sargeanb

Hello all, My short story:

I'm a 14-year regional captain. I was a sim instructor for a few months before Covid brought that to a halt. I am simply burnt out on flying pax, for alot of reasons. I live less than 2 hrs drive from SDF. I'm just curious what if any actions would be advantageous to get an interview at UPS? Is there any sort of internal rec program, or meet and greets? I loaded semis for UPS in college as well, I'm not sure if that would help.

A couple more questions while I'm at it: What are the chances of getting intially awarded SDF? I'm sure it depends on the fleet, but how diverse are schedules for newbies? If I wanted 3 or 4 day mostly daytime reserve/trips would that be an option?

I honestly don't know all that much about cargo flying, but I'd like to start gathering information. Thanks all.

FTv3

Your high time from a decade and a half at the regionals and sim IP time will help. You’ll be assigned the 75/76 or airbus as they have been giving the MD&74 to guys with wide body experience. You’d probably be able to get SDF right off the bat but because you live close to SDF, probably not due to UPS logic.

Schedules: we don’t do regional-like schedules here. Generally speaking you’ll owe UPS 14/28 days broken down into 7 on, 7 off, 14-14, or some other derivative. The closest you’ll get is turns (locals, out and backs) which basically run 4 on, 3 off for 3/4weeks - week # 4 is completely off but these vary widely, don’t go junior and there aren’t that many of them. Search for UPS schedules (& night flying) under my previous usernames (FTFF or FTv2)-I’ve done a few highly detailed write ups on exactly what you can expect for various fleets and domiciles.

Job fairs and keeping your app updated are just about all you can do to score an interview. We do have an internal Rec thing but no clear consensus on whether or not having 1 (or more) helps land an interview. No meet and greet besides job fairs.

Last, we aren’t really cargo. Think more express logistics, supply chains, healthcare networks, just in time inventory, etc. Lots of info on these threads over the past 6-7 years if you spend the time digging.

Also, research UPS. It’s not an airline - it’s a trucking company, at least in mentality. “Best job (airline contract) ever, working for the worst people,” is a true statement. This is a place where you show up, do your job then go home and forget about the place until you go back. No pat on the back, no sense of “team,” - It’s an atm: work and you get paid, a lot! FedEx is supposedly more palatable but basically same gig in different colored pants.

Feel free to ask any questions you have. We have a good group on here now giving straight up info.

Good luck.

doubles

On the ngpa “up in the air” with UPS, the lead of pilot hiring said that they pick completely at random from active apps on who to evaluate for an interview. She even went on to say that letters of rec do not help you with that random picking. (They might help you later, just not with who they pick out of the hat to look at).

She also said their current system does not alert them if you update your application. That doesn’t necessarily mean to not keep up with it, just that it doesn’t let them know you did.

AirborneUPSMovr

I’m not saying that’s false... but look at the recent classes going back through COVID. For example there are classes with 20 military dudes and 4 atlas... I’m throwing the numbers out but making the point that I’m not so sure it’s as ‘random’ as they claim.

jetlaggy

He said random as to who they pick to evaluate for an interview...def not random as to who they pick to actually come in for an interview.

Air Guitar

What would be competitive qualifications pre-covid compared to currently? The same?