IMAX
06-01-2025 | 01:34 PM
#2
On Reserve
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 49
Likes: 21
Been here a long time (25+ years) but IMAX is still a complete mystery to me.
I have never IMAXed simply because I’m a fly your line type of pilot and maybe pick up a few extra hours… don’t have it in me to be constantly dropping, picking up, trading with others, banking VC time, etc. to play the IMAX game especially because I’m at a small base. And finally I have no clue how it works but on the surface it does seem like a lot of work to get to the magic number.
Specifically - I always thought that those who IMAX do it for the extra couple of months off. But lately I’ve been also reading that those who IMAX are also pulling down massive amounts of $$$. Now, explain that to me please… you get 2-3 months off **AND** you make extra? How are those pilots making all that extra? On the months you have off, are you actually flying extra as in Premium? Because that would defeat the whole point of having the month off. Otherwise, how do these cats get all the extra $$$?
Also, what if it’s a very slow month and there is zero premium? (I have seen this more than once at DCA, BOS, i.e. the smaller bases.)
I have never IMAXed simply because I’m a fly your line type of pilot and maybe pick up a few extra hours… don’t have it in me to be constantly dropping, picking up, trading with others, banking VC time, etc. to play the IMAX game especially because I’m at a small base. And finally I have no clue how it works but on the surface it does seem like a lot of work to get to the magic number.
Specifically - I always thought that those who IMAX do it for the extra couple of months off. But lately I’ve been also reading that those who IMAX are also pulling down massive amounts of $$$. Now, explain that to me please… you get 2-3 months off **AND** you make extra? How are those pilots making all that extra? On the months you have off, are you actually flying extra as in Premium? Because that would defeat the whole point of having the month off. Otherwise, how do these cats get all the extra $$$?
Also, what if it’s a very slow month and there is zero premium? (I have seen this more than once at DCA, BOS, i.e. the smaller bases.)
06-01-2025 | 03:37 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,455
Likes: 130
From: Window seat
Get 2 months off. Get ALV pay for those months. Say 80 hrs. Every single day is OFF for 2 months. Your HI-1 is clear/empty. You can pick up premium for 60 days straight ON TOP of the regular 80 hrs. So it's easy to get another 100-200 hrs of pay.
But it runs your life. You're working if every month, for 10 months, to get the pay, and trip conflicts that have a very short window (3-4 hrs?) to trigger the conflicts. Then, to maximize pay, you're after premium for 60 days. Some guys take part of the time and beat feet for a long vacation instead of chasing the pay.
But it runs your life. You're working if every month, for 10 months, to get the pay, and trip conflicts that have a very short window (3-4 hrs?) to trigger the conflicts. Then, to maximize pay, you're after premium for 60 days. Some guys take part of the time and beat feet for a long vacation instead of chasing the pay.
06-01-2025 | 05:37 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 9
So I got an answer to my IMAX question from a friend and tried to edit/delete it.. but I guess I was too late. No biggie.
thanks for the answers! My one question regarding picking up premium is this… What if there is zero premium for the month? I’ve seen that happen at DCA and BOS on really slow months. Then I guess the IMAXers would be stuck with their time off
thanks for the answers! My one question regarding picking up premium is this… What if there is zero premium for the month? I’ve seen that happen at DCA and BOS on really slow months. Then I guess the IMAXers would be stuck with their time off
06-01-2025 | 05:44 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 284
So I got an answer to my IMAX question from a friend and tried to edit/delete it.. but I guess I was too late. No biggie.
thanks for the answers! My one question regarding picking up premium is this… What if there is zero premium for the month? I’ve seen that happen at DCA and BOS on really slow months. Then I guess the IMAXers would be stuck with their time off
thanks for the answers! My one question regarding picking up premium is this… What if there is zero premium for the month? I’ve seen that happen at DCA and BOS on really slow months. Then I guess the IMAXers would be stuck with their time off
06-01-2025 | 07:24 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,455
Likes: 130
From: Window seat
So I got an answer to my IMAX question from a friend and tried to edit/delete it.. but I guess I was too late. No biggie.
thanks for the answers! My one question regarding picking up premium is this… What if there is zero premium for the month? I’ve seen that happen at DCA and BOS on really slow months. Then I guess the IMAXers would be stuck with their time off
thanks for the answers! My one question regarding picking up premium is this… What if there is zero premium for the month? I’ve seen that happen at DCA and BOS on really slow months. Then I guess the IMAXers would be stuck with their time off
You'd have LGA, BOS, ORD, MIA, CLT and DFW as decent 'commute in' premium opportunities.
06-01-2025 | 08:13 PM
#7
On Reserve
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 8
IMAX example: You need to start with a low month, say 50 hours on reserve in November, then credit 95 for 6 months December through May, then 105 for 3 months, June-August. In September and October your IMAX will be 54 and 44, so PBS can finish awarding trips for those months after 40 and 30 hours. Then you get paid the average line value of 68 or whatever it is, and with the other 22-24 days off you can go pick up premium or stay home. Anything over 95 or 105 in this example reduces your flying in September and October and it’s not difficult to have 3 months affected. This is credit, which includes PVD drop, sick, DH, training and everything that goes towards PROJ.
06-02-2025 | 03:05 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 9
Thanks for the replies. Seems like way too much work, schedule tweaking, drops, trades, etc… I’m exhausted just thinking about it. I know the payoff seems nice, who doesn’t want one or two months off with pay. But to get to that point.. seems like you overwork yourself. Not really into doing several months of 95hrs… heck just a few years ago we were capped at 78 with flex to 83 and life was good!
06-02-2025 | 06:45 AM
#9
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 77
Thanks for the replies. Seems like way too much work, schedule tweaking, drops, trades, etc… I’m exhausted just thinking about it. I know the payoff seems nice, who doesn’t want one or two months off with pay. But to get to that point.. seems like you overwork yourself. Not really into doing several months of 95hrs… heck just a few years ago we were capped at 78 with flex to 83 and life was good!
That said… the workload to achieve it is subjective. Much of that process can be automated, within reason. MyOT alerts on the APA app, good DOTC and TTS ballots, the ability and foresight to set up 3B removals (becoming more difficult as the company declares war on this aspect), a WhatsApp trading cartel, etc can all help. I don’t think it’s really that much work… I see other pilots with real estate side businesses, kids in travel sports, a GA plane, etc etc that “work” way harder at those things than IMAXers at IMAX.
Seniority definitely helps.
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