I’ve been considering pursuing a career as an airline pilot and this site has been extremely helpful, especially seeing everyone’s monthly schedules. My biggest deterrent from starting the process is the scheduling and days away from home. I’m 28, looking to start a family within the next 5 years, and plan to live in the New York metro area. I’d love to hear the pros and cons of your schedule as a pilot.
I fully understand that this is dependent upon seniority, but a general sense of what your schedule and scheduling process is like as a recent hire at a regional to a senior position at a major would be much appreciated. Thank you!
If you have looked through our schedules, you should have a general sense of the full range of schedules in the industry. Tory is a mid seniority regional pilot and Adam and I are both major Captains, but up until a year ago, I was a very senior first officer. At any seniority level, you should plan on at least twelve days off per month, with perhaps as much as sixteen. No matter what, there will be significant time spent on the road and a fair amount of nights away from home.
The good news is that when a pilot is off work, they are truly off. There is no take home work and only the occasional studying. It really is all a big trade off, a fair number of days off and no take home work, but also a fair number of nights spent on the road.
So you’re basically asking for an idea of what your schedule will be like for approximately 45yrs of your life as a pilot and that sir is up to YOU. As a new FO at a Regional your schedule will be less than great and the same goes for when you start a Major. You’ll be on Reserve and get the trips and days off no one else wants, same thing when you get a line. You’ll have min control over your schedule. After that it’s very dependent on you and your priorities. I know pilots who’s number one concern is quality of life and family. They pass on upgrades, bigger airplanes, moving on to a Major and LOTS of money to maintain and gain seniority in their seat. If you do that you can have a pretty good schedule throughout your career. Other pilots chase the money and equipment and deal with the lousy schedule. Your call.
Thanks Adam and Chris for the responses. As a pilot with low seniority, is it possible to plan for certain days off ever? For example, say I know that I have an event (like a birthday or wedding) in 2 months. Is it possible to request a schedule with that day off? Thanks again.
ANY pilot, regardless of seniority, can request ANYTHING they want, the question is whether you’ll get it or not? Now if it’s some random day you’ve got a decent shot but if that birthday or wedding falls on Mother’s Day you should plan on sending a card.
At my airline we have “Golden Days” that we can bid several months in advance. Generally it works for things planned well in advance, but there is certainly no guarantee.
Chris
Quick question about scheduling; Is reserve seperate from normal time-off, and is it true that your schedule is set before the month begins?
On occasion, I’m wanting to work as a substitute teacher. However, I don’t want to get double booked and it’d make my life easier if I could publish my schedule in advance to the district.
Reserve IS NOT TIME OFF. It means you’re on call and are required to get to the airport in a certain amount of time.
You bid for your schedule the month prior and will usually know the results by mid-month the latest. What you do on your actual days off is your business but on Reserve days you belong to the company.
This attached thread below explained different types of reserve.
My airline you are on Reserve 18 days a month.
If you are never called (only happened during Covid), each day is worth 4.12hr of pay, a guaranteed income of 76hr per month.
Reserve time is time that you are obligated to the company. They might not calll you with any assignment on that day, but it is their time and they expect you to be available if you are called. Reserve pilots do have pre-set days off, days that are completely free of obligation. Typically this is about twelve per month and you will know that schedule before the start of the month.
I force you being able to substitute teach several days per month if you so wish.