ha ha thats funny!

 

If this is true and there was no alternate required, then the capt needs to grow a pair and tell dispatch that they need to reduce their tankering amt. You can fly a 200 full plus a jumpseater pretty much all day long as long as you don't have an alternate.

 

Ok so lets start here. Yes the captain should have done a bit more. Maybe he was burned out with having to fight gate agents and the company on his last day about getting everyone on board. I actually am sorry you had to drive.

Here is the second part. After YEARS of carrying fedex guys around with NO reciprocal agreement, you are going to give one of our guys an ear full because you drew the short straw with the captain that day? Seriously? I know that it wasn't your guys fault we couldn't ride but I kinda miss all the chili's gift cards and the bags of goodies you all used to bring to us out of guilt. I however never ride on fedex. Never. No need to since I don't commute and my family cant ride on them. I have however transported hundreds of fedex guys all over creation to get them to MEM. And sometimes I have had to go above and beyond to get them on board (because thats what you should do). I just think its a little to much to give the next 9e guy on your plane an earful for something he has no idea about or control over.

 

Sorry to set you off too...man you guys are touchy. First of all, thanks for all you do for us FedEx guys and your correct I should have said "give the next guy and earful" in a better way and I apologize. I should have said " I gotta ask the next guy, How in the heck can you be weight restricted on a clear day on a 200 mile trip and leave a paying customer and my whiny butt too?" All kidding aside I appreciate the job you guys do, and I have the utmost respect for each of you. Also for the record, I didn't actually break the slide so the other guy couldn't ride my jumpseat.....I made my first officer do it.

 

No problem. The only thing that bugged me about what you said is giving the next 9e guy an earful. I just took that as you giving the guy a hard time when he comes begging for a ride. Just a misunderstanding then.
I do agree with you though that the captain should have been more alert or at least man enough (or woman) to tell you what the deal was instead of just disappearing. Once again I am sorry that you got left and when I make the next trip to BNA you wont be left behind if I can do anything about it.

On a side note we can now use the delta sand bags in DTW so that should help a lot of guys up there.

 

If anything I'd say 9E guys go waaayyyyy out of their way for FedEx guys--at least in Memphis. Re: there are tons of MEM captains for whom FedEx is the only job they'll ever leave this place for, and many many children of FedEx pilots on the line at 9E as well, not to mention people like me who absolutely love having you guys as a commuting option...I'd also venture to say that 98% of the people in ops/dispatch/training/executive ranks here are either a) trying to go to FedEx one day, b) worked at FedEx for most of their working life, or c) are married to or related to a FedEx pilot or Express employee of some sort...when you throw in girlfriends, friends, and golf buddies, well, you get the picture--it is the very rare occasion that a 9E pilot or employee would not do anything legally possible to get a FedEx guy on that seat...

 

Just to clear the air a bit FLYBYNITE, I was not addressing you per se, but this entire thread of ingratitude. Anyone reading this would think that Pinnacle pilots are a bunch of inconsiderate bastiges, as nothing could be farther from the truth. What concerns me is a perception by others that the average Pinnacle pilot doesn’t care or isn’t concerned that a jumpseater gets on or not.

Worth noting is that the pilots have likely become anesthetized by the past, current, and continued operational challenges from the CRJ platform and managerial assaults. To tanker fuel and deny cargo or ANY passengers (i.e. to knowingly place the aircraft in a ‘weight critical’ situation) is erroneous at best. This problem is very difficult to correct once any over-fuel is loaded because de-fueling is a near impossibility for this company. So if a passenger is also left behind, things are not looking good for non-revenue.

I would have given you at least my apologies and a heads up if I was operating the flight, as any upright person should. Maybe he was having a bad day, forgot, or got distracted. Heck, I’ll even fight to make sure the seat is available for you. But if the dispatcher screws the pooch and fuel is loaded, it’s a tough situation.

There is a battle going on - with all carriers and their jumpseats. We all need to work together and protect this or we all suffer.

In closing, no pilot group has 100% jumpseat-mindful pilots at all times, and lets be honest – I’ve had the pleasure of riding FE many times, and you guys have your share of sociopaths over there too! For a while, I thought it was a requirement!

 

FLYBYNITE,

As a pilot flying for PNCL's evil step-sister (Colgan), I can relate to the pressures management et. al. put on crews. Either the CA you ran into is the 1% jerks that every company has, or he was forced into a fight he felt he could not win.

PNCL pilots have a right to be angry at how funding for our aircraft came from the fruits of their labor. Yet they have been quite fair and helpful to our pilot group. Please, don't fault an entire group for one bad experience especially since it may have been beyond his control.

j

PS. to the PNCL folks, the folks at Colgan who REALLY understand things, thank you for your help.

 

I've seen flights go out late MANY times waiting for ballast or numbers to get a FedEx guy on to Memphis.

 

Thanks Airsupport for calling me on that, you were right and I didn't say it the way I should have. Yes, it frustrated me..but you have to be in the other guys shoes. Again, thanks for all you folks do for us Fedex guys...and the next time I ride a pinnacle jumpseat, it will at least be a starbucks gift card or something you guys can use.