Path to FedEx
Hi everyone. I know there’s no quick way to get there, but I’m looking for some advice on what would be the best route to take to get to FedEx. I currently have a little over 1,000 hours total time and hold a commercial single/multi certificate with instrument as well as CFI-A, CFII, and I’m working on MEI and CFI-G. I’m currently weighing my options for a flying career and after talking with a friend of mine who has been a captain for FedEx for years, I’d like to fly for them as well. So I’m wanting to put together a plan to take the proper steps to get there so I don’t make a mistake and add an additional five or ten years to the process. The industry probably won’t be back to where it was in December, but for planning purposes let’s say the virus is gone by the time I start this process and the industry has mostly recovered. So, I’ve been debating between a few different options.
The first one was to get to 1,200 hours total time and apply for a captain position for a 135 or somewhere like Ameriflight or Freight Runners in a twin turbine aircraft like the BE99s. That way I’m getting twin turbine PIC time right away. Thoughts on this? Is there one company better to fly for that would get me in the door at FedEx sooner?
Another option would be to do the regional airline route once I get 1,500 hours. My only concern with that is the time lost as an FO before I could upgrade to captain and really begin logging the PIC time frequently. But I would get 121 experience by doing this.
Another option could be to fly for one of the FedEx feeders like Mountain Air or Empire and get involved in the Purple Runway program. Start in the C208 as a captain (or the SkyCourier if it’s up by then) and then transition to an FO on the ATR. Then onto a captain on the ATR. That will give me both twin turbine PIC and 121 experience, but I’d be in the same boat as above waiting for the upgrade from FO to CA unless the SkyCourier is operational by then and they allow the PIC time in it to count toward the program’s times.
Another option could be a mixture of the first two above where I fly for a 135 for a while until I get the time there, then transition to a regional as an FO and maybe upgrade to captain depending on timing, then off to FedEx.
If anyone has any other suggestions, please feel free to mention them.
I know today isn’t the time to try to get hired anywhere due to the virus and the impact on the industry. I’m still six months to a year away from making a decision on which route to take, maybe even two years due to the impact of Covid-19. So let's hope the industry has recovered mostly from this by then.
Thank you all so much for your help. I greatly appreciate it.