Military Pilot needs help!
 

My first thread and it will be obvious.

My background is I am a C-17 guy with 3000 total, 1300 PIC and I have 14 months until I can get out of the AF. I have taken my ATP written and will probably take my FE written next week.

I basically have a ton of questions about how and where to start my new life. Below are the questions I have, if you guys have time to take a look and answer a few I would be grateful.

1. Southwest seems like such a great place to go (assuming they are hiring) but all my friends at other airlines say that the up and down sorties and quantity of sorties will kill me. Any Southwest guys have anything to say about that?

2. What is a typical day at FedEx or UPS (assuming they are hiring) like? I know it isn't all night flying, but can anyone give me an example of a typical day? Is there such a thing?

3. For the cargo guys, do you spend a lot of time sitting overseas? Reserve?

4. For Fedex, where the hell is Subic Bay? Do all the new guys get stuck there?

5. For any airline/cargo where do your new guys get stuck? How long does it take to be able to hold somewhere else, where would that be?

6. Are the guaranteed minimums on airlinepilotcentral.com accurate for hours? Is the pay accurate?

7. For any ex-military guys, was there anything that surprised you or that you didn't think about as you made the switch?

8. This might be obvious, but if I live at my domicile is there a chance some trips end up back there so I get an extra night at home during a trip?

I guess that is enough for now, I don't want to overload the thread. Any help you guys can give me would be appreciated, please add comments or questions of things you think I should be thinking about if I didn't list it.

Lots of questions so few answers.


Fedex:

Nobody gets stuck in subic, it is closing. You could get stuck in Hong Kong. Bad deal ecause your QOL will suck and you will lose money.

Assuming you got hired in Memhis, you would probably spend the first 2-3 years sitting reserve in Memphis 15 out of 28 days a month. You would probably fly about half of them. Good deal if you live in Memphis Ok deal if you don't.

At the 3-5 year range you could choose money or schedule.

Not a lot of info because everything changes. I commute but have averaged about 21 out of 28 days at home for the last 5 years. It probably cost me about 35K a year to do it.

Apply every where you want to work. You will be envied by about 95% of your buds if you get on with Fedex, UPS or Southwest. The other 5% are lying. But that is this year.

Search this forum you will see lots of opinions on lifestyles.

letsfly,

Welcome to APC Forums! I'm not going to answer directly, but did you try using the Google search feature? It's located on the upper left side of the page. Most of your questions have been asked and answered many times before. Try it. You'll have plenty to read for a very long time. :)

Talk to a C17 reservist - they know all this stuff an how it relates to your experience - your time is good for delta or SWA based on guys getting hired to those companies that I know - seems like UPS is picking up 5000 hour types - Good Luck

Why is there no mention of the wonderful health benefits of flying on the back side of the clock?

I had a pretty good shot at UPS and chose not to pursue it....and I have never looked back in regret. I know a ton UPS dudes and some struggle to get through a tour....and most look older than they are. I also spent a lot of time JS'ing with them...there is no way in hell I could do that. Rolling in at 2 am and seeing guys just coming to work....no thanks. Money cannot make up for that lifestyle...but that is just my opinion.

Living the dream one nightmare at a time
 

Good on yeh. It isn't for everyone. Definitely ages some, It works for me, but one should consider backside flying. Many fly intl and day turns (with seniority) to avoid backside flying. So it is possible to avoid a career of backside flying. Still just a cargo dog <g>

I second that. Do a search for "timing your exit" as well. I reposted info I found highly useful from one of the posters here, Albie15. You have an extremely valuable resource that you should be tapping - your network. Ask questions from those that you know for info that I would argue is likely more reliable than that which can be gleaned from a forum.

Best of Luck

Been with Fedex for 8 years. I chose to sit reserve in Mem at my home. My reserve time starts at 1:30pm and ends at 1:30 am, 95% of my flying in the MD 11/10 is an afternoon leg to Chicago or JFK, go to bed for 12 Hrs and return the next Day.I seldom due Hub turns and almost never work at night.

Probably because like any job, if you get proper rest it's not a factor. You're also not getting blasted by doing the multiple turns that the guys at Southwest do. When I interviewed at Southwest, all the friends I had working there looked about 10-15 years older than they should've...simply ragged/worn out appearance. No thanks to that kind of lifesyle.

B2P

I guess I should have said 95% of the other 5% are lying. That would have covered special cases like you. If he does what I told him he will see lots of excuses for why people said they turned down offers at FDX, UPS, or SW.