DarkGrey

Hi All,

New to the forum. Title says it all. Stay fighters or get out and go toward cargo. I'll be 33 at the end of my commitment, and am leaning (heavily) toward cargo. I need any and all advice and a couple answers..

1) How does Fedex/UPS consider fighter guys? Any flight hour adjustments for tactical flying?
2) How soon before my "get-out" date should I be working on the job search?

It's going to stink going to the back of the line again if we move to the civilian world, but moving the family four times in the last 2 years is just fun either.

Thanks for any help.

Jonathon

Deuce130

Not sure how fighter time is actually "crunched" but whatever you have will more than likely be enough. Since all of your time since day 1 is PIC, you'll have no problem with that particular requirement. FDX is full of ex-military guys, with probably more fighter types than heavy types. Your major obstacle is not your flying requirements, is the three internal recs, with a couple guys who've flown with you included and a sponsor. Fedex is hiring like gangbusters right now and rumors indicate that it will continue. I'd start planning as early out as possible. Get your ATP, your FAA Medical, your RTO license, and your online recommendation to fedex (www.pilot.fedex.com) ASAP and start calling your buddies who work there - out of the blue if you have to. Would also be a good idea to be thinking about where you want to live and commute to/from and whether or not you want a guard/reserve job thrown also (highly recommended, especially the first year). Ideally, you want to have a job that starts when your terminal leave begins. Fedex will want to know your availability date up front. You can do your meet and greet with the ACP anytime, but probably won't get an interview until no earlier than 2 months or so from your projected availability date.

Not sure about SWA or UPS stuff, but I'm sure someone will answer shortly. There's also some good threads on the "other" forum, flightinfo.com

Vito

Dark Grey,

Ditto for UPS, Your resume is more than required for the job, just hook up with some friends at UPS, get as many recs as you can and wait for the call. Why not go cargo, and fly in the guard or reserves? Pick a unit thats already been activated and the threat may be lowered, of course its all dependent on the jet you fly etc etc
Good luck,
I'm C-17 and UPS and life is great!

DarkGrey

Thanks for the info, Guys. Very helpful. It's funny, the wife is hooked on this forum. She's trying to learn about the process and she's just as concerned (read: anxious) as I am in making the transition.

Another question...

Does anyone know just how concrete the qualification 'requirements' are for Fedex and UPS? I'll have everything by the end of my commitment next year (>1000 hrs. PIC ME Jet, ATP written, etc), except the 1500 hours TT in jet/turbo-prop. The websites say recency and experience are considered?? I'll have approximately 1200 TT jet, but 1000 will be in fighters- if that makes any difference (I doubt it).

Any and all inputs appreciated. Once again, thanks for the help!

Jon

L'il J.Seinfeld

Quite frankly you need more time. They will not waiver on the 1500 TT. There are so many fighter guys out there with more than that.

DarkGrey

So, no leeway, then.

That sucks for me. Looks like I'm gonna have to take the pilot bonus and stay for another 5 years to make hours.

I've got more than 1,500 TT FW and over 1,000 PIC FW ME Jet, but will only have 1,300 TT FW ME Jet. Didn't want to have to stay in longer to get those extra 200 TT jet. Oh well...

Any suggestions from anyone in the know???

Jon

T-1A Guy

FEDEX does allow a 0.2 hr addition per sortie. However, I agree with the previous thread...you will still be low on time to be competative. Keep iin mind some companies might give additional credit for fighter/trainer time...but it is an additional factor to PIC. Bottom line...there are lots of folks out there with 3,000+ PIC looking. Have you thought about the NG and maybe a fractional to build hours?

DarkGrey

Actually, I haven't considered that. I figured, if I had to stay in, might as well take the bonus. The bonus, however, comes with (STS) a 5 year contract.

The biggest problem is there aren't that many F-15 ANG units around. Additionally, I'm on 'personnel exchange' flying the German Tornado for the next 11 months, so it'll be difficult to market myself to the Guard.

D@mn, I need one more year AD without a contract....but, no 5 yr contract, no bonus...

T-1A Guy

My bet is there are plenty of NG units who would pick you up....may bot be F-15 units...lots of F-16. The big question...do you want to lock yourself down for another 5 years? Many companies i.e. FEDEX are going to start hiring like mad...do you want to be at the beginning of that wave or the end. Historically these cycles last 4-6 years and then there is a slump for 5-6 years.

DarkGrey

That's the dillema. If I get out and beg for an ANG slot in anything else other than the 15, I'll have to do the training course in that fighter. Is it possible to get picked up by a heavy unit as a fighter guy??