Seriously thinking about making a change to FedEx. Can you guys tackle some basic questions?

What are the junior bases and equipment? Do all new hires wind up in Hong Kong or Germany? How long to get to MEM?

What does a typical trip look like? 3 days? 4 days? 10 days? Commutability?

Which fleet type has the best QOL in your opinions?

How much of the flying is backside of the clock vs front side?

How is life on reserve, and how long is the typical new hire on reserve?

Thanks very much guys!!

 

OK, I'll try.

Bases are MEM, CGN, HKG, ANC, LAX, IND.

I guess the junior base is MEM.

Senior base, IMHO, is LAX.

IND is very small.

No one is forced to go to CGN or HKG.

If you are a new hire, you will probably be in MEM.

If you have certain special skills, you may be selected to fly the MD-11, MD-10.

Other new hires have a choice of aircraft.

The 757 is the junior aircraft, as it is the only narrow body pay airplane.

However, we have new hires in the 767, 777, MD. I don't know about the Airbus.

As a junior guy, expect to fly at night.

There is no up or out, so senior FO's have better quality of life, but may delay their upgrades.

It has been said that half the seniority list will retire in the next 10 years.

If you can't fly all night, don't come here. That is what we do.

Senior folks can fly in the daytime, but the majority of trips are at night.

If you like international, the 777 is a great ride. Also, most days off for most pay.

Of course, it is one of the most senior AC.

We are getting lots of 767's. Firm orders of 100, I think, and options for 50 more. Brand new 767's. It is a nice ride, but the 777 is better for a variety of reasons.

Ease of commute depends on where you live. You can reserve a FedEx jumpseat 3 weeks in advance. However, if you live in, say, DEN, or C-Springs, there just aren't enough seats.

The future looks bright, until the drones take over, then we are screwed.

What is wrong with where you are now?

Boxes don't complain, but sometimes they catch fire.

 

It's around 15 hrs to mem from hkg, and 10 hrs from cgn.

 

Great answer, but I don't think that was the question.

Lots of trips are one day trips, but they string them together for a series of "hub turns". An ideal commuter schedule is "week on, week off", which is not always exactly week on week off.

Some trips are longer, deadhead somewhere on Monday, fly until Friday or Saturday, then deadhead home. Longer trips seem to go more senior.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone.

To answer your question, I love my current job, but I'm making sure I'm aware of whats out there should I be forced to start looking.

Do most trips begin after the sort? IE, could someone commute in late at night to start their trip after the sort is complete?

How many days off per month, on average?

Thanks again!

 

What planes are based in HKG?

 

For night hub turn trips thru Memphis...

Yes

Yes (...and that's exactly what most pilots who fly MEM hub turn trips do, unless the trip has a company paid deadhead ticket to an outside city on the front end)

Average days off in a 28-day bid month are about 16 for a line holder and about 12 for a pilot on reserve

 

Minimum days off in a 4 week month is 13. It doesn't matter if you are a line holder or on reserve. You can choose to not protect min days off and work more.

 

Currently 767 (6 plus a spare) and some 757 (3 plus a spare)

 

All WB international override pay. $100 an hour minimum.