path to UPS
 

Im a new poster on here. I'm going to be entering flight school (PPL) with aspirations of eventually flying for UPS. Whats the best/fastest way to get to UPS? I've read through the UPS Fight Path options, but I dont qualify for path 1. For path 2, I've been watching job postings at Ameriflight, but it looks like you cant even get an FO job at Ameriflight with less than 1500TT. Not to mention there don't seem to be any FO jobs available. So how can I get to UPS? Any advice would be extremely appreciated.

By the time you get your ATP and finish your degree the answer to your question might very well be different than today's answer. Just enjoy and focus on this portion.

UPS has a wide variety of pilots with varying backgrounds. There’s multiple avenues of approach in arriving at UPS. MANY of the pilots here have military flying experience, and many others have come here from flying commuters, legacies, or cargo feeders like Ameriflight. My recommendation right now would be to simply focus on attaining your ratings and 4-year degree. The experience you gain and people you meet in doing so will help shape your decision on getting here. Take your time on gaining valuable experience and take on leadership roles where available. The fastest way isn’t necessarily the best way.

IMHO, advice above is dated. First, the 4 year degree isn’t a sticking point anymore so put that on the back burner. Go to a 141 school and get your ratings done ASAP. Then, flight instruct, buy your own plane and fly around, whatever, just build your flight time fast. Get on with a regional as soon as you can because it’s good money and jet 121 time. From there you are perched to go in a lot of different directions career-wise.

UPS specific: For the last 9 yrs, UPS has hired a few regional guys, a few corporate guys and a small number of transfers from other legacies and LCCs. However, the vast majority of civilian hires have come from wide body international gigs like Emirates and Atlas. Atlas alone is probably like 20-30 percent of new hires in the last 5 yrs. So if UPS is truly your destination airline you’ll want to give that type of flying serious consideration.

The other thing UPS prefers is higher time candidates. Back in 2014-16 it was common for guys to have 8K+ hrs. I’m not sure but I believe the current average is around 5K hours.

At some point in all that I would start working on a 4 yr (or 2 yr) degree in something I was interested in (non aviation) and also find some leadership positions/volunteer time because this hiring frenzy could flip on turn of a dime.

Good luck.

This is the last place you want to come to. Build your time and go somewhere else.

Definitely not the LAST place on anyone’s list. Agree that it may not be the first choice for the majority, at the current moment in time.

Copied from my reply to a similar post in the POOLIES thread:

UPS is still a solid option for those whose wants and needs can be met with a gig here. It’s a good career that pays well even if it’s not the fastest upgrade or employer of the year. No pressing need to upgrade with our flat rate for fleet types and higher FO pay rates. Also, Delta has hired a lot of young aviators over the last few years. UPS, almost the opposite. That will play a big factor in seniority progression comparisons. Our health benefits are miles ahead of theirs and all the legacies for that matter. That can be a huge player for some people. I’d wait to see what the economy does over the next year or two and what our next contract brings before writing this place off.

The night flying and constant circadian shifts here do suck. Get senior, conflict bid and maximize OCV***, fly schedules giving you max time off **** and life will be good.

***OCV is vacation utilization options that can create a lot of time off for just a week or two of vacation time used.

**** We have skeds that can give you more time at home. Eg. Week on-off trips with CMLs at both ends which you can play the game to basically “work 5 on, 9 off” if your seniority allows.

The last place? Your bitterness is reaching new levels.

quit being a cry baby

thank you for the super helpful advice. I'm actually a psychologist, and I own 2 successful businesses that fully support me already. But I also want another job that pays well and affords a good amount of time off. QOL etc.

Lol. Like I mentioned above... Im already a psychologist. I think I could make a diagnosis for this guy here... but I'll defer to the FAA

Yes, he would much rather go to WGA than here.

Stagnation, no new net airplanes, punishing circadian flips, very choppy schedules, a lovely union-labor relationship, etc. Oh, but we make $200/hr 2nd year and have a pension!! Our schedules are so bad nowadays that even senior people can’t hide anywhere. The only thing saving them is our vacation section, not as useful for the junior folks with very little vacation.

I'm pretty junior, and I've got six weeks off coming up. I'm not a cheerleader, and in retrospect it probably would have been a better move to go to Delta (given the opportunity). That said, the *last* place you'd want to be? That seems way overboard. It's still a tier 1 job by any reasonable metric.

Here's my advice for the quickest way:
1. Flight Instruct (especially CFII) 1000 hours
2. Part 135 Turbine Captain (Ameriflight, Alpine Air, etc.) 1000 hours minimum
3. Wide Body International
4. Keep applying, make UPS pilot friends, and hope for the best

Do not wish your time by and enjoy every step of the way

Also do not turn down other job offers like Delta or United because you have tunnel vision for UPS, those are great jobs with great benefits. You can always go to UPS later.

Good luck on your goal!

100% concur with above. This is almost identical to the advice I’m giving my kids. The only addition being that I’m really emphasizing the value of having a good college degree both for options it gives and the opportunity to learn how to think for themselves. Unfortunately, developing the latter seems to be a low priority at some educational institutions nowadays.

To the OP: you have big choices to make, but enjoy the ride along the way. Some of my best memories are of events and friends from some of the most difficult points of my career. Don’t put off marriage or kids because the timing isn’t “right”. It never will be. Simply have open and frank discussions of what implications different choices may have. Life’s an adventure novel, don’t be in a rush to skip to the last page.

Path to UPS? Easy, avoid UPS. Go somewhere else where management is not watching every single move you make, like a hawk.

Helpful, as always… 🙄

Please stop being that guy…

If you are afraid to be watched then maybe you are doing something wrong…watch me closely 🤣

Help make UPS Great Again…by leaving.

If the stagnation is going to be as bad he predicts, he’d likely upgrade at Delta well before upgrading here. No reason to not move on to those greener pastures. He won’t though, and we’ll all have to continue hearing about it.

You guys bite too easy 😬

At least you can entertain yourself…

Obviously you as well as you love to engage 😉.