FDX Poolies
 

For those of you in the pool for over two years, take a look at your FE and ATP written expiration dates.....disregard if you have both operating certificates.

I spoke with a Mem FSDO inspector today who said they would honor the writtens if the applicant had been continuously employed by a 121 carrier prior to coming to FedEx.

The FSDO inspector just called me back and said that he spoke with a FedEx DE who said that FedEx would no longer recognize an ATP, or FE written under those circumstances.

Anyone have any different info ? :confused:

Regards,
BG

Doesn't matter what the FSDO says.... You should know that Fedex has it's own rules.... I flew 121 for 8 years with over 5000hrs 121 PIC and Fedex still required a new FE written...

Not trying to be negative, but if you want Fedex, have your stuff up to date by Fedex rules, not FAA rules. Great place to be, good luck to all.

Any new news about hiring ?

Heard that poolies received a questionnaire last week (I don't know any poolies personally)... information so FX could redo their background checks after being idle for 3 years. Anybody else heard this? This has got to be encouraging news....

Good luck to the poolies whenever they flip the hiring switch.

Not Me
 

I'm in the pool and haven't received a thing. Nothing encouraging here.

I'm in the pool as well, no news for me. Anyone receive that questionnaire?

Fellow poolie
 

Nothing for me either......:(

ALAFLY

Nope, Nada...

Thanks Jethro. It's been a long swim... :)

A poolie I sponsored emailed me last week about receiving correspondence from the company related to updating changes in background info.

I will quiz further for specifics.

Good luck guys/gals.

Any word TurnAndBurn?

I'm also in the pool and have not heard or received anything.

Ditto
 

Also in the pool...also have heard nothing official from the company...but I am hearing encouragement from my buds that it may not be too much longer.

I am taking the free advice and updating my FE written... :)

And after 6 bids, they still cant fill the right seat in HKG!

I think they actually did fill it at one point. It just got a little drained in this last bid. And they want to put more pilots over there in the 11? Good luck.

I don't get it, Cowboy Bob and Diamond Dave said it would go senior.

They thought they were talking about the 777 after sending out an email about why no one else should bid it. At least Cowboy Bob waited for the second bid to jump at it. Diamond Dave also swore in front of a hub meeting that the SFS pilots were the only ones trying to sabotage the LOA because they were all going to bid it anyway and just wanted to sweeten the deal for themselves. I dedicate this song to DD'S last 2 years in office. if you watch carefully at the 1:50 mark, you will see a special appearance by FDX junior pilots!

YouTube - Depeche Mode - "Wrong" (official music video)

Isn't a Puli an AKC dog breed?
 

American Kennel Club - Puli

Best of luck to the FDX Poolies. Looks like "maybe" things are improving? Hope so, we could ALL use some good news

Purple Poolies
 

Any idea how many poolies there are right now?
Seems like the "pilot need" trend is on the upslope - maybe good news soon?:)

Treading since Feb '07....

Just curious,

Does Webb do stock pics??

How do I sign up??

Now that our training letter is out the crystal ball is slightly clearer. 757 training is scheduled to have relatively slow throughput.

Based on that I predict poolies will be called for class dates in January.

I think Gunters prediction of Jan '11 is a good one --- or perhaps early spring.

Looking at the training letter, we now know there are 146 SOs leaving over the next 13 months.

(Note: This number is lower than the actual bid award because LCAs, FLEXs, Flight Test guys, etc., bid higher seats for the passover pay, but are not headed to training over the next year)

Here are the actual # of 727 SOs leaving each month for uprgrade training:

Monthly/Overall Total

2010

Aug - 7 / 7
Sep - 18 / 25
Oct - 12 / 37
Nov - 0 / 37
Dec - 3 / 40

2011
Jan - 15 / 55
Feb - 15 / 70
Mar - 15 / 85
Apr - 24 / 109
May - 19 / 128
Jun - 6 /134
Jul - 4 / 138
Aug - 4 / 142
Sep - 4 /146

Additionally, it appears the # of Over Age 65 guys coming to the back for their final swan song currently remains a trickle.

Given we are about 50 guys overmanned in the SO seat right now --- Jan or Feb 2011 should be the date.

...however, let's remember the 727 fleet is scheduled to shrink quite a bit in 2011, so it wouldn't surprise me if the date slipped a few months into the early spring just before 58 SOs are scheduled to leave the seat in just 3 months (Mar/Apr/May).

So hang in there poolies, the rain has stopped and the sun is peeking through the clouds --- keep your heads up and your cell phones on!!

DLax – Thanks for the info and insight. Many of us have been keepin our heads above water for nearly 4 years and this is certainly a move in the right direction. I think I can speak for the rest of us and say thanks again and we hope to join you guys/gals soon!

Thanks!
 

Thanks Gunter and DLax!
Greatly appreciate the numerically based perspective and prediction.
I, along with the other poolies, are always looking for perspective on the movements and growth.
Hope to see you soon on the AOC floor...

Calling all poolies...
Ready to hang the bathing suit up? So am I.

I thought it might be good for us to contact each other via email to keep informed as to the latest developments.
If you are interested - send me a PM and I'll compose an email group for us to use.
Fly safe and good luck!

Is there an easy way to see those #'s Dlax, or did you just go thru each training letter and total them up...month to month?? Thanks

Knowing DLAX ... he most likely did it the the long tedious hard way...


And thanks buddy!!.. for the work.

Guilty ---- just totaled them up from each training letter.

Keep up the positive attitude. Keep all your stuff updated (ATP, FE, etc) and it'll happen. I've also had some guys I sponsored get in touch with them recently. The corp guys will get first shot, but hang in there. Old farts like myself will hang up their jock soon and clear a spot for you.

:cool:

FYI poolies...I know a few corp guys (haven't heard from an pros yet) that have been given 727 S/O class dates in Jan and Feb. I would guess you guys might see classes starting in March or April??? Just a guess though!?!?

Just wanted to give you guys something to go on...I know you've been treading water for a long time!!!

Hiring around 100, clearing pool first in Spring. 25- 30 in pool? The rest off the street.

Nice drive-by post...

30 From Bottom, Gunter, DLax-

Thanks for taking the time to update us in the pool.

I imagine most of us have been treading since around early '07, it's nice to see things trending in a positive direction.

I've been lucky enough to be flying somewhere I really enjoy while I wait for the call. However, my phone is on and the ringer is on the loudest setting, specially for the Memphis area code!

Thank you very much guys.

ANGFDX, check your PMs.

Any info on interviews to replenish the pool? Thanks

Poolies -

Just want to ensure you all realize none of us work in HR or any portion of management.

Our posts are somewhat educated guesses based on the data we can see as simple line pilots.

It's also been brought to my attention that FDX has gone thru many periods in their history where they chose to operate lean --- very lean. Thus, the company may accept lower manning levels for an extended period of time to protect themselves from a double-dip recession.

Additionally, hiring from within the company (i.e. corporate pilots or Pro Instructors) is far different than hiring from the "external" group of poolies.

Many of these "internal" pilots signed contracts that guarunteed them movement to the line after a specific amount of time ---- those were put on hold during 4A2B --- but, perhaps, must now be honored for legal reasons.

Bottom line --- keep your day jobs until you get the "phone call".

...and as always, with any APC post --- YMMV!!

Quote:

---

It's also been brought to my attention that FDX has gone thru many periods in their history where they chose to operate lean --- very lean. Thus, the company may accept lower manning levels for an extended period of time to protect themselves from a double-dip recession.

---

You mean like proposing that Airbus and 757 Captains be dual-qualified so that they can fly the right seat during undefined 'temporary' periods of undermanning? Isn't that like the reverse of WN's Lance captain deal?

Put on hold, thus breaking their contract. The way I understand it, there is no provision for 4A2B in their contract. They have been held from the line illegally, for some....over 2 years.

Their contract specifically states no going to the line if they furlough. Since there was no furlough...the legal reasons are probably a lawsuit on their part.

I too have been in the pool since December '06. This is good news. does everyone think that all new hires will be 727 so's? With only ~100 pilots will we be so's for a while?

Thanks,

4 year club....
 

I started floating november 2006. Maybe this is a light at the end of the tunnel. Spring 2011 has a nice sound to it. :)

Complete conjecture --- but, yes, I think if they hire in 2011 or in 2012, the odds are those new hires will initially be 727 SOs, unless they have unfilled vacancies in FDAs like Hong Kong --- then, perhaps, a A300 or MD-11 FO directly (...buyer be ware!!)

In 2013 and beyond, I think there is a chance new hires could go straight to 757 FO seat --- as the 727 continues it's slow drawdown toward retirement and the bow wave of pilot retirements, which starts in Dec 2012, begins to occur.

My guess is that in 2013 and beyond, up to 20% of pilots reaching age 65 may choose to continue their FEDEX careers as 727 SOs.

This convergence of events will determine how many "new hire" SOs they actually need.

The 727 SO seat could end up looking just like the DC-10 SO seat during it's last few years on the property.