Propably piggy-backing (but not in a brokeback mountain kind of way), but if you are going to live in a CAL domicile and like people. Go CAL. I had the same choice CAL vs FDX some years back and went FDX based largely on the fact I was not going to live in one of the CAL hubs. Who knew I'd be a genius short term.

Of course my 35 year CAL dad was not too sure of my choice. FDX cargo flying is basically "Navy-MAC". If you are military, imagine a mix of those two and you will understand FDX. Maybe mix in a dose of FBO flying. Very stable, good guys, outstanding furlough protection, but no glamour. Walk between the dumpsters, dodge the tugs, get to your hot (no A/C) plane, and eat your box lunch (no kidding actual box). No one brings you a hot lunch, or freshly baked cookie, or is even easy on the eyes. Years of night flying will make anyone grumpy. If you will receive some form of personal job satifaction from pax interaction you need to factor that in, if you don't care whether you're told "nice job captain", then FDX might be for you. I have no second guesses about my choice even if there was not a 9/11, but you will need to think through all the factors.

 

They've been saying that for years, but CAL is REMOVEING 69 jets from Express flying. CAL is growing, Express is shrinking, you decide what that means.

 

Youre' probably right, but it's not a problem. I'm from Newark, worked the ramp for CAL in Newark while at Rutgers. Not the ramp actually, I was a yellowshirt in the navy and lucked into directing the NYC apple helo's from gate 88, remember? Have a home in IAH and a condo in EWR, reserve job at KWRI. I'm cautiously optomistic that things will work out at CAL, just wish it had been my 1st choice. When I left the Air Force Cal only hired from express. Hindsight is 20/20. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

Yes, you may spend a while as reserve 737 CA in EWR flying DCA turns out of terminal A, but $140/hour (junior CA) is better than $70/hour (FO of same seniority)! When PBS is finally working, that will eliminate almost all reserve flying. No open time, just sick calls. There will be very few reserves, but many more "lineholders". I live within 1.5 hours of EWR, so I'm tempted to upgrade sooner rather than later. I got to pay the bills.

 

I agree Otto. I've flown out of EWR,LGA and JFK since 1999 and bid reserve the whole time. Ironically, Once my last carrier went PBS, Reserve went very senior and I couldn't hold it. I see that CAL has a high utilization of reserves, but reserve at home isn't a bad thing. I just hope this thing holds 2gether; no mergers before upgrade and hopes that an effective middle-east policy arrives soon. Fingers-crossed.

 

IF retirements are a good mentioned here, and, capts upgrades are really (even close) to suggested. AND, If I was 20 something and lived in Jersey and didn't mind not making top dollar; I say go CAL. Backside of the clock flying really, really sucks; and long haul INTL, while at times great fun and interesting, is also really hard to adjust to. QOL at CAL has got to be better, if for no other reason than mostly day flying. I'm sure there are plenty of good valid reason to say why FedEx is better (pay today, who knows to morrow ) but it is not the last word in a great place to work.
Fuel prices and the economy could sink us all, pax and cargo, neither is safe from the next (successful) terrorist attack.

 

We weren't talking about reserve. Just answering the question about when could one hold CA if hired in the summer of 05. And that answer is what it is.

 

Do you know where it will be based?

 

Dude, they haven't even taken delivery of the aircraft yet. Relax!

 

What time period was this? I don't recall us hiring exclusively from them only.