Typical Days Off

KramerT · March 25th, 2005, 19:52

I'm trying to sort out the regional's scheduing. What is the typical trip length, 3 days, 4 days? How many days off a month do you average? What trip lengths are more senior or junior? In particular, I am interested in Comair and ExpressJet. My point is that I want to minimize my time away from home. Thanks for your help!

Kingairer · March 25th, 2005, 20:08

Depends a whole heck of alot on the airline.

Windchill · March 25th, 2005, 20:21

Welcome to the boards! I'm from the area ... sent you a Private Message.

As to the regionals and days off ... as with all else it depends. Airline, seniority, etc.

Flight81 · March 25th, 2005, 20:43

Not sure if you seen it or not, but on the main page there is a typical Regional schedule. Not sure if thats exactly what your looking for.

KramerT · March 25th, 2005, 20:54

Yeah I tried researching through previous posts but most info on scheduling has to do with what you do once you check in and layovers and such. What I really want to know is in a given month, how many days are spent flying, and how many days are off.

Flight81 · March 25th, 2005, 21:06

Well, that info is on the main page. Maybe I wasn't clear, but on the main page of Jetcareers, before you even click on forums about 1/3 the way down the page there is a icon that says Regional schedule. Click on that and it has tons of info. Here is just a small sample from that page. Hope it helps..

Monthly Schedules
Here is a typical monthly schedule for a Skyway Airlines Beech 1900D Captain:

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Off Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly Off
Off Fly Fly Fly Fly Off Off
Off Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly Off
Off Fly Fly Off

11 Days off, 96 hours of Flight Time

At Skyway, we mostly flew "day trips" and had very few layovers. Most of the flying was catered to business travelers so the weekends generally had fewer scheduled flights including holidays. Other regionals that serve as United Express, Delta Connection, etc. have busier weekend and holiday schedules and generally fly trips with layovers.

Typical Day
At a regional, you may fly up to 12 legs in a day, depending on the length of your flights. On a typical day for a Milwaukee-based pilot may go as follows:

Departing Arriving
Milwaukee, WI Madison, WI
Madison, WI Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee, WI Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids, MI Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee, WI Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, IA Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee, WI Green Bay, WI
Green Bay, WI Milwaukee, WI

Doug Taylor · March 25th, 2005, 21:16

Main page, left hand side of the homepage:

See:

"Major Schedules"

"Regional Schedules"

"Regional Schedules #2"

"A Day in the Life (Major)"

"A Day in the Life (regional)"

Baronman · March 25th, 2005, 21:18

Hey there...

At XJT we have a contract that gaurantees 12 days off a month.

Within a month trips are divided into pairings of 1 day, 2, 3, and 4 day trips. So yeah, 4 on 3 or 2 off may be typical. We do typically 3-5 legs per day, but some trips are quite long (for an RJ) like Newark to Oklahoma City...I'm sure Comair would be similar.

Bear in mind that the BIGGEST thing you can do for yourself if you want to be at home more is live where you are based. Pilots like Doug, Szluka etc are commuters and pay the price when it comes to at-home-time. Even worse is when you're a commuter on reserve.

A senior line at XJT has 15-18 days off a month with lots of day trips (out in the morning, home at night).

Good luck

KramerT · March 25th, 2005, 21:20

Exactly what I was looking for - thanks so much. I have seen all the stories from the main page, they seemed to focus on one airline with a high number of day trips - which I don't think is the norm for the regionals.

Doug Taylor · March 25th, 2005, 21:22

Todays "Hey man, we're home every night!" is tomorrow's "Holy cow, how'd they fit a five day trip into next months bid package".

Skyway was predominantly day trips, but one day, it all changed.

Kingairer · March 25th, 2005, 22:46

[ QUOTE ]
Exactly what I was looking for - thanks so much. I have seen all the stories from the main page, they seemed to focus on one airline with a high number of day trips - which I don't think is the norm for the regionals.

[/ QUOTE ]

At my airline and base we have a good mix of 1-4 trips. I like 1 and 2 day trips since I have a place in Base. I try to fly as much as I can on the days I work to maximize my schedule and get as many days off I can. We have a computerized "pref" bidding system, which I currently love. I can basically build my ideal schedule each month to a certain extent, with a few back ups built in. Over the past few months Ive averavged 16-17 days off with weekends off and 1 and 2 day trips. In April I have 18 days off, Overnite 3 nites, one in keywest, and have all weekends off. Im enjoying it while i can.

Generally I build it so I work 3 on 4 off. Sometime when I want to build in time to visit some old buddies Ill switch it up to get a block of 5-6 days off in a row. With the bidding system we have, I basically have to chose aprox 14 days that I want to work.

av8trxx · March 26th, 2005, 00:42

Doug- Skyway has really changed since you left! My pal is a Dork Jet F/O and typically gets 50 hour lines with at least 15 days off! A little over staffed at the moment....

I lucked out and got two 6 day straight off stretches (of 15 total off) in APR

March 25th, 2005, 19:52	#1
KramerT Newbie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 6	Typical Days Off I'm trying to sort out the regional's scheduing. What is the typical trip length, 3 days, 4 days? How many days off a month do you average? What trip lengths are more senior or junior? In particular, I am interested in Comair and ExpressJet. My point is that I want to minimize my time away from home. Thanks for your help!

March 25th, 2005, 20:21	#3
Windchill Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB Posts: 1,925	Re: Typical Days Off Welcome to the boards! I'm from the area ... sent you a Private Message. As to the regionals and days off ... as with all else it depends. Airline, seniority, etc.

March 25th, 2005, 20:43	#4
Flight81 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 36	Re: Typical Days Off Not sure if you seen it or not, but on the main page there is a typical Regional schedule. Not sure if thats exactly what your looking for.

March 25th, 2005, 20:54	#5
KramerT Newbie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 6	Re: Typical Days Off Yeah I tried researching through previous posts but most info on scheduling has to do with what you do once you check in and layovers and such. What I really want to know is in a given month, how many days are spent flying, and how many days are off.

March 25th, 2005, 21:06	#6
Flight81 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 36	Re: Typical Days Off Well, that info is on the main page. Maybe I wasn't clear, but on the main page of Jetcareers, before you even click on forums about 1/3 the way down the page there is a icon that says Regional schedule. Click on that and it has tons of info. Here is just a small sample from that page. Hope it helps.. Monthly Schedules Here is a typical monthly schedule for a Skyway Airlines Beech 1900D Captain: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Off Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly Off Off Fly Fly Fly Fly Off Off Off Fly Fly Fly Fly Fly Off Off Fly Fly Off 11 Days off, 96 hours of Flight Time At Skyway, we mostly flew "day trips" and had very few layovers. Most of the flying was catered to business travelers so the weekends generally had fewer scheduled flights including holidays. Other regionals that serve as United Express, Delta Connection, etc. have busier weekend and holiday schedules and generally fly trips with layovers. Typical Day At a regional, you may fly up to 12 legs in a day, depending on the length of your flights. On a typical day for a Milwaukee-based pilot may go as follows: Departing Arriving Milwaukee, WI Madison, WI Madison, WI Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, WI Grand Rapids, MI Grand Rapids, MI Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, WI Des Moines, IA Des Moines, IA Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee, WI Green Bay, WI Green Bay, WI Milwaukee, WI

March 25th, 2005, 20:08	#2
Kingairer Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Nomadic...World Wide Boobie Bungalow Bouncer Posts: 3,190	Re: Typical Days Off Depends a whole heck of alot on the airline.

March 25th, 2005, 21:16	#7
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 41,223 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Typical Days Off Main page, left hand side of the homepage: See: "Major Schedules" "Regional Schedules" "Regional Schedules #2" "A Day in the Life (Major)" "A Day in the Life (regional)"

March 25th, 2005, 21:18	#8
Baronman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NEWARK Posts: 1,078	Re: Typical Days Off Hey there... At XJT we have a contract that gaurantees 12 days off a month. Within a month trips are divided into pairings of 1 day, 2, 3, and 4 day trips. So yeah, 4 on 3 or 2 off may be typical. We do typically 3-5 legs per day, but some trips are quite long (for an RJ) like Newark to Oklahoma City...I'm sure Comair would be similar. Bear in mind that the BIGGEST thing you can do for yourself if you want to be at home more is live where you are based. Pilots like Doug, Szluka etc are commuters and pay the price when it comes to at-home-time. Even worse is when you're a commuter on reserve. A senior line at XJT has 15-18 days off a month with lots of day trips (out in the morning, home at night). Good luck

March 25th, 2005, 21:20	#9
KramerT Newbie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 6	Re: Typical Days Off Exactly what I was looking for - thanks so much. I have seen all the stories from the main page, they seemed to focus on one airline with a high number of day trips - which I don't think is the norm for the regionals.

March 25th, 2005, 21:22	#10
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 41,223 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Typical Days Off Todays "Hey man, we're home every night!" is tomorrow's "Holy cow, how'd they fit a five day trip into next months bid package". Skyway was predominantly day trips, but one day, it all changed.

March 25th, 2005, 22:46	#11
Kingairer Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Nomadic...World Wide Boobie Bungalow Bouncer Posts: 3,190	Re: Typical Days Off [ QUOTE ] Exactly what I was looking for - thanks so much. I have seen all the stories from the main page, they seemed to focus on one airline with a high number of day trips - which I don't think is the norm for the regionals. [/ QUOTE ] At my airline and base we have a good mix of 1-4 trips. I like 1 and 2 day trips since I have a place in Base. I try to fly as much as I can on the days I work to maximize my schedule and get as many days off I can. We have a computerized "pref" bidding system, which I currently love. I can basically build my ideal schedule each month to a certain extent, with a few back ups built in. Over the past few months Ive averavged 16-17 days off with weekends off and 1 and 2 day trips. In April I have 18 days off, Overnite 3 nites, one in keywest, and have all weekends off. Im enjoying it while i can. Generally I build it so I work 3 on 4 off. Sometime when I want to build in time to visit some old buddies Ill switch it up to get a block of 5-6 days off in a row. With the bidding system we have, I basically have to chose aprox 14 days that I want to work.

March 26th, 2005, 00:42	#12
av8trxx Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: KSAN Posts: 392	Re: Typical Days Off Doug- Skyway has really changed since you left! My pal is a Dork Jet F/O and typically gets 50 hour lines with at least 15 days off! A little over staffed at the moment.... I lucked out and got two 6 day straight off stretches (of 15 total off) in APR

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