PODCAST Christy's Pilot Schedule
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2023
- (Please Subscribe!) The Pros and Cons of the Airline Pilot Schedule-Christy @PilotChristy talks to Dan @TakingOffDan about the good and the bad of the schedule airline pilots have to keep in order to get the job done, balancing work and home for the best possible mix.
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Someone asked a question with several points below, and they're what I was going to touch on: Having been in this industry for 31 years, there are a LOT of sacrifices that get made for things most people take for granted:
- Housework, the "honey-do" lists, etc. When you get home from 4-6 days on, you're pretty beat, and it takes a full day to recover, more as you get older. Some things just might not get done regularly, or you have to hire someone to do them like lawn care.
- Family time is a HUGE issue. When you're just starting out, and junior for bidding schedules, you can expect to miss birthdays, holidays, soccer games, recitals. You learn to do holiday celebrations a day or two early, or late, because you're gone for all of them. I had over 10 years in a row where I worked Christmas. Getting the big holidays off, like Christmas and Thanksgiving, are for very senior people.
- Dentists, doctors appointments, etc. where they schedule 2 months out, you have to take a wag at it, put it in the middle of the week, and bid around it when the time comes.
People also take for granted things like Christy touched on, simply sleeping in your own bed every night, or having food readily available to control your nutrition. It takes people like me, and from what I've seen Christy doing, packing food for days to keep from eating at fast food, airports, restaurants 3-5 nights per week. Keeping a regular exercise schedule is next to impossible because who knows what the next hotel gym is going to look like.
The schedule of an airline pilot takes someone with the right mindset to handle it. It also takes family with a high level of understanding to know that just because we're away, out of sight doesn't mean out of mind. The travel is hard on your body, hard on your family, but if you love flying, love the experiences you get from being an airline pilot, they're worth it to you...but prospective airline pilots should be aware of what they're getting into, because not all of it is always the cool go-fly-the-jet stuff.
Hello! As an aspiring pilot (I'm still in college) I heard for example that if your gone on a 3 day trip, your not actually gone for 3 days (more like 2 days?) is that true? I've always wanted to be a pilot but I'm scared of having to give up lifting weights or never having a family...
@@danielkantor5693 Here's the truth of schedules from my experience: First and foremost seniority is the biggest factor in all of it; the more senior you are, the better you can control your schedules. That said, a large number of trips in this industry, especially domestic narrowbody (including regional) trips are 4 days. That means you leave on day 1, and get back to base on day 4... IF you live in base, you come to work day 1, go home day 4, and are gone 3 nights per week. If you live out of base and commute, especially at first, you're going to have to possibly come in the day before you start, and maybe go home the day after you finish. So living in base makes a huge difference. As you get more senior, some airlines have schedules where you can get 2 2-day trips back to back, so you work 4 days, but are only gone from home 2 of those (again if you live in base), and the most senior trips throughout the industry IMHO are 1-day trips, usually 4 of them back to back, but you're home every night. Those are the most sought after ones for those who live in base.
As for lifting weights, and staying in shape, I've been working that part of my life for 16 years. It takes commitment, planning, and flexibility, but I manage it and have since I was 40.
The long answer to your question above is summed up like this: If you're junior, you'll be gone from home a lot, you'll miss birthdays, holidays, soccer games, recitals, etc. As you get more senior, you gain some of those things back. You have to weigh those as part of this career, know the price, and ask yourself if it's worth that price for you.
Lines of flying. Imagine an excel spreadsheet. The columns are the calendar. The cells are each day of flying. The rows are the LINES. Seniority determines whether a person can bid for a "line" versus bidding for reserve. Seniority determines the pecking order. No exceptions.
Christy needs an aeronautical chart😂❤ blanket
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Push for fixed schedule, eg. 5 On - 4 Off is very common, at least for us on short-haul in Europe.
A husband and wife that are both airline pilots is somewhat rare. I would love to hear Christie’s perspective on this topic since her husband is also an airline pilot. Pros and cons.
It would be great also if you had an interview with a spouse and child of an airline pilot for their perspective.
Very interesting stuff! I def. Commiserate with Christy being cold inside when its hot outside.. I've learned to just have a jacket in my car all summer.
So amazing that the airline is not on top of physical by them setting it up.
It’s not a job, but a lifestyle! I’m an over the road truck driver and have the same issues.
Another excellent podcast. Christy, thank you for sharing more about more about the Airline pilot life. Y'all keep up the excellent work. Safe skies my friends 🇺🇸🛩️
Dan, many pilots do not live in their crew domicile and must commute by air prior to the start of the trip. If the trip ends late the pilot may also need to wait until the next day before there is a flight available to return them to their home. So the 14 days of “on duty” can easily become 18 or 19 days of time away from home. Granted this is ultimately an individual choice but at my airline the majority of pilots are commuting to and from their crew domiciles.
Good point
I believe it's more than 65% of all airline pilots commute (by plane) to work.
What happens if you want an emergency doctors appointment? What about time for a regular doctors appointment? What if you want to put your car into maintenance? do you drop off your car at the service station and pick it later on in the week? What if you have a child/dependent and you want to enjoy patent hood? what about your regular house hold chores?
Christy looks like grandma wrapped in a shawl, but a sharp looking grandma.
Hey Christy do you ever fly YYZ to CVG or YYZ to LEX? I'm on those flights a lot, hopefully I'll get an autograph one day. p.s. I'll buy ya coffee :)
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Any news from Israel?
Why hasn’t Christy moved to a major airline?
The answer is found in the opposite question-- Why should Christy move to a major? Right now, quality of life is important, so her seniority gets the schedule she wants. Money right now is pretty close, so there's not a huge financial motive to jump. And she's flying an airplane she absolutely loves.