lear 31 pilot

Well it sounds like you all have really earned your positions at what will probably be the pinnacle of your careers, Congratulations. I can't believe how many companies some of you have been at, its great you stuck with it. Hopefully sometime in the far future I will be in your position.

FliFast

Yo Vito,

Anyone with a name like "Vito" must know Tony Soprano..hence I watch what I say....

I have met C17 guys up in ANC and 135 guys and some KC10 guys. I'm sure I missed some others that are up ther also: Herc and C5 drivers.

I would say most of the exisiting hires (new Capts and senior F/Os) that I fly with are former military..mostly USAF..hence the wisecrack about what UPS stands for.. US Air Force Pilot Service....just a joke...nothing to pick up the pitchfork over.

However, the new hires are about 60% civi and 40% former mil. The civi guys are folks from World, Gemini and the like that are former MD11 cats.. Others are from Atlas, Polar, Focus, Connie, Southern and were 747 drivers. Still others are from Northwest, JetBlue and the like..I can't remember them all...brain cell deficiency....sorry.

Again, I've never spent a day in the life of an airlift guy; but, the civi guys used to work at places where they did the same exact thing that UPS does to the same exact airports that UPS flies to in the same exact equipment that UPS uses...I'll leave it to someone with a more sober mind to determine who is better to fly Intl for UPS. A former freight dog that does the exact same thing as UPS pilots do or an aviator that risks life and limp landing on 500 foot strips in Afganistan or that lands on a pitching deck on a dark and stormy night...etc etc.

I'm still going to say...cooperate graduate...we'll figure everything else out out the bar on the layover. The only contest I'll engage in with you Vito, involves lining up the shot glasses and making a go at it....Cheers.


I think LEAR31 above has it right. This thread also has an audience of folks that are measuring their background versus those who have gotten hired at UPS/FDX so as to do some career planning. Hopefully this thread will be informative to future hirees at both airlines. AND NOW, back to the thread..where did you come from before FDX or UPS...thank you.

Freightdog at heart,

FF

Ps. When we go into the Masterbase, SDF..why do some guys say "We're going Tactical" ??? -or- ask the controller for a midfield break ???? I think that's a cue to change out of my PJs back into my uniform.

Rocco

Easy....You don't have to be hostile.

People that fly for the US Military deserve to be at any airline just as much as anyone else.

FDXLAG

WOW that would be a first a HR Guy. Talk about your minorities.

FliFast

Correct me if I'm wrong..UPS' hiring guy back in the 90's was an A10 Fighter Pilot from TWA.

Just curious.....thx...

FF

L'il J.Seinfeld

I actually posted my background because I thought I was a little less qualified than many others. Also, I wanted to point out that you don't have to be a Space Shuttle pilot to get hired.

And as for your crack about my experience...what's your problem?

This job is not that difficult. There are tons of guys 26 years of age with around a 1000 hours in C-17/KC-10/KC-135/ C-5 who are aircraft commanders flying similar equipment on a lot more demanding flights than UPS/FDX pilots. My point is that there is a minumum threshhold to be qualified for this job. At some point there is a level of diminishing returns. Sure you are more experienced if you've crossed the Pacific 200 times compared to someone who has only done it 50, but I doubt that makes you a better pilot.

Vito

Flifast,

when a crew goes "Tactical" they shut off all emmiters (radars, radios,lights etc) so as to become invisible to the enemy....I'd wager to guess when we arrive at "Meccah" every good UPS crew should try to go stealth until the wheels are back in the well again.
Take Care,
Vito

TheBaron

I was watching Top Gun for the 100th time on a late night movie marathon and thought it would be cool to be a pilot. Fortunately I was staying at a Holiday Inn Express. FedEx called the next morning and offered me a job. Is that unusual?

N570UP

And why do you say that?

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE

You're right, they did plan on doing that and they did just that. That's exactly why FliFast runs into so many ex-mil guys/gals in ANC.

However, since the transoceanic experience is not required anymore, personally I'm hoping they'll go back to the "a little bit if this & a little bit of that" selection process.

I think that's the real strength of UPS - you'll find every possible aviation background in here: civilian, military, or both, national guard, part 121, 135, 91, those furloughed from legacies or resigned from legacies, the ones who lucked out and got hired really fast and the ones who waited for years. It's all here and personally I think that's great!