UPS Trivia
 

Freight Dog,

What does it mean to say that training is full through the dates you listed?

Not that it matters much, but I was in SDF the other day and the van driver had some other info.

UPS is building a bridge over I-65 to a new parking lot for crewmembers next to the GOC. The driver said the old parking lots will be used as the training center expands for the 747-400 and 2nd MD-11 sims. Apparently they have already seen mockups, diagrams, etc. of the new layout.
FWIW

Is UPS getting 6 747-400's this year or are deliveries going into 2008?

The "parking lot" part is true. Supposedly, by this year's peak, we crewmembers wii be parking at the new lot. This has been said in the "Dispatch." Will it happen by then, we'll see. As for the sims, I haven't heard any specifics as to which sims will be added, but the sim building will be expanding, per the "Dispatch" again.

The current schedule calls for 4 airplanes this year, then the last 6 next year.

I always laugh when they give the DC-8 retirement dates. Every year it goes out later. At the present 43 airframes that would be 11+ airframes a year. I'd bet even money till 2016-2020+. 43 airframes at 18 cans topside and 4 equivalent below is alot of lift.
We were told the same dates the other day at a BPM. The managers all laugh too.
The DC-8 is going AQP for recurrent next year, but not initial training.
Would guess, among other reasons, the FAA doesn't believe the story that the 8 is going away by 2010-2013. Size of DC-8 crew list is growing on all seats. UPS still is going to be short on lift, one reason 8 is going to be around longer. Now if they announce another big 76 buy like the last one, it would be a firm date.

The DC8s will start leaving in 2017. Info from DC8 manager 4 months ago.

DC-8 on 40th yr of service=experimental category

I thought there was no cycle limit on the 8?

I think this means for upgrade/transition. The additional new hires have already been factored into the training schedule. Right now there is a huge bubble in the training department due to last summers hiring numbers (or lack there of) and the 727 phase out, compounded by the additional airframes coming in the next 18 months.