Major/Legacy airline pilot schedule
 

I talked to a Southwest pilot who said he could give away trips if he wanted to. Could you theoretically give up all of your trips for a month (without pay of course) and then work a full line the next? Or could you work a very small amount each month, say 40 hours with less pay. What about the legacy's AA, UA, DL?

Thanks

you have missed out on some of the great times as an airline pilot.

dropping trips, sick/reserve. beautiful flight attendants (women).

there are some restrictions, min hours , use of PAY BANK and so many things that it would be easier to explain the pneumatic system on a 737 rather than explain a deluxe pilot contract.

one month, every one of my trips was ''bought'' in order to train other pilots.

ahhhhh, the good old days.

work 12, 18 off(not in a row).

but yes, at most big airlines, that you could name easily, you would find wonderful ways of modifying your schedule. things have changed for the worse, but who knows if we will rebound?

That is of course if you are senior. If you are junior you can wind up on reserve with no choice of days off or vacation days.

I'm at one of the legacy big 3.

You can drop trips as much as you want. Our old contract said you must fly 50% of the following months hours but I'm not sure it is in the new one.

Here are some general basics:

You have to be senior enough to get halfway decent trips that others will pick up pilot to pilot. If staffing permits, you may get the ability from the company to drop a trip into the open schedule, but since they have been short of pilots it rarely happens.

This month and last, I had trips that were in demand for other pilots. I could have dropped every one without pay and had at least a month off. The nagging at home to pay the bills would have become unbearable from the Mrs.

You can also back trips up and leave the back of this month free and the beginning of next free for a long break.

There is flexibility, but one needs the right trips and seniority.

On reserve as CA or FO? Forget about it.

Thanks for all the replies. My dad used to be a work for a legacy that is no longer around and he could drop trips. Back in the 90's he usually worked 6 days/mo but that was a different time as we all know, so I thought things may have changed after all the industries financial troubles. I was curious if its that way at the legacy's, not just SWA. Anyone know of a legacy where you can't drop most if not all of your trips? The SWA pilot I knew is in the middle of the seniority list, so he would have good enough trips to drop as WhatsaLizad said. He basically just had to work enough to keep current with 121 recency of experience requirements.

Glendale, what are some of the minimum hour restrictions you know of? 18 days off doesn't sound too bad, but could you work less if you wanted, or is that your minimum?

If I could drop a lot half of my hours a month after putting in 5 years that would be an incentive to me to go on to the airlines. If I could have the option of dropping my whole month after 10 years or so, that would be even better :ok:

stick


what used to be is something different than now.

at some times you could fly , regularly on 65 hours a month. give or take that's 10 days flying or less.

or you can go to 85 or so and that can be 12-13 days

or you can get screwed and only do 5 hours a day and need to do 85 so that would be 17 days.

flying ain't what it use to be.

don't get into it

That's what I've been told and that's why I am researching into it further to find out how bad it really is. If there was something I could do that was better, I probably wouldn't be thinking about flying but I haven't found anything yet. Even though my dad doesn't like the lack of a schedule as a corporate pilot, he makes good money and really doesn't work much. Because of that and some other people I know who are having good careers, I am having a hard time thinking of giving up on flying all together. What type of carrier do you work for, glendale? Regional, flag, major, legacy?

stick n rudder

I won't tell you the name, but it is very large , very major and very legacy.

The way I decided to be a pilot took much time. I considered every other job in the world and THEN said, none of them beat being a pilot.

IF you are using that method, it might be for you after all. But it is hard to get the best jobs. IF your dad is a pilot and can help you become a pilot you are darned lucky. I came up the hard way and nobody paid for anything except YOUR's truly.

It is pretty cool and when I spoke to someone I had known 40 years ago, I found out they had a pretty boring life, and I felt a bit sorry for them. But they were still a good person!

so brave pilot, now that you say it that way, go for it. BUT don't do it for the money, because there are better ways to make money. Don't do it for the time off, because being very rich is probably better for time off.

but good luck anyway!

Thanks Glendale.

I didn't realize you were at a legacy. Yours sounds quite a bit different than WhatsaLizad's. Sounded like he is able to drop trips fairly easily as long as he was senior enough.

Yes, my dad is instructing me. I pay for the cost of owning the airplane and he pays for the fuel. It will cost roughly what it cost him, and that was in the 80's! Because I can get college credit for ratings I am actually saving money by flying vs. being in class. The way I'm doing it, my flying is so cheap that its costing me less to gain 30+ credits flying than it would be sitting in class. So if I decide to do something else, start a business, etc., I won't be out.