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Days off, QOL

Old 11-14-2017, 10:34 AM
  #1  
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Default Days off, QOL

I'm 25, just entering flight school. Spent the last 4 years working on a kinesiology degree and realized I wanted to be a pilot. So my flight degree will add another 1.5 years from January 2018. My goal: Fly for the airlines, and live in Colorado. I'm already living in Colorado but I'd like to stay here if possible and Southwest is also an airline I'd like to fly for.

Some wants:
I know what I'm getting into but I don't want to be gone all the time. I know in the beginning at the regionals it's going to be tough for a bit but once I latch on to the majors things will get better. Are there any airlines out there that offer day trips? Or tend to have their pilots back at base more often? From what I've seen there are a ton of factors like senority, proximity to base, type of equipment etc. At the moment I think I'd like to stay with the 737, I've always loved that plane.

I've heard of some airlines offering options to block trips together? Or guys can just bid reserve?
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Old 11-14-2017, 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by KINEAvTECH92 View Post
I'm 25, just entering flight school. Spent the last 4 years working on a kinesiology degree and realized I wanted to be a pilot. So my flight degree will add another 1.5 years from January 2018. My goal: Fly for the airlines, and live in Colorado. I'm already living in Colorado but I'd like to stay here if possible and Southwest is also an airline I'd like to fly for.

Some wants:
I know what I'm getting into but I don't want to be gone all the time. I know in the beginning at the regionals it's going to be tough for a bit but once I latch on to the majors things will get better. Are there any airlines out there that offer day trips? Or tend to have their pilots back at base more often? From what I've seen there are a ton of factors like senority, proximity to base, type of equipment etc. At the moment I think I'd like to stay with the 737, I've always loved that plane.

I've heard of some airlines offering options to block trips together? Or guys can just bid reserve?
If you're entering this career field with a mindset of "I want to maximize day trips" you're starting off on the wrong foot already. Assume worse case scenario, you will have 4 day trips. Time away from home is the one constant in this industry. As for the rest, if you're just entering flight school then you have a long way to go before worrying about what Southwest or United presence in Denver will look like.

If you haven't already, get a First Class medical. Then see how you like flying in general and work towards your private pilot certificate.
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Old 11-14-2017, 11:30 AM
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Allegiant does a lot of out and back day trips, depending on the base. A LAS based allegiant pilot friend of mine works 3-4 days a week and is home every night, a huge reason why he's still working there and not somewhere else that pays more but is away from home all the time.

If you want to fly for a larger more conventional airline, along the way and at your final company you're going to end up away from home a lot. If you're concerned primarily with sleeping at home every night, you're going to be looking at a lot smaller number of smaller operators. Nothing wrong with that, everyone sets their own priorities when looking for a job. But you're not gonna avoid the time away from home if you want to make the big bucks flying for a big airline, and most of your time spent at any regional is also going to be away from home.

If that's not satisfactory, you might consider a different career track within the aviation field. Getting the experience required for well paying aviation jobs is going to pose the same problems though, targeting your job choices will be a lot harder if time at home is a priority.
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Old 11-14-2017, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by KINEAvTECH92 View Post
I'm 25, just entering flight school. Spent the last 4 years working on a kinesiology degree and realized I wanted to be a pilot. So my flight degree will add another 1.5 years from January 2018. My goal: Fly for the airlines, and live in Colorado. I'm already living in Colorado but I'd like to stay here if possible and Southwest is also an airline I'd like to fly for.

Some wants:
I know what I'm getting into but I don't want to be gone all the time. I know in the beginning at the regionals it's going to be tough for a bit but once I latch on to the majors things will get better. Are there any airlines out there that offer day trips? Or tend to have their pilots back at base more often? From what I've seen there are a ton of factors like senority, proximity to base, type of equipment etc. At the moment I think I'd like to stay with the 737, I've always loved that plane.

I've heard of some airlines offering options to block trips together? Or guys can just bid reserve?
You're coming into it with the right mindset and expectations it sounds like. It's gonna take a bit for you to get your 1500ish hours, get on with a regional, and then make it to a major.

The day trips typically go the most senior at each base, as they typically are the highest credit time per day, plus home every night.

A word to the wise: the 737 sucks. Then again, I went to it after flying the 757/767. Tiny, loud cockpit. I guess I should be thankful for my time on the 737, as that is what drove me to switching to the 320, which has been just fantastic.
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Old 11-14-2017, 11:57 AM
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If you are going to chase an aviation career, be ready to travel. If you can’t handle being gone, aviation is not a good career choice.
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Old 11-15-2017, 02:12 PM
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Originally Posted by at6d View Post
If you are going to chase an aviation career, be ready to travel. If you can’t handle being gone, aviation is not a good career choice.

I am completely. I'm going into aviation because it was a childhood dream and I want to travel...That said, I'm sure many pilots would prefer knocking off a couple days per month in a hotel if that option was available. I'm still learning how the airlines work and I've heard that some airlines offer day trips and some dont. Some let you block your schedule together, others don't. I'm just asking.
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Old 11-15-2017, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by ShyGuy View Post
If you're entering this career field with a mindset of "I want to maximize day trips" you're starting off on the wrong foot already. Assume worse case scenario, you will have 4 day trips. Time away from home is the one constant in this industry. As for the rest, if you're just entering flight school then you have a long way to go before worrying about what Southwest or United presence in Denver will look like.

If you haven't already, get a First Class medical. Then see how you like flying in general and work towards your private pilot certificate.

I'm going into this because it's a childhood dream and I want to travel. For me, if there was an opportunity to knock off a few days in a hotel per month then why not? From reading these forums it seems like there are many tricks to bidding schedules so I'm just trying to figure it all. I've had people tell me that I'll be in the majors between 30-32. Does that seem accurate? BTW I got that first class medical today
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Old 11-15-2017, 05:26 PM
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30 - 32 is not unreasonable, assuming nothing changes with the industry.

Day trips should be obtainable once you are very senior in your seat. For regional FO, that might be three years, for major CA, more like 30.

If you're going for fast career progression, you're not going to stay in any seat long enough to enjoy seniority. It's one or the other, never both.

If you live in base, that gives you a lot more flexibility, and more nights at home.
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Old 11-15-2017, 06:03 PM
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I find it hard to understand people who want to become pilots but don’t want to move or be gone for more than a day or two. There were guys in my UPT class who were astounded to be going to an overseas assignment or have to deploy. It’s aviation!

You can only learn the skills and let the future work itself out. I’ve lived in three corners of the country, done more two-week plus trips than I can remember. I thought I made it when hired at “legacy” Eastern Airlines. Didn’t last but 5 years. I knew guys hired at UAL and DL in the late nineties who thought “what could go wrong” and spent years on furlough.

Embrace the industry, but be ready to roll with some big punches. Learn the tricks later when you have seniority to make them work, if you get there. An airplane can be a magic carpet or a prison that moves.

GF
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Old 11-15-2017, 10:59 PM
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Originally Posted by KINEAvTECH92 View Post
I'm 25, just entering flight school. Spent the last 4 years working on a kinesiology degree and realized I wanted to be a pilot. So my flight degree will add another 1.5 years from January 2018.
Can you just finish your kinesiology degree? No need for an aviation degree and especially if it adds 1.5 years of school. Maybe I’m reading it wrong.
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