Originally Posted by
JDFlyer
First let me start by saying FedEx is an excellent organization. Hands down one of the premier global companies and perhaps the #1 shipping company. You are fortunate to have had such a successful career there. The seat you sit in represents probably the top 1 or 2% of commercial pilots and every instrument/commercial/soon-to-be CFI pilots wet dream.
Please don't be shocked however, when I say it is not mine.
In full disclosure, I start ground school at SWA on Feb. 16. It is the job I have wanted since I started training for my commercial pilots license - years and years ago. I am 43 years old and fortunately have the chance to be where I want to be. I have never applied for a flying job at FedEx or UPS.
So in the spirit of this thread why SWA and not Fedex for me?
1) SWA has a Phoenix base for pilots, FedEx does not. Commuting to work is the last thing I ever want to do. Currently living in Chicago is not much fun for me or our family. Wifes family is in So. Cal., mine in New Mexico. Scottsdale is right in the middle and not so close either can just drop in unannounced.
2) I interact with our passengers (currently at Skywest) on every leg I fly. I greatly enjoy that part of my job. I personally view "flying the airplane" part of my career about 25% of what I do.
3) I personally prefer short haul flying. Every chance I get, I hand fly up to 20,000 ft and I hand fly down from 20,000 feet. In my opinion, the only fun "stuff" that happens flying a commercial aircraft happens below 20,000ft anyway. I love it. The culture at SWA is about hand flying airplanes. It is not about automation, it is not about managing an autopilot. To be fair, however, this culture is quickly changing at SWA because of the fuel efficiencies gained by letting a computer do the flying instead of a human. Oh well.
4) The culture at SWA is in my opinion the BEST employee culture of ANY American corporation. I could go on for days about this one, but I will only briefly mention this one item. For all the money SWA makes, I firmly the believe the employees are compensated fairly and equitably. For example Gary Kelley, SWA's CEO takes home approx. $1.7 million per year. In other words 9 to 10 times the pay rate of a SWA captain. Fred Smith on the other hand is compensated at what multiple of the average FedEx captain? His compensation fluctuates year to year but to be fair is 35x your salary a fair estimation? Certainly not outrageous, he should be highly compensated for his efforts. But so should you. Like you said you haul $7,500,000 in revenue when you takeoff and land. How much of that do you take home?
5) As far as traveling the world. Personally, I would rather do that with my family on vacation and not an airline crew on a 24 to 36 hour layover.
6) While this last one may sound a little offensive I do not mean it to be. Everything else considered, I absolutely would rather fly a measly, old 737 for the rest of my career than a 777 for another company.
I have a very strong suspicion, that many ex-wifes, many estranged children, many unrecoverable financial setbacks have befallen many a pilot in an unquenchable lust to pursue their big-shiney-jet syndrome.
If given the opportunity to fly a 777, would I take it? Absolutely. But until SWA gets them, I honestly could care less.
Anyway, the chat has been fun. Fly safe!
-JDFlyer
First of all, congratulations on your job at SWA. It is a good job and it sounds like the place for you.
1. This is an excellent reason to work for SWA. You never know how crew basing works out, but I'd say PHX is one of the ones that will stay. I believe it is fairly senior which limits upgrade prospects (pay). I drive to work and would not want to do it any other way. I've commuted before and it was a real negative for me. However we probably have upwards of 70% that commute, so for some it probably isn't that bad. When you become senior, you can bid double DH trips so it really doesn't matter where you live, you actually get paid to go to work...
2. I'm glad you enjoy it. I don't spend my time at Greyhound stations, and to me, that is about what the airport is like. I don't work at a passenger carrier anymore, but I do spend a lot of my time at airports from deadhead travel. It kind of reminds me of barbeque fest in Memphis, you never know where some of those folks crawled in from.
3. I fly for a living. This isn't my idea of fun. If they'd pay me not to work, I'd take it in a heartbeat. I'd rather spend time with my family and friends... That said, I don't want to fly multiple legs. Hand flying a big aircraft doesn't do much for me, they want us to hand fly more at Fedex... It's a very good job, but it is still a job..
4. Cultures change. Bosses change. You think the employees at Eastern ever thought they'd work for a guy like Lorenzo?
How much stock does Kelly have? You think Herb didn't make any money? They ain't doing it for nothing even though they'd like you to think that...
As long as we're profitable and I get my check, I could care less how much money Fred Smith makes. Fred Smith won't be at Fedex forever either... Our culture will change as well... Also, never think that the senior folks won't sell you out either.... It's happened time and time again....
5. We get trip rig of 6.4 hours a day doing nothing. Most of us aren't complaining that the layovers are too short. I'd sit at Shreveport for 12 days. Well maybe not Shreveport....
6. Congratulations, you are in the right place....
I guess this shows that we all have different likes/dislikes and it is important to find your niche. Again, good luck...