New Hires
11-22-2007, 01:08 PM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Originally Posted by Nugget#69
For those of you in the pool. Here's how it went for me last year. When KD called she offered me a MD-11 in ANC, she also said I could stay in the pool and wait for a 727 in Memphis, but did not know when those slots would start to be filled. I said I would take the ANC slot right away, but she said she did not want my answer today and for me to call her tomorrow with the answer. They clearly know there are issues to be discussed before you jump at the offer.
I exepect they will do something similar again
I exepect they will do something similar again
11-22-2007, 04:23 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 777 Captain in Training
Posts: 1,457
Originally Posted by DLax85
Hadn't heard that twist to the "ANC or MEM call" before....but proves KD is even nicer then we all thought!!
11-25-2007, 06:52 PM
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Posts: 356
From the HR source. Hiring in Feb for the FDAs. 40 guys in the pool right now. Recently changed the poolie letter wherein telling them that the company is also looking at "experience" level when offering positions in the FDAs. If you pass on on the FDA; you go back in the pool. Only problem is the pool may be open for the next 3-5 years. With 48 openings, and with the likelihood that 50% of the current poolies will decline HKG or CDG....they will have to interview more folks OR bring pro's or corporate guys into the fold before the prerequisite 3 year window expires. Either way; the company WILL move forward with either new-hires or internal hires from the schoolhouse or corporate. Can a new hire survive on first year pay in either HKG or CDG??? Me thinks not.
11-25-2007, 07:59 PM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Originally Posted by Precontact
Might see someone take some longterm mil leave on this one.
I'm all for doing what is LEGAL. I'm not a puritan here. But to look these guys in the eye and say "I want to go to China" then skip out sure seems like a huge "press to test" for the old moral compass. But how warm do you think your reception will be when you come back after X years and are on probation? Skipping STVs because you are drilling? That makes sense to me... Hard to fly that T-38 or F-16 or C-130 after you just came back 48 hour trip across the Pacific. We don't want guys commuting into an international leg, and by the same token commuting to your ANG obligation from the other side of the world doesn't pass the ORM common sense test.
Again--might be legal. You could probably do it. But without sounding too soapbox here...probably not helping your fellow ANG bros a whole lot.
On the other hand--flew into TLH the other night with a guy who just got back from Afgahnistan doing his A-10 thing. His probation was extended, and he handed the captain a probation report. Those are the guys we need to go out of the way to protect.
Off soapbox. Follow your own course. However, I think they'll get 50-60% of the poolies, and then have no problem getting a few more folks...probably more guys like Whale Pilot.
11-25-2007, 10:33 PM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: ANC -11 FO
Posts: 189
Here's a question. Let's say they fill the FDA's with newhires like expected, they find guys willing to take a huge financial hit just to get on the property. Say a large percentage of these newhires will do anything to get back to the U.S. so they bid 727 SO at 100%. When the time comes (granted, maybe a long time) that the company needs fresh bodies in the back of the Boeing, can they hire off the street to fill these slots? It seems like they'd have to open a bid first and let the FDA guys come home if they want to. If that's the case then they'll need to hire off the street again to fill those slots left vacant in the FDA's. Then the cycle repeats itself. Then once again when an MD-11 base opens in HKG.
Bottom line: Have we turned into a company that, by default, only hires to fill the FDAs? Will the standard "rite of passage" to join the FedEx team be that you have to spend several years going broke in an 800 square ft apartment in HKG or CDG? How many of us would have applied knowing that was the case? I know there's some guys like Whale Pilot who would jump at the chance to be based in HKG or CDG. But as the other airlines ramp up hiring again, my concern is that a lot of very qualified, very good dudes are going to take a job with Delta, SWA, UPS, etc to avoid being sent overseas for several years with us.
Thoughts?
Bottom line: Have we turned into a company that, by default, only hires to fill the FDAs? Will the standard "rite of passage" to join the FedEx team be that you have to spend several years going broke in an 800 square ft apartment in HKG or CDG? How many of us would have applied knowing that was the case? I know there's some guys like Whale Pilot who would jump at the chance to be based in HKG or CDG. But as the other airlines ramp up hiring again, my concern is that a lot of very qualified, very good dudes are going to take a job with Delta, SWA, UPS, etc to avoid being sent overseas for several years with us.
Thoughts?
11-26-2007, 04:34 AM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,052
2005 Blues,
Your concern is in fact a reality. I know several RJ and A-320 drivers who have been following this FDA progression closely. They were guys who would've gone to the 'back of the Boeing' for an unlimited amount of time just to get on property with you. But now, with the CDG/HKG for an 'unknown amount of time' situation, they are applying elsewhere. UPS seems to be the #1 choice for them, with Delta/United/Alaska/etc... as a second option, depending on where they live and other factors.
As for me, I've always wanted to fly for FDX. I knew I wanted to join your guys's team since before I began flight training. So much so, that I applied, interviewed and was almost hired to be a driver for FedEx- however a 15-year UPS supervisor quit UPS and applied for the same job, so I ended up not getting it. I was told though 'the job was yours, but we had to give it to this guy because of his experience level...'. I then applied to UPS and got the delivery job with them....
Anyway, you're right, the interested applicants might diminish, but there will still be guys out there with several options, like myself (CX, UPS, F9), who will choose FedEx over any other option! I'm looking forward to doing so!
Your concern is in fact a reality. I know several RJ and A-320 drivers who have been following this FDA progression closely. They were guys who would've gone to the 'back of the Boeing' for an unlimited amount of time just to get on property with you. But now, with the CDG/HKG for an 'unknown amount of time' situation, they are applying elsewhere. UPS seems to be the #1 choice for them, with Delta/United/Alaska/etc... as a second option, depending on where they live and other factors.
As for me, I've always wanted to fly for FDX. I knew I wanted to join your guys's team since before I began flight training. So much so, that I applied, interviewed and was almost hired to be a driver for FedEx- however a 15-year UPS supervisor quit UPS and applied for the same job, so I ended up not getting it. I was told though 'the job was yours, but we had to give it to this guy because of his experience level...'. I then applied to UPS and got the delivery job with them....
Anyway, you're right, the interested applicants might diminish, but there will still be guys out there with several options, like myself (CX, UPS, F9), who will choose FedEx over any other option! I'm looking forward to doing so!
Last edited by CloudSailor; 11-26-2007 at 04:49 AM.
11-26-2007, 05:03 AM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Gear Monkey
Posts: 3,191
Originally Posted by 2005 Blues
Here's a question. Let's say they fill the FDA's with newhires like expected, they find guys willing to take a huge financial hit just to get on the property. Say a large percentage of these newhires will do anything to get back to the U.S. so they bid 727 SO at 100%. When the time comes (granted, maybe a long time) that the company needs fresh bodies in the back of the Boeing, can they hire off the street to fill these slots? It seems like they'd have to open a bid first and let the FDA guys come home if they want to. If that's the case then they'll need to hire off the street again to fill those slots left vacant in the FDA's. Then the cycle repeats itself. Then once again when an MD-11 base opens in HKG.
Bottom line: Have we turned into a company that, by default, only hires to fill the FDAs? Will the standard "rite of passage" to join the FedEx team be that you have to spend several years going broke in an 800 square ft apartment in HKG or CDG? How many of us would have applied knowing that was the case? I know there's some guys like Whale Pilot who would jump at the chance to be based in HKG or CDG. But as the other airlines ramp up hiring again, my concern is that a lot of very qualified, very good dudes are going to take a job with Delta, SWA, UPS, etc to avoid being sent overseas for several years with us.
Thoughts?
Bottom line: Have we turned into a company that, by default, only hires to fill the FDAs? Will the standard "rite of passage" to join the FedEx team be that you have to spend several years going broke in an 800 square ft apartment in HKG or CDG? How many of us would have applied knowing that was the case? I know there's some guys like Whale Pilot who would jump at the chance to be based in HKG or CDG. But as the other airlines ramp up hiring again, my concern is that a lot of very qualified, very good dudes are going to take a job with Delta, SWA, UPS, etc to avoid being sent overseas for several years with us.
Thoughts?
...especially, when you consider we are working for a highly profitable company, with immense pricing power, who's collecting revenue in a foreign currency where our pilots will be based.
Albie, I, and others all wrote about the scenario you describe a few weeks back....the after affects of this poor LOA may be felt for years.
11-26-2007, 05:35 AM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: MD-11 Captain
Posts: 4,304
Originally Posted by 2005 Blues
When the time comes (granted, maybe a long time) that the company needs fresh bodies in the back of the Boeing, can they hire off the street to fill these slots? It seems like they'd have to open a bid first and let the FDA guys come home if they want to. If that's the case then they'll need to hire off the street again to fill those slots left vacant in the FDA's. Then the cycle repeats itself. Then once again when an MD-11 base opens in HKG.
Bottom line: Have we turned into a company that, by default, only hires to fill the FDAs? Will the standard "rite of passage" to join the FedEx team be that you have to spend several years going broke in an 800 square ft apartment in HKG or CDG?
Thoughts?
Bottom line: Have we turned into a company that, by default, only hires to fill the FDAs? Will the standard "rite of passage" to join the FedEx team be that you have to spend several years going broke in an 800 square ft apartment in HKG or CDG?
Thoughts?
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