On the job as an airline pilot

[no1pilot2000]

What is a typical day(s) like as an airline pilot performing their flying and non flying duties?

 

[Fins Up]

As a new guy on reserve and with there being very few open trips in the week ahead, I expect to sit on the couch for most of the next five days. There's one data point for ya.

 

[FN FAL]

What is a typical day(s) like as an airline pilot performing their flying and non flying duties?

Well, if you're taxiing your 121 airliner past the hanger where my Caravan is parked and you see me out front grabbing my crotch and pointing at you and laughing, it might be disturbing...especially if you're one of those pinky outstretched while drinking tea types.

 

[Fins Up]

Okay, I guess you'd like some serious feedback. As a new reserve guy, if you're lucky enough to get assigned a trip, here's how it goes. Here's my experience at JB so far:

Getting a trip: Maybe you'll find out the day before. Maybe you'll get the "Can you be at the plane in 45 minutes" call. Either way, I'm just glad to be going flying.

Showtime is usually 1 hour prior to pushback time (45 minutes at out-stations). I usually get there a little early to update my computer (all our manuals are on the issued laptop), see who the crew is, find out the gate I'm going to, check the whereabouts of the plane, bring up dispatch paperwork and review, and maybe even look at weather.

Pre-flight: Once on the plane, do some but not all of the following (duties split with Captain): cockpit emergency equipment preflight, exterior pre-flight, load the FMS (Flight Management System) with the flight plan, calculate performance data, brief with Captain and FAs, get ATIS, Pre-departure Clearance, Dispatch paperwork printout from cockpit printer, departure brief with Captain and, time permitting, Say hi to passengers on PA ("Hi, I'm me, Captain is him/her, great crew, flight time, weather here/enroute/destination/enjoy your DirecTV...etc.")

Taxi: handle radio calls and checklists while taxiing out. Brief takeoff/departure with Captain.

Airborne: "Auto-Pilot 2". Read newspaper/magazine/play on computer. Eventually, get ATIS at destination, load arrival/approach into FMS. Update weather/handle radios/etc. as to be expected on any flight.

Landing: Don't crash.

At Gate: Parking/securing checklists. Say goodbye to passengers. Once they're all gone it's either prepare for next leg, help clean the cabin, head to hotel/crashpad/flight home. Since I'm still on reserve, call Crew Services and see what, if any, flight or reserve period I have next.

Sorry so lengthy. Hope that's what you're looking for. Try not to let all the cynicism and other negativity on this board deter your hopes.

 

[FN FAL]

Okay, I guess you'd like some serious feedback. As a new reserve guy...

Hahahahaha. Who would have thunk that in the ocean there's a wagon wheel rut with whale poop in it?

 

[Fins Up]

Well, if you're taxiing your 121 airliner past the hanger where my Caravan is parked and you see me out front grabbing my crotch and pointing at you and laughing, it might be disturbing...especially if you're one of those pinky outstretched while drinking tea types.

Hahahahaha. Who would have thunk that in the ocean there's a wagon wheel rut with whale poop in it.

Can't you just answer the kid's question and spare him the rest? Oh wait - I forgot this is Flightinfo.

 

[Fins Up]

That's much more helpful.

 

[FN FAL]

That's much more helpful.

Who would have thunk it? Plane moves, plane stops, coffee, breakfast, lunch, supper and a poop. It's freakin marvel of modern channels of interstate commerce, them planes flying.

 

[800Dog]

What is a typical day(s) like as an airline pilot performing their flying and non flying duties?

I work with lots of old fat chicks at Delta! Hope that helps.

 

[FN FAL]

I work with lots of old fat chicks at Delta! Hope that helps.

Hell yea!

 

[pilot141]

I just came in here to tell no1pilot2000 to ignore the village idiot.

FN FAL is on my ignore list, and all I see on this thread is blocked posts by FN FAL and some responses by Fins UP who is actually trying to give some useful info.

Believe it or not this website used to be, and still might be considered by some as a way to get info about aviation careers. Not unsuccessful ones that cause people like FN FAL to become bitter, angry trolls but the ones where people are willing to share their experiences (good and bad) to help the people behind us make the right decision.

Do yourself a favor - put FN FAL on your ignore list. The threads you read will be shorter, more concise and will make much more sense.

Not everyone on Flightinfo is a dingus like him..... just the loudest ones.

 

[inthewind]

I will say to no1pilot2000 that my job at Atlantic Coast (before Skeen and Moore ran it into the ground) was one of the best experiences that I have ever had. I truly loved flying the airplanes and the crews were awesome, esp in CVG. Sometimes the days do get long especially in the winter with all of the deicing but unless you work at a $h!t operator like Me$a you are getting paid by the minute! Keep working at it. The dream is still alive

 

[Uncle Bunkle]

What is a typical day(s) like as an airline pilot performing their flying and non flying duties?

Before flight: Wake up, pee, shower/dress, wish hotel had free breakfast, ride shuttle bus to airport in zombie-like state while pretending to be interested in FA/CA's mind-numbing story.
Flight: Figure out if I can hold it, or have to go back to the lav in-flight. Drink tepid, flavorless airline coffee, drink bottled water, wish I brought food with me on the plane. Get to airport, make mad dash for airplane lav/airport lav, look at $7 sandwiches, decide to buy Nutri-Grain bar and banana, squeeze thru boarding pax (who pretend not to see me standing there) to get back into cockpit.
Repeat everything after "Flight", 4 or 5 times a day; 1-4 days at a time.
After flight: Tell CA/FA you enjoyed flying with them, don't say what you really felt. Wait for shuttle bus, ride to employee lot, wonder why I didn't write down what row/aisle I parked in again, drive home, unpack, pet the dog, eat real food, poop.

 

[Mach 80]

That was hilarious Uncle Bunkle.

 

[Whine Lover]

"What is a typical day(s) like as an airline pilot performing their flying and non flying duties?"

O.K. Son...here's the scoop.

- FLYING...Fly the Jet. Pay attention. Don't kill nobody, most importantly yourself. Say neat Pilot stuff like "Gear Up!" or "Flaps 5." Enjoy your paper or, if so equipped, your inflight movie on your portable DVD player.

- NON-FLYING...Wait endlessly on Hotel vans. Hit the hotel room and convene 4 minutes later in the Lobby. Head to nearest dive joint or convenient Hotel bar to suck down copious amounts of really expensive cheap beer. ( $4.00 Miller Lite anyone?) Try to be witty and get young-new hire-dumbass FA to go play touch pee-pee with you. When that fails, go to your room alone, "release the hounds" manually, and then pass out.

- HOME...Tell everyone how much time off you have, how much money you make ( lie if necessary), and how many super HOT Flight Attendants you have bagged. Get on Flight Info and bash everyone elses airline, start a pissing match about something while snarfin' a brew, and then watch a good T.V. show.

- SUMMARY...It's the best part time job I have ever had. Who else will pay me to do something I enjoy? There are not a lot of positions open for "Professional Masturbaters/Drinkers" so this airline gig fits the bill quite nicely.


Now, in all seriousness, squeak through school, get into some jag off College and drink beer and smack booty for four (five, if you can wrangle it...) years, adopt a bad attitude of wanting something for nothing and hide it in a Sociopathic veneer of "YES, I feel I would be an asset to your airline!" get hired, and VOILA'....YOU TOO WILL BE LIVING THE DREAM.


ykw

 

[twepilot]

A favorite story of mine that pretty much sums it up is about a friend of mine that was a career military guy and got out to get on with the airlines. One day after I knew he was done with training and all, I called him to see how things were going. As luck would have it, I called while he was on a layover. I asked him how he liked the airline thing and he replied "just livin' the dream, sittin' in my hotel room, in my underwear, eating fritos and bean dip."

Gotta luv it!

RV

 

[Green]

"What is a typical day(s) like as an airline pilot performing their flying and non flying duties?"

O.K. Son...here's the scoop.

- FLYING...Fly the Jet. Pay attention. Don't kill nobody, most importantly yourself. Say neat Pilot stuff like "Gear Up!" or "Flaps 5." Enjoy your paper or, if so equipped, your inflight movie on your portable DVD player.

- NON-FLYING...Wait endlessly on Hotel vans. Hit the hotel room and convene 4 minutes later in the Lobby. Head to nearest dive joint or convenient Hotel bar to suck down copious amounts of really expensive cheap beer. ( $4.00 Miller Lite anyone?) Try to be witty and get young-new hire-dumbass FA to go play touch pee-pee with you. When that fails, go to your room alone, "release the hounds" manually, and then pass out.

- HOME...Tell everyone how much time off you have, how much money you make ( lie if necessary), and how many super HOT Flight Attendants you have bagged. Get on Flight Info and bash everyone elses airline, start a pissing match about something while snarfin' a brew, and then watch a good T.V. show.

- SUMMARY...It's the best part time job I have ever had. Who else will pay me to do something I enjoy? There are not a lot of positions open for "Professional Masturbaters/Drinkers" so this airline gig fits the bill quite nicely.


Now, in all seriousness, squeak through school, get into some jag off College and drink beer and smack booty for four (five, if you can wrangle it...) years, adopt a bad attitude of wanting something for nothing and hide it in a Sociopathic veneer of "YES, I feel I would be an asset to your airline!" get hired, and VOILA'....YOU TOO WILL BE LIVING THE DREAM.


ykw

That was probably the funniest post in flightinfo history. Good work.....

 

[Whine Lover]

Thank you. I'm here all week. And don't forget to tip your waitresses...


YKW

 

[HighSpeedClimb]

Before flight: Wake up, pee, shower/dress, wish hotel had free breakfast, ride shuttle bus to airport in zombie-like state while pretending to be interested in FA/CA's mind-numbing story. What makes you think your stories are anymore interesting?
Flight: Figure out if I can hold it, or have to go back to the lav in-flight. Drink tepid, flavorless airline coffee, drink bottled water, wish I brought food with me on the plane. Get to airport, make mad dash for airplane lav/airport lav, look at $7 sandwiches, decide to buy Nutri-Grain bar and banana, squeeze thru boarding pax (who pretend not to see me standing there) to get back into cockpit.
Repeat everything after "Flight", 4 or 5 times a day; 1-4 days at a time.
After flight: Tell CA/FA you enjoyed flying with them, don't say what you really felt. Again, what makes you think the Capt enjoyed working with you?Wait for shuttle bus, ride to employee lot, wonder why I didn't write down what row/aisle I parked in again, drive home, unpack, pet the dog, eat real food, poop.

You're to cool for school dude

 

[gutshotdraw]

Whine Lover, I think there's an opening at the Laugh Factory in LA after Kramer's little meltdown.

 

[Charlie Brown]

I second that Green. Good stuff, Whine Lover, good stuff.

 

[CaptainSpaz]

Thanks for the good laugh, ya'll!

 

[radar_contact]

"What is a typical day(s) like as an airline pilot performing their flying and non flying duties?"

O.K. Son...here's the scoop.

- FLYING...Fly the Jet. Pay attention. Don't kill nobody, most importantly yourself. Say neat Pilot stuff like "Gear Up!" or "Flaps 5." Enjoy your paper or, if so equipped, your inflight movie on your portable DVD player.

- NON-FLYING...Wait endlessly on Hotel vans. Hit the hotel room and convene 4 minutes later in the Lobby. Head to nearest dive joint or convenient Hotel bar to suck down copious amounts of really expensive cheap beer. ( $4.00 Miller Lite anyone?) Try to be witty and get young-new hire-dumbass FA to go play touch pee-pee with you. When that fails, go to your room alone, "release the hounds" manually, and then pass out.

- HOME...Tell everyone how much time off you have, how much money you make ( lie if necessary), and how many super HOT Flight Attendants you have bagged. Get on Flight Info and bash everyone elses airline, start a pissing match about something while snarfin' a brew, and then watch a good T.V. show.

- SUMMARY...It's the best part time job I have ever had. Who else will pay me to do something I enjoy? There are not a lot of positions open for "Professional Masturbaters/Drinkers" so this airline gig fits the bill quite nicely.


Now, in all seriousness, squeak through school, get into some jag off College and drink beer and smack booty for four (five, if you can wrangle it...) years, adopt a bad attitude of wanting something for nothing and hide it in a Sociopathic veneer of "YES, I feel I would be an asset to your airline!" get hired, and VOILA'....YOU TOO WILL BE LIVING THE DREAM.


ykw

Now that's funny!!! Great post!!

 

[pipejockey]

help clean the cabin

:laugh::laugh:

 

[Jmajoris]

Hey thanks for the ignore list tip! Makes this much more enjoyable....

Think that there is some kind of "award" for the one who is placed on the most ignore lists?

I just came in here to tell no1pilot2000 to ignore the village idiot.

FN FAL is on my ignore list, and all I see on this thread is blocked posts by FN FAL and some responses by Fins UP who is actually trying to give some useful info.

Believe it or not this website used to be, and still might be considered by some as a way to get info about aviation careers. Not unsuccessful ones that cause people like FN FAL to become bitter, angry trolls but the ones where people are willing to share their experiences (good and bad) to help the people behind us make the right decision.

Do yourself a favor - put FN FAL on your ignore list. The threads you read will be shorter, more concise and will make much more sense.

Not everyone on Flightinfo is a dingus like him..... just the loudest ones.

 

[airplane wizard]

complaincomplaincomplain....fly....complaincomplaincomplain......fly.....complaincomplaincompla....fly


repeat as necessary