Upgrade time in airlines.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

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My question is how do you keep from getting bored during the long international flights?

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Bored? Heck, there is a lot to do. In the cockpit, fairly constant "housekeeping" with navigation, fuel, wx checks, position reports, etc. Plus, you have your meals, your time sleeping in the back, etc. It goes by surprisingly fast!

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That's my question and probably one of the strongest deterents when I think international flying.
Considering that the AP probably goes on at 800 ft. and your more of a "systems analyst" until approach. Granted the same could be said of domestic flying.
But (at this point...I want to stress this) flying a 757/767 from ATL-SEA-CVG-LAX for example seems more interesting. Because it is up and down and it breaks up the monotonay of cruising at FL370 for 8+ hours over the pond.
But what do I know I'm only a lowly PPL rated pilot. As I stated previously by the end of my regional career I could be tired of the domestic side of the industry and want to spread my wings and fly international.
As has been mentioned prior it's not the destination but the ride there that is the most exciting.
Right now I'm in school finishing up my degree. Next summer I hope to attend ATP then instruct and then to a regional.
So right now the ride my focus...is on school. My destination is just there on the horizon!

-Matthew

[seagull]

The constant up and downs are very fatiguing, first off. Second, the layovers domestic are short, and at the end of a week it's just a week out of your life. All you've done is fly, eat, sleep, workout, fly, eat sleep, workout....

Sure, landings are fun, but I feel I get enough of them on International. International forces you to keep up with what's happening in the world, you know the world events as they really affect you personally, you keep up with all the local country procedures, learn to deal with a lot more different procedures (meaning that you have to be really flexible). You deal with the different cultures, both in the air and on the layovers. Of course, the layovers are fun, either wild parties with other crews from other airlines (all the crews tend to get together, regardless of origin, so you're out with pilots and F/As from all sorts of places), or you can go see the sights. Not too many domestic layovers allow you to take a day trip to the Taj, or Kyoto, or the Louvre.

International flying is enriching on both the professional and personal side.

You want boring, a domestic trans-con. Now THAT's boring! ATC clears you direct at top of climb and all you do is listen for freq changes!

[scoobs]

The reason I was asking is I get bored driving my car for more then an hour.

[B767Driver]

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Life isn't about flying a widebody. It isn't that great really. You get more takeoff and landings in a narrow body and the job is more enjoyable. You have fewer time zone changes and feel better. The guys at SWA, JBLU, Air Tran, etc that have good paying narrow body jobs in a good working environment have the best jobs going.

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That's not how it works for me. I spent 10 years flying commuters and narrow bodies....and while I really enjoyed that type of flying...it doesn't compare to flying the 757/767.

The transcon stuff is great. One push back....One leg....layover in
LAX/SFO/SAN/JFK/BOS/LAS/SLC/PDX/SEA/ANC.


It certainly has done more for me than 5 legs East of the Mississippi in a day.

Plus the advantage of being able to survey this beautiful country of ours. I've yet to tire of leaving LAX...fly over the Pacific Ocean, the Nevada desert, the Utah canyons, the Colorado mountain ranges, all the Great lakes, fly downwind over the Atlantic Ocean and arrive at JFK six hours later. I've come to appreciate the fact that in the last six hours I've seen more of our nation than millions will see in their entire lifetime.

I was just thinking last trip...that it must really be a bummer flying for SWA as they don't do any heavy jet/long range flying. But then again, when they're still in bidness...and when my airline's long gone...they'll be feeling sorry for me!

[B767Driver]

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You want boring, a domestic trans-con. Now THAT's boring! ATC clears you direct at top of climb and all you do is listen for freq changes!

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Aww...come on now Seagull....that's not true. You've got to time your trips to the lavatory between flight attendant beverage services. And that, my friend, can be challenging and requisite of prescient thought!

Then when your colleague returns to the cockpit...you get to play the brain-teasing game of trying to stow the oxygen mask properly in it's place.

These two events alone can occupy hours of challenging duty. Other than that...yea, pretty boring.

[seagull]

76-

I have the same sentiment, but multiply that by the entire globe. How many people have watched the sun rise over China, or seen a sunset while sipping a drink in Macao. I've swam in the Persian Gulf, went diving off Fiji, stumbled through Sydney at night, got lost looking for a restaurant in Paris, seen the descendant of Isaac Newton's apple tree, watched the ice flow on the Arctic Ocean, gone jogging in Kagoshima, slogged through snow in Chitose. Partied in Helsinki, toured the wine country of France, watched the sun set over the Alps.

At this point, I've touched every continent except antarctica, seen most of the world's great cities, watched them burn off gas off the coast of India to farm rice in the Philipines.

Each month of International flying adds another chapter to an amazing book about life, the human condition, and flying.

How could I not love that?

[B767Driver]

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I always had this question in my mind that how long does it take for a new hire at one of the legacy careers to upgrade to the left (captain) seat of a widebody aircraft, bigger aircraft in general. Let's take Continental for example how long do you think it will take for the new hires right now to move to the left seat of a 757 or 767.
I am just curious and I would love some answers from you pros out there. I appreciate your comments on this.



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At TWA a typical seat progression for a late 70's hire was 15 year F/E, 8 yr F/O, and 5 years as Capt. At Delta, historically 11-15 years to make Captain.

It seems that the majors have large demographics spaced about 15 years apart. For example...2000 pilots aged 58....2000 aged 43....and 2000 aged 28. So the age 58 guys retire...the 43 yr olds make captain...the 28 year olds make Int"l F/O....and then the company hires new pilots.

Each group would move up at about 15 year intervals....i.e. 15 years to make Capt.

But like Doug said...many, many variables along the way to change the pattern. Tough to predict.

[B767Driver]

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76-

I have the same sentiment, but multiply that by the entire globe. How many people have watched the sun rise over China, or seen a sunset while sipping a drink in Macao. I've swam in the Persian Gulf, went diving off Fiji, stumbled through Sydney at night, got lost looking for a restaurant in Paris, seen the descendant of Isaac Newton's apple tree, watched the ice flow on the Arctic Ocean, gone jogging in Kagoshima, slogged through snow in Chitose. Partied in Helsinki, toured the wine country of France, watched the sun set over the Alps.

At this point, I've touched every continent except antarctica, seen most of the world's great cities, watched them burn off gas off the coast of India to farm rice in the Philipines.

Each month of International flying adds another chapter to an amazing book about life, the human condition, and flying.

How could I not love that?

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I'm looking forward to that experience. I've always tried to maximize my aviation experience and exposure. It's tough to say you're an airline pilot...but have never been overseas.

I better wait until I can do it without being on Reserve. Sitting in a NYC crash pad waiting for a call to go fly could zap the thrill right out of that operation.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

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I'm looking forward to that experience. I've always tried to maximize my aviation experience and exposure. It's tough to say you're an airline pilot...but have never been overseas.

I better wait until I can do it without being on Reserve. Sitting in a NYC crash pad waiting for a call to go fly could zap the thrill right out of that operation.

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That and being a "relief pilot"!!!

-Matthew

[B767Driver]

My company, actually, does not have a relief pilot. We use two F/O's. The F/O who needs the landing for currency requirements...gets the leg regardless of seniority.

[Snow]

[ QUOTE ]
I have the same sentiment, but multiply that by the entire globe. How many people have watched the sun rise over China, or seen a sunset while sipping a drink in Macao. I've swam in the Persian Gulf, went diving off Fiji, stumbled through Sydney at night, got lost looking for a restaurant in Paris, seen the descendant of Isaac Newton's apple tree, watched the ice flow on the Arctic Ocean, gone jogging in Kagoshima, slogged through snow in Chitose. Partied in Helsinki, toured the wine country of France, watched the sun set over the Alps.

At this point, I've touched every continent except antarctica, seen most of the world's great cities, watched them burn off gas off the coast of India to farm rice in the Philipines.

Each month of International flying adds another chapter to an amazing book about life, the human condition, and flying.

How could I not love that?

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Yeah that's what I'm talking about! Also lest we forget the longer legs you fly, the less 'unpaid time' spent at work sitting around airports. Plus you reach your hourly limit faster and get more time off. What's the point in making good money if your working all the time.

[Aero_Engineer]

Thanks everyone`
I appreciate all the comments and answers, I just wanted a rough idea and now I have it, can't wait to see you all in October.
Armen