Hi, just wonder if pilot can fly more than 80 hours/ month? I checked out several websites and most airlines have their pilot fly around 60-75 hours. How many hours did you started up flying and what's your current hour/month? Thank you!

Not sure if you’re a pilot or not so I include some extra terms just in case you aren’t.

FAR Part 121 pilots (the regulation applies to most airline jobs) can fly up to 30 hours in a week, 100 hours in a month and 1,000 hours in a year... Those are flying hours, not working or duty hours...

As a commuter pilot I frequently flew ~90 or so hours a month. In fact 2 years in a row I “timed out” around December and couldn't fly anymore (no, I didn't get any time off, they used me for some pubs work... :rolleyes:)

Later, when I worked for a low cost airline I flew ~75-85 hours/month when I had a hard line (or a schedule you can see a month in advance). I flew ~65-80 hours a month when I was on reserve (basically living by the pager waiting to be called to work where you have to arrive within 1 1/2 hour of being called).

Note - at passenger airlines reserve is often the schedule most junior pilots will get (bids awarded by seniority - the more senior the better schedule).

At cargo airlines (where I am now) quite often reserve schedules are preferred by the senior pilots (reserves do not get used as much at Fedex and UPS and therefore the senior guys/gals who live at their domicile can enjoy spending more time at home.)

Currently I mix a hard line schedule with a reserve schedule. When on reserve some months I fly 0 hours/month and others I might fly 50 hours. Hard lines anywhere from 60 hours to 80 hours.

All the numbers are flying hours, not credit hours. Duty hours, time away from home, etc. are much longer. Other pilots' experiences might vary greatly even if they worked for the same airline. It depends on the person's seniority, equipment, schedule preferences, living in/out of domicile, etc, etc.

In a nutshell, commuter pilots have the worst schedules, work the longest hours, fly the most, often with little if any automation and get the least appreciation and respect from their passengers and their employers. They also have the shortest layovers, stay at the crappiest hotels and make the least money. :(

Hope this helps, however if you’re trying to learn about the field of aviation by comparing flying hours you’ll never get it right. It’s like comparing apples to tractors…


Also, if you’re in the news media, which I suspect you might be, you’re part of a scumbag industry and should remember that all the innuendos, half-truths and straight lies your friends (and maybe even you) have written about the Colgan pilots and other pilots from past accidents will catch up with you all. Karma does not discriminate!

If that's not you, I sincerely apologize.

⌐ AV8OR WANNABE , Thanks for the reply,
No i'm not in the media industry, can't stand that. I want to be a commercial pilot and just want to know more about the work schedule. That's why I asked. Thanks for the insight! :) It sounds hard, but just plain awesome :D

Be different
 

Since there is a market for a turboprop regional carrier out there lets cut to the chase. Southwest Airlines way of doing business is a good business model to follow. They have proven first -- RESPECT each other; second -- you can pay an above average wage and still be profitable; third -- you will have employee loyalty which will save long-term labor costs; fourth the customers WILL be satisfied because the company's energy and positve dynamism will be apparent; fifth -- you can pick the best of the best of employees because people want to work here because it is a great place to work!

Be different
 

Since there is a market for a turboprop regional carrier out there lets cut to the chase. Southwest Airlines way of doing business is a good business model to follow. They have proven first -- RESPECT each other; second -- you can pay an above average wage and still be profitable; third -- you will have employee loyalty which will save long-term labor costs; fourth the customers WILL be satisfied because the company's energy and positve dynamism will be apparent; fifth -- you can pick the best of the best of employees because people want to work here because it is a great place to work!

Got ya, it's a tough career to get into but very rewarding in my opinion.

Enjoying your 'job' or loving what you do is very important to me and many other pilots. Unfortunately, many employers are aware of our weakness and will try to exploit us, the pilots, for their own winnings.

If you got other questions, shoot away...

Merit=Kissing Employers rear end on daily basis, stroking employers SHAFT on demand. :mad::mad:

I agree with Zapata, merit based systems do NOT belong at the airlines..

SureProp??

Why does it always have to be butt-kissing?

Lets see...

Employee A:

Shows up on time, in clean and pressed uniform, doesn't abuse sick leave, gets letters of appreciation for taking care of the customers, is well-liked by his/her colleagues.

Employee B:

Late often, uniform looks like it has never seen an iron or a dry cleaner, always uses up the entire sick leave and then some, doesn't do anything beyond the mandated bare bone minimum.

Now, time to decide whom to promote. Employee B has been with the company longer. Who gets upgraded and why?

As a former ALPA member of 8 years, I know the answer. "Date of hire and damn the 'butt-kissers/A-teamers!"

Trouble is... what does this do for the quality of my operation? What message does it send to my employees?