TipTip35

Aviators...

I know that recommendations from pilots are pretty much required for FedEx but do the recs have to come from pilots that you've actually flown with. I know some pilots their who who rec me but I've only actually flown with one. Does the fact that they know me and my work ethic count??

koz2000

Per the pilot web site. Recs cover the following things: How long have you known this individual, how do you know person (job, personal, etc...), technical performance, describe flying experience with, why are you recommending this person. As far as I understand, a recommendation will carry a lot more weight if you've flown with the person. I have heard of guys that rented 172's to get flying time with their rec. You also need a sponsor to be competitive and they have to have flown with you. It's a little more indepth than the rec form.

FDXFLYR

I recommended a guy who I only worked with on a staff job. But, he had the flying credentials too. While flying with your sponsor is certainly a huge plus, it isn't a requirement.

nwafo

Are they still requiring a meet and great with the Chief Pilot?

dckozak

Not required, but helpful I think the number and quality of your sponsers
and how much (hard??) they go to bat for you, and how good you look on paper are the biggest things going for you at Fedex.

MD11driver

The System Chief Pilot (SCP) or one of the Assistant Chief Pilots (ACP)...and with the competitive market, the meet and greets are virtually mandatory. I've talked with my ACP about the process...the way he explained it was you schedule your candidate for a "meet and greet" with your ACP or SCP. Although this meeting is informal, I would treat it as a mini-interview. Because, through this "meet and greet" the ACP will choose their top choices. They'll then bring these choices (on paper) to another screening board composed of other ACPs, the SCP and other managers (who all have their "top choices" as well). Then, as a "group", they decide who will get invited for the formal interviews for that cycle. So, if someone else's "top choice" is more "top choice" than yours, an otherwise-highly-qualified-candidate may not get an interview right away.

Bottom line--even though you sponsor someone and get them a "meet and greet", it is not guaranteed that they'll get a formal interview...probably through no fault of their qualifications...someone else may have an extra 2000 hrs PIC time, that extra recommendation, or worse...a better "connection".

Which also answers the question "Do you need to have flown with someone?" True, it's not required, but it may get you an interview over someone who doesn't have a "flown-with" recommendation.

A sad state of affairs to be sure, but with 11,000+ apps out there, they can afford to be picky.

I also do not know what happens to the "second tier" top choices after they are passed over once. I would expect them to be put in a "consider later" pile...but who knows?

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE...we just received an email the other day from our Chief Pilot that said the "meet and greets" are on hold while they clear the backlog. They think the pipeline would open again after the next seat bid (rumored to be very large and in the next few months...but, again, who knows?).

Boy, I'm the bearer of happy news, eh? Sorry about that, but just the messenger...

Good luck to all!

dckozak

Now you've done it. Give SkyHigh another reason to dispair and rant on FDX pilots