Avoiding red eyes/int'l at FDX/UPS
03-07-2013, 05:11 AM
#11
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Position: B777 Captain
Posts: 566
Actually, most of the FDX International is daytime flying. There is usually a couple of "backside" legs, either starting out at 3AM or doing the same heading out of Asia, but those are not that bad when you can get a couple hours (or more) nap during the flight. I usually arrive into Europe feeling pretty good, it's around 6-8PM local, time to go out for a few hours and then crash and get a nice sleep on local time.
03-07-2013, 05:49 AM
#12
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Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 1,804
Originally Posted by ptarmigan
Actually, most of the FDX International is daytime flying. There is usually a couple of "backside" legs, either starting out at 3AM or doing the same heading out of Asia, but those are not that bad when you can get a couple hours (or more) nap during the flight. I usually arrive into Europe feeling pretty good, it's around 6-8PM local, time to go out for a few hours and then crash and get a nice sleep on local time.
03-07-2013, 05:53 AM
#13
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Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,228
The biggest surprise to folks is usually the 24 hour layovers. Coming off domestic they look like no sweat. But look at some of those disputed pairings on the toolbox - we had one that went MEM - Osaka - Singapore - Osaka - MEM with nothing but 24 hour layovers. 40 hours of flying in less than five days, two 6-hour legs with no RFO, and every time you laid over you were going to work just about the time your body wanted to go to sleep. Trips like that take years off your life.....
03-07-2013, 06:25 AM
#15
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Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: B777 Captain
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Originally Posted by USMCFDX
That is not the whole story. Sure the flying may be all daytime, but lately many of the trips have a 24 hour layover. Tie that into the multiple timezones you just crossed, and you are really doing multiple day/night body clock swaps in a row. You are right though, it is daytime flying.
03-07-2013, 12:47 PM
#16
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Posts: 3,931
Originally Posted by aa73
Yeah, I know, an oxymoron. 
Still, just wondering: how long does it take to hold a regular domestic daytime schedule? For example, daytime hub turns. No night flying and no crossing int'l time zones?
Thx,
73
Still, just wondering: how long does it take to hold a regular domestic daytime schedule? For example, daytime hub turns. No night flying and no crossing int'l time zones?
Thx,
73
If you get hired over 40 I would say never.
03-07-2013, 01:10 PM
#17
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Retired
Posts: 38
Day turns
25th year Airbus captain and I cannot hold day flights consistently, but I bid for commutable lines and double deadheads. Three legs a night with a hub turn is life at 38% widebody captain. Once I accept that, the schedules are workable but not great. The Bus doesn't have the range to cross too many time zones so deadhead over to Europe to do our three legs a night with a hub turn through Charles DeGaulle.
03-07-2013, 01:47 PM
#18
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,890
Thx again guys.
Yeah, I'd be a complete basket case as a FDX/UPS pilot. Reason being, 1) I absolutely CANNOT sleep on a plane no matter how comfy the seat/bunk is, and b) I have many problems trying to sleep when not on my body clock.
The combination of those two factors have made my limited time flying Europe trips, ahem, interesting. I think my record for going with no sleep is around 58hrs.
Hence my current schedule of only MIA-Caibbean trips with 3 on, 3 off. Life is good.
Yeah, I'd be a complete basket case as a FDX/UPS pilot. Reason being, 1) I absolutely CANNOT sleep on a plane no matter how comfy the seat/bunk is, and b) I have many problems trying to sleep when not on my body clock.
The combination of those two factors have made my limited time flying Europe trips, ahem, interesting. I think my record for going with no sleep is around 58hrs.
Hence my current schedule of only MIA-Caibbean trips with 3 on, 3 off. Life is good.
03-07-2013, 08:06 PM
#20
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Joined APC: Aug 2005
Position: looking for a bridge to sleep under in ANC
Posts: 180
Originally Posted by aa73
Yeah, I know, an oxymoron.
Still, just wondering: how long does it take to hold a regular domestic daytime schedule? For example, daytime hub turns. No night flying and no crossing int'l time zones?
Thx,
73
Still, just wondering: how long does it take to hold a regular domestic daytime schedule? For example, daytime hub turns. No night flying and no crossing int'l time zones?
Thx,
73
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