I'm looking for a little advice from some of you well seasoned FedEx or UPS pilots.

I'm trying to figure out if I should continue with my great corporate flying job or make the move to FedEx or UPS.

I'm in my early 30's, 6500TT, 4700 Jet PIC, BS, MBA, Gulfstream Captain, 90% international flying, making 175K, working about 14 days a month with a great group of pilots. Things look stable for the next 20 years.

If you were in my shoes and knowing what you all know about cargo flying, what would you do??

Would you consider taking the big initial pay cut and make the move to FedEx or UPS??

Thanks in Advance

 

Just curious as to how you know things are going to be "stable for the next 20 years?" Most companies don't know how business is going to be 2 years from now, and the ones who think they do, don't.

As for the UPS/FedEx thing...assuming that things are going to be good at your company for the foreseeable future, why give up a gig like that just to start over at another company? That's not to say that FedEx and UPS aren't great companies...they are. But airfreight (whoops..."overnight express") is a cyclical business just like any other. The domestic airfreight market is already pretty well saturated, while expansion into foreign markets will likely see continued pressure to use local carriers and pilots. Then there's the concept of ACMI, which has already made inroads into all 3 overnight express companies, and which will have a negative impact on the labor force of any company into which it gets a foothold. That ain't going away any time soon...

Oh, and don't forget the "age 60" rule. That's likely to slow upgrades before you get a chance at the left seat of any major carrier.

The best time to be hired at either of the companies you mentioned may already be past.

 

[quote=Whistlin' Dan;106621] Just curious as to how you know things are going to be "stable for the next 20 years?" Most companies don't know how business is going to be 2 years from now, and the ones who think they do, don't.

Thanks for the reply Dan, the job is as stable as any job in aviation could be. Since I fly for a private individual and not a corporation, aircraft ownership is tied directly to our boss' networth and not stock price or company performance. As we all know, in aviation you never completely know what your job status will be in five or ten years. In my case a "Bill Gates type" could go broke or in the case of the airlines, who would have guessed in 1998 that UAL would have been in bankruptcy in 2005.

Thanks for your input.

 

Don't listen to Dan here. Sounds like you have a great gig, but the future remains extremely bright for both FedEx and UPS. The growth on the international side is just starting. We are not talking about moving stuff around China, but moving stuff between the US and China, and Europe, and the rest of the planet. That market is huge. To say that you may have missed the boat at either company shows this guy is not informed. It's tough to leave a great gig, but if you want job security and a retirement it's a no brainer. If you are in your early thirties, you could be a wide body Capt here for most of your career. Do the math.

Jolly

 

With what you already have, I'd stay put. You have gotta to have better hours than we do. Too much back side of the clock. If your company is as good as you (imply), than stay put. Just my .02.

 

Gotta go with ^^^ and stay put. Sounds like a good gig.

Yep, you could make widebody Capt at FedEx by 45 and have 15 yrs of widebody pay. But you'd find life would become a little more difficult with the commute from NorCal. Guys commute from norcal all the time so it's doable, it's just not easy. Family comes into play also.

 

Some questions come to mind. Do you like what you are doing and are you happy doing it? Do you live where you want to live? Is your pay enough to support the lifestyle you want to live and be able to eventually retire while maintaining that standard of living? Is your job secure enough to make it to that retirement? If all of the above are yes...why leave. If no, then apply them to your other options. A really good crystal ball will help. Good luck...ExAF

 

Norcal...

A corporate gig like yours are hard to come by and since 99.99999% of everyone at these airlines have not had a job like yours it is hard to get a ballanced opinion. It is corporate flying but a very different type of corportate flying. I will not go into my experience but I had a chance to do what you are doing...but now I am at FedEx.

Put your email up and I will drop you a note about it...if you need.

I agree with ExAF...in the previous post...what do you want out of your career and lifestyle?

BWP

 

In Jul 2001 we (fdx) had a guy that was upgrading to boeing capt. His wife also flew for us and they wanted to diversify a little bit. He went to American just prior to 9/11. Needless to say I don't think he likes the decision now.

I thought about that for awhile. Instead of leaving and giving up seniority, vacation etc, why not just cut your standard of living down to 1st yr pay level for a yr or so. Bank the difference and in the end you would be way ahead in terms of money.

Lots of advice out here. Time to step up and make that Captains decision!

Good Luck...


Past...

 

Go to airlinepilotcentral.com and look at the compensation tables for UPS and FDX. With present growth at FDX (not sure about UPS) you might make wide body captain 8-10 year time frame, but be very junior. Take 130JDrvr advice cut your standard of living to 1st-2nd yr pay. Plus your corporate job might get better, hence more pay? You must have buds at FDX or UPS. Ask them how they like the cargo life style.

Cheers