No SWA Interview
07-27-2007, 04:37 PM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
Don,
Carry coffee? Don't be ridiculous! I'll either be back in the left seat of the MD-11, or gone. Only a year and 2 months to go, to hit the criteria I set for leaving. And by the way, although it's gray now, all the hair on my head is mine.
Carry coffee? Don't be ridiculous! I'll either be back in the left seat of the MD-11, or gone. Only a year and 2 months to go, to hit the criteria I set for leaving. And by the way, although it's gray now, all the hair on my head is mine.
07-27-2007, 04:48 PM
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
Originally Posted by Killswitch135R
Dude.....I'm not "too good to fly for FedEx".....when did I ever say that? I would love to fly for FedEx or UPS! You people are unbelievable......I'm simply holding out for SWA for a few more months because the domicile situation works better for me. Why would I commute if I didn't have to? Is it such a crime that I want to work for a specific company? It must be.......
Thank you all for your continued support.
Thank you all for your continued support.
I know you're not too good to fly for FedEx, because we have Marine and Navy fighter pilots, and they ARE too good to fly for us. They just suck it up and do it anyway. And some of them actually do an almost-decent job.
My comments were centered around your statement: "I'm more likely to get hired by UPS or FedEx sooner........this really sucks!" I know you meant that not getting the interview with South West was the thing that really sucked, but the way you phrased it, well. Anyway, just beware that guys have spent an entire lifetime waiting for "The Call." Sometimes, for whatever reason, it never comes. Sometimes, much later in your career, you'd wish that that call never did come to begin with. Point is, conventional wisdom says to take the first job you're offered. You can always leave for something better. However, back in August of 2001, we had a guy who had just checked out as a captain, resign. He had won a class date at American Airlines, and was due to start either the Monday before or the Monday after 9/11. In this case, he had chosen badly. Hopefully your career will work out better. Good Luck.
07-27-2007, 05:17 PM
#33
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737 F/O
Posts: 82
Originally Posted by Jetjok
Killswitch,
I know you're not too good to fly for FedEx, because we have Marine and Navy fighter pilots, and they ARE too good to fly for us. They just suck it up and do it anyway. And some of them actually do an almost-decent job. My comments were centered around your statement: "I'm more likely to get hired by UPS or FedEx sooner........this really sucks!" I know you meant that not getting the interview with South West was the thing that really sucked, but the way you phrased it, well. Anyway, just beware that guys have spent an entire lifetime waiting for "The Call." Sometimes, for whatever reason, it never comes. Sometimes, much later in your career, you'd wish that that call never did come to begin with. Point is, conventional wisdom says to take the first job you're offered. You can always leave for something better. However, back in August of 2001, we had a guy who had just checked out as a captain, resign. He had won a class date at American Airlines, and was due to start either the Monday before or the Monday after 9/11. In this case, he had chosen badly. Hopefully your career will work out better. Good Luck.
I know you're not too good to fly for FedEx, because we have Marine and Navy fighter pilots, and they ARE too good to fly for us. They just suck it up and do it anyway. And some of them actually do an almost-decent job.
My comments were centered around your statement: "I'm more likely to get hired by UPS or FedEx sooner........this really sucks!" I know you meant that not getting the interview with South West was the thing that really sucked, but the way you phrased it, well. Anyway, just beware that guys have spent an entire lifetime waiting for "The Call." Sometimes, for whatever reason, it never comes. Sometimes, much later in your career, you'd wish that that call never did come to begin with. Point is, conventional wisdom says to take the first job you're offered. You can always leave for something better. However, back in August of 2001, we had a guy who had just checked out as a captain, resign. He had won a class date at American Airlines, and was due to start either the Monday before or the Monday after 9/11. In this case, he had chosen badly. Hopefully your career will work out better. Good Luck.
07-27-2007, 06:11 PM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: Leftof longitudinal
Posts: 1,899
Good Luck
More power to you. I have no ego, but then I fly DC-8's 
at brown. I went to brown for my own reasons, purple and brown were my equal number one, just a matter of timing. SWA and CO were my pax number ones. I had to get a job so I applied everywhere. Know several who are like you and were successful. BTW, I think there are top notch folks at all the airlines that I would enjoy flying with tremendously. Since that was a given, I selected my wish list based on family and business reasons and where the market "escalator" was when I jumped in the fray. Timing is a big element to where we all sat down when the music stopped
at brown. I went to brown for my own reasons, purple and brown were my equal number one, just a matter of timing. SWA and CO were my pax number ones. I had to get a job so I applied everywhere. Know several who are like you and were successful. BTW, I think there are top notch folks at all the airlines that I would enjoy flying with tremendously. Since that was a given, I selected my wish list based on family and business reasons and where the market "escalator" was when I jumped in the fray. Timing is a big element to where we all sat down when the music stopped
07-27-2007, 06:31 PM
#35
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
Grumman,
What makes FedEx fun?
First--you don't worry about your paycheck clearing. I have friends at other companies that stress about stuff I never even consider. (yet) Nice to work for solid business that does good work. FDX (and UPS) are both very good at what they do.
Next--good crews. Sounds corny, but if you are going to work it might as well be with folks you like. There are lots of good guys at other carriers too, but generally I fly with some pretty fun folks.
Variety. I like flying day/midwest/short trips. Buddies with similar seniority are flying 12-13 day one departure international trips. Some are flying am or pm out and backs....working 3 days and having 4 day weekends every month. Even on the 727, I don't get bored--I have a LOT of different kinds of trips to choose from.
Headache factor: Very little to get in trouble here if you show up on time, go to your flight, and fly IAW the standards. No passengers to say you were "mean", no FAs whining on the crew van, etc. Very little time dealing with TSA, airport lines, parking, etc. Time from engine shutdown to crew van is typically less than 10 minutes....5 in some cases. I was a Delta wannabe for a long time--intriqued with the "Romance" of airline life. Not knocking it--lot of perks in that industry when it "works", but it sure is a lot less to deal with operating like we do.
Time off--you can get it right now if you want it. Our manning is good so dropping trips (generally) isnt' tough. Trading trips is generally easy here--ymmv--but I spend a lot of time "optimizing" my own schedule trading, moving, and dropping trips. Its nice to have that kind of control. Granted--it comes with a bit of seniority.
Extra money: If you want it. Lots of guys pick up the trips guys above drop. I've gone between being a slacker some months to working hard the next for whatever reason. Nice to have the option.
Pay. Not many places you can make 120-130 an hour year 2-3. I went for Q of life and stayed on the 727, but many of my friends are doing very well now at year 2 or 3 on a widebody.
Upgrades: Last year we've seen some 4-5 year NB captain upgrades and 8-10 WB. Age 60 changes may slow that--but they'll slow everywhere.
No job is perfect. However--the longer I'm here--the more I like it and appreciate the benefits.
Just my take...
What makes FedEx fun?
First--you don't worry about your paycheck clearing. I have friends at other companies that stress about stuff I never even consider. (yet) Nice to work for solid business that does good work. FDX (and UPS) are both very good at what they do.
Next--good crews. Sounds corny, but if you are going to work it might as well be with folks you like. There are lots of good guys at other carriers too, but generally I fly with some pretty fun folks.
Variety. I like flying day/midwest/short trips. Buddies with similar seniority are flying 12-13 day one departure international trips. Some are flying am or pm out and backs....working 3 days and having 4 day weekends every month. Even on the 727, I don't get bored--I have a LOT of different kinds of trips to choose from.
Headache factor: Very little to get in trouble here if you show up on time, go to your flight, and fly IAW the standards. No passengers to say you were "mean", no FAs whining on the crew van, etc. Very little time dealing with TSA, airport lines, parking, etc. Time from engine shutdown to crew van is typically less than 10 minutes....5 in some cases. I was a Delta wannabe for a long time--intriqued with the "Romance" of airline life. Not knocking it--lot of perks in that industry when it "works", but it sure is a lot less to deal with operating like we do.
Time off--you can get it right now if you want it. Our manning is good so dropping trips (generally) isnt' tough. Trading trips is generally easy here--ymmv--but I spend a lot of time "optimizing" my own schedule trading, moving, and dropping trips. Its nice to have that kind of control. Granted--it comes with a bit of seniority.
Extra money: If you want it. Lots of guys pick up the trips guys above drop. I've gone between being a slacker some months to working hard the next for whatever reason. Nice to have the option.
Pay. Not many places you can make 120-130 an hour year 2-3. I went for Q of life and stayed on the 727, but many of my friends are doing very well now at year 2 or 3 on a widebody.
Upgrades: Last year we've seen some 4-5 year NB captain upgrades and 8-10 WB. Age 60 changes may slow that--but they'll slow everywhere.
No job is perfect. However--the longer I'm here--the more I like it and appreciate the benefits.
Just my take...
07-27-2007, 06:47 PM
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Retired
Posts: 3,717
You ask some interesting questions, and I'm not sure that I'm the right one to answer them. You see, after working at Pan Am, then UPS, when I got to FedEx, even though I was stuck in the back seat of the 727 for over 5 years, due to no hiring, I've always been an advocate of this airline, due in no small part to the way I've always been treated here, which has been very well, by everyone. However, I'll give it a try, but remember, this is how I see FedEx. Others I'm sure may have a different view of things. So here goes.
However, we've certainly had our problems over the years. First the FAB (Flight Advisory Board), then ALPA, then FPA (FedEx Pilot's Association), then ALPA again. To add to this turmoil, we are and have been the only union on a property that has never wanted a union in the first place. All the issues you can imagine with an adversarial management, we've faced. That plus the fact that we have no historical view of a union, and as such, are still learning what it means to be a union. We still have a number of individual contractors that only pay homage to their needs, above all else. That has made our negotiations with the company, a very tricky wicket. At the legacy carriers, the senior captains grew up with a union, ours didn't and, (imo) because of that, they don't pass along the union "tradition" to the newer guys.
I believe we've had a number of new guys leave in the past, but that stopped after 9/11. Guys left, due in part to some of our senior guys, who had become disillusioned with the company's promises, advising them to seek employment elsewhere. That was going on right up until that tragic day in September of 2001.
Our job, has gotten marginally better over the years, what with pay and benefits, but at the same time, our flying has gotten more demanding, as our company continuously tries to maximize our productivity. The actual trips vary greatly between fleet types, but we do have a few basic similarities between fleets, like morning or afternoon out and backs, flights that leave a sort facility (lax, oak, mem, ind, ewr), either in the early morning (3 A.M) and return about 9 (or so) A.M. The afternoon flights do the same thing, leaving about 3 P.M. and returning somewhere about 11 P.M. We also have a lot of week on, week off flying, mostly on the 727 and the Airbus. The MD-11 has some of these also, but a lot of long haul, international, on this jet as well. As at any other airline, seniority is everything. For guys senior enough to hold day flying, they can, while less senior guys usually fly the night flights and A.M. out and backs (some involving 3 or 4 legs, some with a few hours of down time in between.) As well, lots of senior guys elect to live in domicile and bid reserve, only working a handful of days a month. However, the difference between a senior guys lifestyle and a junior guys lifestyle is dramatic.
Is the job better now than when "the guys were quiting", I don't know. I do know we've got a better contract, with improvements in lots of areas, but with lots of room for future negotiations. As well, nobody is quitting now (that I know of.) That could be because they feel they are at a good place, or that they don't think they can do better elsewhere. As well, the majors are still not doing all that well and still have guys on the street.
I hope I've helped you understand our company, but do realize that this is my viewpoint alone. As well, if you hadn't already realized it, we (FedEx guys) do a lot of complaining here on this web site. Most of it is well founded, however, some of it comes across like a spoiled teenager complaining that he has to wash and wax his new Porsche. We could spend equal amounts of energy and time discussing some of the really great advantages we, at FedEx, have over our brothers at the passenger carrying airlines, but we don't because it's more fun to b!tch and moan. It's the glue that bonds us all. But I will part with the fact that our flying is just that, flying. We don't have to mediate disputes between flight attendants or passengers, worry about 8 or 10 folks showing up at show time in the hotel, or whether it's too hot or cold in the back (except when we're carrying jumpseaters or animals.) We just get in the jet and when it's loaded with high paying freight, we go fly. Pure and simple.
Regards,
JJ
However, we've certainly had our problems over the years. First the FAB (Flight Advisory Board), then ALPA, then FPA (FedEx Pilot's Association), then ALPA again. To add to this turmoil, we are and have been the only union on a property that has never wanted a union in the first place. All the issues you can imagine with an adversarial management, we've faced. That plus the fact that we have no historical view of a union, and as such, are still learning what it means to be a union. We still have a number of individual contractors that only pay homage to their needs, above all else. That has made our negotiations with the company, a very tricky wicket. At the legacy carriers, the senior captains grew up with a union, ours didn't and, (imo) because of that, they don't pass along the union "tradition" to the newer guys.
I believe we've had a number of new guys leave in the past, but that stopped after 9/11. Guys left, due in part to some of our senior guys, who had become disillusioned with the company's promises, advising them to seek employment elsewhere. That was going on right up until that tragic day in September of 2001.
Our job, has gotten marginally better over the years, what with pay and benefits, but at the same time, our flying has gotten more demanding, as our company continuously tries to maximize our productivity. The actual trips vary greatly between fleet types, but we do have a few basic similarities between fleets, like morning or afternoon out and backs, flights that leave a sort facility (lax, oak, mem, ind, ewr), either in the early morning (3 A.M) and return about 9 (or so) A.M. The afternoon flights do the same thing, leaving about 3 P.M. and returning somewhere about 11 P.M. We also have a lot of week on, week off flying, mostly on the 727 and the Airbus. The MD-11 has some of these also, but a lot of long haul, international, on this jet as well. As at any other airline, seniority is everything. For guys senior enough to hold day flying, they can, while less senior guys usually fly the night flights and A.M. out and backs (some involving 3 or 4 legs, some with a few hours of down time in between.) As well, lots of senior guys elect to live in domicile and bid reserve, only working a handful of days a month. However, the difference between a senior guys lifestyle and a junior guys lifestyle is dramatic.
Is the job better now than when "the guys were quiting", I don't know. I do know we've got a better contract, with improvements in lots of areas, but with lots of room for future negotiations. As well, nobody is quitting now (that I know of.) That could be because they feel they are at a good place, or that they don't think they can do better elsewhere. As well, the majors are still not doing all that well and still have guys on the street.
I hope I've helped you understand our company, but do realize that this is my viewpoint alone. As well, if you hadn't already realized it, we (FedEx guys) do a lot of complaining here on this web site. Most of it is well founded, however, some of it comes across like a spoiled teenager complaining that he has to wash and wax his new Porsche. We could spend equal amounts of energy and time discussing some of the really great advantages we, at FedEx, have over our brothers at the passenger carrying airlines, but we don't because it's more fun to b!tch and moan. It's the glue that bonds us all. But I will part with the fact that our flying is just that, flying. We don't have to mediate disputes between flight attendants or passengers, worry about 8 or 10 folks showing up at show time in the hotel, or whether it's too hot or cold in the back (except when we're carrying jumpseaters or animals.) We just get in the jet and when it's loaded with high paying freight, we go fly. Pure and simple.
Regards,
JJ
Last edited by Jetjok; 07-27-2007 at 07:18 PM.
07-27-2007, 07:42 PM
#37
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: KC-135R EP
Posts: 13
Originally Posted by C17MooseDriver
Killswitch135R,
Just be patient. It took me almost 4 mos to get an interview even with the type. If you're really concerned, you can call the PD and ask to have someone review your app to make sure everything is kosher.
Good luck.
Just be patient. It took me almost 4 mos to get an interview even with the type. If you're really concerned, you can call the PD and ask to have someone review your app to make sure everything is kosher.
Good luck.
07-27-2007, 08:13 PM
#38
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: Trophy Husband
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by Killswitch135R
Moose, thank you for the positive comments. They're rare in here! I am being patient, which is why I'm not applying anywhere else for the time being. I'm hesitant to contact the PD. I don't want to be "that guy". As far as SWA goes, I'm assuming that my online app is good to go........maybe I'm wrong in thinking that, but I don't want to call and say, "Are you seeing my app? Is it good to go?" That can't be good. I actually called them awhile back and asked if the date at the bottom of the app mattered. They said it didn't, so I left it at that. I've updated my app, but left the date as the original date I first applied. It's all a mystery to those of us on the outside.....you know?
Edit:
Just saw this in a flight info thread dated today, the poster said he was speaking with one of the chief pilots:
"He did say one interesting tid bit: All things being equal, the computer chooses the most recent updated online apps. So Update, Update, and oh yeh, update."
Last edited by Huggy Bear; 07-27-2007 at 08:22 PM.
07-28-2007, 09:55 AM
#40
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Posts: 90
Originally Posted by Killswitch135R
Moose, thank you for the positive comments. They're rare in here! I am being patient, which is why I'm not applying anywhere else for the time being. I'm hesitant to contact the PD. I don't want to be "that guy". As far as SWA goes, I'm assuming that my online app is good to go........maybe I'm wrong in thinking that, but I don't want to call and say, "Are you seeing my app? Is it good to go?" That can't be good. I actually called them awhile back and asked if the date at the bottom of the app mattered. They said it didn't, so I left it at that. I've updated my app, but left the date as the original date I first applied. It's all a mystery to those of us on the outside.....you know?
Good Luck
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