Whacker77

I was roaming around Terminal 3 at ORD Sunday night waiting for my own flight home and saw American offers non-stop 777 service to New Delhi, India. The board listed the flight as being 14 hours and 40 minutes and I was just curious how many pilots would need to be on that flight?

Also, are flights that length, I also saw flights on American to Bejing, Shanghei and Narita, popular for flight crews because of the number of hours a round trip produces, or are they not so popular? I suspect it depends on the individual, but are trips of this length scooped up by those high on the senority list or are they the left overs?

syd111

Don't know at aa but at ual shanghei and bejing go pretty senior on the 777 out of ord.

Twin Wasp

Since no one is supposed to sit in the seat for more than 8 hours on a 2 pilot airplane, you'd have 4 pilots for a 15 hour flight.

AAflyer

It is crewed by 4 pilots.. 1 captain and 3 FOs... Don't let the term FO fool you. On a recent review of the crew list on a Delhi flight all 3 FOs had the seniority to hold 767 Int'l Captain.

It also goes rather senior, as lines can be built to fly 9 on, and have 21 days off.

AAflyer

Whacker77

Thanks for the responses. I figured there would be about four pilots on a flight that length. I'll tell you though, just the thought of a 14 hour flight makes me cringe. Thanks goodness you have those nice comfortable seats on the flight deck. Economy class for 14 hours could well qualify as cruel and unusual punishment!

AAflyer

Whacker,

Those boys fly in shifts, our 777s have bunks, and the pilots will have a first class seat available as well. I tell you what I have flown 9 hour legs on the 767 with 3 guys. Having a 2-3 hour break on a flight like that makes it fairly easy in my book. Hoping to try our Shanghai or Delhi someday. I have my bid in for 777 FO for a little while. Get some of these dudes ( see, I can play nice) to retire and maybe I can get a shot at it.

AA

DILLA

Isn't it better to be a junior captain than a senior FO...or is there a QOL factor involved also?

BoilerUP

Only when it comes to W2....or ego, that drives some

Senior FOs earn less than they would as CAs, but have MUCH better QOL due to their seniority and the ability to get "what they want" in terms of schedules, vacation, etc.

__________________
"Fat pilots carry less payload." - R.M. Grundman

Killer51883

out of curiosity what is the trip value of a turn like that? also what is the overnight time like?

AAflyer

Actually as a senior 777 FO manipulating the schedule he/she can make more than a S80 Captain. NO to mention quality of life and days off are far superior.

Like most contracts on here, do not look just at the hourly rate. There are host of ways for guys to fly and get paid for 90-100+ hours a month.


(Disclaimer, I know guys are on furlough, I am not making a moral judgement on the issue, just saying what can be done).

All in all, looking at it, I would rather sit as a good line holding 777 FO then a reserve S80 captain. My ego however wants the fourth stripe

Cheers,

AA