Some questions for airline pilots

[poobaboon]

Hi all
I have quite a few videos and dvds filmed on the flight deck from take off to landing with the captain explaining what everything does etc but I have a few questions remaining:

How do you decide who does what flight and how many days a week do you fly?

Do you always work with the same Capt/FO and cabin crew? Or do you find out your full crew on the day?

How long before the flight is scheduled to take off do you arrive at the airport?

Is this time mainly spent in a crew room deep down below the terminal building planning your flight?

What are the maximum hours you can work for?

Do these start from planning the flight or from take off?

If you are on a short haul flight and you get delayed for some reason at the other end, does this time count to the hours you work? If you go over these, how many hours is it until you can legally fly again?

And if you are on long haul flights, do you swap crew at the destination and you stay over and swap with the next crew in a few days?


I know these probably aren't the kind of questions you hear from visitors but from the books I have read and videos I have watched they don't tend to answer these kind of questions and this seems like the most appropriate method of finding out.

Also, have any of you ever starred in one of these videos?:)

Thank you for your time


Daniel

[-<M4v3r1ck>-]

www.caa.co.uk

If you meet the class I crtieria, you'll get a class I medical certificate. Sorted.

Mav

[poobaboon]

Thanks mav, got all the details I need about the medical and it seems I should be ok but 4.25 is quite close.

Cheers

Daniel

[Bokomoko]

Hi Dan
How do you decide who does what flight and how many days a week do you fly?
I can choose some flights and days off monthly. However, I have to follow a flight schedule prepared by the Department of Flight Operation.
Do you always work with the same Capt/FO and cabin crew? Or do you find out your full crew on the day?
No. Yes, or checking in advance.
How long before the flight is scheduled to take off do you arrive at the airport?
60 minutes, at least.
Is this time mainly spent in a crew room deep down below the terminal building planning your flight?
No. This time must be enough for flight planning, crew briefing, airplane inspection, cockpit duties... and at Duty Free.:) (sorry!)
What are the maximum hours you can work for?
In my country the limits are: Domestic flights 11 hours, long haul 14 or 20 hours.
Do these start from planning the flight or from take off?
No. 60 minutes prior to the departure time.
If you are on a short haul flight and you get delayed for some reason at the other end, does this time count to the hours you work? If you go over these, how many hours is it until you can legally fly again?
Yes. It depends, for example, after working 15 to 20 hours resting period is 24h. But, when arriving from a long haul flight (at homebase) after crossing more than 3 time zones resting period must be added in 2 hours for every time zone crossed.
And if you are on long haul flights, do you swap crew at the destination and you stay over and swap with the next crew in a few days?
No. It's usually the same crew during the return trip.
I have quite bad eye sight, my prescription is -4.25 in the left and -2.75 in the right, do you know any pilots who have roughly the same prescription, just so I know I may have a chance at passing the vision side of the medical when the time comes.
Check, for example, FAR 67 for medical standards and certification.
Also, have any of you ever starred in one of these videos?
No.
Regards.
Bkmk:ok:

[-<M4v3r1ck>-]

Completely understand - I'm less than 1.00 in each eye but my astigmatism is just outside initial standards but I'll get a deviation...which is nice :ok:

The renewal standards drop to about 8.oo in each eye (I think) so even if yours got worse (v. unlikely after early 20s apparently) you'll still be fine. Just double check your astigmatism (the CYL reading on your prescription)...its what gave me a hiccup.

Best of luck,

Mav

[cheesycol]

It was the astigmatism that got me too on the Class 1 initial, not something I realised I had. However, I am also on a deviation so all is not lost and I can commence my CPL training. .:D

I believe that the guys at Gatwick will do everything they can to get you through the medical, but if you fall outside the criteria then it's simply no Class 1. However, I think I'm correct in saying that the Class 1 reissue criteria aren't as tough as the initial.