Is there a certain amount of hours that you can fly a month with a airline? Can you work overtime?
Marcus,
The FAA limits Part 121 pilots (aka airline pilots) to no more than 100hrs a month. That’s the regulation and it’s a HARD number meaning it cannot be exceeded. But, there is what we call “soft time” meaning “premium pay” (doubletime, time and a half), deadhead pay, training and vacation pay which would allow you to EARN over the 100hr limit but again you can’t over fly it.
Adam
Marcus,
There are several different limits on how much flying a pilot can do over various periods of time, but the simple answer is that pilots are limited to 100 hours per month, with most flying around 85 or so.
There is no such thing as “overtime” in the pure sense of the word, but often the airlines will offer premium pay, such as an additional 50 or 100%, for pilots to pick up extra trips when scheduling is short on pilots. One or two of those per month can make a huge difference in a pay check.
Chris
How many hours can a freshly minted first officer expect to get? I’ve seen some airlines with 65-75 hrs guaranteed pay.
Ryan,
As a new first officer you will likely be on reserve, which means you are a standby pilot for when another pilot needs to be replaced for whatever reason. Generally you won’t fly a whole heck of a lot on reserve, so your pay will be whatever the “guarantee” is, meaning that if guarantee is 75 hours and you only fly 20 you will still get paid for 75. Now there will be some months where you might fly more than your guarantee, in that case you will be paid the greater of the two.
Once you get a line you should be able to get around 85 hours or so, maybe a bit more.
Chris
Given that you can get 100 a month and 1000 a year, what happens if you fly 100 a month for the first 10 months regarding the last 2 months of the year?
While on reserve, I take it you are able to pick up flying on your off days? If so does this get added above your monthly gaurentee or would you be picking up these trips for nothing? Say you picked up 10hrs of flying on days off and only flew 30 that month, are you paid for the 75 gaurentee or for 85?
Kamrin,
While many pilots try and fly the 100 a month to maximize pay, it generally doesn’t happen. First off if you’re on Reserve you at most airlines you can’t pickup on days off (although the company can call you). Second if you’re a lineholder the average line is usually in the mid-80s and finding exactly 15hrs of flying can be tough not to mention when you get above 90 many companies won’t let you get too close to 100 in anticipation of delays etc. BUT in the unlikely scenario you can actually fly 100 a month for 10 mos you would in fact be “pay protected” and get paid the last two months at minimum guarantee while you sit at home.
Adam
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If that were to happen you would get the last two months off and be paid min guarantee for those months, this has happened to people. Remember though that things like vacation, training, finishing flights ahead of schedule, deadheading and a few other things all take your time and generate pay, but do not contribute to the 1,000 limit. I work pretty hard and have never come close to hitting it.
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Tucker,
While some airlines will let you pick up on days off while on Reserve most will not as they’re afraid the additional flying could affect your reserve days. However, at most companies if there’s a need and they call you on your days off they will usually give you the choice of swapping days off or “Over 75” pay which is my personal favorite. Just as you said you could be well below your guarantee with 30hrs flight time, do a 20hr 4day and get paid 95hrs while actually only flying 50 for the month.
Adam
Tucker,
That really depends on the airline and their contract with the pilots. At United you cannot pick up on your days off because that would affect your legality for flying on your reserve days.
Chris
What is their reasoning with the 1000 hours a year? Why not make it 1200 to be in line with the 100 hours a month?
Tucker,
Flying 1000hrs a year is a lot of flying, adding 200 on top of that is a significant amount of work. I flew 1200 hours in 13 months as a flight instructor and I had to work 7 days a week pretty much the whole time. The whole reasoning behind these limitations is to restrict pilots from overworking and mitigate fatigue.
If the limit were to be 1200hrs/year, there would be no use labeling it as a restriction, the monthly restriction would cover it.
Yarden
Tucker,
The 100hrs per month is a restriction, not a goal. As Yarden said 1,000hrs in a year is ALOT of flying, it’s basically the FAAs way of saying they realize some pilots will push the limit and they’re going to police it.
Adam
I get it, it all makes sense. I guess it also protects the pilots from the airlines over-working them.
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Are helicopter pilots under the same restrictions on duty hours?
Christopher,
The type of operation (part 91, 121, 135, etc.) dictates flight time and duty limitations, not category or class of aircraft.
Tory
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