Jetjok

What a great idea! I think I'll do that too, and wait for the new Age 70 law to kick in. Seriously, the fact that he had been with FedEx for 7 years shouldn't enter into it, because as we all know, it's all about the junior guy.

JJ

Huck

I've actually been feeling a little better of late. Haven't been burning ants with a magnifying lens or kicking the dog for a little while now.

On CNBC last week I heard a phrase which is fast becoming my favorite: "The leper with the most fingers." Hard to argue that we're doing worse than anyone else right now....

Much like an Airbus with both engines full of geese, let's stop and look at what we still have.

Uncle Fred has signed up for 30 big ol' jets. Game-changers, they are. Will change the face of international freight.

The clusterf$%^ that was the 757 conversion program has finally caught fire, with something like 17 airframes due this year. Yeah, if they park one smoker for one lighter twin (I call it "The Baron") we'll lose some more jobs, but remember that Barons carry more freight - which is more freight for the system, including the other aircraft. And the "one-for-one" scenario might not happen. DC-10's were our shock absorbers. I saw it when I flew them. They were the rapid-response fleet to schedule changes. Maybe the smokers will fill in that role.

DHL is gone in the US - but so is any threat of a start-up or other foreign competitor, at least for awhile.

The hordes of foreign student-pilots have been sent back to the rice paddies, at least until their economy picks up.

We got rid of Norman "Open Skies" Mineta and may actually get a hint of support from the executive branch now.

Pay cuts suck, but at least we've got a CEO that leads by example.

The Carribean deal sucks for the Tradewinds guys, but may save some jobs for us.

I've been cruising open time for a week, hoping to swap out a layover to the great white north, and I've seen an appreciable amount of military charter activity.

So... to sum up... we're the leper with the most fingers right now. And at least we ain't standing on the doorsill of a ditched A320, with the Hudson River spilling into our socks.....

MD11Fr8Dog

Uh, the guy I'm thinking about was here for a significantly longer time than 7 yrs when he turned 60, like maybe he could have walked away with a full retirement! At least he his horse didn't conveniently get sceered by a deer! I'm sure AerisArmis could correct me if I'm wrong!

Jetjok

Yeah, I'm sure you're right, but I was taking some poetic license when I said he was only here for 7 years, because I still think that those who have not reached a full retirement years-of-service are doing nothing at all wrong by staying, regardless of the impact on more junior crewmembers. For those with their 25 years, well GTFO.

JJ

Jetjok

Huck, everyone knows it's the Hudson Bay..... just ask the commentators at CNN. No wonder they can't find that other missing engine, they're looking in the wrong body of water.

JJ

Huck

An estuary, technically....

FlyByNyte

years ago...I had a letter from Ch@@ver to do outside flying for hire approved. It isn't that tough...

DinoJet727

I had the same letter. Unfortunately I've been told that our latest contract put the kibosh on them issuing these letters anymore. We've had several guys forced to sell their side businesses that involved flying.

Huck

I had a current letter until about a year ago - got a fedex from the CP, telling me to cease and desist.

The theory was that the company would have no method of tracking your flight times to ensure compliance with FAR's. Scheduling could do it by entering the times into VIPS but I guess that's out of the question.

727memphis

JJ, what about the over 60 guys who elected to stay in the military came to FedEx at fifty or so and are getting an eighty thousand dollar a year retirement? They might not have 25, but they do have a full retirement.