How many people do you need?

[nfg2u]

How many people do you need to run a Large Cabin Class aircraft that does 70% International and 30% domestic averaging 550 hours a year on the a/c?
Just wondering where most flight departments stand.

We have:

1 CP
2 Captains
1 FA
1 DOM



What do you have and how many do you recomend?
Thx

 

[Shag McNasty]

Does the CP pull his own weight or does he sit behind the desk most of the time and cherry pick the choice trips?

Do you have duty time limits or does anything go?

 

[Hugh Johnson]

NBAA has a formula on their website that lets you plug in hours, days off, vacation, training, etc.

 

[nfg2u]

Thanks,
I have already looked at the NBAA formula although they have some great tools I just thought I would get some real world input, not NBAA industry standard which can be a bit skewed sometimes.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

If your 91 sounds like its okay if the owners don't have late returns early/departures, multi day overnight trips back to back, and give you slack during vacation and training, etc.

 

[Rick James]

Delete this post please....

 

[Rick James]

1 DO/Mechanic
1 CP
4 Captains
1 Full Time Mechanic
1 Cleaner
1 FA
Challenger 604 and a Piaggio, mostly domestic, 400-500 hrs a year each. Chief pilot works hard and delegates duties as necessary so thier is no cherry picking. Seems to work great...

 

[futurepizzaguy]

Can anyone send the link to that NBAA formula? I think our flight department is quite understaffed...this would be interesting to see! Thanks

 

[Publishers]

I would add a co pilot to the first group so you have more combinations that you can have to cover all the normal things.
You cna look at the mechanic area but if the aircraft is flying that much, it may never be where you could do much yourself anyway. You can use a contract flight attendant as backup.

 

[nfg2u]

http://www.nbaa.org/basics/admin/calcpilots.htm here is the link for the NBAA calculator, you may need a password to get there?. Its a bit vague in the way the calculations are made. You can tweak it a bit but Its still just a tool and doesn't do some situations justice.

Publishers,
I agree with the co-pilot, but not an option, they want nothing but qualed capytans...

 

[futurepizzaguy]

Thanks nfg2u for the website. It looks like your numbers look/sound normal. I'd say generally speaking....for every one aircraft (regardless of size or amount of travel) you need atleast 3 pilots. As far as an FA...I think it is much easier to get an acceptable contract FA on a daily rate in the event of a problem. If that ever becomes a problem....3 pilots, 2 FAs and DOM should be perfect for a one airplane flight department.

Are you part 91, 135 or both? are you scheduled or on call? set days off? just a few possible factors that could help in deciding.

Just my thoughts...