As for Fedex....

Most new hires start on the 727 panel, but recently some have be put on the panel of the DC-10 and even the right seat of the 727. But that is rare- count on going to the 727 and living the phrase "essential power." (Two new hires recently finishing training for the Airbus in Subic, but again, very rare.) How long you stay totally depends on hiring, movement, and people leaving. There has to be a seat bid. It could be 6 months, it might be several years. Some people choose to stay in their seats to hold good schedules, and not upgrade at the first possible time. Or, they wait until a widebody seat opens up. Lots of 60+ guys on the back of the -10.

Right now, if you have been at Fedex for a year or so, you could hold a widebody seat (the MD-11 went more junior than the Airbus). The most junior guy holding 727 captain is a 4 year employee (but the wait for training is months.) The most junior guy waiting for LAX MD-11 training was hired less than a year ago, but won't start training until January 2006.

Most pilots are domiciled in MEM- all 727 pilots, all DC-10, and some MD-11 and some A-300/310. There is a small MD-11 domicile in LAX, and one in ANC. There is a very small (80 pilots total) Airbus base in Subic Bay, Phillipines. Pilots are never forced to go to SFS.

The schedules vary, every possible thing you can imagine. 3 on, 4 off, 7 on 7 off, 14 on, 14 off, you name it. Day stuff, night stuff, early AM stuff, afternoon stuff, around the world, and domestic.

You HAVE to have 3 rec letters from pilots at Fedex that have flown with you to even be considered for an interview. We were also making your buddies bring you into Fedex in person to meet a Chief Pilot- just to get an interview. Not sure if that is still in effect though. It got really crazy, and though I did see a few guys do that a few weeks ago, heard they may be scaling that down. Not sure.

Good luck!