MrFedEx
Engorged Member
I know I've already talked about this, but here's some additional information that proves just how dumb upper management can be at FedEx Express. First, the 767 Freighter has been available since 1995, well before the incredibly dumb DC10 to MD10 conversion program was initiated in 1999.
Accounts vary, but the cost for converting a DC10 into an MD10 ran about $7.6 Million per plane, not including the purchase cost of the used passenger donor aircraft. I don't know if this includes the intial conversion from PAX to Cargo. The net result was a rebuilt DC10 with a 2 man MD11 cockpit that still sucked fuel like a starved pig. These planes were supposed to last another 20 years, and at least 30 of them will now either be sold (doubtful), scrapped (likely), or mothballed in the desert (likely). Wow, what an incredibly "intelligent" and costly bad decision by our very highly paid top executives.
My take is that the purchase of 30 new 767's will be the rationale for little to nothing in the way of raises this coming March. Diminishing Express volumes will also be cited as a reason we need to be kept impoverished. What will be the penalty for those who decided against buying 767's earlier? Probably nothing. These twin-engine aircraft could have been saving fuel for 16 years and counting. Guess who was the launch customer for the 767 freighter? UPS, which apparently does a bit of long-term research into it's aircraft needs, unlike FedEx.
In the meantime, our crap vehicle fleet continues to deteriorate with the exception of the new Sprinter purchases. Seen one of our CTV's lately? Sad, to say the least. No money for vehicles, or us. But lots for politicians and upper management.
Fred will pay for all of this the way he usually does....through takeaways and higher productivity. Whatever tidbit we get in March (and why is it always March?) will be offset by whatever Fred decides he needs back from us. That's the way it has always been, and with no real union threat, there isn't much holding our Beloved Leader back.
WE LOVE YOU, FRED!!!
Accounts vary, but the cost for converting a DC10 into an MD10 ran about $7.6 Million per plane, not including the purchase cost of the used passenger donor aircraft. I don't know if this includes the intial conversion from PAX to Cargo. The net result was a rebuilt DC10 with a 2 man MD11 cockpit that still sucked fuel like a starved pig. These planes were supposed to last another 20 years, and at least 30 of them will now either be sold (doubtful), scrapped (likely), or mothballed in the desert (likely). Wow, what an incredibly "intelligent" and costly bad decision by our very highly paid top executives.
My take is that the purchase of 30 new 767's will be the rationale for little to nothing in the way of raises this coming March. Diminishing Express volumes will also be cited as a reason we need to be kept impoverished. What will be the penalty for those who decided against buying 767's earlier? Probably nothing. These twin-engine aircraft could have been saving fuel for 16 years and counting. Guess who was the launch customer for the 767 freighter? UPS, which apparently does a bit of long-term research into it's aircraft needs, unlike FedEx.
In the meantime, our crap vehicle fleet continues to deteriorate with the exception of the new Sprinter purchases. Seen one of our CTV's lately? Sad, to say the least. No money for vehicles, or us. But lots for politicians and upper management.
Fred will pay for all of this the way he usually does....through takeaways and higher productivity. Whatever tidbit we get in March (and why is it always March?) will be offset by whatever Fred decides he needs back from us. That's the way it has always been, and with no real union threat, there isn't much holding our Beloved Leader back.
WE LOVE YOU, FRED!!!