Jungle, Thanks man, I needed that. Just finished my 2011 taxes today, and that coupled with this damn snow that's falling outside has made for a lousy day. Until, that is, your post. I can always rely on you to lift my spirits.

Alphonso1, If you want to get friendly with some FedEx pilots, I'd suggest that you don't start by bad-mouthing some of them. We don't all like each other all the time, but we take exception to guys outside the club slamming them. So I'd start with that assumption.

As far as your comment about "Fed Ex Pilots who are members of OBAP and they will NOT Sponsor me because they want to act like they are Judge, Jury, and Executioner with respect to HOW they select who will be Sponsored by them....", I'd suggest that the guys you've met at these OBAP seminars or conventions, are probably already maxed out on their personal sponsorships, and can't sponsor anyone else for a while.

As for your comment "Many that they select are underqualified and don't get through the process", only tells me that you don't understand the amount of "pull" a recommendation or sponsorship has, which is not all that much. Besides, if someone doesn't get through the process, it could be for many reasons, few of which might stick out to a perspective sponsor. That's why most of us sponsor and recommend guys whom we know and have flown with, because, we all know that although it's important to hire guys who are technically proficient, intelligent, etc, etc, it's almost more important to hire guys who you can get along with on a week-long trip. In other words, guys who show that they can work and play well together.

As for them blackballing you, unless they are part of the hiring process, they probably will have no input into your getting hired or not, or getting called in for an interview or not.

Anyway, in the future, if I were you, I'd soften my approach, and also realize that there are tons of applicants who meet our stated requirements, both with an MD-11 type rating and without, and the fact is that not everyone is going to be offered an interview.

Best of luck,

JJ

My.02 worth--

1) If the OBAP sponsors someone, and they get called in for an interview--that individual was qualified, not underqualified. If they don't make it through the process, it probably wasn't a qualification issue, but a personal one.

2) If a FedEx pilot wants to blackball someone, I would think the Company would seriously consider the request. If I sent a Rec letter stating "DO NOT HIRE THIS TURD" and laid out why, I think the Company might heed a warning. As for me personally, I wouldn't write such a Rec (unless you were extremely turdlike) , but others might.

3) My anecdoctal observations suggest that having the minority box checked is way more advantagous than having the sponsor box checked.

it's great you are type rated. Do you have the 1000 hours PIC turbo/jet time? Do you have all of the min requirements as per the application? Before you throw some people under the bus, how about giving a few more details. Whether you like the guys or not they at least met the quails prior to getting hired. We have only had a few that didn't and that was a while ago. Not now with over 4000 apps of fully qualified apps that being a minority doesn't matter.

And yes......fedex pilots do sponsor people we "like". Why would we sponsor someone we didn't???

FedEx determines if they are qualified and hires them or doesn't.

I hate to throw stones but after reading that post my initial instincts tell me you aren't someone I would enjoy flying with. Hopefully I am wrong.

Shack!! +1. On the money....

Apply, don't worry about sponsors, your qualifications are far more important, drop the african-american thing, I have flown with many fine black pilots over thirty years, none of them claimed to be african-american, they were all proud to be just american.
Their skill and experince is what set them apart, no Fortune 500 company is going to make a fuss over your color-and it does not make a bit of difference and may be an advantage if you are qualified.

Would I go to HKG?

Yes.

;)

I think it is slightly disingenuous to seek out FedEx pilot "friends". This way, the cart is put before the horse friendship wise. It's clear that you're seeking a FedEx friend to get sponsored, not a friend for friendship's sake. A friendship should be begin by happenstance, not an agenda.

My suspicion is that you won't be.

You know what I can't stand? People who think they feel it proper to play their cards--whatever they are. I don't care if you are black, white, red, yellow, brown, a chick, gay, lesbian, bi, whatever. Just fly a good jet and shut up about all the rest. Let's keep it all to merit and we'd all have been better off.

Stupid thread...that I've been baited into joining! See how easy that is?

Despite my 11,000 hours B757/767 B727 MD11 types and 4000 Jet PIC time I always depended on my jokes great attitude and respect for my fellow aviators...I'm just sayin....