So, you exaggerate to make a statement! The ones " leaning forward" and making the 300k+ had enough seniority in 1999 to never consider jumping ship! Your original statement was ridiculous- just admit it!

 

I feel dumb, after looking at projected retirements for Delta and United I see that they are in the same boat as FedEx as far as retirements. Guess I should have looked before posting!

 

The question is: Are current FDX pilots leaving for other airlines?


If not, they should be judging by the statements and opinions from FDX pilots on these boards... ?

 

I remember when they were saying the exact same thing at PanAm

 

Not really seeing what's ridiculous here. I guess you should hang with some of the captains I have flown with to learn their tricks. Regardless, I challenge you to find a Delta or United pilot hired in 1998 that's a wide body captain. The ones I know hired in that era are career FO's. It's sad and unfortunate and I feel for those guys. Some are just able to hold a line and not reserve! It depends on the base of course.

Claiming you can be a captain on the lowest, lamest plane in Newark or JFK at Delta or United isn't really a true comparison between cargo and passenger airlines. Will it change after this big surge? That's tough to answer, especially after all these seniority lists have been merged. The fact remains that FedEx has never furloughed. Excitement at the majors is usually temporary and should be approached with extreme caution if you have the choice...

Data point - United started up it's hiring back in 2007 and 2008 after nine years of being dormant. They went and furloughed every one of those 200 or so pilots after oil spiked to $140 a barrel. That was enough for me to know my final resting place once the opportunity came.

 

But the question of the OP was about hiring now. So saying that anyone hired at United in 1998 is not a widebody captain doesn't really compare to how a new hire is going to progress.

I've been here 20yrs and have been a WB captain 5yrs and have never made over $300K. I sit Reserve and have have done an occasional extra trip and haven't come close.

But here is some advice to the OP. My son is in college and pursing an aviation career and I would NOT advise him come to FedEx if he had other opportunities. Being a new hire on a growing NB fleet is going to suck.

 

Numbers for next 10 years are not bad, but its not 2000 in the next 10 unless some leave early. Here are the numbers off the FDX MEC retirement calculator. First column is my projected number...not much use to OP. Second column is number hitting 65 in following 365 days... THAT is info I would use to plan, not crew bus or recurrent training statements. Advancement will come from either retirements, growth, or both.

12/21/2014 2779 2
12/21/2015 2694 85
12/21/2016 2592 102
12/21/2017 2455 137
12/21/2018 2297 158
12/21/2019 2178 119
12/21/2020 2008 170
12/21/2021 1820 188
12/21/2022 1627 193
12/21/2023 1431 196
12/21/2024 1247 184
12/21/2025 1063 184

 

I have no doubt that a FedEx new hire will quit next year when they get a call from Delta.

 

Ok, so what do you take? Roughly 41% retirement (based on a 4200 pilot list which could continue to shrink - I acknowledge that) over the next 10 years while flying boxes, or 50% while flying passengers?

 

And that is the 6 million dollar question....