Hello Mentors.
When signing with an airline, how is it determined what plane you get to fly. Do they put you in the plane you already know how to fly?
Also, I’m a year away from practicing aviation at Auburn University. Do I get to choose what planes I can be trained in? I am not familiar with the process.
Thanks
Andrew
Andrew,
When one is hired at an airline, they bid on available slots in seniority order. Very few people come to an airline already knowing how to fly a particular type of jet.
As for Auburn’s policies, you will need to ask them.
Chris
Got it… so for example, I can bid for an A320. Assuming that I get the slot and I don’t know how to fly it, I am trained for a while. Is that correct?
Thanks
Andrew,
I know this is all new to you but think about it. When you graduate from Auburn do you think you’ll leave there knowing how to fly a Boeing 757 or an Airbus A321? Of course not. You will be assigned an airplane the airline needs you to fly. If there are more than one you can bid but if not you’ll get what they give you and then they’ll teach you to fly it.
Adam
Thank you for the information Adam. It all makes sense now and I should have thought about it like that. Just another question… How often do pilots switch planes? Does it depend on if the airline needs you for that plane, or do you get to bid again and hope you will get it. Also, how many hours does training for a new plane usually take?
Andrew
Andrew,
No worries, I like to provoke thought 
Ok, unfortunately like many airline related questions the answer is “it depends on the airline”. First and foremost pilot training is very expensive, usually tens of thousands of dollars. It costs nearly as much to run a sim as to run a flight and pilots and instructors are still being paid their full salaries while in training. What that means is the airline doesn’t want to train Andrew to fly an A320 only for Andrew to think 2mos later “you know I really don’t like this plane, I’ll go to the 737”, they simply can’t afford that. Therefore most airlines have some sort of “seat lock” meaning you’re locked on that airplane after training for a period of time (usually 2-3yrs). Most airlines also have a clause that says you can break the lock IF you’re an FO and can upgrade OR the airline gets new equipment. The other thing necessary is there has to be an open slot for you. Even if you’re not seat locked and have the seniority to hold a different airplane there needs to be a need. Again the airline can’t have everyone flying one airplane when there are others to staff. So what do you do? Periodically (based on staffing, retirements, hiring, equipment acquisitions, new routes etc) the airline will open a system bid. It’s at that point when you’ll bid for the airplane, the seat (CA or FO) and the base in your order of preference. Provided there’s a open spot you’ll be awarded the highest choice your seniority can hold. Make sense? I know it’s a lot.
Adam
Hello Adam,
Thanks for the help and the sensible explanation, I’m able to understand now that it is not that simple to switch planes only because you want to. It all makes sense now.
Thanks
Andrew
Andrew,
I have basically changed airplanes every two years during my time at the airline. I enjoy having new challenges and different flying experiences, so I am one of those pesky pilots that drives up training costs for the airline.
Chris
Chris what have you flown so far in your airline career?
Don,
I have flown the Embraer 135/145, Boeings 737, 757, 767, and the Airbus 319/320. Of all of them, the 757 was the best aircraft that I have flown, it by far has the highest thrust to weight ratio of the group.
Chris
That’s awesome. Hell of a spread.
Hi Chris,
Say you you’re on the A320 now and want to go back to the 757, is your type rating still valid and would you still have to go through the same training as you did when you first flew the 757? Is it possible to have flown every type in your airline’s fleet throughout your career? Also, how does going through so many airplane types in one airline affect your seniority and pay?
Thanks,
Matt
Matt,
A type rating never expires but your currency does (which is why pilots are required to go through “recurrent” training every year). Airlines have different length training programs to address the various situations. I recently upgraded on the 717. My airline has 3 upgrade programs. If you never flew the plane you get the “long” course, if you’re a current FO on the plane you get a “short” course. I have the Type but was off the airplane for 2 yrs so I got the “medium” course. Depending on when you start your career sure it’s possible to fly every airplane but I’d need a better reason than bragging rights. Your overall seniority at the airline will not change but sure you pay and relative seniority of the various airplanes can and will. It could be positive, it could be negative. It really depends on a variety of factors. Bigger planes pay more so if you’re moving to a larger plane your pay will increase but your seniority and quality of life may go down. Going the other way will have the opposite effect.
Adam