Single Seat

If I was less than 3 years on property & less than ~45 years old, I would get my apps in order. I would also interview and collect CJOs then delay your indoc dates while waiting to see how our TA shakes out. Unless you think FedEx is going down the ****ter, I wouldn’t jump ship until our contract is settled.

FXLAX

I don’t know if airlines will furlough. But it wasn’t too long ago that all passenger airlines furloughed seasonally. It was a right of passage for junior pilots to be furloughed every fall, when demand went down, for the first few years at their airline. That went away because it costs money to furlough and bring pilots back. Having a dozen or so smaller airlines all competing has also gone away. So who knows what will happen in the future but the only constant is change.

BertMacklinFBI

Interview and get a cjo and tell them no thanks…is probably a blacklist event. Not a good idea.

Stan446

Doom and gloom posts by what, maybe 10 people out of 5,800? Most pilots are just pressing on with life. And contracts change. Complaining about our rates now to DALs new contract is pointless. Every few years someone has a new contract and the rates go up, guys complain. Just read back in posts from several years ago on any of the majors and see how good things were. And if it wasn't for the Feds bailing out the majors during covid, lots of guys would be on the streets.

Low Flyin

Remember in 2020 when all the majors parked 70% of their fleet, nobody could see airliners filling up, travel demand ever coming back etc.? Every major pilot being jealous of FedEx/UPS and trying to jump ship? Now fast forward three years and everyone thinks the passenger airlines are infallible due to some money that got thrown at them. I’m not saying FedEx doesn’t have some issues to work through, but if you try and predict your career and jump around based on what’s happened in the last year, you’ll be disappointed. Things change in a heartbeat that nobody can and will predict, would you want to be in indoc and the bottom of a 14,000 pilot seniority list when the next bad thing happens? You need to see the forest through the trees - and I too need to remind myself of that.

schloppy1

I speak to the potential new guy and the folks new on property. You either love or hate this flying. I personally enjoy it and intend to stay at FedEx. But don’t pretend we don’t have serious issues here. IMO, career progression is critical. Get your butt off the bottom of the list as quickly as possible. The big three are offering that now. We can’t offer that to you. American and United have publicly acknowledged that Delta is the new standard. Our management is being hopelessly obdurate about the new reality. When we open our doors again, I’ll gladly pick up your tab for food and beverage. As is the tradition here at FedEx. For those of us that are here for the long run, this is going to be an uphill battle that could go on for years. So prepare yourself for that. Maybe it’s complaining. I like to think of it as laying out the reality of the current landscape. Either way, I apologize for sending something brown down the colon while sunshine is being shined up it.

0617Ld

Just that easy? Wow what planet do you live on?

BrianH

The real issue here is lack of leadership from Kirby. You belong to a union and pay dues. Part of those dues should be paying for leadership and forward thinking. I remember when the other airlines lost their pensions and quality of life issues during the crash. Our MEC chairman talked about how we were the place to be. Mind you we had not done anything to lead, we simply did not loose like the passenger airlines. SO after so many years of watching them claw their way back, we have squandered another opportunity to lead. What I will say is it is not just Kirby's fault. It is ours as well. How many pilots have not participated in even one council meeting? Our last joint council meeting we had 60ish line pilots attending, the one before, 21. We have to demand leadership. Our MEC has to lead. But that means we need to participate as well.

Complaining pilots is not new, thinking it will solve the problem without action is also nothing new. How is that going?

Get involved, it does take a bit more time and effort, but it is worth it.

CatIIAutoLand

Hope to see everyone on Wall St. on 5 Apr. I'll be the one there in uniform holding a sign side by side with my fellow pilots. The time is NOW!

Moosefire

I remember those years too, my bros at the pax carriers did pretty well collecting their paychecks and getting lots of time on their boats, none of them went looking for other flying jobs.

Why would any brand new guys want to stay? Why would they endure the fight for a contact when they can walk into a deal that’s already been inked? Why fly night cargo when there’s no movement. Why would you keep commuting to anchorage from the southeast when there’s no bid in sight? Why stay here and hope for for the growth to be turned on when it’s alive and well elsewhere?

The massive difference between today and 08/09 is EVERY pax carrier is hiring like crazy and growing, they weren’t then. I say more power to anyone who wants to go… it’s the right time for it.

It’s up to the company to give folks a reason to want to be here.