Originally Posted by Wild Bill

I just finished recurrent training. If you read the FCIF for posting 11-01 it says "we anticipate bidding the EMEA FDA (Posting 11-02) within a few weeks." Apparently the Hong Kong MD-11 domicile is on hold. I didn't follow how the 777 is affecting a Hong Kong MD-11 domicile, but apparently it's not happening anytime soon.

In practice bid one for posting 11-01 there are 44 (of 189) unfilled ANC MD-11 F/O positions and 67 unfilled MEM MD-11 F/O positions. If this holds in the actual bid that could mean over 100 wide body new hires in the MD-11/10 with descent seniority in ANC, plus whatever posting 11-02 opens up.

Of course everyone is so used to years of stagnation and when they realize they can hold a wide body they may change their bid. Waiting 12-18 months for another bid is a long time especially considering it may take another whole year to actually start training.

Originally Posted by TheBaron

It's only practice...we're talking practice man, practice.
I have yet to see a final bid that resembles any of the "practice" bids.

Originally Posted by Sluggo_63

Ok, OR came and spoke to the F/O class today. I'll try to recap...
("O", since I know you're reading this, if I mis-quote you, feel free to chime in and correct me)

Hiring:
-We are currently hiring externals. We do have a 'legacy' program, and they are currently being mixed in with the externals.
-500/year was a bad rumor. Shooting for 250/year, 500 for 2 years. Plan is to have classes of 20/month.
-Every recommendation is read/scrutinized
--Best is from guys you've flown with. Haven't flown with is okay, but not as good. Looking for flying ability/integrity.
-No difference in recommendation 'weight.' 777 captains rec. carries as much weight as new-hire, day 2 of indoc.
-I wrote down "2 slots to reapply." I can't remember if he said if you're turned down once, you get 1 re-apply, or two. It's definitely no more than 2. All personal information is de-identified for the second interview.
-Average numbers is 2.5-3K PIC, 4-5K TT. It's been about a 50/50 military/civilian mix (initial classes have been slightly more civilian due to the inability of military to get out at a moment's notice.)

Interview:
-Process should work like this:
--Get invited to come for tests.
---Tests are different than the ones we knew and loved. They are aviation based, and applicants are sent a list of recommended study material (I'm guessing ATP book/ASVAB kind of stuff)
--After tests, go home and wait 1-2 weeks for call to come back if you pass
--Come back to Memphis for Sim and Panel/SBI (1 day). Either Sim morning then SBI/panel in afternoon or vice versa.
---Sim is in the DC-10 right now (he didn't say it, we did)
--If you pass Day 2, you'll get a "Conditional Offer of Employment."
--With the Conditional Offer, you have to go get a Class I physical the next day with a FedEx approved doctor. (Basically he said, once your here, he encourages you to go to the easiest doctor you can find, but he has a responsibility to ensure that you have the ability to hold a Class I before we hire you).
--The medical is NOT Pass/Fail. If they find something, FedEx will work with you and the docs to try and get it resolved.
--Go home after the medical and wait while the PRIA/background checks are completed.
--30-45 days later, you should be in class.
--The timeline is compressed right now because of the hiring ramp-up, but expect close to these times in the future.
-SBI is back, and better than ever.
--It's in a cardboard 757, with a couple of TV screens and a fake GCP. You can dial altitudes/headings if you want.

Operations:
-More than anything else in the history of this company, the 777 is a game changer.
-Trying to snap up every 777 we can get our hands on.
-EMEA domicile should be announced in the next 2-3 weeks.
-EMEA will be a 757 base. Bus will still do SIBA. No plans for a Bus EMEA domicile.
-MD-11 HKG on hold. Won't see it "for a while."-The 767-400 (cargo version of USAF tanker)/777-200/A330 are all in play to be the domestic MD-10 replacement. MD-10-10 first, then eventually MD-10-30.
-Planning on about 157 757 fleet size.
-EVAS is being looked at. Along with the MD-11 cargo fire suppression system and the can bags we are trying to get a handle on the in-flight fire risks.
-Not all ACPs are being replaced by non-pilot managers. There will always be (while he's chief pilot) some pilots in the management chain of command. He said that they found that a lot of what the ACPs were doing administratively didn't need to be a pilot. He could use their piloting skills elsewhere. There will be 1-3 pilots still in the office there.

That's about it... I probably forgot some stuff, but there you go. Don't shoot the messenger (especially about the ACP's...)

Originally Posted by Busdrivr

Sluggo
I didn't understand about half your acronyms, and I'm a FedEx pilot. You write like a guy in management. KIS (keep it simple).

Originally Posted by DaRaiders

Thanks for the info, Sluggo. Did he go into detail as to why the HKG MD11 base was closed?

Originally Posted by Busboy

I was following you, until the end...

What does "P.S." mean?

Originally Posted by chignutsak

With all the 757's FDX gets from all over, are they all standardized into more or less one fleet?