My $40,000 Flight
By Capt. Laurie Riebeling (FedEx Express, Ret.)
Capt. Laurie Riebeling (FedEx Express, Ret.) shows off the reconstructed arm that caused her final flight to be delayed four months and cost her a healthy bonus.
I came from a flying family. My father had a 41-year career with TWA, my mother was a flight attendant, and both brothers were ALPA pilots along the way. But my own flying lessons at 20 years old were just for fun—until I saw my first female airline pilot. I asked, “Do you mean they pay her?”
Two years later in 1979, I interviewed with United Airlines. But with 1,100 hours, I was still a bit wet behind the ears. Five years later, with much more experience under my belt, I was hired by a still small Federal Express.
Fast forward many years, and the age 65 ruling had taken effect. As our 60th birthdays passed, many of us were unsure of how much longer we’d stay in the cockpit. Like other companies, FedEx was also unsure of how long we’d stick around. So in our last contract, a win-win provision was included that gave certain older pilots a very generous bonus if they gave the company a one-year notice of retirement and flew through the Christmas peak.
I was all set to retire in 2018 at the age of 62. A month prior, however, I was in a bad bicycle accident. Looking at a lengthy rehab, I had to decide whether I just wanted to retire and get my bonus—or waive the money to come back and requalify. It wasn’t even close: I wanted my final flight. A plate, 10 screws, and four months of rehab later, I requalified in my A300.
In March 2019, I took off from Memphis International Airport for my home airport of Oakland International (OAK) on a beautiful afternoon with my dearest friends, Capt. Muriel Zarlingo as my first officer and Capt. Reyne O’Shaughnessy in the jumpseat. My family and friends met our plane on the ramp at OAK on arrival—FedEx had everyone on the ramp to see our taxi in and my fire truck water cannon salute. Best of all, I got to have my 91-year-old father put my jacket on me for the last time. It was a memorable day and well worth the “cost”!
