FDX Block 8

Don't forget to thank BC and TC for FDA LOA 1. It wasn't a great deal but at least it didn't let our flying in HKG go to foreign pilots

I can only pray our negotiating doesn't go back to this mindset. Unfortunately, current events make me fear it will.



US Pilots Fly to China, Stay There

By Davis MacMillan

February 28, 2012 02:28 PM

CHINA SKIES


Earlier this month, we wrote about a report by the Animal Legal Defense Fund that had dogs running away screaming -- or at least it would have if they could get off the leash -- from Delta Airlines (DAL).

Well, apparently, our pets aren’t the only ones leaving US air carriers. Today, an article in Bloomberg Businessweek has American pilots doing the same thing. For many, higher wages and better advancement opportunities in China are too good to pass up.

Thanks to, among other things, a rise in the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65, many co-pilots and first officers have to wait years to become full captains. For example, one 52-year co-pilot has spent 13 years waiting for his captaincy and may have to wait as many as five more.

Around 550 pilots attended a job fair in Miami last week, dedicated to jobs in China. As of right now, China’s air fleet is expected to grow 11% a year through 2015. In that time period, they need to find an additional 16,000 pilots, and foreigners are a good option.

An American Airlines co-pilot quoted in the article claims that he might be able to double his pay by moving to China. Beyond that, he feels that his prospects overseas may be better, due both to the excess of captains and his company’s recent bankruptcy.

Chinese airlines do appear to have a policy of paying foreigners more. A representative of Spring Air told Bloomberg that foreign pilots got 30% more than domestic.

Of course, before anyone gets in too much of a panic about the impending death of American aviation, it should be pointed out that most pilots at the top of their field are likely to stay in the US. Captains make a good salary, as do junior captains. Mainly, Chinese airlines are poaching pilots whose careers have stalled and those who are unemployed or furloughed.

That said, China has already jumped ahead of the US on city rents and ownership of the word iPad (AAPL), and they have another big project in the works. Yesterday, Beijing announced plans to build an airport that will replace Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson as the world’s busiest.

MaxKts

Just like the last TA kept the Irish from taking over our European flying.

FoxHunter

Don't kid yourself. European pilots, and unions very much want to do that flying. They consider it the same as if Ryanair was flying between JFK and MIA. They claim the EU has the same status as the USA. Not true, but they are still pushing. Don't think it can't happen.

FEDEX starting up in cologne - PPRuNe Forums

Flightmech

They mistakingly think that the EU is a country or soverign nation and therefore FDX flying intra-european routes is illegal. It isn't.

FoxHunter

Yes, but rules change as time goes on. FedEx is quite capable of forming FedEx Express EU, operating under JAA rules, and using European citizens. Nothing to guarantee that the Cargo Frank Lorenzo may come into power at FedEx one day. Remember Braniff ceased operations because no one could imagine an airline operating after it was bankrupt. Lorenzo bought CO, filed, continued operting despite ALPA going on strike. Since then almost every airline has filed at one point. Don't think the unthinkable can't happen. It has.

3pointlanding

To be an expatriot was one of the most rewarding experiences I ever had and I do not regret it one bit. If younger, I would do it all over again. And the flying was not bad either.

Albief15

I was a vocal critic of LOA 1. I was aware there China (at the time) was couldn't' produce enough pilots to man their own airlines (at the time...). Again--my biggest issue wasn't that it was or wan't good business but that pilots could be inverses over there involuntarily for 90 days.

I supported the move for the CGN domicile. Why? Three letters---T-N-T.

Europe HAS a mature airline industry, and plenty of airlines with a long history of cannibalism and undercutting each other. Now--we've got a bunch of pilots flying purple tails in domicile over there--voluntarily--and room to grow.

If the TNT buy goes through for UPS, it will be interesting to see its impact on UPS manning and route structure. I didn't want FedEx pilots to have to figure out how it would affect us....

MaxKts

Albie, do you think, if FedEx bought TNT, that our scope clause would hold up in a European court. All it would take is an excess bid from CGN and hand all the flying to TNT. What could we do about it?

FDXLAG

The company will offer 2 times 3% raises in exchange for changing the feeder acft to 93,000 lbs (Bae 146) max. The union doesnt like the deal but feels the membership should have the chance to vote on it because it has an historic Opt out provision where we can give up the scope change for only one 3% raise and the chance to enter section 6 early. It passes with 67.8%.

Flightmech

Oh not the 146 pleaseWhoever buys TNT just send them to the scrapyard