How does being a pilot work and what should I expect?

[Matt13C]

I was hoping to have a few questions answered. I am considering flying as a profession. I know the different paths I can take to getting a job at a regional but what can I expect when I get there and how does it work. I have read that you are on call, I assume this is pretty straight forward, and as time goes by you can get on a line, does this mean you get a set route you fly every week? How does travel work. When you are away from home does the airline put you up in a hotel or is it up to you to get a place? I keep reading about crash pads, are they just apartments the airline holds for pilots to sit and wait in or sleep in if they have an extended stay? Are these just hotel rooms or are they small one bedroom places in the middle of the ghetto? When you get hired do you have a choice of what airport you go to or is it just luck of the draw?

Sorry for the 20 questions, I just have lots of thoughts running through my brain and I would like to be as informed as possible when I make my decision.

[jynxyjoe]

Originally Posted by Matt13C

I was hoping to have a few questions answered. I am considering flying as a profession. I know the different paths I can take to getting a job at a regional but what can I expect when I get there and how does it work. I have read that you are on call, I assume this is pretty straight forward, and as time goes by you can get on a line, does this mean you get a set route you fly every week? How does travel work. When you are away from home does the airline put you up in a hotel or is it up to you to get a place? I keep reading about crash pads, are they just apartments the airline holds for pilots to sit and wait in or sleep in if they have an extended stay? Are these just hotel rooms or are they small one bedroom places in the middle of the ghetto? When you get hired do you have a choice of what airport you go to or is it just luck of the draw?

Sorry for the 20 questions, I just have lots of thoughts running through my brain and I would like to be as informed as possible when I make my decision.

Holy crap thats a ton of questions. My fingers would start bleeding before i got all that answered.

[Matt13C]

I have some band-aids for you....go! ha ha

[BajtheJino]

The search function is your friend.

[JA Yawd Bwoy]

Originally Posted by BajtheJino

The search function is your friend.

Go to the main JC website and read the Pilot Perpectives and stuff like that, TRUST ME you WILL be INFORMED lol

[jspeed87]

Originally Posted by Matt13C

I was hoping to have a few questions answered. I am considering flying as a profession. I know the different paths I can take to getting a job at a regional but what can I expect when I get there and how does it work. I have read that you are on call, I assume this is pretty straight forward, and as time goes by you can get on a line, does this mean you get a set route you fly every week? How does travel work. When you are away from home does the airline put you up in a hotel or is it up to you to get a place? I keep reading about crash pads, are they just apartments the airline holds for pilots to sit and wait in or sleep in if they have an extended stay? Are these just hotel rooms or are they small one bedroom places in the middle of the ghetto? When you get hired do you have a choice of what airport you go to or is it just luck of the draw?

Sorry for the 20 questions, I just have lots of thoughts running through my brain and I would like to be as informed as possible when I make my decision.

well I'm just a student pilot, not airline but, I do know you will not be happy with yourself at the start of your career. The pay will suck, time away from will suck, the wife/girlfriend will cheat on you while your on your 4 day trip, You will be paying off loans, more loans, Then you upgrade to captain, putting yourself into more debt, and thus ending up as a unhappy pilot

[AngelFuree]

Originally Posted by jspeed87

well I'm just a student pilot, not airline but, I do know you will not be happy with yourself at the start of your career. The pay will suck, time away from will suck, the wife/girlfriend will cheat on you while your on your 4 day trip, You will be paying off loans, more loans, Then you upgrade to captain, putting yourself into more debt, and thus ending up as a unhappy pilot

Holy hell, that has to be the most negative post I've ever read. I hope you missed the sarcasm tag because that's quite the assumption. If you really feel this way, I'm not sure why you're a student pilot starting your career. You'll be a miserable person.

To the OP:
Check the main articles in the main site: jetcareers.com
There are a lot of useful articles by professional pilots. It's a good start.

[Chris_Ford]

Originally Posted by Matt13C

I was hoping to have a few questions answered. I am considering flying as a profession. I know the different paths I can take to getting a job at a regional but what can I expect when I get there and how does it work. I have read that you are on call, I assume this is pretty straight forward, and as time goes by you can get on a line, does this mean you get a set route you fly every week?

Eh, sort of. Being on reserve ("on call" as you call it) pretty much sucks, then you get a line. Usually it's not the same "route" every week. For example you might have four four-day trips throughout the month with 12 different layover cities. The front page of jetcareers has a few "day in the life" tidbits that will be more informative than I care to be at this juncture.

How does travel work. When you are away from home does the airline put you up in a hotel or is it up to you to get a place?

If you are on a trip, the airline will put you in a hotel.

I keep reading about crash pads, are they just apartments the airline holds for pilots to sit and wait in or sleep in if they have an extended stay?

They're not "held" by the airline... they're run by fellow pilots. Some are just bedrooms loaded with bunk beds, others offer different amenities. The more amenities, the more expensive.

Are these just hotel rooms or are they small one bedroom places in the middle of the ghetto?

Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no. Caveat emptor.

When you get hired do you have a choice of what airport you go to or is it just luck of the draw?

Most of the time it's "luck of the draw"... American Eagle allows you to select your base before you're hired.

[MattB]

To the people who wrote 'use the search function': Isn't the purpose of this site to help people like this?

[Matt13C]

Thanks everyone. I did not know about the main page, I am going through the perspectives.

JynxyJoe thanks for the links via PM, they were very helpful.

Chris_Ford, thanks for the detailed response.

Out of curiosity, what does IOE mean when talking about starting out at an airline?

[JA Yawd Bwoy]

Originally Posted by MattB

To the people who wrote 'use the search function': Isn't the purpose of this site to help people like this?

Yeah, BUT doesn't asking the same questions that Doug has a whole website showing educational, Pilot perpectives, etc defeat the purpose?

[cmsuav8r]

Originally Posted by Matt13C

Thanks everyone. I did not know about the main page, I am going through the perspectives.

JynxyJoe thanks for the links via PM, they were very helpful.

Chris_Ford, thanks for the detailed response.

Out of curiosity, what does IOE mean when talking about starting out at an airline?

IOE = Initial Operating Experience. It is a period following your airline training where you go out and fly actual flights. During this period you are being evaluated, and if you pass, then you are able to fly trips. Thats a very basic description of it, and I'm sure the guys with experience in this subject can fill in any other details you may want to know about it.

[mastermags]

Originally Posted by cmsuav8r

IOE = Initial Operating Experience. It is a period following your airline training where you go out and fly actual flights. During this period you are being evaluated, and if you pass, then you are able to fly trips. Thats a very basic description of it, and I'm sure the guys with experience in this subject can fill in any other details you may want to know about it.

That about sums it up, I would say. I would add that during IOE you are technically still in training and belong to the training department, not screw scheduling. Once completing IOE you are a Line Pilot (though you probably will be on reserve).

[MQAAord]

Definitely read the main page, on the left hand side about half-way down you'll see links to LOTS of articles that will probably contain the answers to a lot of your questions, plus answers to questions you probably didn't even know you had yet! Good stuff there.

Read it over, digest it, and come on back if you need clarification or more info

[Matt13C]

Yeah, I have been reading some of the entries by pilots on the first page. Also have been reading other stuff sent to me by members. As you said most of my questions have been answered. I keep going back and forth between this and planning my first dual cross country that I am supposed to fly tomorrow, according to the TAF winds will be 28014G28, should make for some fun landings!