Originally Posted by
pinseeker
Shaman,
My assumptions are that your assertions that it is easy for a 2nd year MD FO to make over $250K and be home more than a regular line holder are unrealistic.
If you protect min days off for the whole year, you have no more than 196 days on your calendar. Take out 15 days for vacation, and you should have no more than 181 days on your calendar. (8*15 and 4*19).
Now a second year FO in 2017 made just under $168/hr for 10 of the 12 months. The last two months, they made just under $173/hr. So, let's just say $170/hr for the year. If you made $170K for BLG, that is 1000 hours. VLT would pay $255/hr. If you made $55K at that rate, that would be 215 credit hours. 1000+215 is 1215 credit hours for the year, not counting days of training and OTR.
Trip rig pays 6.4 credit hours for every 24 hour away from base. 1215/6.4 comes to 190 days away from base. Add in 5 days for training, and you are scheduled for a minimum of 195 days.
That doesn't even account for trips that start or end on a half day, which if you are deadheading a lot, would come into play. My guess is that you have several months where you have less than min days off on your calendar. Now, I know you can be home for more days than the scheduled, I was on the MD for 10 years, but it is not as easy or as prevalent as you make it out to be.
Again, great for you that you have been able to make a schedule that you are happy with, but there is no way that the average 2nd year MD FO can be at home more than a line holder and make over $250K. Not saying some can't, but definitely not the norm. In my ten years on the MD, I never came close to $250K, and had a higher hourly rate than yours. But if I got home early, I didn't pick up extra, I took the time off.
I like spending time with the family over money!!
I absolutely believe Shaman. I’ve done what he says and I know many others have too. I’ve had international revisions that have paid an extra $10,000 plus and still been home only 12 hours after originally scheduled. Sometimes magic happens with these revisions with extra landings, Duty periods, 200%, etc. I’ve had calendar months with 28 days of blue bar and only been away from home 12 days. I’ve dropped my entire schedule to do some work at home and had unbelievable charters pop up. I once got paid over 60 CH on a charter and was away from my front door about 32 hours! (And I’m a commuter.) MD-11 international/charter and 777 international—that’s where the $$ for less work are in the CBA.
But, you’re correct. Do nothing but reserve or domestic and just fly your line with some trip trades, and you’ll not see these numbers.