FDX B777F Bid cancellation?
 

Ok, all along I have read about delayed deliveries for this aircraft but have understood that they are speaking "fiscal" year, not calendar year.

I was under the understanding that we basically "spread out" our delivery schedule another 17 months.

I reread PC's FCIF on the B777 bid and noticed that under the fleet plan, we aren't supposed to have ANY 777's in 2009, but 4 in 2010. Why would we train "small group trials in March 2009" so they can sit all year and wait till 2010 to fly their "non-payrated" heavy twin?

As the past is a fine predictor of the future, what's to say they don't cancel this bid and freeze the closing numbers for proof to an arbitrator that we are willing to fly it?

Opinions?

2010 begins June 1st!

I just didn't think that PC's graph showing what jets are on the property year to year was in Fiscal. Thought it was calendar. My bad if that the case. He did go on to say that training for the bulk of the "bidders" would begin in "summer 2009". 3 months to train plus IOE means flying the jet for peak next year????

If you look at the graph it has a specific month attached to each year....we show no 777's in May of 09, but they show up in june or july....they appear in the graph for May of 10.....at least thats how i interpreted it.

Thanks man, good call. Guess it was the eggnog hangover from last night. When will that crap be gone!

On one of the ALPA messages, there was a link to FDX's quarterly filing. In the back was all the documentation on the 777 deliveries, including dates for the possible delivery of the 15 options. IIRC, the 4 for FY2010 are Jul, Sep, and Oct of CY2009, and the 4th in Feb 2010. 4 more in Jul-Sep of 2010 (FY2011.)

"As the past is a fine predictor of the future, what's to say they don't cancel this bid and freeze the closing numbers for proof to an arbitrator that we are willing to fly it?

Opinions?"

Or put them all in place and build the lines to 48 hours. If we have 700 pilots surplus and can't figure out a way to furlough them that makes economic sense, at least get as many pilots as possible working for a huge pay cut. Am I missing something here? I'd say the DC-10, 757 and 777 crews will be hit the hardest here when it comes to BLG reduction. In the case of the 777, pilots will actually volunteer for that.

The company is still planning for 777 revenue flights in September 09.


I got off the -10 in 2005. This train wreck was starting even back then. The pilots hanging on till the bitter end couldn't have expected a soft landing....

At my previous airline (AA), pilots "actually volunteered" to get furloughed in place of other, more junior, pilots - they called it Furlough Stand Instead.

The point is, what may seem ludicrous/crazy to one, might fit perfectly in another's plan and be the smartest path for them to take for themselves and their family -not to mention benefit someone else other than themselves.

I understand that chosing NOT to fly every day of the month, and NOT try to suck up all the DFT/VLT flying one can, and NOT to fly 0.89Mach everywhere you go, and NOT to taxi around at 30 knots, and NOT to jump up and pop the doors ASAP to get that "on time" in time on the ACARS, and NEVER calling in fatigued even though you have to have toothpicks to keep your eyelids open during that 0230am landing after a 7 hour flight - are ALL foreign concepts (evidently) to FDX pilots.

But, sometimes, even pilots "actually volunteer" to accept less pay for the good of someone else - RADICALS!!!

Are you comparing the AA pilots that participated in the Furlough Stand Instead program with those that bid the 777? Interesting take to say the least. I guess those that bid it during the practice bids before the New Years Eve FCIF were altruistic and clairvoyant. We need more guys with those skills on our NC!