FDX MEM arrivals
 

Is it me or is Mem approach getting worse at managing arrivals? Lately it seems the 30 knot slow down followed by a 30 knot increase after freq change is becoming common. I wish they would delete the speed restrictions from the arrivals as they never follow them anyway and it makes it harder to un-profile and re-profile with the changes inbound.:confused:

It seems like the controllers at Memphis Center are easily overwhelmed.

I don't think they understand that changing the SPEED changes the PROFILE of the descent.

A "near-idle" descent at 300 knots will be steeper and be initiated from cruise later than a "near-idle" descent at 250 knots. So, when ATC gives us a slower speed, that immediately puts us HIGH on the NEW "near-idle" descent gradient.

Add to that concept the fact that different pilots in different airframes deal with the same speed changes differently, and chaos ensues.

If I ever get to fly an RNAV arrival into Memphis AS PUBLISHED, I'll probably have a heart attack.



You know, we could establish 4 Gateways and assign everyone an RTA so we could begin planning our spacing and adjusting our speed from Top of Climb. That would save too much Jet A and make too much sense. :rolleyes:






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On a long layover in a foreign destination with a senior LCA, while having some beers the LCA urged us speak up if we had any ideas on how to better the operation. He said that all ideas would be taken serious. So I explained how Delta in Atlanta uses RTAs and four corner posts and how they push more traffic through Atlanta than FedEx will have. The LCA blew the idea off.

I also told some other important person the same thing and his response was, "well FedEx hasn't declared bankruptcy like Delta so I'm glad we don't do what Delta does." True story.

:rolleyes:

I came to FedEx after the Navy and a failed legacy airline.

When I was a recently hired (enthusiastic) pilot I went to Management, Training & Safety with, "We had a better way of doing this at XYZ airline." I was shocked when each of them said we make tons of money and we've been doing it this way for years.

At the time we had one of the worst safety records in the industry. The industry safety world referred to FedEx pilots as "the cockroaches of the sky ... they come out and night and you can't kill them!"

I learned the hard way that they REALLY didn't want my input. I'm still surprised about it. It didn't make any sense then and it still doesn't.

Welcome to the club ...

MM

:confused:

Might end up being a waste of time, but I think I'll submit a safety report and insite and see what the response is.

Aren't you out on LTD?

I don't understand the point of that question. What impact would being on LTD have on the observation he made?

You haven't been here much. MayDay Mark is history, and his opinion hasn't been worth anything for several years. Quit listening to him.

Nice "first" post. You can go away now.






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