new pilot

newyork2 · March 24th, 2006, 18:29

Im still in high school and I have decided to become a pilot but I have a few questions. They might sound stupid to you guys but Im new to all this.
1) If an airline has a number of bases can you decide were your based or do they base you anywere they want?
2) If I was working for a regional airline about how many days a week would I be gone?
I will think of more so expect more posts with Q from me.
Oh yah now that I think of It how do you get those little pictures in your posts?

BobDDuck · March 24th, 2006, 18:35

What base you get depends on your seniority. Your first day in you will be assigned a number. Say there are 400 pilots at the company and you are the newest one, you will be 400. As people leave above you you move up. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) is done by seniority. So, you will be able to choose what base you want depending on how many slots are open at each base and how many people in front of you want those slots.

Same thing goes for how many day a week you are away. You will bid a schedule for the month based on how senior you are. Obviously, the good schedules will tend to go to more senior people. The number of days away depends on how your company builds their schedules. Chances are it won't be more then 4 days at a time, but it all depends.

Ripper3785 · March 24th, 2006, 20:08

You may want to have a look at the perspectives section of jetcareers.com located here: http://www.jetcareers.com/content/section/4/119/

TheFlyingTurkey · March 25th, 2006, 00:54

To put it into simple terms...

1. Your first day you will fill out a "permanent bid". You list the bases you want in order of preference. Then the company assigns you a base depending on availability, what you listed on your permanent bid, and your seniority number. Later on as you move up the seniority list, you may bid to move to a different base if there is space for you.

2. This is a tough question to answer as each airline and circumstance will be different. But as a rule of thumb your first year you will be on "reserve". I am on reserve for 6 days straight with 2 days off. (I also get a 4 day block off during the month) I could end up flying every one of those 6 days, or I could end up sitting at home by the phone waiting for it to ring for those 6 days. Here's an example:
In February I worked a total of 8 days. 2 four day trips. I was away from home for 3 nights each trip.
So far this month I have worked 6 days. I did a 4 day trip, then I did two 1 day trips where I was home each night (called an out-&-back). I average 30 hours flight time a month with this schedule.
It is like that because we have a lot of reserve pilots.
I have friends at other airlines who are flying 80-90 hours a month on reserve, they are gone all the time. So it just depends on where you end up, & how many pilots they have on reserve.

Uh, I hope I didn't confuse you too much.

Adam2006 · March 25th, 2006, 03:18

FlyTurk, I have a some Q's"
1. Does your time on "reserve" pend on attrition, upgrades, and new equipment?
2. Do you bid on reserve, or work whatever trips are needed?
--thanks---

Doug Taylor · March 25th, 2006, 03:24

Think of reserve like being fresh meat for crew scheduling.

"Get to the airport now and ferry the plane from PHX to TUS. Wait around for four hours and fly it back"

"Guess what? You've got a four day trip and we need you at the airport as soon as possible!"

or

"Fly into your base, get a crashpad at your own expense, we might not use you for five days, but on the sixth, we're going to give you a trip that overlaps into your off days"

Maximillian_Jenius · March 25th, 2006, 03:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

Chances are it won't be more then 4 days at a time, but it all depends.

I thought that I have heard of "5 day trips" at the major/regional level. Am I right or sniffing glue again!?

Nick · March 25th, 2006, 04:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

I thought that I have heard of "5 day trips" at the major/regional level. Am I right or sniffing glue again!?

Probably not at any regionals, but there are international trips at majors that go from 10 to 15 to nearly 20 days.

Nick · March 25th, 2006, 04:39

Am I right or sniffing glue again!?

And so to actually answer your question, I guess you are sniffing glue again. You and Lloyd Bridges.

BobDDuck · March 25th, 2006, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

I thought that I have heard of "5 day trips" at the major/regional level. Am I right or sniffing glue again!?

There are maybe some 5 day trips out there, but you would most likely be home on the 5 day meaning only 4 nights. We have a clause in our contract that stats we may not be kept away form domicile for more then 3 consecutive nights unless we ok it. So what ends up happening is they send us on a 4 day where you are home for the 4th night (per contract) and then they send you back out first thing the next morning for an out and back.

newyork2 · March 25th, 2006, 15:49

Thanks for the replys.

captainphil · March 25th, 2006, 19:25

welcome, im in high school as well, I am a junior how bout urself?

March 24th, 2006, 18:29	#1
newyork2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 13	new pilot Im still in high school and I have decided to become a pilot but I have a few questions. They might sound stupid to you guys but Im new to all this. 1) If an airline has a number of bases can you decide were your based or do they base you anywere they want? 2) If I was working for a regional airline about how many days a week would I be gone? I will think of more so expect more posts with Q from me. Oh yah now that I think of It how do you get those little pictures in your posts?

March 24th, 2006, 18:35	#2
BobDDuck Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Left Seat Posts: 5,924	What base you get depends on your seniority. Your first day in you will be assigned a number. Say there are 400 pilots at the company and you are the newest one, you will be 400. As people leave above you you move up. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) is done by seniority. So, you will be able to choose what base you want depending on how many slots are open at each base and how many people in front of you want those slots. Same thing goes for how many day a week you are away. You will bid a schedule for the month based on how senior you are. Obviously, the good schedules will tend to go to more senior people. The number of days away depends on how your company builds their schedules. Chances are it won't be more then 4 days at a time, but it all depends. __________________ TBJC08 The Gear Monkey The Gear Monkey Store

March 25th, 2006, 00:54	#4
TheFlyingTurkey Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 2,987	To put it into simple terms... 1. Your first day you will fill out a "permanent bid". You list the bases you want in order of preference. Then the company assigns you a base depending on availability, what you listed on your permanent bid, and your seniority number. Later on as you move up the seniority list, you may bid to move to a different base if there is space for you. 2. This is a tough question to answer as each airline and circumstance will be different. But as a rule of thumb your first year you will be on "reserve". I am on reserve for 6 days straight with 2 days off. (I also get a 4 day block off during the month) I could end up flying every one of those 6 days, or I could end up sitting at home by the phone waiting for it to ring for those 6 days. Here's an example: In February I worked a total of 8 days. 2 four day trips. I was away from home for 3 nights each trip. So far this month I have worked 6 days. I did a 4 day trip, then I did two 1 day trips where I was home each night (called an out-&-back). I average 30 hours flight time a month with this schedule. It is like that because we have a lot of reserve pilots. I have friends at other airlines who are flying 80-90 hours a month on reserve, they are gone all the time. So it just depends on where you end up, & how many pilots they have on reserve. Uh, I hope I didn't confuse you too much. __________________ Twin boys!

March 25th, 2006, 03:18	#5
Adam2006 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Socal Posts: 214	FlyTurk, I have a some Q's" 1. Does your time on "reserve" pend on attrition, upgrades, and new equipment? 2. Do you bid on reserve, or work whatever trips are needed? --thanks--- __________________ adam

March 25th, 2006, 03:24	#6
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 41,926 Blog Entries: 1	Think of reserve like being fresh meat for crew scheduling. "Get to the airport now and ferry the plane from PHX to TUS. Wait around for four hours and fly it back" "Guess what? You've got a four day trip and we need you at the airport as soon as possible!" or "Fly into your base, get a crashpad at your own expense, we might not use you for five days, but on the sixth, we're going to give you a trip that overlaps into your off days" __________________ Doug Taylor http://76school.flyblog.com (old!) http://30west.flyblog.com (updated 11/28)

March 24th, 2006, 20:08	#3
Ripper3785 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oahu, HI Posts: 121	You may want to have a look at the perspectives section of jetcareers.com located here: http://www.jetcareers.com/content/section/4/119/

March 25th, 2006, 04:39	#9
Nick Old Skool Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,523	Am I right or sniffing glue again!? And so to actually answer your question, I guess you are sniffing glue again. You and Lloyd Bridges. __________________ Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress in this period in history.

March 25th, 2006, 15:49	#11
newyork2 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 13	thanks Thanks for the replys.

March 25th, 2006, 19:25	#12
captainphil Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 407	welcome, im in high school as well, I am a junior how bout urself? __________________ The sky is calling!!

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