FollowMe

Because the fatalities are less dead when a human is at the controls of the truck? The sooner we are on automated highways the better, far too many lives are lost because someone stopped paying attention for a split second, or was impaired by a substance. Just because YOU are a safe driver doesn’t mean everyone around you is, every time you take to the road you are one distracted driver away from never seeing your family again.

Larry in TN

No, it isn't.

Less than 10% of the ORD 737 flying for October has a red-eye leg. LAX and SFO has a lot more. East coast hubs, less. It's been over two years since I flew a red-eye that I didn't trade into.

I spent 15 years flying night freight. Even when I do fly a red-eye at UAL, it is so much easier. One catered leg then off to the hotel.

Night freight isn't bad when you're 30 because it's relatively easy to sleep all day. By the time you're 45 you're waking up early afternoon and unable to get back to sleep.

El Guapo

63% of SFO 737 pairings in Oct contain redeyes.

Larry in TN

Yeah, I won't be bidding SFO anytime soon! LOL I've been EWR, and am now ORD, and avoiding red-eyes hasn't been very difficult.

Do you remember the overall fleet red-eye (ANF) percentage was from the SSC updates?

Freddriver5

I'll agree with the second part of your comment. No truer words could be spoken. However, I don't think the technology is there yet (for driving specifically...much further off for the 3 axis congested enviornment where we work). It will be the switchover that will be most problematic requiring machines to react to humans and vice versa.

Glenntilton

In the late 90's we had guys and gals leaving FedEx, UPS and SW for United.

I am sure they are kicking themselves in the ass now.

Fedex and UPS still have nice pensions. I would love to fly out of non passenger terminals, and have no FAs and PAX on board.

sherpster

You cant ever say you are leaving FedEx. FedEx and SWA pilots are so damn sensitive about their companies its not even funny. Tell either one of them that YOU didnt choose them and they act like some crazed ex girlfriend.

FedEx doesnt fly at night and isnt based in Memphis.

AwkwardTurtle

Let me help you...

In need of advice

And another ...

SWA vs United

And finally, it’s all day flying at United you guys never fly at night.

Pot. Kettle. Black.

Photoflier

Sort of. In SFO we have a bunch of trips that start at 1700 and are two leg segments. IE: SFO-SEA, sit for 2 hours, SEA-EWR. They get away with it because it lands at 0457, technically not in an all-nighter for a West coast crew. Then you day sleep, go back to West coast before flying ANOTHER all-nighter in day 3.

And United’s catering makes it worse, not better

BAe3100FO

Just a copy and paste from my post from earlier - for those that are still considering a leap, in either direction:

BAe3100FO , Today 08:48 PM

I had the blessing to be hired at both FDX and UAL. Ended up in the pool at UAL for a bit and FDX called and offered an interview and subsequently a class date 27 days later... UAL had no time frame for when they’d ever call for a class so, I did the right thing in my head... took the class at FDX.

Honestly, gave it a real attempt to love FDX, but man those multi-leg night hub turns into Memphis only to sit for 3+ hours and then go back out to LAX (pick a place) at 2:45am and then try to sleep at 7:30am and show at 9pm later that day... GODBLESS!!! That flying isn’t fun. ( I hear all the time of guys/gals claiming of never flying at night - yet how does FDX have 80%ish of their departures from Memphis at 2am -4am every night except Monday happen???
It’s not just the night flying - it’s more the sit during ones circadian low that makes it so tough for the body and then try to drink enough coffee and free popcorn at the AOC to make you safe to operate and complete the mission.

And then there’s the fact that a big portion of the MD-11 fleet doesn’t have real crew rest facilities....yup, international flight 9+ hours ... you get to sleep on the galley floor on a lounge chair pad about 2” thick and then comes the clear air turbulence - enjoy trying to get your crew rest bro!

Oh and don’t forget to make sure to make the captains special fish dinner just right ( because you have to cook it just right in the galley oven that you have - wait for it - ZERO TRAINING ON - how to cook said such food) but it’s ok, they’ll just eat your CORKY’S dinner if you mess it up and let you have their dinner instead. But honestly it wasn’t even that that did it for me... I just took that as typical new guy hazing and laughed and said “thank you sir, may I have another “

But what really got to me, is when I got to the point that my body was so jacked up that I’d bring a “do no disturb” sign from a hotel and put it outside the guest room door when I got home from a week of Reserve or a crappy week of night hub turns and tell my wife and kids DO NOT WAKE
ME UNLESS THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE!!! And damn near mean it!

~ 18+ hours later I’d be ok, but I slept thru my daughters recital or gymnastics meet. And the feelings of guilt never would make up for the fact that in just a few months I’d be making “HUGE MONEY “ on 2nd year pay... at what point does quality of life trump that big pay check that all us pilots soo desperately work for???

WELL for me it took a look around and to run into folks I knew and used to work with, that were happy to go to work and fly vs those that looked tired, grumpy and overall just not healthy and I knew the choice I had to make.

Money/pensions can’t buy quality of life during the most important years of your life!

- I enjoy flying again and especially the sunrise!!!

For each person, there is your own choice - no one can tell you what’s right for you... just know I’ve lived it and it wasn’t for me.

One day we’ll all look back and know we made the right decision - but for now make one that is for family and health vs money and first-class dead heads (are you with your family during that time?)