The talk is that UPS is going to purchase someone this year. This is what I'm hearing. The Airline has over 200 pilots that are now over 60 years old as FE's. Once a New Contract is signed, most if not all will quit. Second, there is close to 100 pilots retiring this year alone. Third, UPS has around 10 Firm aircraft deliveries this year. This does not include the 6 MD-11's and 2 747-400 announced last month. Also the New 747-400's will be on property early next year. Forth, the Menlo flying is coming this July. With 727 and DC-8's coming back from the desert.

And to top it off, UPS is hiring at a rate of 7 new hires a month so far this year. While FDX is Hiring 70 a month. The math is way, way out of whack. 300 retirements, a new more restrictive contract with regard to Scheduling. And Aircraft deliveries.

My guess is World.

Only hiring 7 new hires per month? You guys must be overstaffed. Our FDX training house is running at full speed. Met another new hire that had quit UPS, or maybe it was he that was in the pool.

I'm glad our management does one thing right, and that's hire and expand aggressively. We're all sitting really well right now with a contract looming and a hiring push whose end isn't in sight.

Back to your question, Nash. I think you all will end up buying nobody. At least not an airline with its pilots too. I remember Challenge Air and Menlo as recent examples.

BTW, can you all operate a new fleet type like the 747-400 at UPS without a new contract or side letter?

We may not buy anyone. This is just the talk. The facts remain, we are adding around 20 aircraft and will be "losing" around 300 pilots in the near future. 100 retirements plus 200 FE's waiting for a livable A plan. And UPS has hired 14 pilots this year. So something is amiss.

And UPS can add a fleet type at will. The only draw back for UPS is all IRO's will be Captians. This will change with a new contract.

The math definitely does not add up. Every 60+ engineer I have spoken with at Big Brown is chaffing at the bit for the new contract to get signed so they can have a sack race with retirement papers in hand and race each other out the door. In the end though, it will be a problem management will have to deal with. I envision a lot of management emergency flying in the time ahead. Hope all those stock options are worth it managers.


AI

We are also losing over 100 pilots per year in 2007 and 2008 due to Age 60.

Once the contract is signed and Open Time pays out at 125% or whatever the final agreed figure is, that will get sucked up in a hurry.

And right now the system is getting packages delivered, and the first -400F bid won't be out for another 9 months or so.... so what's UPS's hurry to hire? Just playing devil's advocate.

That said, I do think hiring will crank up quite a bit in the latter part of this year, but nothing approaching FedEx's rate.

[QUOTE=Nashmd11]The talk is that UPS is going to purchase someone this year. This is what I'm hearing/QUOTE]

The word around Gemini is that we already bought them

"Any thoughts on if a 2d year pilot will be able to pick up open time?"

It's not so much of question of in you can, but if you should. If you're asking if open time is generally available, I'd say yes.

Unfortunately, from the info I have gotten, Id say no more than 25% of the age 60 guys will retire. IMO, your info is wrong. I work in the school house and deal with these guys all the time, (downgrades and SVT) Most say they are going nowhere once the contract is signed...

I personally think its embarrassing that UPS is hiring the numbers that we are. I went by PR day before yesterday and officiall we have hired 292 pilots since hiring began in Oct 2004. What a joke. I asked PR about future numbers and as I suspected, they dont have a clue. (Not thier fault, that is how this place operates)

I sure hope we can one day get our **** together...

BBDC8

I'm talking about under the next contract. If open time will be paid at 125% I wonder if it will all go senior. Am I right to assume it is doled out in seniority order among those who volunteer? We would need a 55% pay raise for 2d year FO pay to match FedEx. Getting the unfair FO pay slope fixed is a huge order and probably below retirement, scope, and some other issues. 125% open time would be a big boost if it were available.

Just another good reason to vote "no" if the FO scales aren't fixed. You having to work on your days off to make the same as your counterpart is utter BS. Head up, ears open newguy(anyone hired after 1998). I've got mine, and I want you to have your's.

BrownBusDriver (Cpt. by the way)