MD11
 

I’ve read a few pieces of information, but I would be thankful if anyone can shed some light on how QOL, schedule and pay in SDF MD11 would be as a new hire with little kids and family for at least 2 years. Thanks!

You will get a varied response to this question I’m sure. But here is one opinion. The MD-11 is still one of the best places to bid out from poor schedules. You will never fly more than two legs in one duty period. Our domestic day time flying on the MD is pretty much the same as the A300 and 75/76 day flying. Two legs with a 2-4 hour sit in between followed by a 11-13 hour layover and repeats throughout the trip. The MD destinations are fewer than the A300 and 75/76. The MD does mostly EWR, DFW, ONT, PDX, PHX for layovers. There are more of course but you will find yourself in one of the above often. The biggest difference on the MD-11 versus other domestic fleets is the night flying. That’s where you’ll find the disparity. And that’s a good thing. Our night time hub turns are to places like RDU, ATL, MDT, PIT, MSP, TPA, MCO, and the furthest is usually MIA. The point is that you’re doing 1.5 hour flights or less. And you’re only doing two per night. If you’re coming in and out of the sort each night, it’s usually 1 leg into the sort which arrives around 11pm-12am followed by a 4-5 hour break and then 1 leg out of the sort. Both legs are usually under 1.5 hours long. Conversely, the 75/76 or A300 may do 2 legs into the sort followed by a shorter sit in the middle of the night (read: not much time to nap) followed by 2 legs out of the sort. There are many more different examples but bottom line is that the MD-11, in my opinion, still offers one of the better quality of life standards at UPS for domestic flying. We still have Honolulu flying but that goes pretty senior.

And your other option in the heavy class is to commute to anchorage

I largely agree with what has previously been said. I flew it for over six years and only recently moved over to the Bus. My biggest additional opinion, since you are clearly concerned about impact on family versus what’s the most fun for you, is that there really won’t be a lot of variation from your family’s perspective between the various domestic fleets. Your schedule will consist of some 5-7 day trips, some random morning or afternoon turns, and 2-4 day trips as a junior bidder. The toughest thing about being towards the bottom of the list is the inability to be in control of your awarded schedule. That said, if you are aggressive on the Trip Board you can shuffle your schedule around and increase the number of important dates you get off and minimize commutes.

As another poster noted, there is a vast difference between the domestic flying and 74 flying. That is mostly long haul international.

Thank you everyone for all the valuable information! Does the pay end up being that much different compared to 74 flying? What would an average pay be in MD vs 74?

Ive flown both but removed from them for a few years. Intl always paid a little more due to higher perdiem, intl override, schedule change premiums, etc.

I don’t know if you’ve looked at first year pay…but the difference won’t be much year 1

If you've got a family you like to see, it's not even a contest. The MD will keep you closer to home.

So 74 all the way!:D

Intl vs domestic reserve. You’ll get appx $1000 / mo perdiem flying intl that you won’t get sitting reserve domestic in sdf. That’s appx 25% more pay yr 1. I definitely noticed pay periods where I flew international vs domestic my first year.