Virgin recruiting soon...
Joined: Dec 2016
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From: The MEL page
How viable is it to commute to LHR/LGW as flight deck given you won't be in every day? From a logistics/time and health point of view? Does anyone commute down up north for the trip and then go home after or is the thought horrifying after the long sector back from LH destination xyz?
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Manchester
How viable is it to commute to LHR/LGW as flight deck given you won't be in every day? From a logistics/time and health point of view? Does anyone commute down up north for the trip and then go home after or is the thought horrifying after the long sector back from LH destination xyz?
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germany
Question for anyone flying long haul: compared to short haul (with 2 sectors per day and the average sector being. about 2hrs), does it not get incredibly boring spending the majority of your career in the cruise? What do you do for all that time? Or does the fact you do it only a couple of times per week rather than 5 days in a row make it more enjoyable?
Plenty to do in the cruise. You are travelling much longer distances with remote alternates, so keeping on top of where is suitable, ETPs and how you would fly the approach in the conditions does take some time. You will be flying a lot of older people to cruises (not a stereotype, it’s a fact) who can get very ill very quickly. You also get rest periods to chill away from the flight deck or sleep. Or just watch the IFE. Most of my time in the seat is spent chewing the fat with the bloke in the other seat, getting down route tips or seeing where to invest the pension fund, thinking what will catch me out on the approach at the far end, where I want to hold, how much fuel I’m willing to hold down to, diversion routing, mentally rehearsing go-around. There is plenty to do, if you aren’t gashing it.
Last edited by VinRouge; 18th June 2019 at 15:17.
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: Uk
Depends which airline as to “ life down route “. There are plenty that aren’t party central like virgin. Personally I don’t do longhaul for the life downroute, that would be a bit sad as 90% of people are colleagues not friends ( found that out the hard way ) but increasing my lifestyle at home.
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 265
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From: Sunnydale
My long haul lifestyle at home is 100 times better than it ever was on short haul. Very little disruption, I’m home more than I’m away. Granted I’m away more nights but I’ve never crawled in to bed at 3am (at least not because of work) and generally it’s my kids that wake me up, not my alarm. The lifestyle is better for me (it really is a very personal thing).
Yes i I do miss out on some plays/ceremonies/swimming lessons/life events. But I’d have done that on shorthaul. I’m the only dad consistently at the school gates and get to enjoy life off the aircraft more than I ever did when I was at short haul.
But i also came to the realisation when when I switched from short to long that this is just a job. No more no less. It lets me live my life for me and my family in this industry I. The way I want. And I can’t remember the last time I had a CTOT.
Yes i I do miss out on some plays/ceremonies/swimming lessons/life events. But I’d have done that on shorthaul. I’m the only dad consistently at the school gates and get to enjoy life off the aircraft more than I ever did when I was at short haul.
But i also came to the realisation when when I switched from short to long that this is just a job. No more no less. It lets me live my life for me and my family in this industry I. The way I want. And I can’t remember the last time I had a CTOT.
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: EU
Question for anyone flying long haul: compared to short haul (with 2 sectors per day and the average sector being. about 2hrs), does it not get incredibly boring spending the majority of your career in the cruise? What do you do for all that time? Or does the fact you do it only a couple of times per week rather than 5 days in a row make it more enjoyable?
Long haul is a completely different job to short haul. And in my opinion, a much better job. Not all trips are sociable, so make sure you enjoy your own company.
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 155
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From: EU
Depends which airline as to “ life down route “. There are plenty that aren’t party central like virgin. Personally I don’t do longhaul for the life downroute, that would be a bit sad as 90% of people are colleagues not friends ( found that out the hard way ) but increasing my lifestyle at home.
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Germany
Some chaps/chapesses are colleagues. But some become friends. Ive already paired up on a few extra trips with guys/girls ive had a cracking time operating/socializing with. Its each to your own I suppose, but if 60% of your time is away with colleagues, I want to make that experience for others and myself as enjoyable and memorable as possible. I suppose I see that as part of my "job".
And I don't work for VS!
And I don't work for VS!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,040
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From: Home
Depends which airline as to “ life down route “. There are plenty that aren’t party central like virgin. Personally I don’t do longhaul for the life downroute, that would be a bit sad as 90% of people are colleagues not friends ( found that out the hard way ) but increasing my lifestyle at home.
A friend of mine, he is with VS on the Airbus, sometimes does 5 Atlantic crossings, mostly night-stops a month. Occasionally with a Sim detail thrown in. ( if he’s lucky gets a Lagos, but hasn’t been to the Caribbean for a year or so)
Lots of last minute roster changes, some after check in at LHr., with subsequent family disruption.
He certainly is not party central, continually knackered!!
Last edited by cessnapete; 20th June 2019 at 09:35.
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 155
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From: EU
Glad you took the comment with the humour that it was meant to portray. I posted that after a night out with colleagues on a trip but forgot to put a smiley face at the end! 😉
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 35
From: Home
Perhaps there will be a slow down in recruitment? Is there a problem with the VS A350? A 340 pilots have been told they will remain on type for longer than envisaged and the retirement of the type further delayed. Delayed A350 delivery? Although BA now seem to be getting their A350 in service a month sooner.