airman767

Hi,

I'm a Captain at one of the troubled majors and noticed the UPS Management pilot positions available. I was wondering if anyone has the gouge on these positions. Some of the info I'd like to know is: 1. Pay & Benefits 2. Working environment (do they expect you to be a headhunter), are these Management pilots respected among the pilot group? 3. Job security (will the union try to eliminate these jobs with line pilots) 4. Possible advancement.

Also, I turned down a class date with UPS back in 1996 because my wife became pregnant with our first child while I was waiting for my class date. We decided it would be best to stay local where our parents and support systems were. I explained this to UPS in my letter to them telling them I would not be able to attend class. The big question is..... Did I burn the UPS bridge? Would they even consider interviewing me again? I didn't turn them down because I wanted to fly for a major and didn't want to fly freight. It was strictly a "what is best for my family at this time" decision.

Thanks

BoynamedSue

good first post.

welcome.

Browntail

Here's some answers to your questions.

1. Supposedly UPS is not hiring "flight qualified supervisor" CAPTAINS anymore. They are to start out as F/Os and advance based on their ability. Pay is very good, subject to what you can negotiate like a traditional corporate executive position. No two flight qualified supervisors are paid the same.

2. On call 24x7x365. Work to FAR limits and then some if the company needs you to. Only able to turn down one transfer in your career.

3. A very select few are highly respected by the pilot group. The vast majority are NOT.

4. Job security is variable at best. As long as YOU do what the company wants then it's great. You don't and you're fired. You have no seniority number and cannot go to the line if you get "tired" of working in the office.

Unfortunately, you probably did burn your bridge with UPS. If UPS is anything it's arrogant. They absolutely cannot understand why anyone would not want to work here and you turning them down is a major loss of face for the company.

fr8rcaptain

Browntail pretty much covered it.

If you want a job secured by a seniority number, a manglement job at UPS is not for you. Although Browntail alludes that a mangler pilot can be fired at the drop of a hat, not many have. Only one for trying to organize, and another recently because he was an idiot and poor pilot (he stepped on it in the sim with the FAA observing, and eventually got the axe). Some have left on their own accord, and the ability to get promoted to a higher position (instead of a career enhancing sideways move) is limited at best. The UPS manglement pyramid is extremely fat on the bottom and gets real thin real quick.

You'd initially get a training and a type in one of our aircraft types and work in the training center teaching in the sim, with additional duties and special projects like assisting in new training programs, etc. Then you get to perform recurrent checkrides, and eventually become an FAA designee for initial type rides. You get to do all of this five days a week and then fly on your days off to build time and maintain currency. If you're given a weekend project due by Wednesday and get it done early on Tuesday, you'll get two projects for the next weekend....yadda, yadda, yadda.

If you tough out this type of schedule, and don't mind all of the manglement backstabbing and closet blowjobs required for true advancement up the pyramid, you'll get to be an assistant chief pilot and get sent on a "special project" on the gateway audit team or possibly some other career enhancing non-flying job. You could get assigned to support one of our gateways in ONT, RFD, MIA, or ANC.

If you don't want to advance, but find a job you like, I know several retired military types who have been hiding in standards doing line checks for the past 17 years. So if you find a niche... they're all retiring soon, that's why we hired so many manglement pilots over the past year.

The pay is very good (probably start around $125k), the health benefits good (but not as good as a line pilot), you're home every day after work, and the stability is actually good. It beats the crap out of living in your furlough palace.

You'll have to move to Louisville (they pay for EVERYTHING).

Personally, I'd rather go to SWA and work for a living before I'd come here as a mangler, but you gotta do what ya gotta do.

EIGHTMENOUT1

Who are the few highly respected managers? Just name a few.

Browntail

You don't work here so I'm not going to post their names because you wouldn't know them anyway.

Originally Posted by EIGHTMENOUT1
You got it right! I am a Fedex pilot. I will always speak what is on my mind. I am also a loyal ALPA member.

FreightDawg2

I too am interested in whom you think are the respected Mgmt Pilots?

heavyjetpilot

Browntail you might be suprised who Eightmenout1 really is. I have him narrowed down to two people. He knows exactly who I am and I will soon know exactly who he is. He is a UPS Manager!!

Freightpuppy

Interesting....

UPSAv8tr

Hey C,
Send me an email on who you think he/she is.

S