IWalkJun12

I'd look at it differently, maybe I'm to negative/conservative. Lord willing there isn't another terror attack, but if there were, which one would have a less chance of furlough?

Victor Vector

~3400 total
3000 fighter (PIC)
250 military trainers
150 A320 (SIC)


Thanks to all for the inputs. Lots to consider.

Hrkdrivr

Tough choice. Great problem to have.

When I retired from the military, I was flying at times all over the clock, and it was wearing me out. This was throughout my 40s.

Now that I'm domestic/Delta, I realized about a year ago how much I prefer flying during the day, with very few late nights or early mornings. And I realized just how much the previous flying hurt. I didn't really realize it until I was living a different life. I think it has turned out to be healthier for me.

I read somewhere FedEx, on average, only pays pensions for a few years because people don't live long past retirement. I don't know if that's legend or true, but I do know the FedEx and UPS pilots I've had on the jumpseat look much older than they are.

I think your movement at Delta will be faster. We have more pilots and more retirements coming up; even percentage-wise I think you'll move up faster at Delta. No doubt the pay is less, but QOL has value too. It's a choice you'll have to make.

I was almost off probation at Delta when FedEx finally called me to finish the interview process I had started almost 2.5 years prior. It was the hardest "thanks but no thanks" call I've had to make.

Good luck deciding and let us know which way you go...

(Now go buy a PowerBall ticket. Seriously.)

MoonShot

Wow! Good to have great choices!

All I can add: Despite all the venting that's done on here, I really have enjoyed working at Delta for the last 8 years. I enjoy the diversity of flying available and our contract, while not perfect, is livable. NYC is junior and lots of flying out of there with Delta. FedEx is likely to be more $$$, but who knows for sure.

Tough choice!

NoDeskJob

I know guys at both. Depends what kind of flying you like. If you don't mind some night flying (especially while junior), go FedEx.
And let us know what you decide.

Scoop

Both are currently great. Depending on your age no one will be able to give you any valid long term career advice - too much potential change.

Keep in mind - I believe FDX has capped its DB at 130K and that will not increase over time so it will gradually be whittled away by inflation - especially for today's new hires.

Can any FDX guys verify this?

Currently I would say overall FDX has the premier Pilot contract in aviation. DAL is currently in negotiations and hopefully we can improve our contract over the sub-standard TA that we just voted down. Like someone said if you can fly out of NYC DAL offers very rapid upgrades.

Good luck either way!

Scoop

busdriver12

The 130K number is correct. That could increase if we were ever able to negotiate it, however FedEx really wants to hold the line on that benefit. They probably would have been willing to increase the 130K if we would have been willing to trade away the defined benefit plan for newhires, but we weren't. In my opinion, it is a solid 130K. The value will definitely be eaten away by inflation, however, the is little doubt that it will always be there.

busdriver12

As far as the night flying goes, it is definitely tough. However, many people choose to do the night flying over the day flying, so much of what we do to our bodies, we do to ourselves. People want a double deadhead out of/near their home, they prefer quiet night flying, they sleep good during the days, they'd rather have one am leg and a 72 hour layover, than three days worth of day legs and 12 hour layovers for the same pay, it fits their family schedules, all sorts of reasons. There is a huge amount of variety in trips, and what people like.

I prefer day flying, though I have flown about 20 early AM legs over the last year. I have a tough time sleeping during the day, and night flying is painful for me. The night legs were mostly by my choice, I didn't want to get stuck for a half day in Memphis, I liked the trip otherwise, a trip got unexpectedly revised, whatever. We have a fair amount of day flying, and though I am pretty junior in my seat, I often am able to fly days.

The thing I really love about FedEx is the flexibility. You can live wherever you want, and often get deadheads at the start or end or your trip. You can be junior (as long as you aren't on reserve), start out with a crap schedule, and trip trade with the computer voraciously until you get a very nice schedule, even as a bottom feeder. You can work every day of your life, or only get 3 takeoffs and landings every 90 days, flexibility to work as much or little as you want (that is airplane and staffing dependent). Some of our trips are just terrible (3 legs/night, short layovers), some are awesome (day flying, low block hours, long layovers, few legs, double deadheads). You can take a chance and drop your entire month, then only pick up what looks good to you. Not every seat position can do that, though.

But many people aren't willing to chance not getting a full month, or don't want to spend a lot of time on their computer/iPhone, and they can end up with painful trips. There are many ways to fix your schedule to work the types of trips you like, fly when you want, and get paid what you want. Many guys go for the money and upgrade ASAP, so they make it tougher on themselves. I think we're going to hire a large number to replace the many retirements we have coming up, so hopefully those who don't want to be junior on reserve won't be stuck there for long. Junior on reserve is no big deal if you live in base, though if they are utilizing the reserves, it can be miserable. I sat reserve in Memphis for four years when I first got hired, got called in about two days a month for most of the time. Complained every time they called me, of course.

CODs4ever

Good deal. Looks like you didn't have to spend too much time at Airline X on the A320 before something better came along. Were you already current leaving the military or was the Airbus flying to get you current?

Sluggo_63

You should also post this in the Cargo forum, where all the FedEx pilots hang out.