base assigned
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: mumbai
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base assigned
hi all,
I'd like to ask this from the people here who are employed and flying with various airlines, on what factors are you assigned your base? (i hope that this the right word. i don't intent to imply roster or the route)
say if you are settled in guwahti, is guwahti the base allotted or airlines have their own criteria of where they want to place you?
thanks.
I'd like to ask this from the people here who are employed and flying with various airlines, on what factors are you assigned your base? (i hope that this the right word. i don't intent to imply roster or the route)
say if you are settled in guwahti, is guwahti the base allotted or airlines have their own criteria of where they want to place you?
thanks.
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: India
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It depends on many factors, main one being the hubs of the airline. For example in the UAE, all Emirates pilots have only one base which is of course Dubai ie Emirates operates out of Dubai only whereas in India airlines have different hubs across the country thus numerous bases for pilots. Since pilots working for airline in India hails from all corners of the nation the airline usually assign them a base near or of their home town, this reduce cost as the airline may not provide extra allowance eg for housing/food since that base is considered as the pilot's home.
Another reason is the type of aircraft operating out of the hubs, for example AI operates the B777 mostly out of Mumbai and Delhi only thus almost all the B777 pilots are based in these places. If you live in Chennai and got type rated on the 777 you need to move to Mumbai or Delhi unless operational flexibility allows you to change type, but this is only done on request. I used to live in Chennai when I was on the A310 but when I switched type I had to move to another base. Usually the airline wont give you allowance if there was a possibility to move to another type which is operated out of your home town otherwise you will need to move unless you are ready to commute. If you live in chennai and you need to commute to say the likes of Bangalore or Hydrabad then It wouldn't be a problem but commuting from places like Chennai to Delhi frequently is not ideal. It going to put pressure on you and the airline say you get delayed for work so its not advisable to live far from your base especially if you fly domestic routes. But like I said most domestic routes have lots of bases.
If the airline has no choice but to force you to another base they would normally pay you an allowance. AI usually pays around 1 lac to those who wish to re locate whenever there is an operational need.
These are the main reasons but there are also many other reasons eg lack of pilots in a specific base, aircraft changes, route closures and economic reasons.
Another reason is the type of aircraft operating out of the hubs, for example AI operates the B777 mostly out of Mumbai and Delhi only thus almost all the B777 pilots are based in these places. If you live in Chennai and got type rated on the 777 you need to move to Mumbai or Delhi unless operational flexibility allows you to change type, but this is only done on request. I used to live in Chennai when I was on the A310 but when I switched type I had to move to another base. Usually the airline wont give you allowance if there was a possibility to move to another type which is operated out of your home town otherwise you will need to move unless you are ready to commute. If you live in chennai and you need to commute to say the likes of Bangalore or Hydrabad then It wouldn't be a problem but commuting from places like Chennai to Delhi frequently is not ideal. It going to put pressure on you and the airline say you get delayed for work so its not advisable to live far from your base especially if you fly domestic routes. But like I said most domestic routes have lots of bases.
If the airline has no choice but to force you to another base they would normally pay you an allowance. AI usually pays around 1 lac to those who wish to re locate whenever there is an operational need.
These are the main reasons but there are also many other reasons eg lack of pilots in a specific base, aircraft changes, route closures and economic reasons.
