I understand that when I become a regional pilot I would have get a second job because the pay will suck the first year. My question is what is the deal with normal hours and reserves (ex. 75 hours normal and 75 on reserve). Do you calculate both normal and reserve or is it just normal hours? Please Help!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Please clarify. What do you mean by normal? you mean average, guarantee?

 

Sorry I meant guarantee and reserve

 

You get your guarantee. If you fly more than the guaranteed hours you get payed for every hour on top of that.

 

That's true for reserve or line holders. It is that your question?

 

If you are a line holder (ie not on reserve) you get paid for each flight you fly with, plus you may get extra pay for scheduling reserves if your regional has work rules which require this. At a better regional, you might fly 80 hours and get paid 100.

If you are on reserve, you get paid guarantee (75 hours is typical) regardless of if you get called to fly or not. If you get called for only a small amount of flying, say 25 hours, then you still only get paid 75 hours. If you get called a lot, and actually fly (or credit due to work rules) more than 75, then you get paid the value of what you worked.

Both reserves and line holders also get paid an hourly per diem (typically $1.60) for each hour that they are on duty away from home. A reserve who does not get called out does not get per diem.


What you REALLY want to know is:

Do new hires at your airline spend a lot of time on reserve? If not, then you'll probably get paid 85+ hours.

If they do spend a lot of time on reserve, then you want to know if the reserves get used a lot. If so, you could still make more than 75. If not, then it will be straight 75 hours, with a little per diem when you do fly.

 

Ok got it
but that means if I"m making $24/hr for 75 hours=1800 monthly!!!!
that realy sucks. does it get better or is there something else I'm missing?

 

Allright bro........1800 a month !!........I'd be very happy making that a month. I make less than that....... It gets better though......it's called upgrade, before then, everytime you see your paycheck, alcoholism crosses your mind several times....

 

Seriously, if 121 is where you want to build a career, I won't tell you don't do it. It is imperative that you do a very detailed research of the regional you want to go. A good contract makes the difference.

 

WOW I hope you are joking!! How am I going to be able to support my family? How long does it take to upgrade. Sorry guys I forgot to introduce myself I'm 27 years old about to become a dad for the first time and finally got the loans I need to forfill my dream of becoming an airline pilot.