Fdxlag2

Our scope is probably as solid as anyone else’s domestically and internationally to and from the US. Pure international they can do a lot of stuff, but we just bought TNT sold a lot of their airplanes and absorbed the 777s. We picked up some of their inter Europe flying but there are some 737 flying TNT routes in FDX paint but non FDX pilots. Could it change sure, but we have never furloughed, I doubt they would be hiring 400 a year if they were thinking about changing things.

Adlerdriver

Maybe there's a little rose color in my glasses, but another factor (IMO) is the culture of control here at FedEx.

From my limited viewpoint, they sure do seem to value owning the sandbox, the toys and making all the rules. Deciding to farm out flying via international belly freight or sub-contractors they can't exercise the same operational control over they do with us just doesn't seem to be their thing.

That's not to say, if the powers that be decided to go another direction in some markets that our scope clause would stop them. Based on our lackluster ability to defend even simple language in our CBA, I have very little faith we would prevail should it come to that. After a cursory glance at the scope section of the CBA, even my non-lawyer eyes can see a few areas worthy of driving a truck through (at least on the international side).

ckap130

Living in domicile makes a great job absolutely amazing.

Look at all the domiciles, decide which one you and the family could enjoy, and go with that.

All the other differences between FDX & UPS are relatively minor and nonenof them would override the importance of living in base.

Just a thought....

package puppy

+1

Commuting makes a great job suck!

Shaman

I would think the size of the pilot workforce as well as the rate of attrition due to mandatory retirement would be a significant factor in one’s decision. Seniority plays such a heavy role in everything that goes on within an airline and therefore can never be discounted. Without pilot work force that is roughly twice the size at FedEx versus UPS I believe that it weighs Heavily favor of Fedex

CL300

I’m not sure the numbers of the pilot group are more important than the percentage of upcoming retirees and growth numbers.

UPS will take delivery of 35 growth airframes by the end of 2022 (that we know of today, maybe some additional that we won’t know about for awhile). That’ll require 700+ pilots to staff in addition to a likely 500+ retirements in that same timeframe.

If a person were hired today, that’s a lot of growth beneath them, as well as good movement up the list. We only have 2750 pilots on the list, so the relative percentages are pretty high.

123456789

. I would imagine many of the majors are in the same growth mode/hiring replacements as UPS and FedEx. Either way you go upgrades are definitely shorter today.

CL300

Valid point but the OP is considering the two freight companies. Hiring for growth and attrition is great everywhere these days. Good for us all.....

hogdrvr

How senior is LAX and how are the trips out of there?

Adlerdriver

Very senior base historically. It's a single aircraft base (MD-11) with only 62 FOs. It has traditionally been a deadhead base with very few trips with revenue flight originating there. It's primarily been a way for MD-11 pilots to be positioned via commercial air to Asia in one duty period. MEM based pilots typically need two duty periods to do the same thing. There is a small amount of domestic flying on the west coast, primarily in and out of OAK along with some IND as well. They also do some HNL. With the exception of the HNL trips, all the domestic trips start with a deadhead to another US city. Other than that, almost every international trip starts and ends with a deadhead to/from Asia or sometimes MEM, ANC, or IND. All those deadheads are one of the big draws for commuters and one of the reasons the base has stayed so senior.

There is some movement lately as some of the guys who've been there forever finally retire or very senior FOs upgrade. Our last bid had 8 pilots hired within the last 2-3 years get awarded FO out there.

Most of the very junior get secondary lines. The most junior published lines went to pilots who were hired about 15-16 years ago. The nice double deadhead international trips are still going to guys hired in the early 2000s or before.

Obviously it can't stay like that forever as these folks are either going to retire or upgrade. So, getting out there isn't impossible moving forward. However, given the nature of the trips and the high percentage of commuters at FedEx, it's always going to be a draw for MD-11 pilots who finally gain enough seniority to hold a good line there.