FEDEX is operating under a 121 Supplemental Certificate. For the most part I understand this means that we don't have dispatchers, just "flight followers" and that we must have an alternate regardless of weather.

There's a move to make FEDEX operate under Flag rules for Domestic ops. This would mean that GOC would have to operate as dispatchers and also the removal of mandatory alternates which, in turn would lessen the fuel loads and save money? I believe UPS is now operating under Flag rules for Domestic ops.

What are all the differences and ramifications of the different certificates? Thanks.

 

UPS even has an exemption to the 1,2,3 rule for alternates. You can get by with no alternate if the wx forcast is 1000/2 or better, but you need Cat2 or 3 capability to do it.

 

You have stated the big issues for the most part. According to 2 pilots who were on the committee appointed by PC and chaired by DV, our GOC guys are already licensed anyway. Most of them. That will be minimal pain. I was told that if the weather at our destination is better than 2000/3, we would have no alternate fuel. The pax guys do this day to day. What concerns me is the MEM operation especially on a south flow. I have been really scoosh on fuel on clear nights with holding from center for upwards of 1 hour then given 30 mile finals at MEM when landing south. We will all have to be vigilant on fuel. I was also told that FDX tried to do this before but Capts were adding the alternate fuel anyway. This is surely just a bit of info. I am sure we have many on our seniority list who have operated under flags ops so there should be tons of corporate knowledge available on this board.

 

If they want us to use FLAG rules then I want REAL TAF's. Not just a note saying 'ABOVE 2000/3.'

 

Yes, we did initially operate under supplemental rules, but went to flag/domestic ops in the early1990's (93 or 94). The biggest change was domestic, where supplemental rules required an alternate airport for each leg, even if the destination was CAVOK. Our "dispatchers" did all the functions of a dispatcher, but all this was in prep for going to domestic ops. Once we dropped the supplemental alternate on every leg, we started saving a lot of gas....but everyone sure noticed the much lower fuel at destinations if the wx was good!!

I'm sure there are several more differences, such as ops and MX FAA oversight, etc. You could always look at the FARs...