I always like a bit of humour here and there...
Now, speaking seriously...
xxx
I guess when I started flying, yes, I counted the hours and minutes...
First, was a "race" to solo ASAP, with "minimum hours"...
And my logbook faithfully indicated HH:mm, I forgot indicating seconds.
xxx
Then was military, hours, minutes changed into hours and tenth of hours.
Then came the airlines. You had to have the minimum hours they required.
And keep on logging to get (then) 1,200 hours for the ATPL.
xxx
Then you keep on logging for your first command.
That happens, I dont know, at some 5,000 hours total as average.
Then with it comes the first type rating, then more type ratings.
xxx
If you need a job with another airline, be sure to have 1,000 command hours.
And 500 hours command on that type. That generally covers you OK.
Then after that... hours do not mean much.
Yes... extra money if you fly overtime.
xxx
Company hours came with monthly records with the salary check...
So logging became inexistant...
If someone asks, I say "see company records".
Any airline
must keep records. You might have lost your logbook.
xxx
Statistics for you. Average airline pilots fly 600-700 hrs per year.
If you are condemned to a "loco" airline in Europe, make it 899.9 hrs per year.
Corporate guys are more lucky. Most seem to do 400-500 hrs.
Military guys depends. Hardly much over 300 hrs, depends on type aircraft.
So, if a guy tells you "I fly for Delta since 1990", you can guess his hours.
xxx
Let us compare to our friend 411A humpteen hours...
One of my acquaintances, Clay Lacy, had (latest count) near 50,000 hrs.
Does not include the hours he did not log to remain under his yearly limits.
Cannot recall how many type ratings he has... 30, 40, 50 of them...?
Flew USAF, flew United Air Lines, owns a FBO (private jets) since mid-1960s.
Now in his early 70s... he might still log a few thousands more.
xxx
So... as our friend PKPF68-77 mentions to me, as follows...
"people in skilled jobs are generally competitive by nature"...
Really makes me laugh... we pilots are skilled...?
Now that I am retired, I look for a real job for the first time.
Doing OK playing piano at the restaurant, for free drinks.
I will play just about any requests. No sheet music needed.
But my violonist partner, is a pretty lady. She gets the tips....
I shaved my legs, though... Maybe is my after shave...?
xxx
Do re mi - and happy contrails rhapsody...