Anyone HAPPY with their schedule?

[88MPH]

Of all of the threads and ensuing posts, none really seem to promote the idea that one is home with their families as much as they'd like. Now I know we all get greedy, but are there any (including spouses) that are satisfied with the amount of time they spend away from home/family?

[desertdog71]

I am used to being on the road for 3-4 weeks at a time with only 2-3 days off a month. I am friggin ecstatic with my schedule.

[Kristie]

I'm pretty comfortable with the schedule...I changed my hours so I could work 4-10 hr days...doug's usually getting mon-thur trips, so by the time he gets home, i'm done with work and we get a 3 day weekend.

but again, it's all based on seniority.. as you get higher in the ranks, schedules get better.. just make sure your sig other can adjust their schedule to match and it works out a heck of a lot better!!

[NightCargo]

Right now I work 7 on and 7 off, and so far it is working pretty well.

Towards the end of my 7 days off, my wife starts asking "when are you going back to work?" Then of course towards the end of my 7 on, the wife wants me to come home. Hard to get tired of each other this way!

If I had kids, it might be different, but so far it works well for us.

NightCargo

[WindyCityPilot]

I'm with Kristie on the 4 10's. Can't beat the 3 day weekends every week! Haven't worked a Friday since June of '05. Gotta love employers who allow flexible schedules!

[88MPH]

Great news! How long did it take you to get somewhere you can do that? I understand paying dues and all, but realistically, how long does it "normally" take. (and I do take normal with a grain or two of salt!)

And what kind of flying is that that you do? CFI, Regional, Corporate, etc?

Thanks

[Dugie8]

I can't complain too much, 8 on 6 off, and if I get the bids to line up right I can get over two weeks off at the end and beginning of two months. MY wife loves it, I like it, the flying is easy, only fly 4 of those 8 days. Layover cities could be better though, but beggers can't be chosers.

[averyrm]

I like mine, ~11pm till ~8am four days a week. Three day weekends, and I'm home every "night." It works well for the wife too.

[88MPH]

Looks like schedules are ok

[Tim]

I work 4 on and 4 off so I like mine. Plus by the time the kids get home from school I am awake so I get to hangout more with them

[mtsu_av8er]

I'm EXTREMELY happy with my schedule, because I'm doing what I'd like to be doing!

[Bandit_Driver]

The wife and I are cool with my schedule. I am 18 on and then 12-14 off. Last month was sweet for me. 7 on 23 off.
Yes, that is 23 off

[GaTechKid]

I'm "home" every night and my 3 day weekend starts at 1pm Thurs. - It's aight.

[Jason]

Little late on the reply but I'm ecstatic with my schedule.....generally 2 on 1 off when I'm "in the rotation". Not uncommon to have several 4 to 6 days off periods each month. Last month I worked 12 days. Home every single night. Making more $$$ than I did as a CRJ Captain doing 1/4 the work.

Life is good!

Jason

[ZapBrannigan]

I'm happy with my schedule. Most of our trips depart at 6:30 am and are home by 5:30pm. In my own bed every night. Monthly schedule rotates days off. Week 1: Sat - Tues OFF, Week 2: Wed - Thurs OFF, Week 3: Friday OFF, Week 4 - same as week 1.

Rarely any weekend flying, rarely any holiday flying. Not counting recurrent I think i've only spent about 3 nights in a hotel this year.

[subpilot]

I am on reserve and enjoy my schedule. I only spend on average 1 night per week in a hotel. Most days that I am on duty I either get to stay at home all day or I get called out to do one turn and then I am done.

[Captain_Bob]

Senior FO schedule... 16-19 days off a month... a mix of 3 and 4 day trips... and the ability for make them commutable. I'm digging it.

Even when I wasn't senior... I found that I was spending more "physical time" home with my wife and kids than I ever did when I was working at my "normal" jobs... working up to 70 hours a week...

It's all how you look at it I guess.

Bob

[jtrain609]

My schedule consists of a few variations:

-Doing nothing during the day for the most part, working 9-5 like an average guy. I sleep in my bed every night.

-Spending 15 hours a day at work, every day, 6 days aweek. I still sleep in my bed every night.

-Working 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. while training, also 6 days a week, in my bed every...erm...day.

For me? It sucks. I hate where my bed is, my schedule flip flops between those three variations at will and my body clock gets jacked beyond belief. You think a 4 hour time change is bad? Try waking up at 7:00 a.m. one day, getting to work and realizing you have to go back on "rest" for the rest of the day, try to sleep a little bit, then work from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., then the next day you sleep until 2:00 p.m., come in for a few hours of work and the next day you're back up at 7:00 a.m. I've done that one more times than I care to count, and it really turns me into a zombie.

I'm looknig forward to the regional schedule. I really think that the guys that complain about regional schedules never had to do standups 5 days a week for 6 straight months. That will kill a guy, but I've seen people do it.

[subpilot]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

I'm looknig forward to the regional schedule. I really think that the guys that complain about regional schedules never had to do standups 5 days a week for 6 straight months. That will kill a guy, but I've seen people do it.

...or they never had to go to sea for 6 months, spending 2-3 months straight underwater with 130 other dudes!!!

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by subpilot

...or they never had to go to sea for 6 months, spending 2-3 months straight underwater with 130 other dudes!!!

YAR!!!

(I'm not really sure if that was the correct response on my part, but I kinda liked it...)

[Boom Boom]

Great schedule... Live in domicile so bid reserve.. 15-19 days reserve.. Work 4-8 days a month.. Also those days include Airport stbys (5 hour time frame), out and backs (home by 10AM), the occasional day layover and very rarely a pairing that last 3-5 days.. Middle of the night ain't great on the body but good for the Wife, Kids (2), and Paycheck...

I have done that cruise thing and this is a MUCH better deal... But we didn't do any underwear thing... Just Sleep, Fly, Mid-Rats...

[AngelFuree]

Originally Posted by Jason

Little late on the reply but I'm ecstatic with my schedule.....generally 2 on 1 off when I'm "in the rotation". Not uncommon to have several 4 to 6 days off periods each month. Last month I worked 12 days. Home every single night. Making more $$$ than I did as a CRJ Captain doing 1/4 the work.

Life is good!

Jason

That's good to hear! What type of job do you have now, if I may ask?

[HRDiva]

DH is bidding #8 now, so all is good for him. But he bids so he can go diving! So I never see him anyway until he comes home with the lobsters (or scallops if it was a deep dive).

[greaper007]

My schedule could be worse. After a month I was the number 1 F/O at my base. We also fly a direct flight from my base to where I live twice a day. Right now I'm flying 4 days a week and I get weekends off. The only thing that could be better is if I could get a 3 day schedule. I'm not going to complain though.

[ZapBrannigan]

JTrain,
FYI. I flew nonsched freight all nights (135) in a C402 for about a year before getting hired by the commuters in the mid-90s.

Trust me. About 3 months in, you'll be complaining about your schedule. They will use and abuse you if you don't have that contract committed to memory and have the guts to call them on it.