Next BI is 9 Jan (8 Jan if you get MD-11). Letters are supposed to be out this week some time...

 

There should be 2 classes of 20 every month thru at least April.

 

What is the best way to prepare for the current FedEx interview?

I went to the Emerald Coast website and they have several different programs, but I won't be able to attend a live seminar. Does the Pilot Interview Prep Course include material for the computer based test and the situational based interview?

I'm sure this information is buried somewhere in the thread, so if can give me an idea where it's hidden I will greatly appreciate it.

 

There is an audio and a video segment specifically addressing the SBI. Emerald coast will provide you an effective format that works. It's only my opinion but it is from recent personal experience. As for the computer tests, there are other tech prep services out there you can purchase.

 

Thank you lthompson020!

 

Google Ready Set Takeoff for the Knowledge and Cognitive Prep.
It's got a 15 day study program and a ton of other resources.

 

Hi everyone, I am currently combing this thread and so far have worked 6 months back in it. I have one question I have yet to see an answer for. My biggest concern with working for FedEx (or any cargo operation) is the transition to the back side of the clock flying. Current regional guy here and I would hate to take a potential class spot and work all the way through to figure out that I am not into the type of flying and work to bail out back to the passenger world. Does anyone have some insight into transition into the constant back side of the clock flying, how it is, and how to potentially deal with it? Thanks!

 

I flew RJ's, then ACMI, then ended up at Federal.

It's not so bad. There are advantages. In the RJ world, half of my days each month started with a 5:30am show in the lobby. If you change a time zone or two that means waking up at 3:30am body clock time. Many many mornings. At FDX it's more like staying up all night to study for a final exam.

You get to the hotel about 7 or 8 am, crash till one or 2, get up and work out, go to an early dinner with the crew, take another nap and go to work. When you get to the hub you get another 1.5 - 2 hour nap. About the third night you get into the groove completely.

Also, there's much less traffic. Radios are quieter. Approaches are quicker. You get to watch the sun rise. There are worse ways to make a living.

And with a little seniority you can bid to get out of hub turning. I flew the 777 for 4 years. It was much more relaxed, though the first night was always like getting hit in the face with a shovel (3 am show to a +12 hour leg....)

 

Been flying cargo for 16 years. The other plus is that you potentially might have to deal with less t-storms caused by afternoon heating. But the idea of getting hit in the face with a shovel with the backside show is a perfect comparison. Especially when a-holes barrel down the halls of the hotel and slam doors with their bratty kids while you're supposed to be sleeping.

 

I admit, doing a week of night hub turns is a kick in the nuts! If you're not braindead by the third day, you are definitely toast on the 4th.

However, with that being said, I moved over to the 777 and found the long legs of the 777 to be ... well ... very nice. I adapted very well. Some people can't handle the long haul.

On the 727, a week of hub turns would wipe me out. On the 757, about my second or third year I could get Day Reserve or night flights out west with long layovers to a day flight back to the hub. I *really* liked those.

I found myself becoming a night owl whenever I wasn't at work. I stayed up late and usually slept in. This made transitioning to hub turns very easy. But that first day is always hard because if you have a long night your body always wants to go to sleep before that.

I was in the passenger world before coming here. When I was junior there, I had 5am to 6am shows at the airport. Those days were always very hard because you were tired all day long as you flew multiple legs.

The only way to understand night hub turns is to jumpseat on a FedEx aircraft from your home city to the Memphis hub, then back to your city. Then imagine doing this 4 times a week. Usually with two weeks out of the month. Those are our worst pairings.