MD10PLT

Gotta agree with JetJock on this one. Don't know why it took FedEx so long to figure out throttles control the sink. When I went through training it was all about controlling the flare and when to start it. Never made sense to me, as every airplane I flew you controlled the sink with power and used pitch to set the landing attitude.

I wrote on the site a year after I was hired about how the biggest error I witnessed on the line was people allowing the aircraft to get a little high at 100-200 feet based on ground effect; then due to fatigue/slow cross check accomplishing a late correction (increased decent rate) right as the auto-throttles pull the power.

Bottom line, keep the throttles in your crosscheck. I think FedEx would go a long way in improving landings by doing two things. 1. teach auto-throttle off landings as the standard and 2. start loading the aircraft with a more forward CG. Those who are worried about fuel burn; let the TFM take care of it. I would much prefer a more stable aircraft to land.

Spanky

I totally agree with JJF14. Follow his advice on landing using power to control rate of descent and pitch to control AS, and yes only in the last couple of years has the training dept finally seemed to figure things out. I've been on the jet for almost 10 years and recently completed upgrade to the left seat. I always tell guys it is an honest airplane to fly as long as you keep it in the middle of the box. Don't try and become a test pilot. Have your approach stabilized by 1000' on final. As JJF14 said it is a mountain taken one bite at a time, but don't plan on spending your evenings at the local watering hole

aviatorpr

Bit of a thread revival here....how's the training these days?

Albief15

Done a few training programs at FedEx...less than some but enough to offer some general ROTs....

You won't bomb training because you don't know your flows day 1 or haven't got all the ops limits memorized. I've done Appendix F and AQP training at FDX, and can say just about every flex and pro IP I met along the way was working hard to help you and get you trained. Here's what I would offer to try to help them help you...

1. Show up rested for training and not a stress grenade. Instead of studying UPS flows or some MIA sim guy's manual for the 767, take your wife out to dinner and spoil her for a couple weeks. Spend time with your kids. Get any loose ends tied up if you can....bills, house renovations, trading in that car, etc. The idea is show up ready to give FedEx 2-3 months of your largely undivided attention, and not dealing with a lot of personal issues if you possible can. Laying awake at night unable to sleep before a 0400 box or on the phone dealing with house issues 15 minutes before your MV won't make training easier.

2. Dump "your way" of doing it, or the way you did it at your last airline. Nobody here cares, even if your way was better. Do it the FedEx way, regurgitate and follow the program. Once one the line you can make inputs for improvements, or come back to the schoolhouse and work issues from the inside as a flex instructor. Your great ideas might be valued at an end of course critique. They won't be so valued by your pro instructor in systems class. "Think what you want to say. Say it to yourself. Then shut the *(& up..." is good advice for a new guy in any organization. I wish I'd taken my own advice a few times as well..so take that as friendly advice and in the spirit given.

3. Cooperate and graduate. Lots of people are in training--just head of you and just behind you. Share the info. Study together now and then. Socialize a bit and make a couple friends. It makes training easier and more fun.

4. Trust yourself. You got this far. FedEx training is not the best I've had, or the worst. It is, however, manageable if you have a good attitude and give it a solid effort. One thing they do pretty well, however, is hired people who want to teach, so you should enjoy your instructors.

3pointlanding

Listen to Albief15, that is the best advice written on any post.