Sorry - I looked for the answers, but found none yet. still looking.

Seems like the worst QoL is being on reserve. How does that work/suck?

A friend works for a local 135, and he carries a uniform in his car, and goes to dinner with wife in separate cars - now that sucks! He gets paid more than at the regionals, but....

I am looking to start a second career as an airline pilot - have been flying for 30+ yrs - never for hire...

 

Commuting to reserve is what everyone hates. It you live in base being on reserve can be great depending on how well your company is staffed and there isn't a flu virus or something going around.

The last month I was on reserve, I only flew 9 days, and living 15 minutes from my base airport meant I never had to wear pants till I got a phone call. You do the math...that's not a lot of pants wearing.

 

Reserve is different at every airline. But to keep things simple youre essentially on a 2 hour call out over a set block on days (typically 4 or 5 in a row). Start times vary but theres typically an early (4 or 5am) or later (10am).

If you live in base being on reserve isnt bad. You can continue on your normal life and wait for the phone to ring. But commuting on reserve is a different story as you'll need a place to stay while waiting to get called.

Reserves usually only get paid min guarantee and have less days off than line holders.

 

K Thanks for that explanation of the basics.
So, if applying to regionals, can one choose which base to apply to? Relocation is not an option and commuting seems to be untenable. I live near EWR, but <2 hrs to LGA/JFK/PHL

Crazily, my goal is to fly as much as possible, and I have plenty flexibility on schedule with stable home life and grown kids.... Can one get more flights while on reserve?
I'd like to hit 1000 hrs / annum cap

 

Getting off of reserve quickly is really the only why that you will be able to fly that much at most carriers.

 

No, on base question, have to hope on day 1 that the base you want is available for choice.

Enough companies fly in those base so choose wisely.

1000 hrs on reserve not a chance. But you're paid 75 hrs a month, so you can pick up ot and maybe get close to 100 hrs a month, but even that's hard on reserve.

Living in base on reserve is key to having a happy life at home.

 

Can one trust the on-reserve times posted here and other places? or is that like the army recruiter - "travel and see the world" line?

 

So there are three FAA recognized reserve types. Long call = more than 10 hour notice and on call pretty much 24 hrs a day on your work days. Short call/RAP (reserve availability period). About a 14-16 time frame you are legal to work. 1.5-3 hour call outs for companies is standard with 2 hrs being the most used. (Envoy uses a 3 hr call out for LGA and 2 for all other bases)
Airport standby- You are considered on duty and can fly what ever the FAA says you are legal. Usually you go home after 8 hours of no call.

Everything that's been said here is pretty much spot on. But like AZFlyer said it all depends on company staffing. I got raked over the coals in October but Nov. and Dec were a cake walk. So it's dynamic from month to month or year to year.

Sometimes I have to take separate cars to things with the family on the off chance I get called. I typically know when I will get called based on open flights and reserves available, however sometimes I get surprised by the call or no call.

Reserve time at all airlines are low due to hiring. It looks like you want to get off reserve ASAP and want to fly. Good luck.

 

If you think getting paid to have dinner with your wife sucks then you
need a new wife. That is the beauty of rsv if you live in domicile.

You cannot fly 1000/yr on rsv but you can credit/paid more.
If your worried about qol why do you want to fly a lot?

 

I am entirely willing to take on the poor QoL - in return for being able to fly the cr*p out every day. I still feel like a wide-eyed kid when I am flying any airplane, C150 to Baron
However, that does not mean that I don't want to know what the QoL issues are Inquiring minds want to know (there, I dated myself again)