Thanks. Sounds like for a DH trip, you have to be in position of 100 nm of the airport. Is the same true for a regular trip originating out of MEM? Say a 2230 local departure out of MEM to XYZ. For this flight, report 2130L, do you have to be in MEM by 1330L? If so, I'm not sure I see the benefit for commuters. In the pax airlines no one cares as long as you're fit and rested enough. Commuting choices are left to the pilot, some require 2-3 backups and as long as you make checkin it is fine. Now with FAR 117 and the whole 8 hrs of uninterrupted rest before duty, I'll defer that to the experts. I guess all one can say is that plenty of pilots do same-day commutes and do so safely.

 

The difference between pax and cargo (or at least Fedex) is that although all the MEM based trips start in MEM, you may not fly a Fedex plane out of MEM (i.e. you deadhead commercially). FedEx wants to make sure a crew is at the city well ahead of time where the FedEx aircraft is located. That is why you have to be in position at a deadhead city 8 hours prior to show time. If for some reason you can't make it, they want to be able to find someone to fill the jet (either a reserve from MEM or as a last resort someone who lives in that city). You don't have to be in MEM 8 hours prior because there are usually plenty of reserves in MEM to fill a late sick call or other reason for a vacant trip.

 

No - the 8 hour limit applies only to deviating from a scheduled DH to another city. Unlike a domicile with a ready supply of reserve pilots, FedEx wants the crews in an outstation city in place to operate so they know the freight will move. This has little to do with rest issues or safety. Deviation options are great for commuting pilots, but the company isn't going to tolerate the freight not moving because someone cut it too close.

Commuting to domicile has no restriction on arrival time. You can show up whenever it suits you, as long as you make the report time (1 hour before takeoff).

If you want protection via the contractual commuter provisions, your company jumpseat has to block in 1:30 prior to report. This usually isn't a difficult requirement to meet since the inbound wave of flights guys commute in on and the outbound wave (first leg of their trips) are spaced by 3-4 hours to allow time for the sort.

 

You are kind of missing the point, FDX pays you for the scheduled DH. They don't pay you to commute to MEM. So if I live in LA and have a DH Sunday for a Ontario trip that starts Monday night I get full pay for the block (minimum 3 hours) of my scheduled commercial ticket on Sunday (or trip rig if greater) that I don't have to take. I just have to be within 100 miles of Ontario 8 hours prior. Now if my trip starts in MEM Monday I have to commute in with out pay but I only have to be there by showtime.

 

Ahh I see, that makes sense in regards to reporting to MEM versus reporting to outstations via DHs. I agree with the philosophy that at an outstation it becomes harder to recover a flight if someone didn't make it on time.


Another question was in regards to reserve lines. They seem to be letters, like R, A, and B. What does each letter mean and what is the reserve window (time frame)?

 

At FedEx a day starts at 01:30am local base time.

A reserve period A (RP-A) is a 12 hour period of time beginning at the start of the day (01:30). 01:30-13:30

RP-A+ is a 12 hour period of time beginning 6 hours after the start of the day. 07:30-19:30

Reserve Period B (RP-B) is a 12 hour period beginning 12 hours after the start of the day. 13:30-01:30

Reserve Period B+ (RP-B+) is a 12 hour period beginning 18 hours after the start of the day. 19:30-07:30

Reserve Period 24 (RP-24) is a 24 hour period of time beginning at the start of the day.

Reserve pilots on RP-24 must be given a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to showtime. All others are usually 1.5 hours notification prior to showtime.

 

Oh ok, the reserve lines themselves only show a "A" or "B" or "R" so how does a pilot know if that line is a A or a A+?

 

Sorry if it has been asked. Is there a Facebook group or similar for the Cologne base? Hopefully headed there and would be great to talk to people already there and get info. Thanks

 

Deadheads are a huge benefit for commuters. You can often cut off a day, sometimes more on the front and back end of a trip. For the same pay. Turn a 6 day trip into a 4 day one, for 6 days of pay. Even Memphis guys will sometimes jumpseat home immediately, and get home a day earlier, for the full pay of the trip.

And if you need to fly somewhere to wherever the trip starts, you don't have to jumpseat. FedEx will buy the ticket (within your monthly bank). Let's see, what would you prefer? Beg a ride on the pax carriers (or if you're lucky, FedEx), getting bumped, turned down, don't know for sure if you'll get there.....or have a paid for ticket on the airline of your choice? We can often fly first class or get inexpensive upgrades. Pretty easy choice....sipping wine, or begging for a ride.

 

The lines will show A+, B+ or whatever they are. If you're looking at a current bidpack, there probably isn't any A+ or B+. The only August bidpack that has anything but A, B or R-24 is the LAX MD-11 bidpack (some A+).