5 day trip

TheFlyingTurkey · April 24th, 2006, 21:25

Ahh...the life of a reserve pilot!
Just got the call from scheduling...I get to start a 5 day trip tomorrow!

I HATE 5 DAY TRIPS!

Even if the first day is just a deadhead.
Hell, I hate 4 day trips. Nothing like flying 6 legs a day for 4 days straight! But I guess I have to "pay my dues". CRAP!

And the worst part is I have to fly with a Harrisburg crew...that means flying to Philly

and New York

.

SoFlo · April 24th, 2006, 21:27

I guess have a good time although it is Philly

.

Champcar · April 24th, 2006, 21:45

You guys still flying into ROC?

Shemsey · April 24th, 2006, 21:53

This post shows how pilots always complain about everything. We dream of the airline job, and then complain once we get there. No offence man, but I'd take a 5day trip over instructing 5days.

MQAAord · April 24th, 2006, 21:58

Dude, you have no idea how brutal a 5-day trip is.

I don't care how much you're paid, or how glamorous and 'cool' it is to fly a plane for an airline, 5 day trips SUCK.

TheFlyingTurkey · April 24th, 2006, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shemsey

This post shows how pilots always complain about everything. We dream of the airline job, and then complain once we get there. No offence man, but I'd take a 5day trip over instructing 5days.

You're 100% right. I shouldn't complain. I was in your exact same shoes this time last year.
But...it's been my experience that the airlines have taken all the joy, freedom, and fun out of flying. At least as a flight instructor you're home every night.
This is the reality of airline flying and I wanted to share that with anyone considering this as a career.

BobDDuck · April 24th, 2006, 22:13

Our contract limits us to no more then 3 nights away from base at a time. Small benefit I guess. Shamsey, not to come down on you or anything, but Turkey is right. A five day trip is hell. It almost is a (uh oh, should I say it) safety issue at times.

SierraPilot123 · April 24th, 2006, 22:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFlyingTurkey

You're 100% right. I shouldn't complain. I was in your exact same shoes this time last year.
But...it's been my experience that the airlines have taken all the joy, freedom, and fun out of flying. At least as a flight instructor you're home every night.
This is the reality of airline flying and I wanted to share that with anyone considering this as a career.

I am not in your shoes but I feel your pain man. 5 days away from home would get tiresome. Do you get any free time to enjoy the destinations that you fly to? Or is it drop off, turn around, take off and sleep for a few hours at the end of the day?

How many days do you get off after a 5 day trip if you don't mind me asking?

Doug Taylor · April 24th, 2006, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shemsey

This post shows how pilots always complain about everything. We dream of the airline job, and then complain once we get there. No offence man, but I'd take a 5day trip over instructing 5days.

Ahh, the grass isn't always greener my friend.

Four day trip requires at least three days of recovery time from dehydration, sleep deficits and at least helping to get your life back on track.

Being gone for five days? Oh man, I'd be in a belltower with a .22.

stuckingfk · April 24th, 2006, 23:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by MQAAord

Dude, you have no idea how brutal a 5-day trip is.

I don't care how much you're paid, or how glamorous and 'cool' it is to fly a plane for an airline, 5 day trips SUCK.

I have a 3 day trip starting tomorrow going into SNA. Meeting up with Chip Foose to look at some cars and then going golfing.

In two weeks I have 7 day trip to Florida. For that week, the boss is chartering a boat to tarpon fish. And we're also golfing a few rounds in the Naples area.

Yeah those long trips suck....

TheFlyingTurkey · April 24th, 2006, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by SierraPilot123

I am not in your shoes but I feel your pain man. 5 days away from home would get tiresome. Do you get any free time to enjoy the destinations that you fly to? Or is it drop off, turn around, take off and sleep for a few hours at the end of the day?

How many days do you get off after a 5 day trip if you don't mind me asking?

At Piedmont they actually give you time to rest. Lets say I report at 13:00. I will fly between 4-6 legs, then be off duty around 22:00. Then it usually takes 30 minutes to get to the hotel. By the time I relax and unwind a little its after midnight before I get to bed.
Wake up the next day to mooch off the free breakfast (if there is one) then I'll have a couple of hours to kill before I report say around 13:00-14:00. Rinse, repeat.

Same thing with early (04:40) report times. Get done by 13:00-14:00, and you have the rest of the day to kill, until you report at 05:00-06:00 the next day. I really prefer the late report times.

After the trip your time off depends on a few things.

For one thing if you are a line holder, there are very few if any 5 day trips. Usually it's out-and-backs, 3-day, and 4-day trips. Then you usually have 2,3 or more days off. Line holders usually get 14-15 days off a month.

I am on reserve. So I start out with a 6 day stretch of reserve. They called me on my first day, for a 5 day trip. When I get done with that trip, I still have one more day of reserve. They could, if they needed to, call me to fly an out-and-back on that 6th day. Then I get 2 days off. On 6 off 2. We do get 4 days off in a row, once a month. I get 10 days off a month.

It may seem kind of confusing. When I am sitting in the hotel tomorrow, I'll post my schedule for next month.

scoobs · April 24th, 2006, 23:30

You guys won't like Fedex or UPS.

bwade210 · April 25th, 2006, 00:35

I've been away from "home" for seven years.... consumed in my Undergrad, Graduate degree, and now Flight School! Aaaahhhhhh I miss Texas!

amorris311 · April 25th, 2006, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoobs

You guys won't like Fedex or UPS.

why wouldnt we like them? they have consistent 5 day (night) trips?

Nick · April 25th, 2006, 01:12

Amorris,

There are plenty of major airlines with trips lasting more than a dozen days!

Tim · April 25th, 2006, 01:16

World Airway's pilots are on duty for 14 days and then 7 off. Within those 14 they could be sitting anywhere in the world. We have had a crew stuck in Bishkek, Manas, Kyrsyzstan for 3 days. The arm pit of the world. You arent flying everyday but you are away from home.

Doug Taylor · April 25th, 2006, 01:24

Hey! Southernjets has a long layover in Dakar now!

Tim · April 25th, 2006, 01:24

You should bid that one. I am sure the -90 could make it.....lol

Doug Taylor · April 25th, 2006, 01:32

Nah, knowing SouthernJets, they'd want to strap two CRJ's together with droptanks.

Tim · April 25th, 2006, 01:34

And expect you to make with enough fuel to divert to the Sudan or somewhere...

We have a flight right now doing TPE-ATL nonstop...

Baronman · April 25th, 2006, 08:09

5 day trip?! BRUTAL!!

I feel for you man...That's almost a week of your life for the comany.

I just did a 3 day and couldn't believe how it took forever, of course I just do day trips and 2 day trips now. Best thing I ever did. I feel like work is the place I go every once in a while instead of always being there!! Next month, 15 days off and only 5 nights in a hotel. YEAH ME!

HINT!!! Like Doug said, stay hidrated and try to avoid crappy airport and hotel food. Go for apples/bannanas at the airport..

Good luck young Jedi

Shemsey · April 25th, 2006, 10:26

Guys, now I didn't mean to offend anyone, and yes being away 5 days from home is a long time, BUT we all came into this profession expecting to be away from home for extended periods of time. There are lots of carriers, especially guys doing long haul trips that are away for periods of time greater than 5 days.

That is why I made that comment, because I do remember reading your posts Turkey, about getting hired and all, and then to see a post like that is sad to say the least.

Up here in Canada, things are so much harder, you don't get onto to twin turboprops unless you have 2000-3000hrs total time, and it's still very competitive. Instructing becomes a job for a couple years, then small charter/medevac ops for another few before you are lucky enough to be competitive to apply to a regional, and there aren't even many.

adreamer · April 25th, 2006, 10:36

Quote:

We have a flight right now doing TPE-ATL nonstop

Just wondering, Tim, is that FDX flight? I am originally from TPE. That would be about 16 hours or so flight?

adreamer

SFLAX · April 25th, 2006, 11:45

I love 5 and 6 day trips. For a commuter they are awsome, 6 on then 4 or 5 off. None of this 3 day on 2 off. It all depends on what is going on in your life.

SFLAX · April 25th, 2006, 11:50

Doug, the belltower with a .22, you do not have the stopping power at that range. I mean, you might as well through rocks off it. I would suggest a 30/30.

April 24th, 2006, 21:27	#2
SoFlo Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 703	Re: 5 day trip I guess have a good time although it is Philly .

April 24th, 2006, 21:45	#3
Champcar Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: ROC Posts: 2,211	Re: 5 day trip You guys still flying into ROC? __________________

April 24th, 2006, 21:53	#4
Shemsey Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 79	Re: 5 day trip This post shows how pilots always complain about everything. We dream of the airline job, and then complain once we get there. No offence man, but I'd take a 5day trip over instructing 5days.

April 24th, 2006, 21:58	#5
MQAAord Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Looney Bin Posts: 9,194	Re: 5 day trip Dude, you have no idea how brutal a 5-day trip is. I don't care how much you're paid, or how glamorous and 'cool' it is to fly a plane for an airline, 5 day trips SUCK. __________________ PPL SEL 100-ish hours TT Former American Airlines F/A (12 months) Former Simmons/Eagle F/A (6 years) Former Eagle ground school instructor (1 year) Former Eagle IOE instructor (3 years)

April 24th, 2006, 22:13	#7
BobDDuck Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Left Seat Posts: 5,564	Re: 5 day trip Our contract limits us to no more then 3 nights away from base at a time. Small benefit I guess. Shamsey, not to come down on you or anything, but Turkey is right. A five day trip is hell. It almost is a (uh oh, should I say it) safety issue at times. __________________ TBJC08 The Gear Monkey The Gear Monkey Store

April 24th, 2006, 23:30	#12
scoobs Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 678	Re: 5 day trip You guys won't like Fedex or UPS.

April 25th, 2006, 00:35	#13
bwade210 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KSAT & K1T7 Posts: 474	Re: 5 day trip I've been away from "home" for seven years.... consumed in my Undergrad, Graduate degree, and now Flight School! Aaaahhhhhh I miss Texas! __________________ "Failure to prepare, is preparing to fail!"

April 25th, 2006, 01:12	#15
Nick Old Skool Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,276	Re: 5 day trip Amorris, There are plenty of major airlines with trips lasting more than a dozen days! __________________ Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress in this period in history.

April 25th, 2006, 01:16	#16
Tim Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,205	Re: 5 day trip World Airway's pilots are on duty for 14 days and then 7 off. Within those 14 they could be sitting anywhere in the world. We have had a crew stuck in Bishkek, Manas, Kyrsyzstan for 3 days. The arm pit of the world. You arent flying everyday but you are away from home. __________________ Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turn skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.----- Leonardo Da Vinci

April 25th, 2006, 01:24	#17
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 40,600 Blog Entries: 1	Re: 5 day trip Hey! Southernjets has a long layover in Dakar now! __________________ Doug Taylor http://76school.flyblog.com (old!) http://30west.flyblog.com (updated 11/28)

April 25th, 2006, 01:24	#18
Tim Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,205	Re: 5 day trip You should bid that one. I am sure the -90 could make it.....lol __________________ Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turn skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.----- Leonardo Da Vinci

April 25th, 2006, 01:32	#19
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 40,600 Blog Entries: 1	Re: 5 day trip Nah, knowing SouthernJets, they'd want to strap two CRJ's together with droptanks. __________________ Doug Taylor http://76school.flyblog.com (old!) http://30west.flyblog.com (updated 11/28)

April 25th, 2006, 01:34	#20
Tim Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,205	Re: 5 day trip And expect you to make with enough fuel to divert to the Sudan or somewhere... We have a flight right now doing TPE-ATL nonstop... __________________ Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turn skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.----- Leonardo Da Vinci

April 25th, 2006, 08:09	#21
Baronman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NEWARK Posts: 1,049	Re: 5 day trip 5 day trip?! BRUTAL!! I feel for you man...That's almost a week of your life for the comany. I just did a 3 day and couldn't believe how it took forever, of course I just do day trips and 2 day trips now. Best thing I ever did. I feel like work is the place I go every once in a while instead of always being there!! Next month, 15 days off and only 5 nights in a hotel. YEAH ME! HINT!!! Like Doug said, stay hidrated and try to avoid crappy airport and hotel food. Go for apples/bannanas at the airport.. Good luck young Jedi __________________ "I got a FEVER, and the only perscription is more Cow-Bell!"

April 25th, 2006, 10:26	#22
Shemsey Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 79	Re: 5 day trip Guys, now I didn't mean to offend anyone, and yes being away 5 days from home is a long time, BUT we all came into this profession expecting to be away from home for extended periods of time. There are lots of carriers, especially guys doing long haul trips that are away for periods of time greater than 5 days. That is why I made that comment, because I do remember reading your posts Turkey, about getting hired and all, and then to see a post like that is sad to say the least. Up here in Canada, things are so much harder, you don't get onto to twin turboprops unless you have 2000-3000hrs total time, and it's still very competitive. Instructing becomes a job for a couple years, then small charter/medevac ops for another few before you are lucky enough to be competitive to apply to a regional, and there aren't even many.

April 25th, 2006, 11:45	#24
SFLAX Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: On the Road Posts: 175	Re: 5 day trip I love 5 and 6 day trips. For a commuter they are awsome, 6 on then 4 or 5 off. None of this 3 day on 2 off. It all depends on what is going on in your life.

April 25th, 2006, 11:50	#25
SFLAX Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: On the Road Posts: 175	Re: 5 day trip Doug, the belltower with a .22, you do not have the stopping power at that range. I mean, you might as well through rocks off it. I would suggest a 30/30.

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