FedEx Question...

[killbilly]

While in Spokane on business this week, I noticed the part of GEG where the FedEx planes were all parked, and I saw a number of Caravans (painted in the FedEx livery) and another twin that I didn't recognize.

I know it's tough to get a job at FedEx, but is it easier to get a gig flying the Caravan vs. a Jet? Or do all FedEx pilots start in the Caravan and work their way up? Just curious as to how that works.

[jtrain609]

Those aircraft are not operated by FedEx. They are operated by feeder company's, and in that case I'll bet it's Mountain Air Cargo. They are operated in the same way that the regionals feed the majors; painted in the same colors as the mainline carrier, but operated by a seperate company. There is no flow through, and working at one of those company's will not increase your chances of getting on with FedEx.

Ameriflight does the same kind of flying for FedEx, UPS and DHL, only they operate in their own colors.

[killbilly]

Yeah, I was wondering if that's the way it worked. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Do the feeder pilots have to wear FedEx uniforms when flying a "FedEx" aircraft?

[jtrain609]

Doubt it. I don't know many freight dawgs that have to wear uniforms besides Ameriflight. Airnet wears a polo I think and Flight Express wears whatever the heck they want (at least that's the impression I get from Lloyd). I mean, you don't exactly have to impress boxes eh?

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

I mean, you don't exactly have to impress boxes eh?

Today's phrase, kids: "That's a Luxury"

[killbilly]

I just asked because I know how anal FedEx is about their branding, and wondered if that extended to the feeder pilots.

[Doug Taylor]

Trust me, everyone is anal about branding.

If I put a big widget on the front page of my website and crowed that "Southernjets Innanashnul is the baddest EVAR!!!1111" I'd get a call from the 404 area code...

[BobDDuck]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Trust me, everyone is anal about branding.

I'm not so sure about that. If that was really the case would SuthernJets Internationah really be giving over brand control to a certain regional (err... I mean "major") airline that Wile. E Coyete keeps falling off of? And would EeewSSS Airsss keep giving routes to an airline that had a Battle Hym written about it even though they wear different uniforms and some times don't even mention who they are providing express service for? And would the only major actually hiring right now take planes from a company that actually lives and breaths their brand and give them to another company that sounds like something off a fast food mexican menu? Well, you get the point.

[Doug Taylor]

I understand and agree with your point, but I meant being anal about the brand in terms of I could get my pee pee whacked if I said, "Hey! I'm a Southernjets Innanasnul pilot, here's a big widget and here I am yucking it up in uniform with the widget clearly discernable" on a non company-approved website.

I've already had that conversation with Southernjets legal a few years ago during the "Miss Simonetti" episode.

[Beers]

I think you actually saw planes operated by Empire Airlines. The twins you saw were either ATR-42's or Fokker F-27's.

[falconvalley]

The one thing I don't understand is to fly a FedEx feeder Caravan for most of those companies you need at least 2000 hours; but you can go to Airnet and be flying a Caravan at 1201.7 hours, upgrade to Lear FO 12 months later, upgrade to Lear captain 12 months after that, log a couple thousand hours and then apply at FedEx. Do any of those feeder pilots go straight from a van to a heavy jet? I mean 2000 hours seems like a lofty goal just to be flying a Caravan when you have so many other choices at lower xp.

[DE727UPS]

Not everybody looks at it that way. I have a friend who flys a van for Empire. He bids reserve in Spokane and gets to sit at home a lot. No career goals beyond that.

[ibepilot]

I used to fly for Baron Aviation. Yes a uniform is required and professionalism it a must. You will not get a leg up in the fedex interview process nor is the time you gain there other than total time good for the fedex requirements. They want multi turbine or jet time.