captain_drew

That very well could've been me.

I was OAK based and even when I wasn't . .I flew through there a lot, since I was a SAN commuter for 26 years.

. . . and for the snide jerks who ask if I am aware that 'the times they are a changin". . I would ask the rhetorical question: so, that is a good thing?

Frankly . . . I was fortunate to live, work and fly through the Golden Age of Aviation. . and it is all downhill from there. The industry is in the $hitter. .and Fred and his fellow CEOs are reaching for the flush handle.

Some of the best flying I ever did was 4-motor (DC-6/7 type) with a 6-7 man crew. Also flew 2-engine ops across the pond (C-9), but the Navy was considerate enough to give us a Chief or 1st Class FE/Loadmaster.

If you want to spend your career doing ETOPS, crossing the pond on 2 motors. .feel free. . to be 'puckered' for hours. I was doing it for God & Country, because it was my 'duty'. . . . don't think I would willingly do it for the 'bucks'. But, I am no longer young and foolish.

BCDurbin

Any chance that 2000 hours of FE time on the 72 will get me any further up the list with FedEx? Application is in/3 References on file - just waiting for the next step. - BCD

dckozak

Can't hurt but recent flight time seems to be more important. Also the quality and quantity of your references will (IMHO) get you to the top of the stack faster than 727FE experience.

koz2000

During my interview, they specifically said they are looking for future captains. Of course any added experience doesn't hurt but that's why there's the PIC qual.

fr8rcaptain

Actually, our 747 classics are slowly being retired too, but the venerable DC8 FE seat will be around for quite a while I suspect. UPS will probably be flying the diesel 8's for many more years...

Obviously, if there are FE seats available at a company, the new hire will go there. At UPS, we still have a few dozen PFE's, and the rest of the FE seats are filled with over 60 guys waiting for our next contract to get ratified, or they just really love to fly domestic night ops! So I think most of our new hires are currently going to the right seat, but if there's a mass exodus of +60 FEs if the TA gets ratified, we'll be hiring to the panel again.

Although we have not hired directly into the right seat of the MD11 yet, with the new ANC base opening this fall and growing to at least 100 crews by next fall, I wouldn't doubt there will be some new hires getting assigned to that right seat.

MD114Ever

I wish we were still flying the DC-3 and 6. The DC-8 was always way beyond its time. Oh, and that was awesome flying the 727 across the pond. I'm sure glad we had an FE. Who needs an MD-11, or 747, or A-380, anyway. All I need is a whiskey compass and a Flight Engineer.

I sure wish I could trade my Honda Accord in for a Model T, also.

captain_drew

Sure

Several chances:

1) Fat chance
2) No chance in He11
3) One chance in a million
4) Etc.

They are hiring pilots, not FE's . . the PIC time is what is important

MD11Fr8Dog

Naw, better to skip the 727 altogether, and go right to the back of the DC-10, if you can! I completely skipped the B727 my whole career at FedEx, except for a half dozen jumpseats and 18 months backing up tugs to 727s!

MD11Fr8Dog

Oh yea, you're old now!

captain_drew

I will bet I 'feel' better than you do.

Sleep ALL night, every night . . in my own bed. .and wake up . . in the morning feeling better than I did for nearly 30 years . . and I don't have to think about getting to the airport to go to work.

No bidding. . no calls from Scew Schedules . . no 'splaining 'my side of the story' to an ACP . . .no heartburn about managment screwing us over and not negotiating in good faith.

Certainly don't FEEL old