WMCTV Channel 5 in Memphis is doing a special on Monday night 10PM LCL focusing on GOC @ FDX.

 

I'd rather see a segment called "Inside Dr. Bock's Office - The Deadline Approaches"

Bet that office hasn't seen so many HEALTHY over 60 pilots in decades!!!

 

But that might expose what a joke our medical exam is.

ALPA of the past "Age 60 rule is about safety"
ALPA of the present "We are for the change but don't touch our medical requirements"

All I here from ALPA is, "blah, blah, PAC, blah, blah".

 

Yeah that exam is kind of like my last sexual experience....couple of deep breaths and it was all over.

 

We are required to report medical treatment. That's when the fun begins.

 

So with thread drift this is becoming "Dr Bock giving prostate checks to over 60 GOCC guys, LIVE on Monday, be there!"

 

What is "GOC?" Will there be Show and Tell? Is it like Practice Bid?

 

GOC is our Global Operations Control center. Most (FAR part 121) airlines are required to maintain a "Dispatch Department" that tracks their flights, monitors weather, flight progress and various other functions related to the safe operation of their flights. On various large screen TV's you can see real time where all the airborne FedEx airplanes in the world are located. You can "talk" to them via datalink or satcom. It's really an impressive operation.

FedEx operates under FAR part 121 (supplemental section) and has some different requirements ... the short version though is that it's our dispatch department. For flights that divert to an unexpected destination due to weather or mechanical problems, GOC figures out how to recover the freight onboard the diverted airplane. An MD-11 has lots of guaranteed cargo the company (and our customers) would like to make sure gets delivered on time.


Mark

 

GOC... Galactic Operations Center

 

Oh, I see. If this turns out to be a good, reasonable rendition of what actually happens at the GOC (meaning it shows the good, the bad, and the ugly), would it be possible for those of us who do not live in Memphis to see it? Like here on APC? And don't ask me why I would want to see something like this. Just morbid curiosity, I guess. Have to keep up my reputation as a news junkie.

I have been to dispatch centers and they are not unlike ATC. I'm glad there are people willing to work in such places. There must be a big bottle of Tums in everyone's desk drawer. However, on a good day when everything works as it should, I am sure it is as wonderful as a well choreographed ballet.