New schedule thread
09-30-2021 | 12:49 PM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,174
Likes: 1
I think a lot of the former regional guys here are confusing fatigue with burnout. Outside the few times I called in fatigued at the regionals, I was never fatigued. In fact I would argue I didn’t know what fatigue truly was. I would do 3-5 legs in extreme heat and feel flat out exhausted by the end of the day, but I’d go home and get a great night sleep.
FedEx is different. Being in a flight deck between the hours of 2a-6a is truly fatiguing. It takes every ounce of strength to stay awake, I virtually only think about getting to that layover so I can close my eyes. The only thing I can compare it too is being truly thirsty for water where you can’t think about anything but quenching your thirst. That’s how I feel on a hub turn. Far different than how I felt flying at the regionals. If a regional paid like FedEx I would gladly go back to doing 3-5 legs during the day at the regionals.
FedEx is different. Being in a flight deck between the hours of 2a-6a is truly fatiguing. It takes every ounce of strength to stay awake, I virtually only think about getting to that layover so I can close my eyes. The only thing I can compare it too is being truly thirsty for water where you can’t think about anything but quenching your thirst. That’s how I feel on a hub turn. Far different than how I felt flying at the regionals. If a regional paid like FedEx I would gladly go back to doing 3-5 legs during the day at the regionals.
Honestly, if you are feeling this way when doing a hub turn, you aren’t planning your sleep correctly. What you are describing is what I feel like when having been awake for 24 hours.
09-30-2021 | 06:08 PM
#32
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 7
From: B767
If you are working at a Part 121 airline, all you have to do is reserve a jump seat on FedEx to Memphis for the AM sort. Sit in the jump seat area while waiting for the sort. Then get on a jump seat to LAX and do it without falling asleep.
Now imagine doing that three or four times a week for two weeks. That's FedEx.
Now imagine doing that three or four times a week for two weeks. That's FedEx.
I just did a two week Asia trip, and stayed on US time the entire trip. It’s by the the easiest trip I’ve ever done in my career. This job is absolutely cake compared to my former regional 121 days.
One of my friends that’s a 3 year DAL guy sent me his schedule recently, and honestly I was shocked at how awful it was. Even my first year at FedEx wasn’t as fatiguing as the nightmare he sent me.
10-01-2021 | 06:49 AM
#33
On Reserve
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 96
Likes: 4
That may be true, but for some of us who do everything we can to mitigate fatigue but don’t have your iron constitution, it’s still a major physiological struggle. I nearly fall apart on those night hub turns (I live in base and the am O&B’s might be even worse on me). I’ll do it if there’s no other choice, but there is and I choose to stay away from them.
10-01-2021 | 07:23 AM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,045
Likes: 1
From: FO
That may be true, but for some of us who do everything we can to mitigate fatigue but don’t have your iron constitution, it’s still a major physiological struggle. I nearly fall apart on those night hub turns (I live in base and the am O&B’s might be even worse on me). I’ll do it if there’s no other choice, but there is and I choose to stay away from them.
10-01-2021 | 11:39 AM
#35
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 595
Likes: 142
From: B767
If you are working at a Part 121 airline, all you have to do is reserve a jump seat on FedEx to Memphis for the AM sort. Sit in the jump seat area while waiting for the sort. Then get on a jump seat to LAX and do it without falling asleep.
Now imagine doing that three or four times a week for two weeks. That's FedEx.
Now imagine doing that three or four times a week for two weeks. That's FedEx.
10-01-2021 | 01:40 PM
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,174
Likes: 1
New schedule thread
That may be true, but for some of us who do everything we can to mitigate fatigue but don’t have your iron constitution, it’s still a major physiological struggle. I nearly fall apart on those night hub turns (I live in base and the am O&B’s might be even worse on me). I’ll do it if there’s no other choice, but there is and I choose to stay away from them.
If I’m scheduled to do a week of night hub turns, I start turning my body clock a day(s) before show time. Each subsequent night gets better. As for O&B, those are the worst. I’ve only done a few and they destroy me. Won’t be doing those ever again.
10-01-2021 | 04:48 PM
#37
On Reserve
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: 767 FO
I think a lot of the former regional guys here are confusing fatigue with burnout. Outside the few times I called in fatigued at the regionals, I was never fatigued. In fact I would argue I didn’t know what fatigue truly was. I would do 3-5 legs in extreme heat and feel flat out exhausted by the end of the day, but I’d go home and get a great night sleep.
FedEx is different. Being in a flight deck between the hours of 2a-6a is truly fatiguing. It takes every ounce of strength to stay awake, I virtually only think about getting to that layover so I can close my eyes. The only thing I can compare it too is being truly thirsty for water where you can’t think about anything but quenching your thirst. That’s how I feel on a hub turn. Far different than how I felt flying at the regionals. If a regional paid like FedEx I would gladly go back to doing 3-5 legs during the day at the regionals.
FedEx is different. Being in a flight deck between the hours of 2a-6a is truly fatiguing. It takes every ounce of strength to stay awake, I virtually only think about getting to that layover so I can close my eyes. The only thing I can compare it too is being truly thirsty for water where you can’t think about anything but quenching your thirst. That’s how I feel on a hub turn. Far different than how I felt flying at the regionals. If a regional paid like FedEx I would gladly go back to doing 3-5 legs during the day at the regionals.
10-02-2021 | 06:12 AM
#39
Banned
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 0
Domestic flying at DL/AA/UA flying the Guppy or Bus is most definitely what he described. Very few layovers greater than 14 hours. Those 3-4 day trips with 2-3 off every month are a grind. Add in a commute in which you have to worry about Jumpseat availability and you have a real conundrum. They are glorified regionals on the domestic flying side. Ask me how I know…… Ive done it like many who are here now.
We have some crappy trips just like every airline. Seniority obviously creates better trips. Every airlines international flying looks the same. Weird departure times and body clock flips. That’s the nature of long leg flying. The difference is seniority and career progression in those widebody airplanes and pay rates is much quicker at FedEx.
I have spent some considerable time looking at the contract comparison document and can’t find but a few areas in which FedEx is not the industry leader including trip reg, min day, retirement, vacation, career progression, etc.
I guess I don’t fit the normal mold of the Internet complainer or picking one singular item that I don’t like and acting as if the whole thing sucks because of that one item.
6 years at FDX and never once have I regretted leaving another legacy.
10-02-2021 | 06:13 AM
#40
Banned
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 0
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