FDX Leave of Absence?
01-14-2009, 05:00 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: MD-11 Captain
Posts: 4,304
Several months back, Capt. "O" put out an FCIF (email maybe?) saying he would consider liberally approving personal LOA requests. If you're really interested, this might be a really good time to ask for one (and you might be saving a junior guys job "if" furloughs really do happen).
Good luck
Good luck
01-14-2009, 07:01 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,196
Here are a few thoughts as I approach the end of 10 months of an at least two year long LOA...
Sleeping at home every night is great.
Hanging out with mom and the kids...outstanding.
I haven't been inside an airport in 10 months...great.
Getting every weekend off...wonderful.
Dog no longer barks at me when I come home...nice
Downside:
My Cathay Pacific frequent flier card is expiring.
I haven't had good gyoza in 10 months.
I work every Monday through Friday.
I took a significant pay cut when I originally took my LOA. That has obviously changed a bit with the reduction in flying hours. But as a relatively junior LAX F/O, commuting on VTO lines wasn't always easy and sometimes it was downright painful. Fighting for 90 day landing currency didn't do much for the proficiency level either. So for me, it hasn't been especially painful to take a break for a while. And as a side benefit, it helps to know that I'm actually helping a more junior bud by taking advantage of an opportunity they might not have. In all seriousness, I think that is an important consideration. For a lot of reasons, I would like to avoid the f-word from happening at FedEx. The more of us who can afford to take an LOA, the better off we all are, and the better environment we will return to when it's time to come back.
Sleeping at home every night is great.
Hanging out with mom and the kids...outstanding.
I haven't been inside an airport in 10 months...great.
Getting every weekend off...wonderful.
Dog no longer barks at me when I come home...nice
Downside:
My Cathay Pacific frequent flier card is expiring.
I haven't had good gyoza in 10 months.
I work every Monday through Friday.
I took a significant pay cut when I originally took my LOA. That has obviously changed a bit with the reduction in flying hours. But as a relatively junior LAX F/O, commuting on VTO lines wasn't always easy and sometimes it was downright painful. Fighting for 90 day landing currency didn't do much for the proficiency level either. So for me, it hasn't been especially painful to take a break for a while. And as a side benefit, it helps to know that I'm actually helping a more junior bud by taking advantage of an opportunity they might not have. In all seriousness, I think that is an important consideration. For a lot of reasons, I would like to avoid the f-word from happening at FedEx. The more of us who can afford to take an LOA, the better off we all are, and the better environment we will return to when it's time to come back.
Last edited by Rock; 01-14-2009 at 07:42 PM.
01-15-2009, 01:53 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: DC10 Captain
Posts: 284
Originally Posted by Rock
Here are a few thoughts as I approach the end of 10 months of an at least two year long LOA...
Sleeping at home every night is great.
Hanging out with mom and the kids...outstanding.
I haven't been inside an airport in 10 months...great.
Getting every weekend off...wonderful.
Dog no longer barks at me when I come home...nice
Downside:
My Cathay Pacific frequent flier card is expiring.
I haven't had good gyoza in 10 months.
I work every Monday through Friday.
I took a significant pay cut when I originally took my LOA. That has obviously changed a bit with the reduction in flying hours. But as a relatively junior LAX F/O, commuting on VTO lines wasn't always easy and sometimes it was downright painful. Fighting for 90 day landing currency didn't do much for the proficiency level either. So for me, it hasn't been especially painful to take a break for a while. And as a side benefit, it helps to know that I'm actually helping a more junior bud by taking advantage of an opportunity they might not have. In all seriousness, I think that is an important consideration. For a lot of reasons, I would like to avoid the f-word from happening at FedEx. The more of us who can afford to take an LOA, the better off we all are, and the better environment we will return to when it's time to come back.
Sleeping at home every night is great.
Hanging out with mom and the kids...outstanding.
I haven't been inside an airport in 10 months...great.
Getting every weekend off...wonderful.
Dog no longer barks at me when I come home...nice
Downside:
My Cathay Pacific frequent flier card is expiring.
I haven't had good gyoza in 10 months.
I work every Monday through Friday.
I took a significant pay cut when I originally took my LOA. That has obviously changed a bit with the reduction in flying hours. But as a relatively junior LAX F/O, commuting on VTO lines wasn't always easy and sometimes it was downright painful. Fighting for 90 day landing currency didn't do much for the proficiency level either. So for me, it hasn't been especially painful to take a break for a while. And as a side benefit, it helps to know that I'm actually helping a more junior bud by taking advantage of an opportunity they might not have. In all seriousness, I think that is an important consideration. For a lot of reasons, I would like to avoid the f-word from happening at FedEx. The more of us who can afford to take an LOA, the better off we all are, and the better environment we will return to when it's time to come back.
01-15-2009, 08:06 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 331
Hey Rock, as one of the bottom 200...THANKS!!! I really appreciate your effort and am glad it is doing some great things for your life as well. Wouldn't it be funny if all the bubbas who could go on MLA just up and went for a year or two. I believe that all the manning issues would be instantly solved and then some. Enjoy your time off and all the extra time at home...I hear it is beneficial in so many different ways. Perhaps I'll get the opportunity to find out soon......
S/F
S/F
01-15-2009, 12:29 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,196
Originally Posted by gcsass
Hey Rock, as one of the bottom 200...THANKS!!! I really appreciate your effort and am glad it is doing some great things for your life as well. Wouldn't it be funny if all the bubbas who could go on MLA just up and went for a year or two. I believe that all the manning issues would be instantly solved and then some. Enjoy your time off and all the extra time at home...I hear it is beneficial in so many different ways. Perhaps I'll get the opportunity to find out soon......
S/F
S/F
01-15-2009, 03:07 PM
#10
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 98
The CBA stipulates leave in 90 day chunks up to a max of 24 months.
And you still need approval for other commercial flying.
That might cause some issues when they shift rapidly from overmanned to short handed.
It would be helpful if they would approve a long term absence up front. Anybody ask for that?
And you still need approval for other commercial flying.
That might cause some issues when they shift rapidly from overmanned to short handed.
It would be helpful if they would approve a long term absence up front. Anybody ask for that?
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