MD11HOG

Since we're overmanned, is it still the top 100 F/O s in each plane or the 100 over 60 guys knocking down 250K per? Growing at a rate of a hundred ND's a year with 4+ weeks of vacation. Can we get an FCIF on that?

Jetjok

Guess my vitamins haven't kicked in yet, but could you please explain what it is that you're asking, and what it is that you'd want an FCIF to address.

JJ

MD11HOG

If you have to explain a joke, or rhetorical question, it's not funny.
We got an FCIF's about guys sitting in seats too long and now the sender of that letter may be part of the crowd who is doing just that at considerable financial detriment to the company. But, we don't hear a peep about it now. I was trying to point out some leadership hypocracy. I would like to see an FCIF saying we need guys to retire.

Jetjok

OK, thanks for the clarification. I didn't realize that you were talking about an FCIF that came out about 2 years ago. My bad. As for a FCIF talking about the company's need for guys to retire, I thought that our union and management were looking into that. If the company really felt that way, you'd think that they would be offering something other than a "see ya", to get guys to leave. Apparently they don't feel the need quite as much as you do.

JJ

skypine27

I recall the Jack Lewis rant well, though it was in email form, not FCIF. In fact, I'll gladly post it below for all to read and remember:

I sent out a diatribe last week to all Captains talking about authority, responsibility and accountability. It was pretty much me railing on our lousy accident record and how it's a direct reflection on our lack of leadership abilities. "Our" includes Line Pilots, Flex, LCA, SCA and Flight Management. Nobody is exempt. First and Second Officers are a big part of this.
>
> Let's talk about RFOs first. RFOs are a vital part of our operation. If you can only hold RFO, so be it. Look the part, do it right, be prepared. However, if you're senior and you make your living being an RFO, then you're a problem. RFOs should be our most junior F/Os because real pilots want to fly; thus, they should be the F/O on the trip. We do provide opportunity for F/Os to do both jobs, yet some always struggle to maintain currency. I know all about commuting, quality of life, RFO deadheads, two-earner households, pilots married to each other, etc. This job is a balance between personal and professional lives. Flying is what you signed up to do and flying is what you were hired to do. It doesn't matter if you are flying in the Reserves/Guard, commuting from another continent, or finishing up your Masters in Basket Weaving. Flying at FedEx is your primary occupation. Also, paying RFOs the same as F/Os doesn't work for me. The only way an RFO is worth his F/O pay is by being ready to be a good F/O. We have F/Os who don't get 15 landings a year. What are they ready for? If you like
cooking for a living, go to Johnson and Wales and change your profession. This is a flying outfit.

Then there's the real First Officers. Every Captain wants a good First Officer and we have plenty of them. Unfortunately, if you look at our 6 major mishaps caused by pilot-error, one F/O gave unbelievably bad advice to the Captain and four others had the F/O at the controls. That's 66% of the flying and 83% causal. Where were the good ones when they were needed?
>
> Certainly every one of these accidents was preventable by the Captain exercising good judgment and there is no attempt here to try to shift responsibility or accountability off of the Captain position. However, 5 of the 6 accidents were also preventable by the First Officer. We have many great First Officers, just like we have great Captains; yet we have 5 of 6 major mishaps that occurred because both of the crewmembers were out to lunch. We hire pilots with experience; however, more and more Captains are coming forward saying they are giving flying lessons to their First Officers. You are supposed to know how to fly when you "make it" to FedEx. What's up there? Attitude, preparation, ability? It's a major concern.
>
> Our jobs are literally on the line. How embarrassing to work for the best Company in the industry, riding a great earnings wave, getting an industry leading contract (I think), and having the worst accident record of all major carriers in the world. This isn't a Flight Management or ALPA issue. This is an us issue. It's time to step up to the plate.
>
> So where's that leave us? I've asked the Captains to put the heat on both this group and each other, to raise the bar, and to accept nothing less than perfect. Being a Captain at FedEx is a tremendous achievement but comes with huge responsibility and accountability. Flying people from point A to point B is a piece of cake. Flying freight is much more demanding.
>
> However, the real answer is individual. It takes everyone of us doing the best we can every time we come to work. All of you First Officers are Captains-in-waiting…..you need to look the part, be prepared, and emulate the guy in the left seat. He is the key to your long successful career at FedEx….and he needs good help.
>
> One last thought……if you could hold Memphis wide-body Captain for more than two years, haven't bid a Captain seat, and don't want to, you're part of the problem….. hang up your stripes. It's not a part-time job…we can't use part-time help.
>
> Jack Lewis
> System Chief Pilot

Hope not too many FOs actually listend to him. Much more practical advice can be found in this quote from an old aviation book, from an airline pilot who actually knew what he was talking about: "Stay senior on junior equipment."

I listen to that guy, not JL.

PS. Forward this rant to your buddys at Southwest and be amazed at their responses about how a FedEx management pilot addresses his supposedly valued employees.

MaydayMark

Whose? Who's?
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Whose

–pronoun
1. (the possessive case of who used as an adjective): Whose umbrella did I take? Whose is this one?
2. (the possessive case of which used as an adjective): a word whose meaning escapes me; an animal whose fur changes color.
3. the one or ones belonging to what person or persons: Whose painting won the third prize?
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Who's

1. contraction of who is: Who's there?
2. contraction of who has: Who's seen it?

990Convair

"Who" gives a crap about your English corrections. I am not here to practice spelling. I could care less if it's a who, whose, or any other variation. I prefer meat over potatoes, that's the point of the post man.

de727ups

"if you could hold Memphis wide-body Captain for more than two years, haven't bid a Captain seat, and don't want to, you're part of the problem….. hang up your stripes"

That's a rather arrogant thing to say, seems to me. I bypassed for something like 8 years for QOL. Nobody should gripe about others personal decisions...

skypine27

Thank you. Its nice to see someone else with some common sense. Sadly, our flight managers dont appear to have much.

de727ups

Well, if you're saying a management pilot put out an email like this, that's pretty sad. We had management put out something sort of like this a while back and the union jumped all over it. And that one didn't have anything nearly as silly as saying "senior F/O's are part of the problem".

Your union should be all over getting a statement that this guy didn't really mean what he said....