This advice is coming from a guy who flew the panel for a few years. I agree, beer money is important but I bought the MS flight sim software used on amazon for a buck and the yoke for $100. It had a learjet cockpit that looked just like the MD 11 glass. I got my scan back up and did well in training. I realize beer money is important but we are talking about a multi-million dollar career! If anyone has flown a desk or an engineer panel for a couple years, I highly recommend it! I'll get back to my grapes.

155mm, you obviously were concerned that your scan had suffered, so you did what you felt was required to make it better. If that helped settle your mind, it was money well spent. However, it seems to me that FedEx has always gone the extra mile to help out guys who showed that they were trying, but just needed a little extra help. The OP has great credentials and will probably do great. If he, like you, feels lacking, than your idea could be a good one for him. I still like the beer idea better.

That gives me a little piece of mind knowing I am at least in the running, thanks for the feedback.

Nobody commented on the timing of the interview regarding my availability date (not avail until May 2017). Any thoughts on that? Will they hire you and give you a class date 5 months from now?

Yes, I agree completely. Definitely sounded trolliish. I know people who haven't touched the yoke for 4-5 years, and it was fine. Having a good attitude and being willing to work as hard as it takes is everything. Fighter pilots do just fine.

I went from a steam gauge single seat attack airplane, to the panel of the 72, straight to the right seat of the 777. Never flown glass, never been an FO, never managed a complex autopilot or flight management system/"the box", never flown international. It was a lot of work, especially for me/a guy in that position, but certainly not un-do-able for anyone applying for the job. I know a friend of mine in a similar spot who had some trouble and they just gave him more training.

I don't know what they'll do with your availability date, sorry. Give you an interview now then class date later or wait to interview? Not sure.

I recently just got the interview invite so here was my timeline.
Early Jan I submitted my app with Sep availability. I got the email invite 3 weeks past my availability date.

Back to the books for me, I've got two weeks left to study.

Can one apply with only permanent residency (green card), or is citizen a requirement for the security clearance?

HydaWood,

FWIW, my apps were submitted in March...I have an availability of Jan for going on terminal leave...got the invite last Wed (approx 2.5 months ahead of time), and got the job offer today...so it can happen quickly!! Everybody was extremely friendly, and both of my interviewers were prior military (AF and Marines).

Probably been discussed already. What are the latest aircraft assignments for newhires? Would 757/767 be likely? Which are the most likely bases offered these days? Good friend is interviewing shortly.

All manner of type & location are available. Just depends on the drop. Last class had 8 777s for a drop of 18 students.

I also have first-hand knowledge that the MD-11 is being offered to pilots without a KC-10/C-17/F-18 background.

Drops are sorted by the last 4 of your social. Quad 9 is unbeatable, 0000 would be at the bottom of the list.