Youngest captain at FedEx & UPS?
06-15-2009, 10:57 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: 777 FO
Posts: 931
Wise words. I rode a Pinnacle J/S the other day with two young guys - both very professional, polite, solid dudes. My point? They could do ALOT of other things. The F/O was on his third airline and told me he made 17K last year. They were also going to the hotel for a 8 hour turn from block to block, leaving about 7 hours total at the hotel, maybe time for 6 hours of sleep maximum. Less if you plan on eating dinner, breakfast, or showering. When I voiced my opinion that the rules sucked, the F/O casually said, "Well, that's just the business. As bad as it is, there are 50 guys lined up to take my crappy job if I don't want it." Sad state of affairs for the profession.
06-15-2009, 10:59 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 Captain
Posts: 1,982
I'm now looking at 33-37 realistically I know.I think Matt Gandy is the youngest. I think he was 25 when he started. He had been sitting reserve in Memphis as 727 Captain last I heard from him. He gave me a PC at Air Midwest on the B1900 and he was barely 23.
06-15-2009, 11:12 AM
#13
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
My goodness
It also is a fact that traditonally there has been only one major airline berth for every 7-10 applicants...........and that was in GOOD hiring times. With future contraction/stagnation, 7-8 out of 10 current regional pilots will NEVER make a major carrier. When it comes to these two freight carriers whose hiring is very limited even when they do hire, the odds are better of getting a call from Jennifer Aniston for a date or a knock at the door from Publishers Clearinghouse with a $1,000,000 check.
Many of these pilots still dream the dream, but for most it's too painful to consider the likely probability they'll never see it. For most, if they choose to stay in this "profession", they'll have to be content with retiring on a 70-90 seat RJ. Some will come to terms with that but others will become emotional basket cases around their 40th birthday. I assume in about 6-8 years there will be Youtube footage of late 30's regional captains (and F/O's !) sobbing like schoolgirls in various airline bathrooms or unexaplainably attacking garbage cans or Starbucks baristas.
There's a wave of mental health issues soon to come at the regionals that may thin their ranks as complete and total mental crackups begin to accelerate.
A shame it will be.
Many of these pilots still dream the dream, but for most it's too painful to consider the likely probability they'll never see it. For most, if they choose to stay in this "profession", they'll have to be content with retiring on a 70-90 seat RJ. Some will come to terms with that but others will become emotional basket cases around their 40th birthday. I assume in about 6-8 years there will be Youtube footage of late 30's regional captains (and F/O's !) sobbing like schoolgirls in various airline bathrooms or unexaplainably attacking garbage cans or Starbucks baristas.
There's a wave of mental health issues soon to come at the regionals that may thin their ranks as complete and total mental crackups begin to accelerate.
A shame it will be.
Most likely the guys who are in their lower 30s today will get passed up once hiring resumes by younger pilots. The industry just isn't any fair.
The profession only makes sense if you can make it to your career objective while you are still young enough to benefit from it.
Skyhigh
06-15-2009, 11:37 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: Leftof longitudinal
Posts: 1,899
I love this post. Eaglefly was able to capture the sense of desperation and despair that sets in once you begin to accept the fact that you are not going to make it.
Most likely the guys who are in their lower 30s today will get passed up once hiring resumes by younger pilots. The industry just isn't any fair.
The profession only makes sense if you can make it to your career objective while you are still young enough to benefit from it.
Skyhigh
Most likely the guys who are in their lower 30s today will get passed up once hiring resumes by younger pilots. The industry just isn't any fair.
The profession only makes sense if you can make it to your career objective while you are still young enough to benefit from it.
Skyhigh
Like I originally posted, OP could be 40 when hired and still have a 25 year career at FedEx or UPS, plenty of time to be a Capt. There you go, realism but optimistic. Freight Dog, Sorry I missed you on the list. WM in ANC 74 was the 40 year old. A few 41, and 42 y.o. Believe early 95 will be junior Capt after the shuffle.
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” Calvin Coolidge
06-15-2009, 12:05 PM
#15
Underboob King
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Guppy Commander
Posts: 4,412
Once the effects of the age 65 change have finished and the retirements begin then it will be a different industry. Most majors including fedex and ups have old pilot groups and once they start dropping off the key will be to get on in the early stages of the hiring waves. The numbers are there but the age 65 rule killed everything for 5 years (3 left)
06-15-2009, 12:33 PM
#17
"blue collar thug"!
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: A proponent of...
Posts: 1,614
Fact ... when I was hired at Purple in '95, time to WB Capt was about 10 years (I remember sitting as a DC-10 s/o with a 10 year Capt doing IOE hoping I would one day be a 10 year W/B Capt). Well ... on my 10 year anniversary, I was in MD-11 Capt class 
I suspect those days are gone now, maybe forever
Rumor mill ... I've heard one of our former LCA/ACP's (SM) was a 30 year old MD-11 Capt? I don't know that for a fact but he does look pretty young
I suspect those days are gone now, maybe forever
Rumor mill ... I've heard one of our former LCA/ACP's (SM) was a 30 year old MD-11 Capt? I don't know that for a fact but he does look pretty young
06-15-2009, 12:35 PM
#18
"blue collar thug"!
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: A proponent of...
Posts: 1,614
I love this post. Eaglefly was able to capture the sense of desperation and despair that sets in once you begin to accept the fact that you are not going to make it.
Most likely the guys who are in their lower 30s today will get passed up once hiring resumes by younger pilots. The industry just isn't any fair.
The profession only makes sense if you can make it to your career objective while you are still young enough to benefit from it.
Skyhigh
Most likely the guys who are in their lower 30s today will get passed up once hiring resumes by younger pilots. The industry just isn't any fair.
The profession only makes sense if you can make it to your career objective while you are still young enough to benefit from it.
Skyhigh
06-15-2009, 12:40 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Gear Monkey
Posts: 3,199
"You need to know where you come from, where you are and where you want to be....you need to have an ethusiasm for life, a dream, a goal, and you have to be willing to work for it....enjoy your life, spend each day with some laughter, some thought and get your emotions going...and don't give up...don't ever give up!"
Jimmy V
YouTube - Jimmy V on the ESPY Awards 1993
It's 10 mins long...but worth your time.
Jimmy V
YouTube - Jimmy V on the ESPY Awards 1993
It's 10 mins long...but worth your time.
Last edited by DLax85; 06-15-2009 at 12:52 PM.
06-15-2009, 01:10 PM
#20
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Good Attitude
You love it because it is cynical and 'glass broken' approach. The OP stands a fine chance of getting on at UPS/FedEx if they don't take your advice. Patience, persistence. I am average but persistent. All the OP has to do is let guys like you demoralize the competitors. I met lots of them when I was in the military and the 'commuters' before I got hired. Glad to meet them, one less applicant who self eliminated.
Like I originally posted, OP could be 40 when hired and still have a 25 year career at FedEx or UPS, plenty of time to be a Capt. There you go, realism but optimistic. Freight Dog, Sorry I missed you on the list. WM in ANC 74 was the 40 year old. A few 41, and 42 y.o. Believe early 95 will be junior Capt after the shuffle.
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” Calvin Coolidge
Like I originally posted, OP could be 40 when hired and still have a 25 year career at FedEx or UPS, plenty of time to be a Capt. There you go, realism but optimistic. Freight Dog, Sorry I missed you on the list. WM in ANC 74 was the 40 year old. A few 41, and 42 y.o. Believe early 95 will be junior Capt after the shuffle.
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race” Calvin Coolidge
The regionals are filled with 50 year old captains who held on too long and are now stuck.
There just is not enough room for everyone. The good guys do not always win. Eventually it is important to weigh the benefits of a goal against the risks.
Skyhigh
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