No integrity check, just simple advice. Good luck.

Newbie questions
 

I'm obviously new here, so be nice if I'm doing something dumb... Sorry if this has already been covered.
Here are my newbie questions:

1) Is it at all possible to get hired without an endorsement from a FedEx pilot? I've only got contact with 2 and both are already endorsing someone else. Anybody have any advice?

2) Does anybody know a number of days off/month when starting out on reserve?

3) Someone told me the contract guarantees 1000/hr a year- is that true? This doesn't match up with the 74/month number from PC.

4) I'm guessing even with an endorsement it'll be a year+ before I could get a call. When should I start the ECIC/RST interview prep?


Random note to other 91/135 guys like me who never needed an FCC license before: the FCC website isn't very user friendly- fill out the application for the "RR" (restricted radiotelephone) NOT the "AC" (aircraft) license.

Thanks folks.

-GB

Glass,

1. Yes, it is possible. Things are about to change with the endorsement system, so who knows after that.

2. 13 days off in a 4 week month, 16 days off in a 5 week month. That's the minimum number of days off the company has to give you when you are on the line regardless of what type of flying you hold.

3. 1000 hours isn't guaranteed, but it is a pretty good number to use to determine what you will make per year. Pay rate * 1000.

4. It's never to early to start prep if you meet the minimum requirements. Though FedEx is great, I wouldn't put all of your eggs in that one basket. See who will give you a chance first, and then if you are lucky enough to have to make a choice, you can't lose.

So the days off you posted are the minimum. What's the average for line holders?

Thanks for the reply, Pinseeker.

Does your 1000*pay rate formula give a number that includes per deim or not?

As far as eggs in baskets, I understand. Thanks again for the advice.

No, per diem is not normally counted in the pay calculations. Pay is PAY.

But like everything else, it can vary greatly. A guy that lives in Memphis and flies out and backs (MEM to wherever, sit a couple of hours and then back to MEM) will get no per diem since those flights are catered. If you fly a 14-day single-departure international trip you are looking at around $1,000 in per diem. It might make a difference the first year, but after that it really is a wash.

The minimum guarantee is 68 hours 8 months of the year and 85 hours 4 months of the year. That does average about 74 hours every month. The average BId Line Guarantee is usually 4 to 6 hours over that. The average Reserve line Guarantee is about 2 hours less than that. Throw in some training and you get 1,000 hours.

What does the typical civilian hire look like at FedEx? In terms of time, age, and internal rec's?

That depends. The average usually comes out to around 14.5 and 18 days, but can vary depending on A/C. I have seen lines ranging from 17 days to 13 days off in a 4 week month to 22 to 16 days off in a 5 week month. We also have trips with long layovers (50 hours+) and trips with deadheads that can give you more time at home or at least more time to rest.

I can only speak for my class, but all civilians had a very diverse background. Many regional LCAs, heavy ACMI FO's, manufacturer test pilots, and FO's from other majors and legacies. Often civilian pilots had prior military experience but not all of us (like myself).
Age varied from low 30's to mid 50's, don't know about everyone's internal recs when I was hired they weren't heavily weighted.