So you'll have the AP engaged if you're still in monitored then, ah well.

 

Only flown the 319 once so far for a test flight west of SNN, I'm not gonna be flying them very often as currently they're based out of BFS, and the next two will probably be based out of Cork... The test flight was empty, and we were cleared straight to FL150 . The 321 on occasion, we had 6 at one point in time, but now we're down to 2, and seeing as I'm primarily on the 330 and really only fly short haul to keep up currency and then the odd week in the summer schedule, so that's also a rarity. Don't know what you're on about "Long Runway" for, that was a full TOGA takeoff...

 

Ró.

 

I see what you mean, yes AP engaged in monitored/managed of course. I was only meaning who was actually flying that bit of the sector.

 

Don't know what I'm on about? Clearly your controllers don't know how to have fun! The long runway comes into it's own when they get you flying runway heading to see what altitude or FL (if you're lucky!) you can be at by the time you reach the end, naturally following a TOGA takeoff! On a lightly loaded A319 that can be awesome!

 

Don't suppose you'll be doing LGW-NAP in June anytime?

 

Probably not, isn't that 737? I'm on the Airbus now! I still have the odd LGW trip but we only have one Airbus there now I think, but when the June rosters come out I'll let you know if you're still around! :)

Probably not, isn't that 737? I'm on the Airbus now! I still have the odd LGW trip but we only have one Airbus there now I think, but when the June rosters come out I'll let you know if you're still around! :)

Yeah you're right there just checked my flight info. I guess that will be a -400. I'm sure I checked one of the flights out to Naples a few months back and it was an Airbus doing the route.

Cheers Sam

If you are a line pilot you will typically fly less than the FAA maximum of 1000 hrs per year. Average that to about 75- 85 hours a month. Hours and pay are given on block time. Basically your time doesnt stat until the parking brakes are released and stops when you set them at the arrival point. Pilots are hourly, not salaried. However, pilots are guaranteed hours so in the RARE occasion they dont meet that, you get payed anyway.

 

When you are away from your base, you also get payed a per diem, by the hour.. This is payed to you in cash or travelers check when you check-in at the hotel. Its a token amount, but its purpose is only to cover your food and stuff like that.

 

I don't know what they are putting in the kool-aid over at SkyWest, but on the EV side that 1000hr/year is a hard number. There's no "typically" about it.

 

Also... our per diem is a reimbursement given on our mid-month paycheck for the previous month. I can't see them trying to handle giving everyone whatever their specific amount should be for the day each night at the hotel, what about crewmembers who do daylines? When do they get paid per diem at Skywest?

 

 

As for a typical day... that varies GREATLY from one pilot to another at a given airline, and from one airline to another. It's all dependant on the contract the pilots have with management. I just got done with a 2-day trip. I flew 3 legs each day, and had a 9 hr 17 minute overnight. Sometimes we have long overnights, sometimes we have VERY short overnights (8 hours minimum until January 2013).

I've heard a story of a crew that was about to depart from Stockholm to Barcelona. They missed their departure time by an hour. At that moment they we not allowed to fly anymore because they had too many hours already. The company had to fly in a different crew.

I've heard a story of a crew that was about to depart from Stockholm to Barcelona. They missed their departure time by an hour. At that moment they we not allowed to fly anymore because they had too many hours already. The company had to fly in a different crew.

 

 

Happens all the time.

 

I don't know what they are putting in the kool-aid over at SkyWest, but on the EV side that 1000hr/year is a hard number. There's no "typically" about it.

I think what he implied there was that you will typically fly less, but may sometimes be pushed right up to the limit, and was not implying that you were pushed past though.

 

Also... our per diem is a reimbursement given on our mid-month paycheck for the previous month. I can't see them trying to handle giving everyone whatever their specific amount should be for the day each night at the hotel, what about crewmembers who do daylines? When do they get paid per diem at Skywest?

 

Believe it or not mate, a lot of airline pilots are paid purely by the number of hours they fly and have no set wage, so if they don't operate that sector, the go home empty handed... Google the brookfield contract from ryanair and you'll find out all about it...

 

Capt. Rónán O Cadhain.

Believe it or not mate, a lot of airline pilots are paid purely by the number of hours they fly and have no set wage, so if they don't operate that sector, the go home empty handed... Google the brookfield contract from ryanair and you'll find out all about it...

 

I thought this was the norm, getting paid by the hour that is.......... So a pilot earning potentially 60-70 dollars per a hour might only see an annual pay check of say 40-50K per year due to the number of flight hours they accumulate. Is this correct?

 

What percentage of companies do a set pay then? I'm assuming mostly privatised companies would go with this approach since the bigger airlines are all about cutting costs and sheding pilot hours.

I thought this was the norm, getting paid by the hour that is.......... So a pilot earning potentially 60-70 dollars per a hour might only see an annual pay check of say 40-50K per year due to the number of flight hours they accumulate. Is this correct?

 

What percentage of companies do a set pay then? I'm assuming mostly privatised companies would go with this approach since the bigger airlines are all about cutting costs and sheding pilot hours.

 

Norm? Not sure which is more common, but both set salary and pay per hour are fairly common. In legacy airlines we tend to be paid a set wage, along with our small rate for every hour we fly. In airlines such as EZY and RYR, they get paid purely per hour they fly, and the amount they get paid per hour depends on the pilots experience. AFAIK, RYR has 3 brackets for pay, [0-500hrs experience, 501-1500 hours experience and then 1500hrs+ experience], and that determines your wage per hour. Check out the link I posted earlier to see how the wage structures in different airlines work...

 

Ró.

KLM has a set pay + a rate for unregularity, hrs flown and expenses when staying overnight. This set pay is based on rank and aircraft. (experience)

The trip I'm on now is a 4 day.

 

Day 1

DCA-BNA-CLT-OAJ 12hrs duty 5.7 block

Day 2

OAJ-CLT-TRI 342 duty 2.1 block

Day 3

TRI-CLT-LEX-CLT-CAE 930 duty 4.2 block

Day 4

CAE-PHL-BWI-PHL-BNA-DCA 1042 duty 7.0 block

 

This is an easy trip and not to heavy. Worth almost 19hrs. Most of my weeks are about 24hrs worth with 20-23 legs a 4 day.

I can tell you may schedule at Ryanair from last week. I'm cabin crew but pilots fly more or less the same:

 

Mon: CRL-AGA-CRL

Tue: CRL-TFS-CRL

Wed: CRL-TRS-CRL-TSF-CRL

Thur: CRL-VRN-BVA-VRN-CRL

Fri: CRL-AGA-CRL

 

Quite a lot of flying :P

Believe it or not mate, a lot of airline pilots are paid purely by the number of hours they fly and have no set wage, so if they don't operate that sector, the go home empty handed... Google the brookfield contract from ryanair and you'll find out all about it...

 

Capt. Rónán O Cadhain.

 

Read carefully... I wasn't talking about credit hours verses block hours, or pay protection, or guarantee. I simply stated that our per diem is paid once a month as part of the paycheck, whereas he stated that they are getting paid each night at the overnight. We are talking about being paid at different times, not pay protections.

 

As for pay protections, and guarantee... I wouldn't consider Ryanair's contract to be standard. It certainly isn't how any airline is paying in the US. Ryanair has about 1300 pilots (according to a March 2010 estimate - it's all I have to go on at the moment), ALPA represents more 57,000 pilots in the US. We have pay protections, and guaranteed minimum pay. We don't work for nothing, and we aren't letting management effect our ability to pay bills to the extreme that Ryanair pilots allow. In the US being a full time employee comes with the expectation of making a full time wage.

I thought this was the norm, getting paid by the hour that is.......... So a pilot earning potentially 60-70 dollars per a hour might only see an annual pay check of say 40-50K per year due to the number of flight hours they accumulate. Is this correct?

 

What percentage of companies do a set pay then? I'm assuming mostly privatised companies would go with this approach since the bigger airlines are all about cutting costs and sheding pilot hours.

 

Many US airlines pay by the hour, but it's credit hour not block hour. On top of this, there is a guaranteed minimum number of hours that will be paid.

 

Block hours - amount of time the airplane is away from the gate. The clock starts at brake release with the door closed, and ends with brake set and door open.

 

Credit hours - block hours and various 'credits' based on the length of the duty, minimum daily pay, etc.

 

At my airline, we get a minimum pay of 75 hours a month. No one makes less than that unless the voluntarily drop an assignment. We also get paid no less than 3.9 hours each day that we work. So if I only block 2 hours for the day, I still get credited (paid) 3.9 hours for the day. This forces the company to use the pilots. I don't put my uniform on for less than 3.9 hours of pay, and the company doesn't want to pay me if I'm not flying, so I rarely fly less than 3.9 hours each day that I work. We also have duty day credits. We get paid 1 minute for each 2 minutes we work, up to 12 hours. After that it's 1 minute of pay for each 1 minute we work. If this credit is higher than the number of hours worked, we get this credit pay for the day instead (it's not on top of the block hours/min day). This credit keep the company from having us do 1 quick leg in the morning, sit all day, and then do 1 quick leg at the end of the day.

 

The number of hours paid is multiplied by the employee's hourly rate, and that's what he gets paid for the month. This is a regional airline. I'm a First Officer on 5th year pay, which is $42.88/hour. So at a minimum, I make 75 hours times $42.88 per hour, which equals $3216 per month ($38,592 per year)before taxes and benefits, and that doesn't include per diem pay. I can make a considerable amount more than that depending on schedule, though. Reserve pilots basically only make mimimum guarantee, while pilots with lines (set schedule for the month) can make up to about 40% more.

 

This is just at one airline, and is one example of contract pay. Every airline is different, but the majority of US airlines have similar pay structures.

 

Now if you excuse me, I'm going to wallow in depression for a little while now that I've spent time looking at what I make again.

It's completely crazy that underground train drivers in London earn more then most first officers. Starting salary is around £45000.

 

 

It's completely crazy that underground train drivers in London earn more then most first officers. Starting salary is around £45000.

 

Seriously, wow, our FO's start on about €57,000 which is about £47,000. I'm sure they do a good job, but how are they that well paid? Any idea as to what they max out at?

 

Ró.

I know some are on £60,000 a year, my ex girlfriends father used to be one. Anyone who lives in London will tell you how much they strike because they want salaries pushed up further!

 

When the tube drivers strike London is crippled!

 

On the flip side, they drive around a dark tunnel for 12 hours a day sometimes and most end up with damaged lungs by the end of the careers.

 

Regards