FDX Anchorage Pilots
03-02-2009, 01:58 PM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: 777 Multi-tasker
Posts: 712
Originally Posted by cma2407
Just for fun, and to lighten things up around here, I thought I'd offer a mildly humorous rundown of a recent commute to the great white north for an R-day block. And yes, it's true--you just can't make a fiasco like this up:
1/12. Book jumpseat with FX for 2-legger thru MEM to ANC on the 23rd.
I'm all set. Life is good!
1/16. Uh oh. Bumped by j/s for "higher operational priority".
1/16. Rebooked j/s to different flt. Bumped later that same day, even with "Capt's permission" on file. No reason given when j/s contacted.
1/17. Bought ticket on AA to ORD. Planned to link up with FX flt ORD-ANC.
1/20. Snow in ORD. AA cancels 1 hr prior to showtime. Turn off the car and walk back in the house.
1.20. Call FX j/s, book me out of MEM, AFW, ORD, or EWR. Nothing open. AFW-ANC and ORD-ANC are no longer flown as of this month.
1/20. Call Global travel. No tickets available, at any price, to ANC for the 20th, 21st, or 22nd. All flights are full. Get on Orbitz, Travelocity, etc...same deal. Nada.
1/20. Take a shot at calling UPS, NWA j/s. That won't work either.
1/20. I'm sick about this. VIPS gets the official notification.
1/21. I buy a $700 ticket with Global for the 23rd on NWA. Finally!
1/21. Recheck FX availability several times. Nothing.
1/21, 1/22. Don't sleep much, wondering "Why did I do this again"?
1/23. NWA cancels connecting flight to MSP 2 hrs prior to showtime. Snow in MSP. Who'd have thought?
1/23. Back to FX jumpseats to book anything, from anywhere, in the lower 48. There's an opening thru MEM! Make the flight, it's 4F and the car won't start, so time for the jumper cable game.
1/24-27. Sit in ANC, watching the thermometer bounce off "zero". Called in "well", but the trip I was assigned on RSV goes the next 3 days. Time to enjoy my um, "days off".
1/28. 8 days later, I'm ready to go!
Aside from the hassles, I do like ANC. But I figure I'm going to pass on the HKG opportunity. If I end up in MEM when the dust clears, that's fine. The commute will seem like a walk to the mailbox...
1/12. Book jumpseat with FX for 2-legger thru MEM to ANC on the 23rd.
I'm all set. Life is good!
1/16. Uh oh. Bumped by j/s for "higher operational priority".
1/16. Rebooked j/s to different flt. Bumped later that same day, even with "Capt's permission" on file. No reason given when j/s contacted.
1/17. Bought ticket on AA to ORD. Planned to link up with FX flt ORD-ANC.
1/20. Snow in ORD. AA cancels 1 hr prior to showtime. Turn off the car and walk back in the house.
1.20. Call FX j/s, book me out of MEM, AFW, ORD, or EWR. Nothing open. AFW-ANC and ORD-ANC are no longer flown as of this month.
1/20. Call Global travel. No tickets available, at any price, to ANC for the 20th, 21st, or 22nd. All flights are full. Get on Orbitz, Travelocity, etc...same deal. Nada.
1/20. Take a shot at calling UPS, NWA j/s. That won't work either.
1/20. I'm sick about this. VIPS gets the official notification.
1/21. I buy a $700 ticket with Global for the 23rd on NWA. Finally!
1/21. Recheck FX availability several times. Nothing.
1/21, 1/22. Don't sleep much, wondering "Why did I do this again"?
1/23. NWA cancels connecting flight to MSP 2 hrs prior to showtime. Snow in MSP. Who'd have thought?
1/23. Back to FX jumpseats to book anything, from anywhere, in the lower 48. There's an opening thru MEM! Make the flight, it's 4F and the car won't start, so time for the jumper cable game.
1/24-27. Sit in ANC, watching the thermometer bounce off "zero". Called in "well", but the trip I was assigned on RSV goes the next 3 days. Time to enjoy my um, "days off".
1/28. 8 days later, I'm ready to go!
Aside from the hassles, I do like ANC. But I figure I'm going to pass on the HKG opportunity. If I end up in MEM when the dust clears, that's fine. The commute will seem like a walk to the mailbox...
big smile... BIG SMILE!!!!
03-02-2009, 02:12 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: MD-11 FO
Posts: 138
Originally Posted by jagplt
But this was not all for naught... On the bright side, his crashpad roomies had a great time with this one!~ we were eternally greatfull for the entertainment value this one brought us!!!
big smile... BIG SMILE!!!!
big smile... BIG SMILE!!!!
03-02-2009, 02:28 PM
#23
Living the dream!
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: MD-11 Capt
Posts: 915
Originally Posted by DaRaiders
The ones that elected to move up there did. As well as those that bid for it in the MOAB. He IS uprooting them. The company is not putting a gun to his head. He has a choice if he loves MEM so much, it's called the 757. If is seniority entitles him to ANC, fine. But he is on his own. Don't tell me to lighten up, BOY!
The company IS putting a gun to all our heads.
03-02-2009, 04:12 PM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: Row well and live...
Posts: 494
Originally Posted by jagplt
But this was not all for naught... On the bright side, his crashpad roomies had a great time with this one!~ we were eternally greatfull for the entertainment value this one brought us!!!
big smile... BIG SMILE!!!!
big smile... BIG SMILE!!!!
In your case jag, I'm just glad you turned off the "Spank-a-vision" long enuff to hear the story.
03-02-2009, 04:15 PM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: Row well and live...
Posts: 494
Originally Posted by FlynLow
Did you book business on the jumpseat? You can do that instead of staging.
I'd have booked as Fred if it would have gotten me north of Millington.
03-02-2009, 09:47 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: On the corner, covered in Stickum
Posts: 375
Originally Posted by R1200RT
I hope you are drinking, if not maybe a few years as a S/O will do you good.
The company IS putting a gun to all our heads.
The company IS putting a gun to all our heads.
My apologies to those I have insulted.
03-03-2009, 09:04 AM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: Continuing The Dream
Posts: 161
I've been commuting to ANC since 1999 - except for 6 months when I bid LA. Unless you live in OAK, MEM, IND, AFW or EWR, you've got a two leg commute, and if you hadn't noticed - those are all hub-turn cities, so your two legger will be an all-nighter.
MD10 put out some very good info. What he left out is - ANC does NOT have no-harm, no-foul. If you don't make it for a trip that is ultimately filled by a reserve - you still lose. And, because you're not legal to operate out of ANC the same day you commute up, you lose an extra day on the front end. To operate an ANC-OAK-ANC that pays 10:48 and touches 3 days will cost you 5 days away from home. Except for the PN move package, I would not expect any of these bids to include a move. If you haven't dealt with SH in the household move department, ask a few of us that have.
Bidding should be considered. With a two leg commute and a loss of your first day in ANC, you'll need to look for trips that begin Wed-Sun, and end Mon-Fri. Getting into Anchorage for a Monday or Tuesday departure will require a commercial airline ticket. Most FedEx weekend flights out of ANC go through MEM - none down the west coast. There are NO Captain double deadheads as a rule, so there really is no bank $$$. ANC typically has approximately 150 pairings that pay under 25 credit hours (plus another 40ish RFO pairings). Of those 150, about 40 pay less than 15 ch, averaging about 3:40 pay per day. (Remember that ANC-OAK-ANC trip). Additionally, we have a SIM, so all our training is conducted in ANC. Add an additional three nights in a hotel or crash pad, and the necessity to have a car.
Jump seating on FDX aircraft is optimal. Anybody going through PDX or SEA can explain the bottle-neck if you're trying to jumpseat on Alaska Airlines. Besides the FDX crews, expect to see UPS, NWA, and a number of other non-sked crews (Polar, Atlas, Kalitta, and many Part 135 crews). If you commute down the west coast, the afternoon Asia arrivals typically get in too late to make a two leg Alaska Airlines reservation or jumpseat.
There are MANY wonderful things about the ANC domicile. As with LA or MEM, you don't have to commute to work if you live there. If you enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing . . . anything outdoors, it's wonderful. In 2008 ANC had less than 10 days over 70 degrees. You will own two sets of wheels/tires for your car - one set will have studs for winter driving. 4x4 pick-em-up trucks aren't the 'cool' thing of the southwest - but rather a necessity to get out of the grocery store parking lot - or up your driveway to your house. If you have pets, consider them a meal for the eagles and bears. Gardening becomes problematic with the moose. And yes, there are brown bear (grizzlies) within the Anchorage city limits.
If you have college age children - Alaska is a WUE state. You can google that - and it WILL become significant when your child says "I AM NOT GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE IN ALASKA!!!"
We do this job for two reasons - quality of life - and MONEY. When you bid to ANC, look at MD10PLT's notes about cost. Consider the commute. Consider the quality of life for your family. If you decide to bid ANC, welcome.
MD10 put out some very good info. What he left out is - ANC does NOT have no-harm, no-foul. If you don't make it for a trip that is ultimately filled by a reserve - you still lose. And, because you're not legal to operate out of ANC the same day you commute up, you lose an extra day on the front end. To operate an ANC-OAK-ANC that pays 10:48 and touches 3 days will cost you 5 days away from home. Except for the PN move package, I would not expect any of these bids to include a move. If you haven't dealt with SH in the household move department, ask a few of us that have.
Bidding should be considered. With a two leg commute and a loss of your first day in ANC, you'll need to look for trips that begin Wed-Sun, and end Mon-Fri. Getting into Anchorage for a Monday or Tuesday departure will require a commercial airline ticket. Most FedEx weekend flights out of ANC go through MEM - none down the west coast. There are NO Captain double deadheads as a rule, so there really is no bank $$$. ANC typically has approximately 150 pairings that pay under 25 credit hours (plus another 40ish RFO pairings). Of those 150, about 40 pay less than 15 ch, averaging about 3:40 pay per day. (Remember that ANC-OAK-ANC trip). Additionally, we have a SIM, so all our training is conducted in ANC. Add an additional three nights in a hotel or crash pad, and the necessity to have a car.
Jump seating on FDX aircraft is optimal. Anybody going through PDX or SEA can explain the bottle-neck if you're trying to jumpseat on Alaska Airlines. Besides the FDX crews, expect to see UPS, NWA, and a number of other non-sked crews (Polar, Atlas, Kalitta, and many Part 135 crews). If you commute down the west coast, the afternoon Asia arrivals typically get in too late to make a two leg Alaska Airlines reservation or jumpseat.
There are MANY wonderful things about the ANC domicile. As with LA or MEM, you don't have to commute to work if you live there. If you enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing . . . anything outdoors, it's wonderful. In 2008 ANC had less than 10 days over 70 degrees. You will own two sets of wheels/tires for your car - one set will have studs for winter driving. 4x4 pick-em-up trucks aren't the 'cool' thing of the southwest - but rather a necessity to get out of the grocery store parking lot - or up your driveway to your house. If you have pets, consider them a meal for the eagles and bears. Gardening becomes problematic with the moose. And yes, there are brown bear (grizzlies) within the Anchorage city limits.
If you have college age children - Alaska is a WUE state. You can google that - and it WILL become significant when your child says "I AM NOT GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE IN ALASKA!!!"
We do this job for two reasons - quality of life - and MONEY. When you bid to ANC, look at MD10PLT's notes about cost. Consider the commute. Consider the quality of life for your family. If you decide to bid ANC, welcome.
03-03-2009, 09:31 AM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
And skeeters. Avalanches. Tidal bores that can trap you in mud flats. You are also in the missile range of the Tai Dong Missiles of North Korea. Many mass murders have also occured in Anchorage. The place is polluted with Raptor drivers, the only creature known with more arrogance than Eagle Drivers. The chief pilot comes by your house weekly to check up on you. Fish and game can take away your truck and boat just for having a treble hook in a single hook stream. Bears have eaten people in parks just outside of Anchorage. Volcanos periodically coast the Anchorage basin with acidic ash that will ruin your car's finish and engine. There is only one road north and south out of town. Your wife will go stir crazy. SAD is a very real phenonmena in Alaska. Natives really do eat Beluga whales. Your skin and nasal passages will dry out in the winter.
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