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Originally Posted by urge
The truth hurts and yes, they are harsh words, but it's reality. Ask anyone in the contract world, and no one will argue the point. The top guys are in the most desired types and moving into those types. For Widebody it's the A330/B777 followed by 747-400. Narrow body it's the A320 by a long shot, then the B737. Anyone still in MD11 types are holding dinosaur types like the 747-200 and there is a reason a bunch of these guys are stuck there. Hey, you could argue there are good guys at Southern Air and Kalitta. I can, but we all know the majority are not. There's that old saying for Southern - "If you don't have 3 DUI's, then you don't meet the minimum requirements". Where do you think that stuff comes from? REality my friends. I'm sure some of you that are so defensive are holding a MD11 type, but look at the big picture and there is no argument. Many of you are just US pilots so you don't see the world picture and what i'm saying is fact and you can't argue it. For US pilots only, that are accustomed to only knowing what's going on in the US, then my comment about Southern Air/Kalitta should ring true. They are both dumps and just training grounds. Those that elect to stay at their crappy wages and work schedules have a good reason. I can say for a "FACT", that many of the senior pilots over there have DUI's, high number of traffic tickets, aircraft mishaps or incidents that you do not find at FedEx or UPS. Coincidence? I could go on and on, but if you aren't agreeing at this point, then it's arguing with a brick wall.
The Bigger problem is how FedEx hired? That was Atypical of a US airline to look for specific candidates with a type. It opens up the doors for them to hire like foreign carriers. Do you think it's fair and better yet, good common sense to not hire a guy for a B777 position if the candidate has 10,000 hrs PIC on B747-400, 20,000 hours, and perfectly qualified because he doesn't meet the minimum 500 hrs PIC B777 requirement? That's my biggest point. Foreign carriers will take that 500 HR PIC min guy on type ,with maybe a total of 6000 hours of which 3000 PIC could be on an old narrow body or RJ. (IE Chinese airlines). Makes no sense to not even consider the B747 candidate. What if Fedex starts calling in only B767 typed guys for their B767 positions. Some of the previous arguments are that the MD 11 guys interviewed against each other, and they didn't all get hired. Who Cares, that's not the point. Many guys that have B777 ratings and A320 types didn't get called in that could have been easily more qualified, but FedEx will never know. That's the point. FedEx is departing the norm when it comes to hiring. They can set the computers to select certain candidates, but the day when US companies start pulling a specific type rating to match their opening of a specific type, becomes complete BS. No one can argue that point either unless you are in agreement to the "hire into Type with type only".
I hope for the best for those furloughed guys but once again to all pilots, take a job with a valid type, that you can have a fallback in China or whereever. Avoid companies having crappy types, because they are the desperate ones hiring the bottom of the barrel (yes this is fact and you know it). Chinese airlines are desperate but they offer incentives (up to 18-20K/mo). The crappy airlines offer low wages but easy entry hires, so they do get the worst pilots. Those are the ones that stay at those companies, the smart and good ones use it as a transitional job. Try to argue that as well! Good luck
If FedEx/foreign airlines gives preferential interviews for those with specific type ratings, that is their business. Also, it doesn't necessarily mean that they're missing out. The opposite is also true, an airline would indeed benefit from a 20k hour 747 Captain even though they only have 777's, yet they're not missing out either for singling out type rated candidates rated in their equipment.
I do agree that it is prudent to aim for marketable type ratings if one aspires to work at many foreign carriers.
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Hate to say it but in the contract world, the guys with old types are usually the worst pilots or pilots with very bad luck
This is the statement with which I disagree and certainly not a hurtful truth.....and yes, I'm in the contract world. Sure, some companies' standards are lower and they do have their share of pilots with DUI's, incidents and accidents. However, I also know pilots in the same category at UPS. Are there as many? Probably not. However, to summarily say that ACMI pilots "are usually the worst pilots or pilots with very bad luck" is elitist and absolutely false. As a whole, I would put our pilot group against Purple or Brown....or any other color. I also would not summarily elevate ours over any other group. Is everyone equal? No. Equal enough that your statement is false? Yes.
Everyone has their reasons for being employed where they are and just because that place may not be the creamy top of the industry does not mean that they're generally somehow lacking as pilots. Besides, there are a finite number of positions at top of the industry. BTW; Not all are in agreement as to what is the top. i.e. Some of my friends at Brown absolutely hate their job.
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Those are the ones that stay at those companies, the smart and good ones use it as a transitional job. Try to argue that as well! Good luck
This is also an elitist statement and not true. i.e. Many considered UPS to be one of these "transitional jobs" in early 90's. In this industry, you never know what the coming years will bring.
That is the reality.
Even though my confidence in my management is low to nil, I have every intention to retire @ my current employer -or- stay until the ship (as I see it) takes on too much water. I happen to get a great deal of job satisfaction from flying our country's troops. I also like the flying, some of the layovers, variety of schedules, days off and general lifestyle. As for smart and good, personally, I am about average. Yet, I am confident that I am marketable. Also, there are many pilots at my company that are smarter and better than me that have the same intentions as I do.
Again, you make some good points. But your (and your imagined consensus) summary conclusion about "most" contract pilots is far from true.
07-02-2017
