Regional Airline Policy

[KINGAIR PIC]

This was mentioned briefly in the FAR section of this board, but I need some clarification. How do the regionals view their pilots having other flying jobs on their days off?

If you could mention the airline you fly for and their policy it would be appreciated.

 

[FlyingDawg]

Most airlines do not allow their pilots to fly outside the airline because of the 121 restriction of 1000 hours/year.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Most airlines do not allow their pilots to fly outside the airline because of the 121 restriction of 1000 hours/year.

A typical policy is that if you get 1000 hours prior to the end of the year you get your guaranteed pay from then on unless any of those 1000 hours (all it takes is 1) are from outside the company. Then you are timed out and not paid for the rest of the year.

 

[CRJ puppy]

The policy varies from company to company.

The companies that I have flown for do not care one bit if you say flight instruct outside the company AS LONG AS you DO NOT exceed 1000 hrs. in a calender year (total of all paid flying). That is a FAR limit for 121 commercial pilots and can't be exceeded.

The usual procedure to get approval is to go to your chief pilot's office and get a form signed by them. That's it.

Trust me though, it'll be the last thing you'll want to do after 4-5 days on the road. If you do any extra flying, you'll want to do it for yourself!

 

[SkyWestCRJPilot]

It's not just 1000 hours in one year but also 30 hours in 7 days, and 100 hours in one month. Those are for 121 turbojet operations. I believe most turboprop operations under 121 are grandfathered in under 135 regulations being 125 hours in a month. Not quite sure, it's been awhile since I flew the EMB.

 

[Vinman]

SkyWestCRJPilot,

Glad to see that flying a jet hasn't stunted your knowledge of the regs. What you are referring to is part of the regs, not a grandfathering, that basically states if you fly aircraft of 30 passenger seats or less and a payload capacity of 7500 lbs or less, then you can operate under FAR 135 duty time regs. This is from FAR 121.470(a). Under 135 regs, it is 1200 hrs/yr, 120 hrs/mon, and 34 hrs/wk. Now this really doesn't help KINGAIR PIC, but I couldn't let the last post of misinformation stand.

 

[Rottweiller]

Now isn't this for compensated flying or all flying? Just curious as I fly 200+ hours a year in my own bug smasher and this pushes me close to the 1000 hour mark. Maybe I should start to bid reserve a bit more to cut down of flight time!

 

[WhiteCloud]

Now isn't this for compensated flying or all flying? Just curious as I fly 200+ hours a year in my own bug smasher and this pushes me close to the 1000 hour mark. Maybe I should start to bid reserve a bit more to cut down of flight time!

I think you can fly as much as you want to for fun. The definition of what constitues compensated flying varries. I think the feds like it that way. Some feds even view any flying below 1500 hours to be compensation since the flight time could help you get an ATP. Certainly part 135 and 121 count since it can be documented reliably. Part 91?

 

[CRJ puppy]

It's COMPENSATED flying.

"Private" flying...yourself, friends, family, etc doesn't count. Just flying that you get paid to do.

 

[ILS8L]

"It's COMPENSATED flying."

It's actually commercial flying. Other flying, private, recreational, and military does not count toward the 1000 hour limit. Compensation is allowed as in military flying.

 

[RichardFitzwel9]

The policy varies from company to company.

The companies that I have flown for do not care one bit if you say flight instruct outside the company AS LONG AS you DO NOT exceed 1000 hrs. in a calender year (total of all paid flying). That is a FAR limit for 121 commercial pilots and can't be exceeded.

The usual procedure to get approval is to go to your chief pilot's office and get a form signed by them. That's it.

Trust me though, it'll be the last thing you'll want to do after 4-5 days on the road. If you do any extra flying, you'll want to do it for yourself!

Actually I don't believe that Flight Instruction qualifies as "Commercial Flying". Check out the Federal Register from April 4, 1997, there's a final ruling from the FAA in there concerning medical certificates and flight instructing....

Here is an except:

"With respect to the holding of medical certificates by a flight instructor, the FAA has determined that the compensation a certificated flight instructor receives for flight instruction is not compensation for piloting the aircraft, but rather is compensation for the instruction. A certificated flight instructor who is acting as pilot in command or as a required flight crewmember and is receiving compensation for his or her flight instruction is only exercising the privileges of a private pilot. A certificated flight instructor who is acting as pilot in command or as a required flight crewmember and receiving compensation for his or her flight instruction is not carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire, nor is he or she, for compensation or hire, acting as pilot in command of an aircraft. Therefore, because a certificated flight instructor who is acting as pilot in command or as a required flight crewmember and is receiving compensation for his or her flight instruction is exercising the privileges of a private pilot, he or she only needs to hold a third-class medical certificate. "

 

[skydiverdriver]

Yup. I don't think instructing counts, but our ops manual specifically states flight instruction, so you should discuss it with the chief pilot. I also know that flying skydivers is not considered commercial flying, as the jumpers are paying to jump, not to fly. That's why you can legally do formation flights with jumpers on board.

Honestly, you may not believe me, but most pilots give up flying small planes when they start flying for a living. I didn't believe it either, but honestly, who wants to take on the liability to instruct someone when you might lose your airline job if something goes wrong? You might still do a few BFR's or instrument checks for your friends, but actually having a schedule with students would be nearly impossible while on reserve. Just another thing to think about. Good luck.