ToBeOrNotToBe

Its a whole different type of flying, I assure you. You will understand someday.

Freighter Captain

Look, UPS can be as picky as they want to be. I think it makes sense what they're doing with the amount of new hires that will be going up to Alaska. You have brand new captains up here that (some) haven't ever flown the MD-11 or internationally, and you're going to pair him up with a RJ captain? Don't think so. These standards won't be in place forever, everyone just needs to be patient.

viktorbravo

Yes I may understand someday. You should not assume so much about people that post here whom you dont know. Granted, it is a whole different type of flying, its alot easier. I have alot more time listening to my iPod over an NA random route or R-220 and L-888 than I ever had anywhere else.

I do agree with one thing, UPS has the luxury of now of hiring whomever they like. But as an HR person do you really want to restrict your applicants to only military heavy drivers or civilian pilots that have flown oceanic routes? I know alot of less than stellar pilots that have done that type of flying. I think they are missing out on some good people with those restrictions.

Hey, you can either competently fly an aircraft or not. A sharp and comptent pilot can do it and do it well under all conditions, commuter, transcon, oceanic, international. A common baseline of experience and an interview should be able to tell that. An airplane is an airplane, it doesnt matter if its landing in CRK, CAN, or DFW.

So with your line of thinking a person that has never flown an oceanic route should not even be interviewed. Would you have been interviewed under those guidelines? Would half of UPS's current pilots that fly crossings have been interviewed under those guidlines?

So should a UPS pilot that has been at the company for over X number of years and has never flown an oceanic route be denied a position on the 744, MD or 767 because they have never done it before? There are many of them. There have been plenty of folks that have gone to those fleets/domiciles that have never done a crossing before and their safety record is still admirable. I fail to see your point.

viktorbravo

LOL! Hypocrite? YGTBSM! Where did you pull that from? whats wrong, you have an axe to grind with regional pilots? Couldnt hack it at Skywest, ASA, Eagle, et al?

For the record, I was never a "regional pilot", I was a "commuter pilot."

L'il J.Seinfeld

Cry me a river, Mav!! How's it feel to be treated like a second class pilot due to the type of airplane you fly? If you don't want the "privilege" of 33k your first year then why are you complaining? I'm sure Delta values your fighter time.

What is wrong with UPS going after guys with heavy, international, oceanic experience? As a tanker pilot, I've dragged you guys around the world literally. Your international/oceanic experience is mainly limited to cycling across the boom. Flying the exact same flight plan from Al Udeid to Iraq is not really intl experience. It's really no different than if it was being done over Texas. How many approaches to mins have you done in Asia, Europe or anywhere? How many times have you gone from meters to feet and QFH/QFE etc. on the same approach? It's not the hardest thing in the world and I am sure you could do it but the fact remains you lack that experience. It sucked being in the USAF with it being run by fighter pilots that knew little about Strat Air or Air Refueling. It's ironic you are having the same type of complaint now.

At UPS the MD-11 and 747-400s at ANC will be going very junior. There will likely be 3d or 4th year captains up there soon. Some of these guys, like me, will be coming off of the 727/DC-8 domestic reserve and will have only a few hundred hours of flight time at UPS. It could be disasterous if you took a new capt paired with a newhire who came from fighters and sent them around the world together. UPS is just trying to mitigate risk by hiring the best qualified folks for what the current needs are.

UPS is targeting the Atlas, Gemini, USAF heavy type experience and I don't see anything wrong with it. You chose fighters not heavies so why complain about it now?

viktorbravo

Sorry Jerry, but thats exactly my point. Whats the big deal about have "crossing experience?"

L'il J.Seinfeld

What exactly is it that you think you'd be doing as a 747-400 FO at UPS? The things you listed are most definitely part of the airmanship needed for this job.

I think it tells a lot about you that you think you are so superior with your 3700 hours. If your only experience is in fighters, you have an awful lot to learn about aviation. SC-7 made an outstanding point. Evidently you are not interested.

I think filtering the applicant pool based on flying background is a far superior way of hiring than the way the other big cargo carrier does it. The UPS system leaves a lot to be desired. But at least it's based on something more fair than whether or not you have friends who work here.

Your being a fighter pilot gives you a lot of opportunities in the current job market. You get a lot of breaks that civilians don't get and I am amazed you can throw stones at UPS.

Bud Tuggli

dont throw stones....

1jetpilot

Can anyone give me an accurate picture of UPS training? I mean, how cookie cutter is it? I am leaving a 10 yr career with a legacy bankrupt airline and don't want to walk into another boobie trap.

C17MooseDriver

I think Lil J. Senfeld's argument shows why UPS is targeting folks with transoceanic and international flying experience.

At this point, UPS can pick and choose and narrow down the applicant pool to target those they want. And they want guys with transoceanic/international experience.

BTW, I disagree with your statement that flying across the pond is as easy as it gets.