You potential new hires need to stop getting hung up about sitting in the back of the baby Boeing.

I've been sitting there for four years with absolutely zero seniority; I don't really work that much, hardly ever on weekends, typically don't work on holidays, and usually hold whatever vacation I want other than Thanksgiving/Christmas. I have a horrible commute but I make life livable and I wouldn't trade working here to work anywhere else. Period. I don't mind sitting in the back seat at all for $103 an hour. Try that pay and schedule as a regional captain or almost all major/national/LCC carriers in the right seat at my seniority level.

Like a previous poster said, be more concerned about getting yourself squared away to even get interviewed, then passing the interview. Whatever FedEx wants for its qualifications it's going to get and then some. That is the current state of the pilot hiring market.

After the interview you need concern yourself with acclimating to the night routine. You actually might want to do that in the back as your brain and body might not be quite ready to handle flying an airplane at 3 AM!! It took several months to get used to hub turning and I was glad I was "just plumbing" rather than flying a missed approach after hitting minimums. Just be sure you don't screw up the fuel and know your "S/O stabilizers" in case something hits the fan. It is really an easy job once you learn the material.

FedEx is a great place to work: the pay, the schedule, the commuting options, generally a great group of pilots that make night flying livable, and yes, management that is really not out to get you. I have always been treated like an adult by FedEx flight management, which is something that I cannot say about my previous airline employers. And if you have a problem with your family or something similar, make a phone call and the duty officer or your ACP will do everything they can to help you out. There are quite a few stories floating around this place about the lengths the company has gone to help our guys and gals out in their time of need. I've had to make that phone call twice in my four years here and both times the guys on the other end of the phone were great. They told me to come back to work when I was ready and they meant it.

Its not all peaches 'n' cream, and I'm sure there will be a few naysayers out there, but you will like working here. Don't worry about the panel or how long you have to sit there. FedEx is just a better place to work.

+1

Same thing with me, 4 years, no seniority, no complaints.

Wow. Thanks for your insight Timeoff2fish! I already knew what a great place FedEx is being a former handler, but now you just put the icing on the cake! Can't wait to get there, even if it's the back seat. Just wish it's Jan. 15 already!

One man's look into the chipped, cracked and hazy crystal ball shows that 30 internals + Poolies + balance of first 200 hires go to panel and are seat-locked for a couple years. Receive passover as applicable for subsequent FDA / system bids and right seat hiring to 72 & 75. A few seniors continue to trickle to the panel. Stabilizes back seat for wind down of 72 fleet over next few years.

Yeah....you should probably just pass.

Baby Boeing?

They have been around for long time. Many of those drool stains on the table predate FEDEX.

Oh yes, don't forget to mention that is a real table, not a "tray table".

Glad for the promotion opportunities for all of you!

SP

Well, that's why I married into poverty - just to sustain me through the tough times.

Here's to having tough times though!

By "baby", they mean it's the smallest of the various Boeings we have, NO ONE is suggesting it's the newest.

I just heard a rumour we were getting F-18's out of Sydney!

With respect to the FE Written, do you think it is ok to take the written by the end of Jan, but apply on Jan 15 and indicate that you have a current FE written?