FedEx to United
#161
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Position: B777 CA
Posts: 149
#162
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Position: B777 CA
Posts: 149
The Colgan "accident" had a lot more to do with incompetence than it did fatigue. If well rested, the accident would have likely just occurred at some other place on some other day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khFbqsVgr6I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khFbqsVgr6I
#163
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Position: B777 CA
Posts: 149
Pay during training is probably average. I wouldn't base my career choice on pay during training. Nor, what the training foot print is. No one knows for sure which airplane you'll get. No one knows weather you're doing early or late simulators, so schedule is also unknown. Everyone is junior the first few years. So it won't be a senior 787 Captain's bid. Expect junior trash trips.
#164
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2021
Posts: 63
Eh I’m sure some junior pilots make moves to get out of commuting. It’s not crazy for a New hire FedEx guy that lives in SFO to leave for UA. DL just lost the guy from the bachelor to UA a couple weeks ago.
#165
Banned
Joined APC: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,838
#166
Banned
Joined APC: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,838
Am I weird? My most normal trip:
Day 1, get up 7am, get kids to school, do stuff, leave house 5 PM for my commute, get to base 10pm, 11pm check in, fly red-eye to FLL, get to hotel 7am.
Day 2 and 3 same thing, report around 11pm, fly to Central America and back, in the hotel 7am.
Day 4 report 8pm, fly back to base, commute on red-eye home, get in at 6am, have a beer, 7am get the kids to school, 9am take a nap till 3 pm, kids are home.
I do that every week, no problem with fatigue, 50 year old....
Day 1, get up 7am, get kids to school, do stuff, leave house 5 PM for my commute, get to base 10pm, 11pm check in, fly red-eye to FLL, get to hotel 7am.
Day 2 and 3 same thing, report around 11pm, fly to Central America and back, in the hotel 7am.
Day 4 report 8pm, fly back to base, commute on red-eye home, get in at 6am, have a beer, 7am get the kids to school, 9am take a nap till 3 pm, kids are home.
I do that every week, no problem with fatigue, 50 year old....
First, you wouldn’t do that every week. You would know that if you actually researched a FDX schedule. Second, with any seniority you wouldn’t do those trips at all. Keep thinking that though if it helps you sleep at night. Cheerios
#167
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2010
Posts: 246
And just think…For reference, I can hold 320/737 Capt at several bases here. And will be a fairly senior 75/76 FO (767 is a wide body, no?) once I’m activated in the next month or two.
All this, without having to do the middle of the night hub turns with that dreaded 3-4 hour sit between the hours of 10pm - 2am. Only to have to go back out just as one hits their circadian low.
The 757 at FDX is the mule of the fleet over there, almost exclusively night hub turns and a lot are multi-leg. There’s a reason guys bid off that airframe ASAP. (at least that was my experience from guys in my newhire class and while browsing thru the bid pack)
But as others have said, some are able to manage and make it work, I wanted more from my career than “I make it work and find a way to suffer through my flying schedule” because -and let’s be honest here, night hub turns are brutal.
We do red-eyes here but I mostly do them at the end of a 4-day trip (makes commute very easy) and almost always with a 30+ hour layover before doing them. A simple all-nighter is cake vs having to sit for 3+ hours before having to start up and do it all over again. Any pilot on here can attest to the fatigue that one can get after having a sit for 3-4 hours during their normal work schedule, and for most of us that’s during daylight hours.
But I’m happy that you’re happy, If reposting 3 year old comments on here make you happy, then knock yourself out. I wouldn’t change a thing in my aviation career and I’m truly very blessed.
#168
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,099
FedEx to United
Zero resentment or negativity. I respond to questions with my personal experience during my time their.
And just think…For reference, I can hold 320/737 Capt at several bases here. And will be a fairly senior 75/76 FO (767 is a wide body, no?) once I’m activated in the next month or two.
All this, without having to do the middle of the night hub turns with that dreaded 3-4 hour sit between the hours of 10pm - 2am. Only to have to go back out just as one hits their circadian low.
The 757 at FDX is the mule of the fleet over there, almost exclusively night hub turns and a lot are multi-leg. There’s a reason guys bid off that airframe ASAP. (at least that was my experience from guys in my newhire class and while browsing thru the bid pack)
But as others have said, some are able to manage and make it work, I wanted more from my career than “I make it work and find a way to suffer through my flying schedule” because -and let’s be honest here, night hub turns are brutal.
We do red-eyes here but I mostly do them at the end of a 4-day trip (makes commute very easy) and almost always with a 30+ hour layover before doing them. A simple all-nighter is cake vs having to sit for 3+ hours before having to start up and do it all over again. Any pilot on here can attest to the fatigue that one can get after having a sit for 3-4 hours during their normal work schedule, and for most of us that’s during daylight hours.
But I’m happy that you’re happy, If reposting 3 year old comments on here make you happy, then knock yourself out. I wouldn’t change a thing in my aviation career and I’m truly very blessed.
And just think…For reference, I can hold 320/737 Capt at several bases here. And will be a fairly senior 75/76 FO (767 is a wide body, no?) once I’m activated in the next month or two.
All this, without having to do the middle of the night hub turns with that dreaded 3-4 hour sit between the hours of 10pm - 2am. Only to have to go back out just as one hits their circadian low.
The 757 at FDX is the mule of the fleet over there, almost exclusively night hub turns and a lot are multi-leg. There’s a reason guys bid off that airframe ASAP. (at least that was my experience from guys in my newhire class and while browsing thru the bid pack)
But as others have said, some are able to manage and make it work, I wanted more from my career than “I make it work and find a way to suffer through my flying schedule” because -and let’s be honest here, night hub turns are brutal.
We do red-eyes here but I mostly do them at the end of a 4-day trip (makes commute very easy) and almost always with a 30+ hour layover before doing them. A simple all-nighter is cake vs having to sit for 3+ hours before having to start up and do it all over again. Any pilot on here can attest to the fatigue that one can get after having a sit for 3-4 hours during their normal work schedule, and for most of us that’s during daylight hours.
But I’m happy that you’re happy, If reposting 3 year old comments on here make you happy, then knock yourself out. I wouldn’t change a thing in my aviation career and I’m truly very blessed.
While definitely not the best culture, you make it sound like it is a total nightmare. It has gotten much better through the years, not Southwest happy happy better, but better nonetheless as old school managers have retired. One thing I have found about UPS vs Fedex… at UPS you know the knife is coming straight at you, and you are prepared (as can be)… at Fedex, you are being pat on the back for a nice job, stroking your ego, while the knife is coming as well, just more subtle. There is a reason the Fedex CBA passes with just over 50% of the vote while UPS passed with 95%. The IPA membership has to be strong to deal with UPS. Nothing gets handed for free, even little things like blankets on long haul flights sometimes is a fight. But like any job, you show up, do it to the best of your ability, and go home without any issues.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it sound so bad. But having to fight for blankets sounds really bad from the outside.
#169
Don't think you were reading this correctly. I don't sleep at night....
#170
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2021
Posts: 30
Reviving this for some advice.
I have a CJO at both. I'm 30, so my seniority will be great at either in the long run. I currently live in a UA domicile, and I'd probably never leave this domicile. I wouldn't move to MEM, but if i find the right partner one day, i'd definitely consider CGN and HKG.
No idea how taxing 35 years of night flying at FedEx would be. That's really my biggest concern. It looks like United is going to be a very fast upgrade soon, and wide bodies will go to junior FO's if that's really a consideration. All seats of all planes at both airlines are trending downward consistently. Historically, it seems like a no brainer for FedEx, but times are unprecedented at United. If 50% of the pilots are cut by 2030 for some reason, i'd still be 50% there. I like to think either option is going to provide a great income for a family at some point in my life. The number one thing i care about is quality time off and pay. I'm hoping to have a happy family at some point. I won't be one to chase the dough. If i'm doing my math right, i'll probably retire top 100 at FX and top couple hundred at UA.
What's the thoughts on living in base at United vs. commuting at FedEx?
I have a CJO at both. I'm 30, so my seniority will be great at either in the long run. I currently live in a UA domicile, and I'd probably never leave this domicile. I wouldn't move to MEM, but if i find the right partner one day, i'd definitely consider CGN and HKG.
No idea how taxing 35 years of night flying at FedEx would be. That's really my biggest concern. It looks like United is going to be a very fast upgrade soon, and wide bodies will go to junior FO's if that's really a consideration. All seats of all planes at both airlines are trending downward consistently. Historically, it seems like a no brainer for FedEx, but times are unprecedented at United. If 50% of the pilots are cut by 2030 for some reason, i'd still be 50% there. I like to think either option is going to provide a great income for a family at some point in my life. The number one thing i care about is quality time off and pay. I'm hoping to have a happy family at some point. I won't be one to chase the dough. If i'm doing my math right, i'll probably retire top 100 at FX and top couple hundred at UA.
What's the thoughts on living in base at United vs. commuting at FedEx?
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