The MD is a dying fleet, though it is a slow death. In my opinion it’s always best to not be in a disappearing fleet. You’ll stay junior longer which likely means some of your commuting will be flying to Memphis to sit reserve.

I do think there will be people bailing out of the MD, most in the past seem to have gone to the 76 or the 777.

Here’s my two cents: bid the 75 or 76. The 76 is the future of FedEx. It is a rapidly growing fleet. It flies domestic, South America, Europe and I think it will soon do some routes to Asia through Anchorage. It also flies intra-Asia as it’s the main platform for our pilots based in HKG (they still fly a couple 757s out of the HKG base as well).

If you bid the 75 you’ll only make $3 an hour less than the widebody planes at first year pay and you won’t be seat locked. The 75 has incredibly rapid seniority progression. You’ll then be able to bid 76 on your next system bid (or any other plane for that matter) and the 76 transition is easy...I believe it’s only 3 days in the school house. The 75 has a ton of double deadhead or single (front or back end) deadhead trips which makes being a commuter incredibly easy.

Whatever decision you make, you can’t go wrong! You’ll be at FedEx. It’s a great company and I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed flying with everyone I’ve been paired with so far over the past couple years. Good luck, and I hope to see you on the line soon!

Agree with Fr8. I’m on the MD, love it...with my few years of seniority. I sure wouldn’t want to be/stay junior on it. The 76 is where all roads meet. It’s growing, it’s domestic, it’s international, it’s wide body.

Pre-COVID I would have said the triple was the balance of work/pay. But for me, I don’t want to go to China for awhile. I’m extremely lucky with my timing that I rode a wave of hiring underneath me. I’m hoping the new hires have the same experience! Welcome to anyone new reading this!

Good one!!!

In the new classes, how are the FDA & MD peeps getting assigned? Are they still showing the evening prior to class start to sign paperwork? That’s how it worked a few years ago, but I vaguely remember some ALPA action that might have changed that.

Anyone been through it recently? Thanks.

So far this year the FDA has their own separate classes and there have not been any MDs given out. Obviously that’s not the case for upcoming classes...I was wondering the same thing about the MD slots.


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I haven’t been through recently. The reason for the MD and FDA folks starting a day early is to avoid seniority abrogation issues. If everyone started on the same day and the company hand picked who they wanted for certain positions, out of seniority order, ALPA would be all over the company.

next class is on 9/10, we'll find out soon.

At least one in the 9/10 class has been asked to show on 9/9, which was the old way with the MD/FDA. That’s why I was asking...should have been more clear. The various training letters have not yet been populated with the 9/10 class...I’m just throwing random darts trying to help a buddy.

Yes, as far as 757 and 767. AA is looking to get rid of both. Want nice planes that are in decent shape?

Amazon already has the 767s locked up.