that Fedex is opening the door to new hires.
I know that APC is just a diversion for those of us who are between better things (we need) to do, but, come on, let this dog rest until it warrants waking up!
For the Fedex "insiders" who keep speculating about when and if we will hire; put down the keyboard, pick up the "Honnie do" list and find something more productive to do with your time. This endless teasing of prospective new hires with rumor and poorly placed "facts" about when Fedex will hire only give false hope, create emotional turmoil (for those) who's efforts could be better directed at real prospects.
For the Fedex wannabes. Don't worry, you won't miss out on a open opportunity to fly at Fedex. You will hear, no doubt, only shortly after the rest of us know that Fedex is opening the door to new hires.
I know that APC is just a diversion for those of us who are between better things (we need) to do, but, come on, let this dog rest until it warrants waking up!
04-24-2014, 07:42 AM
#27
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2013
Posts: 31
Originally Posted by HKFlyr
My thoughts...
Excess will realign that.
There will be an excess in a few seats and several domiciles and they will fill those empty 757 seats.
Excess will realign that.
There will be an excess in a few seats and several domiciles and they will fill those empty 757 seats.
Anybody that honestly thinks that there will be any hiring before we have a contract is fooling themselves. Additionally anybody that thinks we will have a contract before peak is just plain crazy.
04-24-2014, 07:44 AM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Gear Monkey
Posts: 3,191
Originally Posted by Albief15
Flaps50,
You can go yell on the street corner all you want "they are going to hire!" It won't help.
I have had a few poolies ask "so what do you think?" I remind them the last poolies I helped got a call for class 4.5 years later. While I am not an MBA, nor even a SIG or PSIT guy, it would be remarkably easy for me to see how I could fly another 2-3 days per month without going over the min days off. I haven't had a BLG + line in months (by choice), and get the buy up consistently. You can add a trip to most of the MEM lines and absorb a LOT of flying. During 4a2b, reserve utilization went up, not down. Right now, guys are flying less on reserve, which tells me there isn't a whole lot of flying being held back. I'm sure the company can play games if they choose, but I really don't think they are all that worried about scaring us about the economy. They are worried about tweaking down costs, period.
Speculation is generally harmless, and APC is 90% fun and hot air anyway. That said, a handful of guys are living on pins and needles right now. In the meantime, United, Delta, American, and US Air as well as some others are hiring. I imagine most guys would rather be here than there…but what if the phone doesn't ring for another 12, 18, 24, or 36 months? I'd hate to see anyone pass on the potential job of a lifetime (and a legacy job IS a job of a lifetime--maybe not as good as what we currently have but better than anything they are leaving…) because of the false hope that good news from FedEx is "…just around the corner…" It might be. But it might also be years. And since we don't know, I just want to make sure any lurkers know the dangers of waiting around for an invitation to this dance. There may be some other parties down the street worth looking into...
You can go yell on the street corner all you want "they are going to hire!" It won't help.
I have had a few poolies ask "so what do you think?" I remind them the last poolies I helped got a call for class 4.5 years later. While I am not an MBA, nor even a SIG or PSIT guy, it would be remarkably easy for me to see how I could fly another 2-3 days per month without going over the min days off. I haven't had a BLG + line in months (by choice), and get the buy up consistently. You can add a trip to most of the MEM lines and absorb a LOT of flying. During 4a2b, reserve utilization went up, not down. Right now, guys are flying less on reserve, which tells me there isn't a whole lot of flying being held back. I'm sure the company can play games if they choose, but I really don't think they are all that worried about scaring us about the economy. They are worried about tweaking down costs, period.
Speculation is generally harmless, and APC is 90% fun and hot air anyway. That said, a handful of guys are living on pins and needles right now. In the meantime, United, Delta, American, and US Air as well as some others are hiring. I imagine most guys would rather be here than there…but what if the phone doesn't ring for another 12, 18, 24, or 36 months? I'd hate to see anyone pass on the potential job of a lifetime (and a legacy job IS a job of a lifetime--maybe not as good as what we currently have but better than anything they are leaving…) because of the false hope that good news from FedEx is "…just around the corner…" It might be. But it might also be years. And since we don't know, I just want to make sure any lurkers know the dangers of waiting around for an invitation to this dance. There may be some other parties down the street worth looking into...
Once again, sound analysis and sage advice from Albie
04-24-2014, 08:31 AM
#29
Fill'er Up Again
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: Scarebus Captain
Posts: 1,089
Originally Posted by dckozak
This thread is like a porn movie that everyone's seen, everyone agrees wasn't worth the trouble, and yet keeps talking about.
For the Fedex "insiders" who keep speculating about when and if we will hire; put down the keyboard, pick up the "Honnie do" list and find something more productive to do with your time. This endless teasing of prospective new hires with rumor and poorly placed "facts" about when Fedex will hire only give false hope, create emotional turmoil (for those) who's efforts could be better directed at real prospects.
For the Fedex wannabes. Don't worry, you won't miss out on a open opportunity to fly at Fedex. You will hear, no doubt, only shortly after the rest of us know that Fedex is opening the door to new hires.
I know that APC is just a diversion for those of us who are between better things (we need) to do, but, come on, let this dog rest until it warrants waking up!
For the Fedex "insiders" who keep speculating about when and if we will hire; put down the keyboard, pick up the "Honnie do" list and find something more productive to do with your time. This endless teasing of prospective new hires with rumor and poorly placed "facts" about when Fedex will hire only give false hope, create emotional turmoil (for those) who's efforts could be better directed at real prospects.
For the Fedex wannabes. Don't worry, you won't miss out on a open opportunity to fly at Fedex. You will hear, no doubt, only shortly after the rest of us know that Fedex is opening the door to new hires.
I know that APC is just a diversion for those of us who are between better things (we need) to do, but, come on, let this dog rest until it warrants waking up!
There are some very smart folks on this board that analyze the numbers and make very good points to their summation. And time will show just how accurate their "speculation" turns out. But what does it harm? Their time and anybody that chooses to read it.. Use the info how you choose but if you can read; you can use the information to ascertain your own opinion! I don't think it is getting anybody's hopes up just giving them certain peoples opinions. Good, bad or other!
04-24-2014, 10:31 AM
#30
Out of the box!
Joined APC: Sep 2013
Position: Pro to Line
Posts: 150
Originally Posted by YYESIAV8
"the B727 excess is about to be fully trained out so the main reason we stopped hiring was to finish that process."
Don't think that is why we stopped hiring...down economy had more to do with that. But every former 727 who is able to go to training has started. Only ones left are those that "hurt" their shoulder.
Don't think that is why we stopped hiring...down economy had more to do with that. But every former 727 who is able to go to training has started. Only ones left are those that "hurt" their shoulder.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
