Quick question
 

So Lawless...do you know how many got the call for the 23 Oct class? (out of your 6 man group) It would help with the guessing game if we knew how many got pulled for the purple nugget program and how many got called this week.

Nobody I knew was pulled for the purple nuggets. We are all narrow body bound. I can't speak for all in the interview class, but of those I got a good background on, nobody met the purple nugget criteria. I will let you all know the details of my training class composition in a few weeks. I waited for 10 months from m&g to interview due my misinterpretation of the rules of the game. For any who have done a m&g but not interviewed yet, continue to update your online profile on a regular basis. It matters. As previously stated, interviewed in Mar and will go to class in late Oct. While neither wait was fun, it's all good now.

Hang tough poolies....

Other half
 

geauxfly,

I was in the other half of that group. We had 5 of 6 make it through the sim. All five made it to the pool. 1 of 5 went early for MD-11 training and of the 4 remaining, two of us have been called (I'm still in touch with all from the group).

Cheers,
BH

P.S. Ditto what lawless said "hang tough!" :)

Lawless...you said in an earlier post that all of the guys in your group of 6 were either on the property or were in the 23 Oct class. I don't understand how they could be on property if they weren't called for the nugget program. Sorry for the confusion on my part, but how many guys in your group of 6 got called and will be in the 23 Oct class? On flightinfo, we've tracked the numbers pretty close and the exact information would help if you know what's going on with the other guys. I know you said one other guy got the call for sure. Congrats on the call and good luck!!

BH,
Thanks for the info on your group. This helps fill in the picture for the 15/16 Mar interviewees and gets rid of some of the unconfirmed. Animal House (on flightinfo) said 3 classes in Oct, 1 in Nov and 2 in Dec with an average class size of 22. He got that from the instructor. Talking to a reservist from my group, at least one of his buds declined the 23 Oct class date and opted for a later training date. Still trying to find out what other dates were offered to him.

Thanks for the info!!!!

Nugget numbers
 

I just looked on our (ALPA Council 79) web page and it looks like a total of 71 new faces will be in Anchorage. 47 have arrived already, 24 still in the pipe-line.
Good luck to all you guys!

Geauxfly,
My implication of "in my class or on the property" referred to the fact that some may be in classes (not MD-11) preceding mine by a class or two. After the end of the Purple Nugget program, I stopped calling around to the bros because the classes are now first in, first out and the call was going to come when it came based on interview date/seniority (if there could be such a thing as interview seniority :rolleyes: ) I simply didn't sweat it at that point. Call it the "watched pot never boils" theory, but I knew the calls were being made based on interview date. If you have a group who are plotting the classes, good on ya. It should let you know when to expect Kim Daniels to dial your digits.
Gotta add a funny story here...I was showering when the call came. My wife answered downstairs and brought the phone up to me in the shower. I looked at her like she was crazy for thinking I would interrupt my shower to take a call. She told me it was FedEx and I immediately turned off the water and took the call. There I was with a head covered in shampoo standing naked in the shower talking to Kim. I will never forget that moment.:D

Good times are comin' poolies. By the way, I read the TA. I had some free time while doing the backstroke. Recommend all poolies do the same. It is available on this website via hyperlink on the FedEx information page. Thanks Freight Dog and friends for having a great forum for all. I look forward to contributing from the other side of the fence soon.

Cheers

Lawless....I was rolling on the floor. Excellent story...disturbing visual but excellent story!! Sorry for being so anal about the numbers in the interview group. I basically don't have a life except trying to make heads or tails of this. LOL They have been very strict about the first in first out draining of the pool when it comes to the 727 training. The 23 Oct class you will be in started with guys in the 28 Feb interview group and I was surprised it got to ya'll on this one. By the previous posts, it appears that almost 37 people were in the pool and were called to get 25 for that class. I know for certain one guy declined the 23 Oct class and was told he would train in Dec (from a reservist in my interview group I keep in touch with). Anyway, CONGRATS again and good luck!
Geauxfly

Sorry for hounding you about the numbers......:D

No worries Geaux. I wasn't getting on you about the numbers, but trying to encourage you to relax a little. I know the whole pool thing is not fun, but it will end. When did you interview? I think as the holidays approach, some guys who are in other jobs may defer class dates until after the holiday season. I say thanks to anyone ahead of me in the pool who defered a class date. I am now ahead of them on the seniority list for the rest of our respective careers at FedEx. I get to bid lines ahead of them, vacation ahead of them, upgrades ahead of them, etc. It baffles me why someone would intentionally delay getting a seniority number for a job they plan to keep until retirement. I know things come up, but that is a big decision that will affect the rest of someone's life. Off the soap box and back to the pool with me, but only for three more weeks!:D

What is the purple nugget program anyway? How long after applying do people do the M & G usually?

XtremeF150

Purple Nugget - All FedEx newhires.
Golden Nugget - FedEx newhires that go straight to the wide body.

As far the M & G is concerned - That is totally situationally dependent. It all depends on how effective your sponsor was in getting you scheduled for a M & G. Date of filling out the online application has no bearing on the subject. It all boils down to your sponsor being able to secure you a MNG when the window opens.

Any hope for an interview?
 

Just wondering if anyone has any good advice for a corporate charter pilot eager to get an interview. My application has been online for about 8 months or so. I've been told by some that the only way to the interview is to be ex-military and through a "sponsor" that can basically vouch for your entire flying career. I have a couple of mutual acquaintances currently flying for FedEx, but no one that has spent any time in the cockpit with me.

I am 35 years old with about 4500 hours (over 3000 turbojet) and am currently a Captain flying Part 135 Ops in a Gulfstream III for a great company. But FedEx is truly where I would like to go and fly for the remainder of my career. Is there any hope?

Summer of '94 at age 33, I was in a similar situation. I took a job throwing boxes for FedEx. A little over a yr later I interviewed and got hired - no sponsor, no pilot references from FedEx pilots. It can be done, just depends on what you're willing to do.

Re:
 

Thanks for the input FR8Dog. But I don't think that would be a smart move right now with a wife and a 13-month old son. If I was single, I would certainly evaluate that option if I knew it would go somewhere. But to do something like that with a chance of no interview and losing my currency would not be too wise.

Here it is the fall of '06 and you still don't have any friends at Fedex.:p

You're obviously qualified except for the lack of knowing people. My suggestion, other than throwing boxes which I completely understand isn't feasible, get in touch with thoes acquaintances and see if they'll walk you through the AOC (not a real meet and greet but it's the next best thing) possibly bump into a couple of their buddies who might put a rec in for you as well or even their ACP. Have a couple resumes ready just in case you can drop one in somebody's hand. Rent a 182 and fly with whomever is going to sponsor you. They don't have to vouch for your entire career but your sponsor needs to have flown with you. Be straight forward and tell them you would like any help they can give. Make sure if you have a person listed on your application, that he/she has written a rec for you.
It helps to have a Capt be a sponsor compared to a F/O or S/O, and the more senior the better. Also don't think just because you asked your friend once to help, that it is enough. Don't pester the #@$% out of him, but a call every few weeks doesn't hurt.

Second interview
 

From my personal experience and from my experience trying to get a guy hired, the wait for a second interview is one year. With respect to the guy I tried to get hired, I was told that they wanted to offer interviews to others who had not interviewed before. My interview was 17 years ago. Good luck to you all.

Well, its pretty much a guaranteed interview for the job, if they are hiring once your required year is up! In my case, I threw boxes part time and I flew wtih my reserve unit as much as I could.

There was a another guy on my ramp that flew the FedEx feeder F-27 in/out of our ramp to EWR. He would park his plane at about 515a, run inside, punch his time card and work the ramp until about 830a each morning. He did that 5 nights/week, 3 weeks/month. On his off week from flying he worked full shifts, plus he worked weekends. Funny thing is, he eventually went to UPS! ;)

My point is, it can be done if you're willing and able to sacrifice! To be honest, my sked during my 15-18 months throwing boxes killed my first marriage, but that's okay, I did WAY better the second time! ;)

Good luck!

Yea, but I finally get to fly with my favorite Captain every trip now, so it doesn't matter anymore! ;)

So any guestimate on how many are left swimming???:confused:

Everyone who interviewed after mid-March and did not get into the MD. There are also a few guys who have deferred class dates based on what I have read here. Based on what Albie is saying, it looks like they are adding to the pool as they drain it. When I interviewed, there were twelve per interview class, so if the 25 per training class holds, the pool is draining twice as fast as it is filling. I think the guys who were in the pool prior to Aug interviews should be in class by the end of the Dec or early Jan. From there it is dependent on how many guys get hired in the next three months. If I had to guess, I would say one hundredish.

Cheers

Pool Numbers
 

It's been tracked relatively thoroughly on flightinfo.com. There are going to be gaps in the data but as of right now (before calls go out for the suspected 30 Oct class and through the 23 Oct class) there are 25 poolies left from Mar, 29 confirmed/9 unconfirmed for Apr, about 24 from May, 4 from June and 6 from Sep for a total of 97. It's not 100% accurate but a pretty good guess.
Geauxfly

Forgive me if it was already mentioned and I missed it, but what is your interview date Geaux.

Interview Update
 

No problem....probably didn't get mentioned in this forum. Interviewed on 16/17 May with 4 others. Everyone passed the sim, interview and got letters in early June to jump in the pool.

Shhhhhhhhhh!
 

Shhhhhhh...Don't tell them that! You'll spoil if for the rest of the bottom feeders still waiting.;)

Or the guy in Nov 02 who defered for a wedding...and then waited 18 months plus to get on the property...

30 Oct class calls
 

Calls started going out today for the 30 Oct class. I know they got to at least 19/20 Mar interview group. Based on intel, this class should come close to taking care of the Mar interviewees.....here's hoping it reaches into April as well.

22 yesterday

Talked to a buddy that is doing interviews in Nov. for a week.

We're gonna need a bigger parking lot!

See the latest parking FCIF. :eek:

Calls???
 

Has anyone heard anything about calls for the 30 Oct class? Not sure if March was finished with the last set of calls. If you hear anything, please post it. Thanks.
Geauxfly

22 yesterday?
 

Wow ... that's almost 10 years older than you usually chase. Glad to hear you're over that.

Mark

Meet and Greets
 

Has anybody who did a meet and greet in Apr or May 06 been called for an interview yet?

I can't believe there hasn't been a pilot caught on the Dateline show yet. :eek:

I interviewed April 19,20....and they called me yesterday for an update of the drug test. The person who called told me that I would be contacted real soon for a class date, so it all jives.

N!

Normy - How many in your interview group were hired?

Geauxfly - Are you still tracking this? If so, could you post the latest numbers?

Any "non-sponsored" interviews?
 

Are there any recent interviews or anyone in the pool that did not have a sponsor help them get in?

You must have a sponsor. It is part of the hiring process.

3 interviewed, 3 hired. In my case....the interviewers must have been in a good mood...:p

N!

Don't think it was a good mood. It is your job to loose when you go to the interview. FedEx doesn't take the "top 10%" out of an interview group. If 100% are qualified, have the right "stuff," then 100% get hired. If 0% have it, 0% get hired.