Diesel Hawg

Before someone gets on to me for my improper use of mutually exclusive I meant...

Happy with life and satisfied with the contract CAN be mutually exclusive.


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CLTPilot190

I worked with a newhire in the past couple of years who either came from FedEx or had offers from both FedEx and American and chose AA (can't remember which but really doesn't matter). His reasoning included things like commute and a preference for pax flying, but he brought up an interesting point; he thought better long term job security as he could see a point in his 35+ year career where cargo aircraft were flown single pilot.

Will it happen? Who knows, but interesting variable to throw into the question.

Marlin

I’ve flown w 2 new guys that guit fedex after 1+ years. Both said they were happy w the move , but was more for type of flying than bases . AA is a great gig , could be better , but usually start a trip with “we can ***** for 5 minutes ... then let’s have fun “... don’t let the culture argument play into your decision

Name User

I totally understand your feelings. A few years ago, I had a thought. "I'm a lifer". That was what we called the RJ Capts of course who couldn't move on. But it hit me hard. I didn't want this job to be my defining moment in life. I'm better than that and personally think I could better utilize my skills elsewhere. We spent our entire careers looking for that next job, or better company, or advancement. But then I realized...this is it. Not that it's bad here, but...this is all there is? It felt empty.

Use the income from this place and the free time to grow your other skills and investments. You are only stuck here if you spend the majority of your paycheck. Each month my wife and I throw a chunk of money into investments - we are buying our freedom. Freedom from Doug, from computers taking our jobs, from the worry about a medical issue taking my license, etc etc.

These are some of the best times not only in Aviation but in America as a whole. If you seriously cannot be happy now, you need to do some deep diving on what actually makes you happy. Get off Facebook and stop comparing yourself to peers at a Delta or elsewhere and start comparing yourself to yourself. How can you become a better, more fulfilled, person?

Name User

EASA, which is the European version of the FAA, expects autonomous commercial airline travel beginning in 2035. This isn't with small aircraft, this is with Airbus sized equipment. They expect single pilot sometime in 2025-2030. FWIW.

15 years is a long time, but it's not that long. And EASA is not the FAA. But I'd expect close coordination. Airbus is hiring a new head honcho charged with designing the next model aircraft after the A320 series, with specific focus on technology implementation.

I'm not sure where 91 operators (business aircraft) will fit in here. They may remain piloted to some extent. They have a different mission, with the pilot acting as planner/dispatcher, coordinator for things like rental cars and hotels, etc. so they may enjoy a longer career. Who knows.

Either way, I think no matter what, that guy with 35 years left will not make it to the end of his career employed as a airline pilot.

BobZ

plus.....climate experts say we are all gonna be dead in 11 years anyways.

91Flyer

Very good insight from all. Thank you for all of the replies. I really have no complaints at all about FedEx. Morale is great. The flying is easy. Yes, I do fly a lot of trips at night, but it is easy. I typically commute in and get to MEM around 11:30pm. I get a sleep room they provide us and take about a 2 hr nap. Get up, fly 1 leg usually under 2 hrs. Go to hotel. Sleep and fly back to MEM around 10pm. Rinse repeat for 2 more days then do a 1 legger to a 60ish hr layover. I block around 25-30 hrs a month. I don’t have an absolute necessity to do long haul. So that isn’t really a big deciding factor to me. I just wonder if living in base would make a great job even better. Indy would be a great option to living in base at FedEx but wife doesn’t like the harsh winters. She also has a LOT of family near CLT and DfW. I am definitely grateful for where I am career wise. My gut says stay put, but just trying to explore all ideas.

OKLATEX

I hope you figure out what works for you in the end.

I’m curious, what is your issue with the commute from Atlanta to Memphis. I’m pondering that commute myself.

I assume you are wanting to live in base and sit reserve?

I get our bases aren’t great; I’m a reluctant commuter. I’ve lived in base and commuted with other airlines, commuted my entire career with FedEx. I’ll offer this, like most things with FedEx, it gets better with seniority. I’ll be honest, my only regret really with FedEx is that we didn’t move to Memphis. Or at least the outlying areas, Fayette County, Oxford, MS, Jonesboro, AR. Even Nashville, TN. If you are looking for a better schedule to help the commute, might consider a down bid to the 757. Guys here get obsessed with being on a Widebody. There is a reason the top 30% in both seats of the 757 are camped out.

DFW is a great place. Lived there in the past and would have loved to have gotten hired by AA many years ago and moved back. But, I’ll be honest, DFW and ATL maybe be in the northern portion of their respective states, but North Texas is no North Georgia or North Carolina. Living in DFW with AA, great variety with the flying and a nice place to live, but don’t think that ATL and CLT are the same as DFW. To me DFW almost has more in common with Los Angeles than it does with ATL/CLT.

Good luck.

tnkrdrvr

I would say trust your gut and the math. When I first saw this thread pop up, I was reminded of our union president who started his airline career at American. He came to Brown while furloughed from American. The guys who went back to American, Delta, and United will retire with lower career earnings and a lesser retirement benefit. Money isn’t happiness, but time with your family should be. UPS and FedEx offer that in spades if you make the choice to maximize them, but if FedEx domiciles are truly unacceptable, bite the money bullet and choose family.

Name User

You have a great point. There are many other external factors that could make the job market shrink for pilots in the future as well.