So I'm a regional guy for several years, waiting for the upgrade. Been a goal of mine to get on with you guys, but this isn't about me. A guy I know wants to be an airline pilot. He is around 22. His neighbor is a FedEx captain and tells him:

1)just get all your ratings (as if it'll take 3 weeks)
2)get on with a regional for a couple years
3)i'll get you on at fedex

Now, I think this guy is absolutely smoking crack. I do think my friend can do it, and make it to FedEx, but I believe it's gonna take at least 12 years. He has just begun flight training and thinks he's going to be flying purple 777's pretty soon cuz his neighbor will get him on. My question's are:

How difficult is it to get on at FedEx? I've heard you have to have 3 people (who have flown with you at a 121 carrier/military) recommend you.

Second, if you do get an interview, what are your chances? 50%? 80%? Assuming you do fine and aren't a psycho.

I know hiring is a long way off for everyone, and I don't want to burst this kids bubble, but I would like to give him some realistic advise. Thanks.

 

You'd probably be doing him a huge favor if you did burst his bubble with a reality check. He'll probably thank you later.

 

Why does he want to get on at Fedex? Have you aksed him that?

 

Come on, we are all going to Fedex. Some us will have to settle for UPS though.

 

Won't help, as if anyone could have bursted any of our bubbles when we were young and gung-ho about this career. Sorry to thread-jack.

 

Not you, you GoJet scum! You're going to Polar!!!

 

Or Southern Air... That's the best I can do with my neighbor...

 

When I entered this career, major airlines (legacies today) were still very realistic goals, the regionals were called COMMUTERS and flew mostly 1900's, Brasilias, Dashes, Saabs and Metros, the pensions were still around, etc.

Take me to today's reality... I'd probably be flying FOR FUN and owned my own airplane, and let the pros duke it out for $18,000/year in a rat race to upgrade so they can make $65,000 a year and be saddled with a massive debt... just to get that turbine PIC so they can go back to start over at a legacy making $23,000/year without a pension.

Pass...

 

once you get an interview purple has a very high hire rate. for example 11 of 12 (5 of 6 one day and 6 of 6 the other) people in my interview group were hired in late 05. i think that's fairly typical but since it's probably going to be at least four years between the last class and the next things may or may not change.

 

I was one of those commuter guys in a prior life. That is after I had flown single pilot night freight in all sorts of wx and instructed for years. I was young, it was twin time (remember that) and fun. I had the pleasure of many a 10 leg day in a Jetstream 32. We didn't even have RJs back in the 90s but then nobody besides Comair did. I'd say 10 years is a realistic time frame. That is after you've gotten all of your ratings and landed a job that is if we're (FedEx) hiring. If you're his friend you should put him on the clue bus. If he's like the rest of us were he won't listen anyway but at least you tried. And yes, the success rate is pretty high once you've gotten the interview. As the gentleman who met us the morning of my interview said, "Welcome, try to relax, the job is yours to lose."