JUL 05

Operator: FCA (Recruiting now!)
Fleet: A320
Base: UK (one a/c base hence more stable than larger base)
Block: 68 hrs
Duty: 131:40
Days away from base: 0
Days off: 11
Days Standby (90 mins avail, rarely called): 6
Roster stability: Last change 2 months ago
Weekends off: 0
Deep night flights: 4 (I would like to see "you have great job" posse doing some of these!)
Wild parties down route: Started commercial flying in Feb 99 and still waiting!
Bank balance after 6 years in commercial flying: -£42,000 - we dont get paid doing our training unlike the accountants.
Enjoy the job: Yes - Coz I like flying!

AUG 2005
Operator: EZY
Fleet: B737
Base: LPL
Flight Time: 98.10
Duty Time: 153:15
Sectors: 48
Days away from Base: 0
Days Off: 11
Roster Stability: NIL
Tired? YES

AUG 2005
Operator: TUI Belgium
Fleet: F100
Base: BRU
Flight Time: 98.56
Duty Time: A tad more
Sectors: 36
Days away from Base: 0
Days Off: 13
Roster Stability: Total
Tired? Only at the end of a long day

Here's what August holds for me:

AUG 2005
Operator: JK
Fleet: A320
Base: PMI
Flight Time: 75:00 (+12:40 deadhead)
Duty Time: 115:35
Days Away from Base (i.e. layovers/night stops): 11
Stand By: 1
Days Off: 10 (+5 days rest)
Roster stability: Good so far. Not too sure about Aug, though.

Slim Shady,

Check your PM.



Te Rangi,

Yeah, but you get to live in PMI (paradise)... Check your PM too.

Operator: Qatar Airways
Fleet: A330
Base: OTBD
Block: 94hrs
Duty: 118 Hrs
Days away from base: 18
Days off: 10
Days Standby (90 mins avail, rarely called): 2
Roster stability: Non existant due to crew shortage
Weekends off: 1
Deep night flights: 12
Wild parties down route: About 1/3 rd of the layovers. If not with own crew there usually are other crews to meet in the crewlounges all over the world. Biggest favourite: TAM crew!!!!
Bank balance: brake even almost after 8 years of flying. Wont last long though haha
Enjoy the job: Yes - Coz I like flying!

The plan for Aug 05

Type: 146
Base: Dublin
Sectors: 43
Block: about 70 hours
Duty: usually nearly double block hours (very long turnarounds and some incredibly inefficient duty days)
Nights away from base: 11
Days off: 10
Days Standby: 1
Days in sim: 2
Roster stability: good
Weekends off: 2 partial weekends
Wild parties down route: used to be better, depends on cc
Tired: not too many earlies, so not usually.
Enjoy the job: mostly, would prefer to be doing it in an boeing/bus though!

Posted for comparison:

XXX 05
Operator: RAF
Fleet: C-130
Base: LYE
Block Hrs: 78
Duty Hrs: 200+
Sectors: 122
Nights away from base: 31
Days off: 3
Days Standby: Constant
Roster Stability: What's that?
Weather: Hot & Sandy
Allowances: 2 cans per night
Wild Parties: NIL, but plenty of mortar-inspired 'get togethers' in a bunker
Pay: Less than a BA Newhire F/O
Tired: Absolutely ******
Flying: Awesome
Enjoy the job: Hell yes!

*some details omitted to preserve anonymity

16B

Virgin
340
4 trips, no trans-atlantic this month
15 days working
16 days at home
block 78 (including several in the bunk)
3 weekends at home (not always the case)
standby none (tend to do 1 month every 18ish on standby)
roster stability excellent compared to previous employer
tired not really
generally fun people to be away with

AUG '05

OPR: ANS
Fleet: CRJ200
Block: 100 Hrs
Duty: 200 Hrs
Sectors: 60
Flight days: 16
Nights away: 11
Standby days: 2
Free days: 10 (could rise to 12, depending on roster)
Stability: Very good, very little changes.

Cheers :ok:

Thank you ladies & gents to all those who cared to reply.

I've just worked out the averages (from 744 to ATR) in case you wish to see what side of the line you stand on.

Here it is for 1 (Northern) summer month:

Average Block Hours: 82.0

Average Duty Hours: 136.4

Stand Bys: 2.3

Days Away From Base: 7.5

Days Off: 11.6

Of course there's far more to it than the simple math to determine
how hard you work. Not all hours are the same, as no all days off are equal. But that would be another debate.

On the other hand.....


Operator - self employed freelance
Jul 05
Took the whole month off to go sailing.

I like this job.

Opr: FDX

Fleet: A300

Block: 28 (Pay based on 75:53, paid 97:07)

Duty: 270

Sectors: 11 (of course, we call them "legs")

Nights away: 8

Days off: 16

Stability: Company - Excellent. Roster - seniority system
Excellent

BizJetJock,

I think you've got the right idea there!

Please check your PMs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AUG '05

OPR: pfp
Fleet: c152
Block: 4-5hrs= £320 I PAY
Duty: 240hrs worked
Sectors: 0
workdays: 26
Nights away: 0
Standby days: 31
Free days: 4
Stability: Very poor, pay not bad

A jobs a job, mouths to feed etc, I wish I had the balls to get 60k for training, and go into a very unsecure job market, how do young pilots with a young family sleep at night??
I take my hat off to you all!!! even though I like flying round at 2000ft watching the world go by!!

eazyflite
 

AUG
Operator: Hapagfly
Fleet: B 738
Base: Munich
Block: 93hrs
Nights away from base: 4
Days off: 12
Days Standby 0
Roster stability: 1 change,good
Weekends off: 2
Deep night flights: 2
Positionings/Proceedings 3 /7:35 ,1/4 is paid as overtime

Overtime starts from 60hrs


Crewlife not very exciting

Operator: WestJet
Fleet: B 737NG
Base: Calgary
Block: 78hrs
Nights away from base: 8
Days off: 16
Days Standby 0
Roster stability: Excellent
Weekends off: 2

Overtime starts from 80hrs

Rosters published on the 20th of every month and almost never changed. Average 14-19 days off with 6-15 nights away from base. Excellent lifestyle in exchange for lower salary. Stock options and profit share make up remainder of compensation. Upgrades have been within two years but slowed now to 2.5 years. MUST have 4000 hours TT to get an interview.

Operator: EZY
Fleet: 737
Base: UK
Block: 109 hrs
Duty: 190 hrs
Nights away from base: 0
Days off: 8
Days Standby 1
Roster stability: Moderate
Mental state: poor

Edit to add roster pattern:Early Late Off Rest Sby

EEEEEOOEEEEOOLLLREOOEEEEOOLRELLL

September:

SEP 05
Operator: JK
Fleet: A320
Base: PMI
Flight Time: 73:50 (+7:55 deadhead)
Duty Time: 122:05
Days Away from base: 10
Stand By: 1
Days Off: 10 (+2 Rest)
Earlies (very): 3
Deep night flights: 1
Fatigue: Not chronic, but sometimes acute

Operator :NJE
Fleet:Cessna
Hours of flight:68
Hours of duty:155
Overnights :15
Days on :18,off:15
Neither exhausted,nor exhilarated!