Originally Posted by
maxpeck
Just wondering how accurate the latest PPJN update is. Is it true most are on permanent lates and the lifestyle options are not really working out? If only 12.5% of pilots are able to express a preference for earlies or lates, I guess a new entrant can expect a 5/2 roster with the majority of flights being deep nights, landing around 4am?
No this is not true. The rosters are random, and you might get a 5/2 during a month, but not all month. A flight landing at 4 am would mean a rest day after so a 5/2 would effectively be ON-ON-REST-ON-REST so 3 duties in 5 days. Earlies could be 5 back to back but you wouldn't get that all month. Most are not on permanent lates, they're on random. Training flights tend to be early, so that results in a higher proportion of lates.
NB This applies to Boeing 737 only. Airbus and 757 are different as small fleets and not very busy currently.