FEDEX and what not...

bunk22

bunk22

Well-Known Member
As some know, I'm a military pilot just about to enter last year in the Navy, 20 years :) Looking at some airlines and of course we have reserve pilots of all sorts, Southwest, Delta, United, Cathay, FEDEX, etc. I tell you, the FEDEX pilots are very happy and have a nice set-up and get paid well. Top Captains got paid $700K...though that's rare, most are in the $300-400K a year. The other happy pilots seem to be Southwest (except maybe the junior pilots who got put behind the AirTrans types). My buddy made over $200k his 4th or 5th year. A good buddy is a Delta 767/757 FO international route, going on 5th year, money isn't that great but he loves his job. I won't go into the United, American and Continental guys as I can't repeat what they say lol I just might apply to some of these airlines soon I think.

I know there are other good gigs, one of our guys just retired and went to fly BAe Hawks for BAe in Saudi...ok, not great but the money is $200k a year or so, that's with benefits. Time for a real job soon o_O
 
All I can seriously recommend, is to apply at Fed Ex. They are currently IMO, the best carrier out there in regards to pay, longevity, growth, security and bennies. You will have a leg up there with your background. If you know guys flying for them, get some internal recommendations and see if you can get one of them to sponsor you. Their hiring practices/procedures changed a bit last year but don't let that throw you off.
 
A Life Aloft said:
All I can seriously recommend, is to apply at Fed Ex. They are currently IMO, the best carrier out there in regards to pay, longevity, growth, security and bennies.
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I certainly will, every FEDEX pilot I know says the same. Granted, the 4 or 5 I know are not a majority but it seems like a great organization. Now, if only I could get hired!
 
bunk22 said:
I certainly will, every FEDEX pilot I know says the same. Granted, the 4 or 5 I know are not a majority but it seems like a great organization. Now, if only I could get hired!
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Let me tell you, my son flies for them. I begged him and guided him from day one to never go to a pax carrier in this country and why. Thankfully, he listened. There are a crap load of former military pilots there and it is a great company. If you listen to a few of the whiners on APC, you would think they are talking about flying for Air India or something. It's b.s. You read what the smart and happy guys there have to say and you get the real picture. Some guys will whine about winning the lotto. The whiners will start entire threads about how the phone system went down or how they can't learn to use the new bid system. lmao Or we should get more now for wide bodies and not have to wait til a few months it's hashed out when they are already making more than any pax carrier pilot in this country. Cripes. There is a lot of movement at FedEx and chances for promotions and upgrades better than any pax carrier. They continue to open up up more bases also. They have a great safety record as well. Set your goal and go to work on it. It may take you a while, but it's well worth it. You certainly have the discipline and the determination to have gotten as far as you have and that will see you through. Stay positive.
 
Some people will always complain. I am a member at APC but I'm out of my league there, only post in the military section. I'm going to try for if I do nothing, nothing happens.
 
At the very least, apply to any airline you have the slightest interest in. This business changes so fast that today's "place to be" is to tomorow's bankruptcy. The opposite is also very true. My guess is that you would be happy at any of the carriers you listed in your original post, although I tend to agree with your Continental/United assessment. That being said, I'd love to see their situation improve and it is not completely out of the realm of possible outcomes. Good luck!
 
I can give you less than no advice on this one, but best of luck! My landlord in Merids flew purple and orange MD11's (or L1011's....whatever it is they fly) full time post TA-4J IP sunset tour, and he was loving it. Former USMC Hornet guy, and you would never guess it in a million years......full surfer dude haircut, scrappy facial hair, Obama stickers on his Outback wagon, etc. Great dude, and he was making more than I can imagine flying one trip a month. With all the free time, he found plenty of opportunities to come over with a couple bottles of bourbon and chalk talk BFM with us (former ACM phase head). That being said, he always said, and I will always remember, that he realized it never gets better than flying pointy nosed mil jets, and he'd trade his paycheck, and everything else to have it all back....
 
If you listen to a few of the whiners on APC, you would think they are talking about flying for Air India or something.[/quote]
Good to know they exist at all levels of the industry. I've seen a few of them before, every job they get is "terrible operation, so inefficient, pay sucks, possibly even dangerous, etc etc". Then they get a new job and spend the first few weeks talking about how bad the last place was and how the new gig is all sunshine and rainbows and daisies, then it's on to the same old cycle. And so they move from place to place, bitching and moaning over $6 beers at the local bar, never happy and alienating everyone.
 
Bunk, you've been around airline forums long enough to answer that question yourself, man. That's the type of question that one of your shipmates might ask, and followed by "what's an ATP?"
 
I'd like to know how a Fedex guy is making 700K? The sounds about double what I'd consider a feasible max. But Fedex has a great business model and is more aggressive than UPS. Fedex is an airline with trucks and UPS is a trucking company with airplanes. Both are money makers and about as secure an airline job as you'll find. UPS does have 100 on furlough at the moment. Fedex has been hiring some in small numbers. The cargo cutout doesn't help our collective QOL but perhaps some gains can be made in the upcoming contracts. Fedex just signed a short agreement and UPS is in negations which will take it least a couple of years, I'd bet. Best thing you could do is stay good buddies with the guys you know at Fedex. An inside recommendation or three is what you need to get an interview there.
 
DE727UPS said:
I'd like to know how a Fedex guy is making 700K? The sounds about double what I'd consider a feasible max. But Fedex has a great business model and is more aggressive than UPS. Fedex is an airline with trucks and UPS is a trucking company with airplanes. Both are money makers and about as secure an airline job as you'll find. UPS does have 100 on furlough at the moment. Fedex has been hiring some in small numbers. The cargo cutout doesn't help our collective QOL but perhaps some gains can be made in the upcoming contracts. Fedex just signed a short agreement and UPS is in negations which will take it least a couple of years, I'd bet. Best thing you could do is stay good buddies with the guys you know at Fedex. An inside recommendation or three is what you need to get an interview there.
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Can you give your take on FedEx vs UPS? If you were in Bunk's shoes, would you take the first of the two that came along, or would you hold out for one or the other? What are some general differences and strengths of each?
 
I don't know where the 700k figure came either. I am not knocking SWA here, plenty of happy pilots there, but it is a different type of flying obviously and a different atmosphere/culture. More growth at FedEx, however and they are a very healthy company. (stock $95.25 today and SWA at $9.75) It really depends on what you are seeking and what the best fit for you and your family (if you have one) is. You have a larger variety of flights and obviously international flights at FedEx. I believe FedEx has more vacation time as well and they have a month of sick time every year. Some guys can by proper bidding have 3 months off a year. There are MD-11 guys there making over 300k a year and having plenty of time off and enjoying their life. I am also not aware of FedEx ever furloughing any pilots or cutting pilots' wages.

Pay at FedEx exceeds even more after a number years and at full retirements, the retirement package is larger than at SWA. FedEx has 8, 4-week bid months with min days off of 13 and 4, 5-week bid months with min days of 16.

FedEx:

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/cargo/fedex.html

SWA:

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/major-national-lcc/southwest.html
 
The FedEx number is not inaccurate, but only applied to a fairly small cadre of the initial 777 LCA's and instructors, who were able to do that. The math works. They worked a lot, of course, but there was a window where people could do that. I don't think it will happen this year, more back to the range you posted. While you are right if you take the basic numbers, when you add in the value of the vacation package, and the premium you can get paid for if you choose to "sell back" your vacation, the numbers rapidly go up. Add that to 150% and 200% pay in a number of scenarios, instructor overrides, etc., and the math works out.
 
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