BlackKnight

Can any thread stick to the actual question?....

CloudSailor

IMO,

757 (MEM and CGN) - as a commuter, to avoid a crashpad and idle time in MEM, be off reserve the fastest, have the chance for double deadhead lines sooner, and overall fastest seniority increase. Of course, NB pay, and the most 3-leg night trips in the bidpack (painful) can understandably be a deal-breaker for many.

MD11 (MEM, LAX, ANC) - for what still seems like the most varied bidpack with the best mix of domestic and international flying, it isn't going away anytime soon, and the a/c from which most guys are bailing to the 767 for the long term. Except for the 777, the MadDog has the least "NB-style" flying, I believe. LAX is the most senior domicile, and ANC hasn't had more than a handful of vacancies in the last 5+ years.

767 (MEM, IND, HKG) - for the fastest growing fleet, WB pay, avoiding much training, or making it easier on yourself, with the future's all-Boeing fleet. But, 757 trips more often while on reserve. IND domicile also has some good advantages if it's a better commute for you (not sure if it will grow as advertised though), a lot of west coast flying as well there.

777 (MEM) - if you prefer to fly mostly international and want the best paycheck. Best layovers, most rested you'll ever be here, best destinations (IMO), best catering - which could cost you in having to switch wardrobes sooner . But, senior guys will continue to bid over on top of you, and you'll most likely be on reserve the longest. A different kind of reserve from the other fleets - in that you'd be better rested, and you'd get released from R-days most with the int'l duty regs.

Airbus (MEM) - if you'd like to be a part of a unique niche of aviators at FDX, (just kidding Busdriver12! ). The Bus seems to have more daytime flying, and probably the highest seniority swing across the spectrum from the very senior to the very junior. It seems it will also be around for longer than advertised.

If you're up for a move to an FDA, CGN and HKG would offer the most $ (not pensionable - which doesn't matter as an FO), and with the constant bidding in/out, the best chance for a relatively rapid increase in seniority. FDA's offer a great adventure (or maybe a crashpad near the MEM airport), specially if you haven't lived abroad before. HKG has some of the highest quality, most enjoyable trips and overall best bidpack in the system. CGN bidpack has 4 great lines, 2-4 ok lines, and the rest are very similar to MEM 757 (night hub-turning, 3 legs). But to travel around Europe solo or with your family, it's a great opportunity. Also, many guys there on reserve manage to go 6+ weeks at a time without being launched.

The good news is that with the hiring taking place, the ensuing movement will allow you for more QOL options on any fleet. For now, the stagnation of being stuck on the 727 panel on reserve for 5+ years is a distant memory. But of course, when things change - they do so quickly.

busdriver12

Very helpful post, CloudSailor. That's the one that people should focus on to make a more coherent decision, in my opinion. Especially the part about the "unique niche of aviators" on the Bus. Then again, was that a compliment or a slam to the busdrivers, I'm not sure---but we'll take it as a compliment!

CloudSailor

Only a joke. And from the ex-Bus captains I've had the pleasure of flying with, a total compliment.

FDXer

From what I heard, the MD-11 new hires are being hand selected and start class a day earlier than everyone else. If you're not in this group, you don't have to worry about having it as an option.

KC10 FATboy

Quality of life can not be overstated.

Buyer beware.

As a new hire on reserve, the 777 isn't going to offer a bigger paycheck than other wide bodies. In fact, the paycheck will probably be less since your chances of getting draft will be reduced since the 777 bid pack contains almost exclusively long international trips and very little open time. Whereas, other wide bodies have substantially more single day domestic trips and lots of open time to get drafted for or, pickup, or makeup.

The worst part about the 777 is the schedule. It is very inflexible. When you get your bid, you have your bid. Very rarely can you swap it with another trip. And the trips are long. Need that special day off for your sweetheart or kids? Sorry. And that's assuming you'll get trips, which isn't going to happen as a new hire.

You're going to get reserve days. Unless you like sitting in a crash pad in Memphis during your reserve days, and then going to the simulator to get your three takeoffs and landings every 3 months (non-jeopardy of course (sarcasm alert)), the 777 is not for you.

The lack of open time means it is difficult to replenish sick leave balances or dropped reserve days etc.etc. And if you are sick and drop a 777 trip, your sick leave balance is going to take a big hit due to the trip lengths.

Huck

And it takes 4-7 days after you get home to get back on a normal circadian rhythm. Same for when you go to work.

I bid off the 777 after four years in the right seat, when I noticed that I was getting 48-hour layovers in Paris, and I wouldn't leave the room (other than to eat once a day). I'd rather eat a cliff bar and go back to sleep.....

Call in sick and you blow 90% of your sick bank for the year. And no chance of earning it back.

And even though I lived in a 757 outstation I couldn't jumpseat to work, due to the duty day lengths. Legally I could, but I didn't want to answer for it if something bad happened.

Right as I bid off it (2014) the 777 started getting some domestic flying (I flew 2 domestic legs in 4 years). If you could break it up with a month of domestic every now and again you might could have a better lifestyle.

By the way, on the 777 I was sick all the time. At least one ear infection a year. After moving to the 767 I haven't had so much as a cold in a year and a half.

CloudSailor

True...until the next vacancy bid.

It seems so bizarre to me that we hire such qualified individuals, but yet we have to 'hand pick' the MD-11 guys. Is it really that difficult of an airplane? Maybe it's insurance driven? What's the point of doing that, when without a fence, guys can bid over to it by choice?

About the 777, good points FATboy and Huck, I never have been on it, so I wouldn't know the intricacies you are aware of. I just constantly hear from guys on it: "this is the most money I've made, and the most rested I have ever felt in my entire time at FDX".

MacGuy2

I flew the 777 for 6 years. Until I retired 2 months ago. Loved the airplane. Cadillac in the sky. BUT, exactly as Huck noted, long recovery time when I got back home, kill your sick bank with one sick call. The money was good, though. So serious tradeoffs. Oh, and a whole lotta autopilot time.

MG2

USMCFDX

I have almost the exact opposite experience. I feel much more rested on this plane when flying international compared to the MD-11. I fly a bunch of RFO and maybe that is the difference.

I also don't try to switch to local time zone on most trips. I stay very close to my home time zone. I've been to most of the cities countless times so I don't feel the need to explore and thus sleep much of the day away many times. I start adjusting back to home time zone while on the road and getting paid so I don't have to do it on my own time. I do not jumpseat home after a trip - no self induced night hub turns!

Trips on 777 pay more. When you compare our 72 credit hour lines to 72 credit hour lines on other airplanes you work less for the same pay. Last year I was gone 160 days compared to 196 at min days off, and this included commuting days and a few 3&3's.

I don't get sick any more than before. I don't feel any need to fly makeup sick. Two years ago I burned about 75 hours sick, last year zero. If I was a new hire and trying to build up that sick cushion it might be an issue. My sick bank is about half full and will never see the max.

Yes schedule adjustment is tough but if you watch open time you can make changes. Takes more effort than other planes but is doable.

As said before the trips are very vanilla, some great, some ugly, most middle of the road. I prefer two trips a month. I don't fly single departure F/O lines and that might be another factor. Avoiding multiple 24 hour layovers in a row helps if you can avoid them.