Schedules can vary depending on what route you have. Our work schedules are five days on and two days off, Monday-Friday or Tuesday-Saturday. Most pilots start out as “Floaters” and fill in as needed (similar to pilot reserve schedules at most airlines).

A typical FedEx pilot in 2026 generally flies between 12 and 15 days per month, though this varies significantly based on their seniority and whether they fly domestic or international routes. Pilots are governed by FAA Part 117 duty and rest regulations, which limit them to roughly 100 flight hours per month and 1,000 hours per year. Because FedEx is a cargo operation, many "trips" involve flying at night (the "night sort") followed by several days of rest, or long-haul international "pairings" that may keep a pilot away from home for 7–10 days, followed by a long block of 10–14 days off. Senior pilots can "bid" for schedules that allow them to work fewer, more concentrated blocks. While the number of days "on duty" might seem low compared to a 9-to-5 job, the "flying days" often involve irregular sleep patterns and intense long-haul operations that require significant recovery time.