mrzog2138

I hope our Union was simply naive. I think everyone in the Union leadership realizes they messed up (will they admit it, probably not). For current FedEx pilots that are going to be here for 15-20 years (which is well over half the pilot force), this LOA is going to haunt us for a long time. Not much more growth in the domestic market, if any. However China, India, and Eastern Europe, that is another story. So any pilot who wants to take advantage of the companies growth over the next few decades it is going to be at the mercy of this LOA. And if they have the attitude that "well I live in MEM and want to fly domestic, so it does not effect me" (which I actually heard on a crew bus). IT DOES. If the LOA was semi-adequate and the FDAs was filled with average seniority, then there is a good chance you move up in your position.

magic rat

Hmm...you may be right gunter....never looked at it that way.

Gunter

Let me offer a different point of view.

No e-mail will come. Or it will be weak. "Please bid the FDA or newhires will have to go and cause us a few problems." It won't really be a problem, just a little harder for some folks. It will be harder on hiring to ensure the right folks go. It will be harder on IOE trainers. It will be harder for the CA's who will have to deal with a newbie.

The company is doing whatever it takes to maximize profit in the EU and Asia markets. We could spend a lot more on the pilot labor going over and ensure a senior cadre will open the domiciles, but we aren't.

This saga will end slowly as many forget their disappointment and it becomes a part of FedEx history. At least this is the plan.

Bohica

Not so far, and very unlikely to do so in the future.

mrzog2138

Well, according to the Union leadership the LOA eliminates this as an option. Does not matter if we fill the slots or not, they are still FDAs and must be manned by FedEx pilots. I would assume the LOA is valid whether or not the FDAs are opened, just as it is valid if they decide in the future to open an FDA elsewhere. My hope is that the company realizes manning the FDAs with 2.5 year senior Capts (I know that many think that there are people here from day one that can be a widebody Capt anywhere, and there are. But I think the company would rather have it more senior.) and newhires is not in their best interest. They cancel the bid, and revisit the LOA. If that happens, I take back all the bad mouthing (albeit mostly under my breath and too my wife) I made about the MEC, BC, and DW.

Bohica

Why would you take that back, as you would have been just proven correct?

FLMD11CAPT

My post about putting 2.5 yr Pilots as WB Capts in Asia was not meant to denigrate any who fall into that category; But to highlight how doing so would be a total reversal of policy thats been in place for the last several years. It was instituted (right or wrong) as a perceived fix to our spate of accidents, to drive the Mad Dog and Int'l Bus as senior as possible and encouraged by the insurers, lawyers and bean counters. Now, to save a few up front dollars they seem to be abandoning that course. It will be interesting to see how it fares and who cries foul outside of the crew force.

Bohica

Wonder if any of those concerns were in the Ender's Report.

Laughing_Jakal

You'll have to ask the people that created the report....wasn't that the "Warren Commission"?

md11phlyer

You're absolutely right! No better cats to learn the ropes from than you and the Captains of the Far North Fying Club (ANC). If I do go to HKG, you're welcome in my 400 sq ft shanty anytime but, please, bring your own chair.

FLMD11, I got your point the first time and I totally agree. I've always thought that it was assinine for the company to make such a big deal about newbies going to the right seat of the Maddog. Is it truly better to sit sideways for a year or two and let the skills get rusty, just to learn the 'FedEx system?' Talk to anyone who has flown with a -600 series guy in ANC, 99% are above and beyond the curve and they never engineered here! Whoa, they might not bring cookies to a jumpseat!

If a lowly civilian, non-autopilot turboprop flyin' punk like me can do it, anybody can!