Commuting from PDX
 

Hello all. I'm wondering if anyone has specific insight into commuting out of PDX. I'm military, retiring in the spring, and for family reasons we are strongly considering Portland. So, of course, first step is getting hired... just trying to do expectation management and focus efforts.

From looking at other threads FedEx is very commuter friendly, but I'm wondering how it truly compares with, for example, flying for DAL out of SEA (i.e. long drive to work but at least you can drive, versus definite airplane commute to MEM or elsewhere).

Also, given the retirement numbers, is there any hope of getting home trips/overnights (i.e. PDX) in a reasonable number of years (say, less than 10 years from hire)?

Thanks for any info you can provide!

As you said, number one is getting hired. Generally I would suggest saying yes to your first major. And, nothing beats living in your domicile. That being said, FedEx is very commuter friendly because of our pax deadheads to position for many trips. One of our major commuter protections of jumpseating to Memphis and being protected from discipline if the FedEx Jumpseat crumps, has some restrictions. One of those restrictions is the notional length of day from beginning the Jumpseat to when your revenue flight is complete. Most west coast Jumpseats to Memphis combined with the "turn" to the revenue flight don't qualify for the contractual protections, though. But, many, many pilots do commute.

But, I think the best thing I can say about commuting at FedEx is our system form makes it so the vast majority of pilots find something that works for them and makes them happy. With your 10 year look out, I would say with confidence you would find something that would make you very happy with your schedule. That's assuming you are willing to bid seat and aircraft that work for you. I can't tell you what combination of seat and plane would do that for you, but I'm certain that over that timeline you would get something that works well.

Los Angeles is a west coast MD-11 domicile but its very, very senior. Who knows if Anchorage will still be a domicile either--depends on the MD-11 retirement rate in your timeline.

Think about Delta and Seattle. You'll have a fair number of drives each month as that's their system form.

Good luck!

I commuted PDX/MEM about a year as a new-hire until I moved to base. There are 2 flights a day to Memphis usually on the MD11. One leaves at 0600 and the other 1800. Both get in about 1230 (am and pm). Because of timing with show times/reserve times i always took the flight 18 hours prior to show (typical AM Launch shows between 0030-0130) to leave myself enough of a buffer for delays. As a junior pilot, expect 5-7 on with 3-4 off (depending on your fleet) which worked out to about 1-2 days home/week.
In my first year I held maybe 4 PDX layovers and a few west coast deadheads- almost all reserve assignments.
The PDX commute is particularly popular, I never missed a commute but always had 1-2 other commuters with me. Feel free to PM me any specific questions.

PDX commuter
 

I've been doing the commute for 7 years. With an am and pm flight, it's no problem getting to or from work. Only downside is the long flight each way. Not too many PDX commuters to fight for a Jumpseat!