Couple questions about the 777 schedules and I apologize if this has been answered already. So you have 20 days on and then 10/11 off. Are your travel days part of your days on or days off?

Also, with the RSV they build into each pairing where do you sit? Can you ever be at home while you are on RSV or will you always be in CVG or LAX? I have a young one at home and only 10 or 11 days off at home a month would be brutal.

Lastly, what is the average credit for a new hire on the 777?

Thanks so much for the info.

 

Repeat after me...... IT'S A 777!!!! That makes it worth it. The big 3 legacies plus FedEx fly the 777. They would be all over an applicant with 777 time.

 

Travel is on days on. Days off are "supposed" to be golden. Things come up and bids conflict. You could sit at home but most likely LAX or CVG. Could be elsewhere. There were lines this last month with HKG reserve. Union is floating an idea of a 15 day reserve line in HKG to eliminate some blending.

Plan on 10 days off and 40 days on (when two bids back to back) as a worse case scenario.

 

Repeat after me. The major airlines don't care what you flew before. Much more important will be the networking you do.

As far as having young children at home goes, here is my take. I have done just about every type of airline flying there is. Regional, major passenger, supplemental pax and freight and a stint as an expat. Next to day trips out of a base you live in, the three to four day trip is much easier when your kids are younger. You leave and come back and not much has changed. If you are doing long blocks of days (15-20) days you come home and can actually see a noticeable change in your kids. If you get a back to back it could be over a month of not seeing your children. Young children are also a lot more work for your wife and the long stretches away can be hard on her.

After kids get older(15 and up) I have found that the long blocks of time home seem to make up for the long stint away. Of course your situation might be different. When we become pilots we probably don't realize until we have children how much we will have to give up to our careers. You will never get back this time while your children are young. If SAI is a good fit for you and your family go for it. Don't do it for the big shiny jet. Boeing and Airbus will build more. You only get one shot with your kids.

 

Not sure if trolling but your statement is completly false.

 

Brutal is exactly the right word. Plus, you're suffering from severe jet lag and for about three days you're out of synch with the rest of your world.

Expect your sit to be in CVG or LAX. There are always exceptions, but you can't plan on it. Maybe if you have a few RSV days at the beginning of your schedule you might get lucky and gain a few at home.

One of the nice things for a new hire is your schedule is just as good as the most senior pilot. 10 days off, two laps, one week reserve. 75(ish) hours of block plus whatever your deadhead pay works out to be. The downside is that it never gets better.

 

How long is the wait to get on the 777?

 

Do you get pay for sitting reserve other than per diem? It just doesn't sound correct to get only 75ish hours for flying two laps and a week of reserve.

 

Hmm, a lot of posts regarding the 777 have already been posted that indicate that for the most part the 777 is stagnant.

The 5th 777 arrival is constantly being pushed forward, and it's actual arrival is dubious at best.

According to the CP we are already at staffing levels for 5 777's. So that would indicate not ANY movement on the 777.

So how long? That depends on attrition off the 777, which is not as great as the 737.

You go to the 737 there is a 3 year equipment lock.

For the foreseeable future there is no movement on the 777. But who knows. Sh*t happens.

If I were you I just would search out more fertile fields than SAI.

 

No pay for reserve days. There is a 3.5 hour/day duty rig, which works out to 70 hours for 20 days, so the company considers you free trip insurance once you've done your two laps.