FedEx Pilot Question
 

Hello,

Just a quick question for a FedEx pilot if someone can answer. I see a about 4 of your jets at our airport every morning early 5-6am arrival and then they stay all day until evening. These are Boeing 757 and Airbus mix. Do those pilots sit over there all day or is their shift done once they land?

Thanks for any insight.

Which airport ?

This public forum is not the place to be asking questions relating to aircraft security and crew whereabouts.

I'm sure you are just an interested aviation buff, but there are others who are continually looking for some "chink in the armor."

You should know that all our aircraft are monitored and guarded 24/7 and that many of our pilots (some quite innocuous-looking) are armed federal agents when on duty. Being found on or around one of our aircraft without authorization would not be a happy event.

Please enjoy looking are our pretty airplanes from a safe distance.

Well ok, not what I expected. I was just curious about if the pilots sat around all day in a crew room or some were done, flew home switched out etc. I do enjoy looking from a safe distance from our own private hangar full of our own jets and helicopters. Just enjoy hearing about other operations styles. Sorry for asking.

The answer is yes. Some layover at a hotel...some are finishing a trip to have another switch with them to begin a trip. There is no real magic. Just typical Tetris-like scheduling of pilots with different schedules to meet the needs of moving cargo.

Thanks FB. I just always thought it'd be a looong day if it were the same crew.

By contract any layover over 4 hours requires a hotel.

I apologize for the curt tone of my reply and especially if I came off as rude. That was not my intent at all.

It's just that many of us are sensitive to persons unknown to us asking about what airplanes lay over where and for how long and whether the same crews fly them in and out, are nearby, etc. That kind of info is directly related to operational security, the need for which is regrettable but crucial in today's environment.

I fondly remember when anyone could go out to the airport and hang around the fence to watch airplanes, even walk around on the ramp to look at the planes up close and take pictures. No problem. But 9-11 changed all that. Now the friendly and open air of aviation the way it used to be has been poisoned with suspicion and even paranoia. Maybe it's necessary to be more guarded and security-concious, even secretive, than before, but I hate it. Some of the joy, openness, and spontaneity of the aviation brotherhood has definitely diminished. Too bad...

Anyway, I'm sure any FedEx pilot who knows you would be glad to regale you with tales of how his schedule can vary from cushy to onerous within one trip sequence, let alone a whole month. It's just that a public internet forum is not the place for details that could be exploited by those with evil intent.

I still wanna know which airport.

What? Do you think JB is that dumb as to release the name of his airport. That's a security violation of some sort, I'm sure:rolleyes:. Best guess is that it's somewhere here in the US of A. And, why do you want to know anyway???:D