I am hoping that some of you can give me a little advice. I have been working on the ramp at FedEx for about a year now as a “materials handler” and I am also just starting to give some flight instruction. I know that best case scenario it will be a few years until I can realistically start thinking about flying for FedEx.

I have heard that to be seriously considered as an applicant you need 3 current pilots to sponsor you, or be a current employee. At this point most of my friends are still flight instructing or flying for regionals carriers, so I don't know any FedEx flight crew members. I will most likely keep working the ramp while I flight instruct, but I don't think it will be an option in a year or two when I start at a regional. I have heard of some people becoming "casual employees" and working once every 30 days, but I don't think that my ramp is allowing new casual employees anymore. Do any ramps still allow it?

If anyone has advice for me I would really appreciate it. I have my heart set on flying for FedEx someday, and I am open to any ideas anyone has on how to achieve my goal. Also I would be interested to hear how some of you made it to FedEx.

Thanks

 

Wedge,
I hope I can give you a lil' insight, and I believe I'm in good position to give advice as I too was an "internal" hire. There are many of us here at FE that were "internals." Don't worry about keeping consistently employed(with FE), at least not at this stage of the game until you meet the qualifications. If you need to go to a regional or whatever to build the right time, do it. Of course if you can find a flexible flying job, then do that PLUS the FE thing. The important thing to know is treat everyone you work with, with respect. You may never know when the "lowliest" employee may know someone who knows someone and you made/make a bad impression. The best thing you can do if you leave, is leave with a good recomendation, and a positive re-hire classification. I've known guys who never got on as crewmembers cause they had a bad rep or work history while "internals." Don't! I repeat DON'T make that mistake. FE is like the FBI or the CIA, they know everything about your prior work history with them. You can believe that when you sit across from that HR person, and Flight management person at your new hire interview, that they know more about you than you do. The recomendations are important, but when I got hired I was told that that didn't really make a difference as an internal applicant. This I know cause I had about 10 letters of recomendations and was told "they didn't need copies of them, they have my background." I'm not sure it's still like that for internals, as that was almost 7 yrs ago, but the point is what you do now will determine what happens to you in your future, if FE is where you really want to be...
In short, work hard, work safe, keep your nose clean, watch your back, and build the flying time...
good luck
Z

 

One of the things you might do is if you're actually loading aircraft each day is to go up to the cockpit and meet the guys who are flying. There is usually a little dead time when they are just hanging out waiting for their paperwork and they would (usually) have time to talk with you. Let them know of your plans and ask their opinions. If you load the same flight each day, more than likely, you'll run into the same guys on the flight deck fairly often. You might develope a relationship that way. It's worth a try. And if you do find someone who is willing to give you a recommendation, be sure to get their business card. Good Luck with your plans.

 

Good luck with that. I am a loader with the same aspirations and I can tell you that at our ramp, there just is not enough time to say more than BOO! (Hello) to the flight crew. If you can slowly introduce and develop a mentorship link, then by all means it is a great way to learn and prepare and I concur with the sentiment whole heartedly. Each ramp is different but that is not the reality at mine. Good luck in your progress and maybe if all goes well we can share a "small world" story one day when we both meet up on the flight deck!

 

Ok, go to a different thread up and "ask Tony". The guy knows more sh!it than lavender.

 

Double D, Sorry, you're correct in most cases. I was referring specifically to the Memphis hub and I should have mentioned that. There always seems to be some down time there, when cans are on the way, etc. Regardless, it's still a good approach, if you can manage it.

 

Thanks for the info guys I appreciate you taking the time to help me, but I still have a few questions.
If I leave FedEx to fly for a regional for a few years will I need to start as a handler again before I am eligible to be an internal hire? Would it be best to try to become a "causal"? Can you still become a causal?
Also jzuniga, I was wondering if you would be willing to tell me the steeps that you took to get where you are.

 

To get the interview as an internal, yes, you would have to be re-employed at FedEx for at least a year (or more depending on the job you take), and being a casual won't do a thing for you - you must be permanent part-time or full-time.

 

Wedge,
you can pm me any time...I'll give you the straight scoop as it happened to me.
good luck
Z

 

Jzuniga, sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I really want to learn how you got your FedEx career rolling, but I can’t figure out how to PM you.