I've often wondered where FedEx feeder crews call 'home.' Here in GRR, FX sends C208's out to TVC, PLN, and CIU. Flights usually depart GRR between 0700 and 0730 local, and arrive back in GRR between 2000 and 2100 local. What does the pilot do during the day at these out stations? Do they make those outstations 'home', or in my example make GRR 'home'? Is GRR merely an overnight crash pad? Unlike mainline FX crews which may only be in hub cities (MEM, IND) a few hours each night, the feeder pilots have significant down time on both ends. I know there are many other examples like this across the FX network..... MKE for example sends C208's to CMX, ESC, IMT, RHI, and SAW.

Just curious.....

I've seen it work both ways, but in general pilots tend to be based at the "hub" while the airline maintains an apartment (or small house if the pilots are outstation based) with a beater car at the outstation. It will vary as these FedEx feeders are actaully operated by a variety of local partner airlines much in the same way as regional airlines operate in the passengers world.

Wont FDTL rest be considered in between......

I have heard of those pilots finding some part time work at the out station. I makes sense bascially the flying is their commute there. With the money they make flying two flights a day they need the extra money. For the part time job to work the pilot would have to be based on the same flight every day of course which I think is the case. Anyone here of that? Do the pilots get put on one route only? Or does it depend how big the station is.

Mountain Air Cargo and others typically pay their pilots a salary. If they didn't, they would never be able to find pilots. From my experience they are based at whatever outstation they start their route in. They then fly to the hub, sit until morning and fly back out to the outstation. While they are sitting at the hub they are for all practical purposes, on duty. I don't know of any that maintain housing. You're on your own for that.

We handled a lot of cargo including UPS and DHL feeders back when I worked at an FBO and it wasn't uncommon for the smaller feeder companies to have an on-demand charter side of operation as well. It wasn't unusual for feeder pilots to do an on-demand run during the night since they had upwards of 8 hours in between feeder flights.

It depends, but for the most part pilots are assigned a regular route. I believe they are generally salaried, so its not like they're being paid less due to the lack of flight time (they're being paid less because the salary is low).

There are a number of FX feeder flights that leave IND, and return empty after they make their flights. Not sure if that is done at MEM.