Continental or FedEx?
 

Would you leave CAL after 8 months for FedEx?

stick with CAL. back side of the clock is rough

In a word - Yes
 

If you want stability, a retirement, great pay, and never listen to a box *****---then Yes.

Backside of what?
 

OBTW--flying on the backside is not all we do at FedEx--some guys like working 8-10 a month and flying nights. As for me, I have not done much back side of the clock for two years.

It's all really subjective. If the opportunity is there I would suggest contacting anybody and everybody that you know that works for FedEx and asking a ton of questions.

I can tell you this four shore. Knowing what I know now, if I was an eight month guy at FedEx and had the chance to go to Continental, I wouldn't do it for anything. Between the new contract and the stability of freight, it really can't be beat.

I second that motion.

Hotmama, have any other rationale then flying backside of the clock?

.


Hmmmm? You might have to fly with this guy.

No reason 2 get that personal Jolly.

This is a trick question..right?

You can fart, scratch and belch next to a box and it doesn't care.

nope. that's it. and considering that CAL has scab's, I would go to FEDEX (ps. have you tried UPS?):D

Both places are getting new aircraft and are currently hiring. When the company is in a growth mode and you are moving up the list at 30-70 or more Pilots a month........that is as good as it gets (Unless you are #1 on the list)
Are you happy at Continental?
(You will find that the grass isn't as green in the other pasture as often thought no matter who you work for)

Do you live in EWR (the NY area) or IAH?
Do you plan to stay there if you got hired at FedEx?
Do you commute now?
Are you the FDX hiring pool currently or just starting the hiring process at FDX?

How many Pilots do you have below you at CAL?
How many will you have in say 6-9 months?( Assuming you don't have a job offer from FDX yet that is probably the minimum time to a job offer unless you are well into the process.)
Is it a big deal to you to to give up all those #'s and start at the bottom again?

Would you (and your Family) consider Living in MEM or ANC? or prefer it over where you live now?

Commuting Sux no matter who you work for.

Currently FDX is one of the premier places to work.......the operative word is currently. Our outlook currently appears to be great, but anyone who has been in this industry for 10 or more years can tell you that could change in a heartbeat.

I remember a few years ago many young guys considerd leaving FDX for United, because at the time UAL was the Place to work. At that time UAL newhires were upgrading to the 747-400 within 6 months and pay was awesome. Some did an now they regret it.


Weigh all the +'s and the -'s. Only you and your family can make that call.

Currently you can't make a bad call..........it is all a gamble anyway.
Current odds make FDX a good bet but the odds change everyday.
Ever play craps???

Fedex has scabs too.......former CAL and EAL and a couple wein air.......

Just left CAL after 11 months to start w/FedEx. CAL was great and the CP and ACP in domicile were supportive of my decision. Both guys were class acts. Ill tell you if I made the correct choice....in about 20yrs.

Good Luck

Z

I really think fdx is the best place to go, now and in the future. Boxes will always need to be pushed, the pax market flex is alot to deal with sometimes.

I recently left a legacy carrier for FedEx for the following reasons:

1. Boxes aren't menopausal and constantly complaining about the temperature in the back.

2. Terrorists don't want to blow up boxes. The entire pax industry is one shoulder launched missile away from collapse.

3. Any idiot with $150 million can start Jet Orange, Jet Pink, etc and stick it to the rest of the pax industry for a few years--it would cost billions more to compete with FedEx.

4. Gas prices. Raise ticket prices $10 and bookings plummet, raise the cost to send a box 35 cents and no one bats an eye.

5. Back side flying? The big bucks at both companies are wide-body int'l flying. When you go through 8 time zones in four days, it doesn't matter what time of day it is, your'e still sc*ewed.

Redeye,

I am mostly a lurker here, but I just thought I would offer my two cents. I, and I'm sure many of us out here in the silent majority, appreciate your honesty and candor. FDX is no doubt a great company. Like you said though, freight was not always top of the wish list. Many "Purple' posters on this site and others profess how cargo is and always was the only way. However, your honest observations are right on.

I too would go for FDX at this point. But, back in the late 90's when I was hired at one of the "legacies', FDX was not the top of the dream sheet. At the time, Fedex had no contract, no ALPA and no USPS deal. Also, numerous guys were leaving FDX to go back to work at their "legacies" when recalled after early 90's furloughs. I spoke to a guy as a new hire who came back to my airline after 2 1/2 yrs with FDX while furloughed. He told me the FDX captains he was flying with talked him into coming back. Not because they were worried about their finances, but because the job suc*ed. Life was great on the days off, but night freight suc*ed.

So, times have changed. Besides 911, USPS, day sort, and obvious pax airline economics. FDX is the way for sure now. I would have tried to join you guys years ago, but apparantly the FDX chief pilot does not have the same view of change to our profession. Capt. Lewis decided that we must have thumbed our noses at Fedex back in the day so it's his turn to return the favor. I heard he retires soon. Hope for all of us.

Appreciate your posts redeye.

G

That reason alone should make your decision easy.

Choose FedEx, you'll love it here.

Terrorists are bad. The industry is in shambles after 9/11. But all you guys on mil leave doing something about it are "scammers" and "dirtbags".

Anyone else see the irony in this? Our ALPA MEC newsletter reminds guys to avoid using mil leave in the peak season, and Continental is under heat on another board for harrassing guys on mil leave.

FWIW...I don't mil leave much at all anymore--senior enough to bid around or drop...I am not part of the issue...

But...to those guys busting their a$$ this holiday season away from family at Base X or slugging it out training those guys that do...thanks...

I think FedEX has prettier planes.

I didn't think we were hiring from Legacies unlessed furloughed. Guess not according to RogAir and DiamondZ

Does FDX not need pilots? Why would they not hire from the legacies?

Hmmmm.... Guess they call him "Jl"

Which airline has the cutest pilots? :)

Probably didn't update the resume after CAL job! Old resume still says old regional job! That's why they got the call!!
I know two at NWA that would like to go to FedEx but they won't consider them until furloughed. - BCD

Meet N Greet Jul 05

Interview w/ CAL SEP 05

Start CAL Dec 05

Interview FedEx Apr 06

During interview, I did discuss current employer, CAL, and had it on my resume. FWIW.

Plug for Emerald Coast....Thanks Albie.

You did the hard part--you are a class act....

Now keep a uniform for a few years, okay?.....

Well, if I had it to do all over again (with the choice) I'd jump ship at CAL for FDX in a heartbeat. But, back in 1987, I tried to get orders to Millington just to grease the skids into FDX. Didn't work.

When it came time to get out, FDX wasn't hiring. UPS was my next stop if I hadn't gotten hired where I am now.

That said, every point made about the freight industry is entirely correct. FDX and UPS have changed the paradigm. The theory of "Just In Time" inventory for manufacturing has largely been developed because these two shipping giants have provided reliable air freight service.

The airline business is cyclical. Passengers will always go for the lowest fare. Shippers will pay premiums to get their cargo there ontime.

FDX, no question.

Meet N Greet May 05

Interview w/ CAL Jan 06

Start CAL Feb 06

Interview FedEx Jun 06

As soon as I was hired by CAL, I emailed the ACP at FDX to let him know my status and that I was still interested in going to FDX.

I think if you showed interest in FDX first and got another job as Plan B, they didn't care if you were furloughed.

Wow...I thought I waited a long time.

Good Luck with your decision.

Looks like you still can fly a 75 or 77 if you go Purple.

Z

Virgin has the cutest pilots but they can't be seduced!:rolleyes:

So do you think flying cargo is better than flying Passangers? Pay? Schedule?

I really have to echo Redeye and some of the points he brought up earlier. If you're thinking about making the jump, sincerely ask yourself and your sig other those questions he pondered.

Our system form at FedEx is SO different from pax flying. I flew at a regional carrier briefly before getting hired at FedEx in 2K. There are elements of our form that resemble passenger carriers but there are more differences than similarities.

I see you Jolly
 

Jolly, help the new dumb guy, when I click on your link to see your profile / e-mail you, it gonks me into "You do not have permission!" What did I not do when I signed up and then registered? Good to see you out!

Popeye

You need to have 10 posts under your belt to email or PM. Get busy!

Thanks!
 

That's two!

on the way to 10
 

this is three

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and now five

six on the way