Originally Posted by Spitch

The question was about compensation as a 777 FO vs 75 Capt LIVING LOCAL. Yes $300k requires extra flying, that wasn’t the question. Living locally makes that really easy. Just do some basic math. Let’s use the 6 yr pay scale since you brought it up. Let’s start with an RLG of 17 hrs/wk. I always use weeks because months vary, and there are 52 weeks in a year. At RLG 17 x 52 = 884 hours/yr for both.

777 @ RLG
202 x 884 = $178.6K

For 757
266 x 884 = $235.1K

That’s a $56.5K difference for the pilot who bids reserve or flys the min time.

to Make $300K what does the pilot have to do?

777 FO: $300K/206 = 1456 hours/yr. Or 28 hours/week. That’s 112 hours in a 4 wk/month and 140 in a five. All doable, but it means a lot of time away from home and a good bit of draft/override. It doesn’t matter whether you commute or live in base, because to do that you have to be on the road.

757 Cap: 300K/266 = 1128 hours/yr. Or 21.6 hours/week. That’s 86.8 in a 4wk/month and 108 in a 5. Look at the SIG notes, that’s close to the value of 777 line average! LIVING IN BASE means two extra O+B backs, a couple of APTSTBYs, maybe a Draft trip here and there and you’re done. Combine that with Bidding VTOs with trips in the front and reserve on the back and half your schedule is sitting at home not flying. Granted that last part hasn’t worked so well lately since there’s so much Europe flying in the Memphis 75 bidpack, but that too offers opportunities. I’ve done a couple of those at draft earlier in the year. These days I’m enjoying the time with the family and flying my BLG, but all of that will pass soon enough.

Yes I know 777 FOs and MD FOs who out earn me. But it’s not by much, and they are gone 20+ days a month. No thanks. I average around 8-10 nights away from home and never hub turn, and I’m at 90%.