Junior ANC schedules
 

Hello everybody. I’m sure that’s has been covered 100 times (or more) but I had a few questions regarding the ANC crew base.

1. With all the movement in the 747 fleet is it most likely that a new hire around 35 years old would get ANC right out of school?

2. How would the schedule be for a new hire based in ANC who lives in the PHL area and would commute? How many commutes could I expect in a bid period.

3. How realistic is it to move your schedule around to block a lot of your trips together to cut down on the commuting?

4. How many days in a bid period can a new hire expect to be away from home? I know reserve is basically maxed at 14 days, but i also read that reserve goes pretty senior in ANC, so for a new hire line how many days can I expect to be away from home.

5. I’m 35 years old and currently a 91 guy flying a G550 for a major corporation, I average being away from home about 13 - 15 days a month, and approx 120 over nights a year. And my total compensation is around 225-230 yearly (not including retirement) so I’m curious if you guys think it’s worth making the jump or not?

Thanks for advance for the input. Fly safe.

DSF


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I can't speak too specifically about where you will be in the class ANC schedules, but from the folks that I've talked to in the recent past the junior new-hires are getting sent to ANC. You've been in the business long enough to know that living in domicile makes for an improved lifestyle, but you may have extenuating circumstances, AK is a big leap. I'd move to leave your current job if you are unhappy or feel that you won't be able to save enough money to retire from that company or if you think that their flight department is in jeopardy. You won't make a ton more as an F/O at UPS from what you've shared and you've got a 170K deficit to overcome from the first year's salary. You'll make more once you upgrade to CA, but that should be around the 10 year mark. Before anyone disputes this estimate, remember the furloughees were told to estimate an 8 year upgrade. On the surface, I don't know that you'd improve your situation significantly, but the devil is in the details. The pay scales are listed as well as the current retirement system. Run the numbers based on current percentage of the junior CA at UPS and other airlines as well as projected retirements. Finally, consider the culture of your new employer, wherever that may be, and see how that fits with your current and projected family situation. If I were in your situation and decided to leave my current employer, I'd look at the big 3 pax carriers. Good luck with your decision.

Well I didn’t, and still wouldn’t.

I punched from the left seat of a G550... and came to UPS in Jan. 2016... when I was 49. I couldn’t be more happy with the decision I made. I love flying here, and have ZERO regrets. PM me if you want to talk.


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Maybe you should talk to your peers that were furloughed unnecessarily, they all had your go lucky happy attitude prior to having the rug pulled out and left stranded in ANC. Just give it time you will be choking on your words and great attitude will be in the toilet in time young Skywalker!

Most of the “UPS vs FEDEX” discussions here on APC seem to compare both jobs equally. Some minor differences, but overall, both excellent companies to work for; however, the rift between company and pilots seems much more vitriolic at UPS. Is this an internet forum perception or reality? And how much does this conflict affect job satisfaction?

I know several guys who were furloughed... I have a lot in common with them. I was standing in the unemployment line in RDU along with about 300 of my Midway Airlines colleagues in Sept 2001. I went and drove a Tanker Truck at night to feed the family.

The big difference between my furlough and yours?? You had a job to go back too, we didn't.

So before you go all church lady on us "young sky walkers"... learn your audience pal. Some of us have been in this rodeo for 25 years or more, and actually WANT to fly for UPS.

Every company has it's 5%ers. Some are just more vocal on public forums than others, and it'll give that perception. UPS has a very solid pilot force, very good people. I haven't run into anyone as bitter in real life as some of these guys are on APC.

There is a significant difference in how pilots have historically been treated & regarded by management at UPS and FedEx, with non-union management pilots probably being the single biggest difference.

It is arguably those differences in treatment which caused the IPA to become as unified as it is.

The fact SDF airline management can do practically nothing without corporate (Atlanta) approval means things happen waaaaaaaaaaaaay slower than they need to...which obviously causes conflict (see also: subcontracting scope clause violation).

On the line, however, it really isn't worse than the typical griping that ANY pilot at ANY airline sees and participates in.

Nothing productive about this kind of post.

Good answer

Thanks for the perspective. This was my suspicion (hope), but it’s difficult to get a true feel of company culture until you’re on the inside. Both of you guys frequently share a great deal of info. Thank you!

UPS does operate EWR-ANC direct. That would make an easy commute to work for you. I’m not sure about traveling the other direction.

I don't want to drag this out too long, but there is a big difference between post 9-11 furloughs and UPS' furloughs. I had some friends at Midway and Independence as well as other airlines went away. UPS was making around a billion each quarter during the furlough, hired managers during the furlough and continued to sub-contract while their pilots were furloughed. I'm glad you are happy at UPS. It will make it a better place for all.

My primary caution is for the OP to leave a well paying job for what may or may not be a better paying job. To my knowledge FedEx, Southwest nor Jetblue have ever furloughed. There may be some value by going to an airline without a history of furloughs. I know that I said to go to the big 3, the trick there is to get above 20% for some protection. The big 3 will have a significant number of retirements over the next few years. Our industry is unique in the seniority system. Decisions to change employers are not to be taken lightly and the grass isn't always greener. I don't want to be overly negative, but know each airline's history and culture and make the best decision available. Good luck to all.

MBB

It won't be long before these new hire Kool Aid drinkers get screwed by brown and they won't know what hit them. All of the sudden the favors and waivers they have been giving the company are all for not.

As somebody once told me helping ups out is like ****ing in your brown pants, you feel all warm inside but nobody else notices or cares.

Agreed. Been Furloughed twice before starting at brown and its not a right of passage, its bad luck. My point was you can come here with the best intentions in the world like 550 and then your disillusioned by the way this place operates and fosters good will from its employee groups. One year into our contract and they are already crapping all over CBA, knowing how short they are and how much help they need to get through the summer and peak. I bet, our young guns that are so happy to be here will bail them out right Mr.550?

Do you feel everyone should be as miserable as you? I'm failing to see what you're trying to accomplish by trying to drag a guy down. As far bailing them out, I see senior guys all over the system working open time trips. Putting that on the "young guns" is disingenuous.

Good questions. ..the answers probably depend on a person’s attitude in general.

I truly enjoy my trips and the crews I fly with.
Most line pilots distrust our Atlanta know-it-all managers and yes, sometimes we can be pretty vocal about it. However, this resentment has helped us in staying unified and supportive of each other.

My job satisfaction is not affected by this ipa/management divide at all because I don’t deal with upper level managers, or even ACPs.
I fly my trips, enjoy sightseeing, partying or just hanging out with my brothers and sisters and then I go home and forget about my work for a few weeks at a time.
We have a fdx guy in our crashpad. He always says that ups has only one and a very strong union while fdx has at least three.. we always compare our contracts, benefits, rules, etc.. Each side has its pros and cons. Both are great companies and no matter where one ends up, ups or fdx are two great choices to have.
Also, remember that there are some ~2,800 pilots at Brown but only a minuscule fraction of them are represented on this and on other message boards. Food for thought..

[QUOTE=G550Guy;2573989]

The big difference between my furlough and yours?? You had a job to go back too, we didn't.

Not so fast. We were working for a company making BILLIONS, and took care of their employees for their entire career. You were working for a PAX scumbag where you had no intention of making a career, if you did, your a dumba$$.