FedEx 24 Hour Domestic Operation

    Click on this file after you read the information below    ---->  Video/Fedex_24hr Operation
This file is a 15MB streaming video that requires a high speed internet connection.
At FedEx we call this the "Ant Farm Video"

            I'm putting this on the website for a trial basis to see how it works and to determine if something like this is of value. I think it's of interest because it shows what the FedEx domestic express (note - just domestic, not the international express) system does in one 25 hour period. Also not included are the thousands of trucks used to feed the system. The compilation was made from actual flight following screens that our operations control center uses to follow our flights each day (speeded up of course). I must give special credit to Andy McArtor, one of our 5000 pilots, for putting this great video together. Also, the background music is "Renaissance", a bluegrass tune (especially for us mountain folks) so, be sure to have your speakers on. 
            A little explanation is required here - FedEx does two main package sorts a day. One in the middle of the night and one in the middle of the day. Each sort requires airplanes to come in and go out again so, four distinct flight cycles happen each day approximately as follows:

                   1. Coming in to the various package sorts (Memphis, Indianapolis, East coast and West coast locations) starting at about 9PM.
                   2. Departing after the night sort starting at about 3AM to drop off for morning deliveries.
                   3. Departing the out stations and returning to the sort stations for the daytime sort starting at about 7AM.
                   4. Departing after the early afternoon sort at about 3 PM for the evening deliveries which end at about 9PM.

            Then is starts all over again - day in, day out - every day.
            Last year (2006) during peak (from Thanksgiving through Christmas) we processed 9 million packages a day worldwide with 1 million being sorted in Memphis every day. Needless to say, I'm proud to be part of this amazing system. Even though I'm out there doing my little part each month it still boggles my mind as to how it's all put together and stays together throughout the constantly changing requirements. "Absolutely, positively" day in and day out is how we do it. By the way, we use 23,000,000 (that's millions) gallons of aviation fuel each WEEK. Our fuel bill alone is about 3 billion a year - yes, the big "B"!

            Please enjoy - I certainly do - both watching this video and being one cog in the massive wheel of FedEx!
            Best regards - Harry Fiedler

PS - this is a test and I'd like to know how it works on your computer - please let me know by clicking this link for an email to me: Harry at work