FedEx Caravan Qualifications

[jtsastre]

I recently met a pilot who flies the caravan for FedEx Express out of KSBP and I was curious if anyone knew what the qualifications are for a position as a pilot for the caravan for FedEx. I looked on the FedEx site and they have some qualifications, but I wasn’t sure for which aircraft, if not all, the qualifications were. I appreciate the info.

Jtsastre

 

[Malko]

I recently met a pilot who flies the caravan for FedEx Express out of KSBP and I was curious if anyone knew what the qualifications are for a position as a pilot for the caravan for FedEx. I looked on the FedEx site and they have some qualifications, but I wasn’t sure for which aircraft, if not all, the qualifications were. I appreciate the info.

Jtsastre

I believe the FedEx caravans are all subcontractors. You probably won't find any req's on the FedEx website.

 

[pilot602]

He was probably a feeder. I.E. works for Joe Schmo's company but they paint their aircraft in FedEx colors because they are a contractor.

The basic minimums would haveto be 135 IFR. 1200, Couple hundred x-country etc. Company minims could not be lower than that but are probably higher than those.

 

[wheelsup]

He was probably a feeder. I.E. works for Joe Schmo's company but they paint their aircraft in FedEx colors because they are a contractor.

The basic minimums would haveto be 135 IFR. 1200, Couple hundred x-country etc. Company minims could not be lower than that but are probably higher than those.

FedEx imposes a 2000 TT limit on their caravan feeders, along with the 135 mins.

For the select companies that operate under 121 and have F/O's, the requirements are less.

2000 TT, 1000 PIC, 500 crosscountry, and 100 night, 75 hours IFR at least 50 hours actual IFR

jtsastre, there was a post on this in the cargo forum not too long ago, do a search it should bring it up.

Some FedEx feeders off the top of my head, there are more though:

-Empire Airlines
-Moutain Air Cargo/AirT/CSA
-Wiggins-Air

~wheelsup

 

[CRJDriver]

Another feeder is Corporate Air. Here is the web site http://www.corporateair.net. Check out the Jobs page for pilot openings.

 

[jtsastre]

Thanks for the replies. After posting the question, I realized that there must be some sub-companies that run operations for the Caravans under the FedEx name, just didn't know which ones. Thanks for the list Wheelsup & UND Flyer.

I'll do a search for previous posts on this subject. Thanks again!

Jtsastre

 

[Philip]

the only one I've known anyone to apply at was corporate air out of billings MT, they operate some vans out into ND/MN or so. I believe their hiring mins are 2000TT and 500ME, it's quite high anyway.

 

[Minnesota_Flyer]

So, what's the benefit of flying around in a 'van if you've already got more than enough time (it would seem) to take the next step? IOW, why would anybody with that kind of time work there?

Just curious.

MF

 

[jtsastre]

I asked myself the same question.

 

[SteveC]

So, what's the benefit of flying around in a 'van if you've already got more than enough time (it would seem) to take the next step? IOW, why would anybody with that kind of time work there?

Just curious.

MF

Maybe better pay and QOL when compared to a regional? I think that a lot of those positions pay in the $40K to $45K range (could be mistaken), and no (or few) overnights, no weekends.

 

[derg]

So, what's the benefit of flying around in a 'van if you've already got more than enough time (it would seem) to take the next step? IOW, why would anybody with that kind of time work there?

Just curious.

MF

A couple of points:

1. Passenger airline flying isn't for everyone.

2. Even if one has enough time for 'the next step', a bird in hand is better than two in the bush.

 

[Philip]

So, what's the benefit of flying around in a 'van if you've already got more than enough time (it would seem) to take the next step? IOW, why would anybody with that kind of time work there?

Just curious.

MF

well, the guy I know anyway wants to live where he's at and the pay is about what he's making now, I think it starts around 30 or 35.

 

[wheelsup]

Maybe better pay and QOL when compared to a regional? I think that a lot of those positions pay in the $40K to $45K range (could be mistaken), and no (or few) overnights, no weekends.

The van's pay starts around $32,500 or so and tops out around $55k after 15 years, give or take depending on the comany.

The empire guys out west would fly in around 7:30AM or so and chill all day (don't know where, I'm guessing a hotel?) until 6:00PM or so and then fly back. While you don't do much actual 'work' per say, you're on duty for quite a while.

If you think about how the FedEx system works, the feeder aircraft need to be at the hub at night to get loaded, and need to be at the outstations all day waiting for the outstations to load the packages to come back to the hub at night.

~wheelsup

 

[Philip]

The van's pay starts around $32,500 or so and tops out around $55k after 15 years, give or take depending on the comany.

The empire guys out west would fly in around 7:30AM or so and chill all day (don't know where, I'm guessing a hotel?) until 6:00PM or so and then fly back. While you don't do much actual 'work' per say, you're on duty for quite a while.

If you think about how the FedEx system works, the feeder aircraft need to be at the hub at night to get loaded, and need to be at the outstations all day waiting for the outstations to load the packages to come back to the hub at night.

~wheelsup

long duty days aside, it sounds like a nice gig and it beats making 18k at a regional IMO. I'm not sure how valuble single engine turbine time is though.

 

[derg]

long duty days aside, it sounds like a nice gig and it beats making 18k at a regional IMO. I'm not sure how valuble single engine turbine time is though.

Ask any F-16 pilot!

 

[mtsu_av8er]

So, what's the benefit of flying around in a 'van if you've already got more than enough time (it would seem) to take the next step? IOW, why would anybody with that kind of time work there?

People ask me why I'm still flight instructing with my time.

My response is typically, "Because I make more than you do, I can afford to go buy a drink whenever I want to and my job allows me to keep the fridge stocked with good beef and cold Paulaner Hefe-Weizen!"

I have a good friend that just got on with Regions, and he was amazed that I haven't sent in a resume!

"Dude, you can be an airline pilot!!!"

As I sleep in the car . . .

 

[wheelsup]

long duty days aside, it sounds like a nice gig and it beats making 18k at a regional IMO. I'm not sure how valuble single engine turbine time is though.

Counting per diem (I'm not sure if the FedEx Van job includes it or not) I will make a shade under $27k my first year here at a regional, and a shade over $37k my second year. While not steller, the 4 on 3 off beats a 5 on 2 off in my book, but other people may have different priorities.

I think it would be pretty cool at first to atleast make enough to cover your monthly bills, but the fact that it doesn't move much over the course of your career there would be a bit tough to bear, IMO. I made *slightly* (within $300/month) less than the starting pay for the FexEx feeder guys as a CFI at my last job, and it was tough making ends meet with my girlfriend and I sharing rent. I would also think going to the same airports, in the weather, without any A/C would get old after awhile too!

If you had a second job at the outstation this would be an awesome gig, IMO. Commute to work in the company's aircraft, and get paid to work at another job as well. How cool would that be? Hmm...maybe I should look more heavily at this... .

~wheelsup

 

[Philip]

depends somewhat where you live I suppose, if you're living in grand forks ND and making 35k you can live pretty high on the hog
in denver it's like the poverty level.

 

[Texasspilot]

Its fun flying and not everybody is after an airline job. Someguys might be doing it cause they cant afford to go to an airline some because they really enjoy the flying..who knows. I have more than enough time to go to a regional and just left a 91 jet corporate job for a 135 piston freight job.

A thing I've been pondering lately is that at 23 i'm still young and theres still allot of fun flying left to do before I get forced into some sort of career type job that you have to stay at. As the industry stands right now there isn't much reason to leave a decent regional for the majors which, in my opinion, was the only reason to rush to an RJ. That or get out of instructing.

That being said..I still wanna head up to Alaska for a year. I just met a guy who ferries new single engine aircraft across the atlantic to europe and africa and I'm hopin to talk him into lettin me do that with him. I figure in the end its all about the stories you can tell your grandkids anyhow.