Mountain Air Cargo updates?
07-19-2024, 01:52 PM
#131
Freight Trash
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: ATR 42/72
Posts: 71
Sure, the schedules seem “sick” if you’re a based pilot. Floaters are treated like absolute garbage. Seniority means literally nothing at MAC. No union, so they make up the rules as they go. A based pilot in say, MEM, has more say in which run they get than a floater that’s been at MAC for decades.
The pay is awful, it can’t compete with what regionals are offering these days. Additionally, the company is stuck in the 1980s with respect to technology. None of the ATRs have ACARS. You have to send a stack of paperwork back to MAC HQ at the end of each week. You have to take pictures of fuel slips and email them. Hilarious.
I’m honestly surprised they can still attract qualified candidates. The only thing they still have is the purple runway program, but FedEx isn’t exactly THE place to be anymore. It’s basically a Ponzi scheme at this point.
I don’t have anything against MAC, the people there were great, but you have to be honest about what they are.
07-25-2024, 01:28 PM
#132
New Hire
Joined APC: Jul 2024
Posts: 2
How about somebody with 9 years at MAC, who left for a legacy.
Sure, the schedules seem “sick” if you’re a based pilot. Floaters are treated like absolute garbage. Seniority means literally nothing at MAC. No union, so they make up the rules as they go. A based pilot in say, MEM, has more say in which run they get than a floater that’s been at MAC for decades.
The pay is awful, it can’t compete with what regionals are offering these days. Additionally, the company is stuck in the 1980s with respect to technology. None of the ATRs have ACARS. You have to send a stack of paperwork back to MAC HQ at the end of each week. You have to take pictures of fuel slips and email them. Hilarious.
I’m honestly surprised they can still attract qualified candidates. The only thing they still have is the purple runway program, but FedEx isn’t exactly THE place to be anymore. It’s basically a Ponzi scheme at this point.
I don’t have anything against MAC, the people there were great, but you have to be honest about what they are.
Sure, the schedules seem “sick” if you’re a based pilot. Floaters are treated like absolute garbage. Seniority means literally nothing at MAC. No union, so they make up the rules as they go. A based pilot in say, MEM, has more say in which run they get than a floater that’s been at MAC for decades.
The pay is awful, it can’t compete with what regionals are offering these days. Additionally, the company is stuck in the 1980s with respect to technology. None of the ATRs have ACARS. You have to send a stack of paperwork back to MAC HQ at the end of each week. You have to take pictures of fuel slips and email them. Hilarious.
I’m honestly surprised they can still attract qualified candidates. The only thing they still have is the purple runway program, but FedEx isn’t exactly THE place to be anymore. It’s basically a Ponzi scheme at this point.
I don’t have anything against MAC, the people there were great, but you have to be honest about what they are.
08-01-2024, 05:44 AM
#133
Freight Dog
Joined APC: Jul 2023
Position: PIC
Posts: 19
They promise big thing and undeliver. They (AirT,CSA, MAC) never furloughed in 40+ years, yet I was let go due to base closure. Then, I was given an interview with no intent to hire, per inside source of MAC. To add fuel to that, 6 guys below me was never let go and I wasn't offer a displacement base, so seniority means ******* at this company. Mind you, I had two letter of rec from the sister company, one of which is CP. This place plays heavy politics, I've seen it with my own eyes.
The pay is trash, QOL is trash unless you are in base, they'll try and offer a weekend remain pay for $500 so they don't have to buy a plane ticket for you to go home. Purple runway program candidates are being asked to defer another year due to Fedex not hiring. They are not hiring any more ATR FO for a VERY long time.
I second with you on that, sending receipts by camera, mailing in release and W&B and expense deadline by Saturday midnight when you're stuck with airline IROP, total hostile enviroment. What's more annoying is you can't cancel a flight, you can only take weather hold, they don't want that to reflect their record of reliability.
If you want 121 time, this isn't the place, you're averaging 350 hours a year here and 3 months in initial. Ride it out and wait for regionals or NJ to pick you up, you'll get more hours there and better pay and QOL.
The pay is trash, QOL is trash unless you are in base, they'll try and offer a weekend remain pay for $500 so they don't have to buy a plane ticket for you to go home. Purple runway program candidates are being asked to defer another year due to Fedex not hiring. They are not hiring any more ATR FO for a VERY long time.
I second with you on that, sending receipts by camera, mailing in release and W&B and expense deadline by Saturday midnight when you're stuck with airline IROP, total hostile enviroment. What's more annoying is you can't cancel a flight, you can only take weather hold, they don't want that to reflect their record of reliability.
If you want 121 time, this isn't the place, you're averaging 350 hours a year here and 3 months in initial. Ride it out and wait for regionals or NJ to pick you up, you'll get more hours there and better pay and QOL.
08-01-2024, 12:00 PM
#134
On Reserve
Joined APC: May 2019
Posts: 14
They promise big thing and undeliver. They (AirT,CSA, MAC) never furloughed in 40+ years, yet I was let go due to base closure. Then, I was given an interview with no intent to hire, per inside source of MAC. To add fuel to that, 6 guys below me was never let go and I wasn't offer a displacement base, so seniority means ******* at this company. Mind you, I had two letter of rec from the sister company, one of which is CP. This place plays heavy politics, I've seen it with my own eyes.
The pay is trash, QOL is trash unless you are in base, they'll try and offer a weekend remain pay for $500 so they don't have to buy a plane ticket for you to go home. Purple runway program candidates are being asked to defer another year due to Fedex not hiring. They are not hiring any more ATR FO for a VERY long time.
I second with you on that, sending receipts by camera, mailing in release and W&B and expense deadline by Saturday midnight when you're stuck with airline IROP, total hostile enviroment. What's more annoying is you can't cancel a flight, you can only take weather hold, they don't want that to reflect their record of reliability.
If you want 121 time, this isn't the place, you're averaging 350 hours a year here and 3 months in initial. Ride it out and wait for regionals or NJ to pick you up, you'll get more hours there and better pay and QOL.
The pay is trash, QOL is trash unless you are in base, they'll try and offer a weekend remain pay for $500 so they don't have to buy a plane ticket for you to go home. Purple runway program candidates are being asked to defer another year due to Fedex not hiring. They are not hiring any more ATR FO for a VERY long time.
I second with you on that, sending receipts by camera, mailing in release and W&B and expense deadline by Saturday midnight when you're stuck with airline IROP, total hostile enviroment. What's more annoying is you can't cancel a flight, you can only take weather hold, they don't want that to reflect their record of reliability.
If you want 121 time, this isn't the place, you're averaging 350 hours a year here and 3 months in initial. Ride it out and wait for regionals or NJ to pick you up, you'll get more hours there and better pay and QOL.
Overall, flying at MAC really depends on if you're based or a floater and which base. MEM has the shortest duty days but its all back of the clock flying (showtime ~1am). Upgrade will take ~2 yrs in MEM. Puerto Rico is faster, but they work 12 hour days, flying 4 days, standby 1 day every week. All leaving late morning and returning around 8pm. Other bases usually have shorter runs where there's usually a sit of a few hours. Seniority matters in base, so yes a based pilot will always get their preference over a floater, no matter how long the floater's been with the company. Floaters float to wherever they're needed. If you're a floater and are complaining about seniority, maybe you should think about moving to base or a new company. The beauty is that you know before you start day 1 if you'll be a floater or a based pilot. HOWEVER, if they close your base (Fedex makes that decision, not MAC) then you become a floater or you can move or quit.
08-01-2024, 01:17 PM
#135
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2011
Posts: 301
I have been here since before the purple runway. MAC has it's charm but it's not for everyone. I was never in a rush to build time, but if you are serious about advancing your career quickly there is no reason to come to MAC. There are almost never any base openings because the base pilots ain't going anywhere. It's the best QOL in the game if you are based. Not so much as a floater. Non-union so they can make up or change rules depending on who is in charge. Politics is real here. I predict it's a sinking ship anyway. At least slowly it is. Aging ATR fleet,FedEx looking to cut cost and consolidate. I think the ATR flying will shrink and be limited to the carribbean and the 408's will eventually take over most of the domestic routes once they are approved for ADG.
MAC will become eventually just a 135 company.
MAC will become eventually just a 135 company.
08-01-2024, 03:53 PM
#136
Freight Dog
Joined APC: Jul 2023
Position: PIC
Posts: 19
How were you let go due to base closure then interviewed with no intent to hire? Were you on the 208 and interviewed for the ATR? From your post, it sounds like maybe there's a reason you weren't offered a position and let go. Also- what is this Purple Runway deferment? I had not heard that at all. As a matter of fact, FDX took two pilots last fall even though they weren't hiring. I won't argue with the taking pics of documents - that is definitely old school. As to the hostile environment? I don't know what your talking about. I've only ever been offered remain over pay ($500) if it was going to be an issue getting home for my 1 in 7 days off. Even then, they asked - didn't force me.
Overall, flying at MAC really depends on if you're based or a floater and which base. MEM has the shortest duty days but its all back of the clock flying (showtime ~1am). Upgrade will take ~2 yrs in MEM. Puerto Rico is faster, but they work 12 hour days, flying 4 days, standby 1 day every week. All leaving late morning and returning around 8pm. Other bases usually have shorter runs where there's usually a sit of a few hours. Seniority matters in base, so yes a based pilot will always get their preference over a floater, no matter how long the floater's been with the company. Floaters float to wherever they're needed. If you're a floater and are complaining about seniority, maybe you should think about moving to base or a new company. The beauty is that you know before you start day 1 if you'll be a floater or a based pilot. HOWEVER, if they close your base (Fedex makes that decision, not MAC) then you become a floater or you can move or quit.
Overall, flying at MAC really depends on if you're based or a floater and which base. MEM has the shortest duty days but its all back of the clock flying (showtime ~1am). Upgrade will take ~2 yrs in MEM. Puerto Rico is faster, but they work 12 hour days, flying 4 days, standby 1 day every week. All leaving late morning and returning around 8pm. Other bases usually have shorter runs where there's usually a sit of a few hours. Seniority matters in base, so yes a based pilot will always get their preference over a floater, no matter how long the floater's been with the company. Floaters float to wherever they're needed. If you're a floater and are complaining about seniority, maybe you should think about moving to base or a new company. The beauty is that you know before you start day 1 if you'll be a floater or a based pilot. HOWEVER, if they close your base (Fedex makes that decision, not MAC) then you become a floater or you can move or quit.
With respect to Purple runway, two pilots told me they were asked to wait as they were qualified to flow. I was a floater and was never offer a floater at a different based, period. There were many floaters hired after me wasn't let go. When they told me my base was close which I was floating at, made no sense since they have two other floaters at another city with no routes out of, futher travel than me.
I had asked multiple times to interview for the ATR and was given the cold shoulder since I haven't been there long enough, which I understand. But then when they furloughed me, then they say they want to interview me for ATR and 408 position. I asked for the reason on why I was not given the opportunity, cricket.
08-03-2024, 03:02 AM
#140
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2020
Position: Up and running.
Posts: 99
Are you a pilot with previous experience from a union represented carrier looking to get back in, or a new pilot looking to gain exp and move up to the bigs?
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