Brand X

And with UPS putting newhires in bases in the lower 48, guess who just became the preferred trash hauler?

Jetjok

Fairly shortsighted, don't you think, not that either company may be a good choice, just that picking a company to spend the rest of your career at, based on where you may be domiciled, seems ridiculous.

727C47

Unless you have a family

Albief15

Unless it means 4-5 years…with kids in HS or other critical periods…when Delta, United, or American can put you in the states where you want to be much sooner. FYI…new hires going to SLC at Delta.

FedEx was the right company for me at the right time. After 2 challenging years in Germany with some long, rainy winters and restless little kids, telling my wife "pack your stuff….we are going back to Germany…and without a BX and on new hire pay…" might not have gone over too well. It is good to think long term, and if you can ride the waves then do it. But new hires really cannot "commute" to FDAs without a lot of risk, and that makes it a family decision.

Repeat after me. FedEx of 2014 is not the FedEx of 1990, or 1995, or 2001, or even 2006. Its a company that is shrinking jets and consolidating routes, sloughing off some flying to outside sources (Lan Chile in SA, Aloha Air Cargo in Hawaii, and belly freight other places…) The advancement here is due to retirements, not growth. We have a lot of retirements coming. The Legacies have retirements too, but also are taking back some domestic flying from the regionals. The relative rate of seniority advancement here may be a bit slower. "Sucking it up" in CGN or HKG may be an option, but it better be a good one for your family as it may be a 2 year min and likely 3-4 year commitment by the time the bids close, the training letter gets published, you get to class etc etc.

Not bashing this place--but look at facts and numbers--not your own career progression--when you offer advice that affects people's lives. Wishful thinking or reminiscing are not the same as looking at numbers. FedEx pilots wanting to look at the real numbers--assuming an age 65 retirement by everyone in front of them--can do that with the seniority calculator at the FedEx MEC website. BM is telling guys "half our pilots will be gone in 10 years…." at job fairs. I looked today and counted 1348 retirements ahead of me for the next decade. That's good, but it ain't no 50% of 4200 pilots. If you take that number that means its likely in 10 years you'll be at 2850 or so, about where I am now at 13 years. Its a nice spot…but it puts me about 85% on the 757 left seat in MEM, outside of any widebody left seats, and about 30% right seat on the MD11 or 50% on the right seat of the 777. Its nice. But it ain't 1995 hires getting 8-9 year WB captain slots either. If you got 30 years in the airlines ahead…pick your favorite and go. It will be a good ride. If you have 15-20 years ahead, but best pick wisely as stagnation at any level will eat into your earnings and Q of life.

Facts and numbers…not hope. More that 1348 will retire, medical out, pass on or quit….but beyond the facts you are guessing and hoping.

727C47

We'll said, per usual Albie !!!

Tractor Bob

Keep hearing from the crew bus driver that we are hiring a few internals in December, and then 20 a month for the rest of the calendar year for a total of 240 in 2015.

That said, I agree with the previous post. There are no more quick upgrades at FDX. I'm in my 10th year and can not hold captain in any plane or domicile. It will probably be years until I can. At least until narrow body captain in HKG opens up....ouch

groggy

I agree completely. I get some blank stares as I tell the guy/gal sitting next to me I have gone from 100% to 91% in the 8 years on property. It is fun trying to explain the pax carrier domicile option as a tipping point perhaps for some newhires. The qol the 800k and 900k employee #'s will know is not the same as the postal contract hires a decade or more ago have enjoyed.

FDXLAG

Hiring in Nov. Internals first. Externals soon. Credentials window opens in Oct.

Essentially the man said don't call us we will call you.

frozenboxhauler

They're, (CP's note), saying 200 new hires over the next 15 months. Good luck to all of the interested!
fbh

MD11Fr8Dog

Poolies???