FDX - DEN parking
 

Here we go again! It appears that since several people that parked in front of the building in the designated pilot parking spots where too close to the fence (within 3 feet) [Which, by the way, is a new rule that no one was notified about, making it very difficult to comply with!], we are getting our parking privileges revoked, effective immediately.

Wouldn't it have been easier to have mass emailed all the pilots that have a DEN parking permit and told them that the next time they park in the designated pilot spots, to please make sure that they are at least 3 feet away from the fence. How about moving each parking space concrete stop further from the fence?

No, it's better to keep putting paper warning letters each day on the pilots cars that are gone on multi-day trips so that you can prove that "those pilots just won't follow the parking rules (that they haven't been told about in advance, by the way!), then suspend our privileges because we don't move our cars immediately while we're out flying in the system for FedEx!

Nice!

Another frustrated DEN commuter! :mad:

Looks like the limo bills are going to go up again in Denver. What did JL say they were back at start of all this, $10,000 a month..

If you haven't already, forward this to "O", your ACP, your union rep and our ALPA jumpseat coordinator. At the least, they need to know what kind of stuff the notorious ramp mngr in DEN is up to now. Maybe a call from PC, re: the amount of $$ in limos will change his mind

DEN Ramp appears hostile to Pilots
 

I don't fly through DEN often, but the past few times I've been through there, they seemed to be somewhat aggravated or rude towards us. And seemed that we were bothersome to them for asking to be let in and out of the building, etc. Is there some history there between the ramp and pilots that is affecting our relationship? It is sad, but it seemed more adversarial than cooperative.

AerisArmis,

Done! We'll see what comes of it.

Fly FDX,

I would have to agree with you in some cases it feels like we really don't work for FedEx - we must be contractors that just show up to fly the airplanes for them (really bizarre in fact!). Having said that, on an individual basis, I've met alot of ramp people who are friendly to the local pilot group.

One of the problems with DEN is that the cargo side of the field is considered part of the SIDA (Security IDentification Area), so everyone that enters has to have a special DEN SIDA Badge or be escorted. To the average DEN ramper, we're just a pain in the *ss, always having to be let in and out by them swiping their badges in the door readers.

One solution to this annoyance is that all pilots that commute out of DEN should be issued their own SIDA badge. The process requires you to fill out a form that is signed by a supervisor at the DEN Ramp, make an appointment and go over to the office that provides the badges and watch a security video, get your picture taken and get your DEN ID [It really is a pain in the *ss process!]. Everyone that works there does this - except for the FDX DEN commuters! (Oh, and btw, you have to go back to this office every year and watch the silly video to renew your badge.)

The reason (as I've been told) that the DEN commuters can't get a DEN SIDA badge, is that the DEN ramp doesn't want to hassle with filling out the forms for all of us. What they don't realize is, is that that would be short term pain for long term gain. They are thinking from the perspective of their own employee turnover creates alot of new faces to authorize and cancel throughout the year. They're not realizing that the pilot group is very static - we don't have alot of pilots being hired and then quitting, etc.

Now on to the parking lot - The DEN ramp has a budget for leasing parking spaces from the DEN airport. They chose not to pay for anymore spaces than they thought they would need to accomodate their ground personnel when they built their own lot. (They even spend alot of money on an electronic gate system to keep the pilots from parking in that lot!)

Flt Ops asked for them to make the lot large enough to accommodate some of the 200+ Front Range commuters (not sure about how many spaces they calculated we might need on average), I believe, even offering to throw money at it. No agreement could be reached, other than the dozen or so spots they initially provided in front of the building.

Denver Guys,

Trying to organize some communication among us. I currently have about 27 names, numbers and emails. We just started a Google Groups website.

Please email me at [email protected] to get on the list.

Please pass the word!

We are also looking for someone to spearhead this issue.

Thanks,

Barry

It's too bad that DEN manager has such a high launch reliability...

Emails circulating around MEC on this very issue today. Maybe between company, union, and some grass roots work we can get this fixed.

I don't think any of the DEN pilots need to be told this, but everyone needs to make sure they stay "cool" and don't let one person's blowing off steam hurt the effort. Keep the high road....(and brother--I know sometimes its very tough...)

Please CC any correspondence to your block rep...we'll do all we can to help.

Thanks Albie!!

Later