schedules

[cforst513]

hi y'all. i was wondering if you could either post or PM me examples of your schedules, typical amount of time home and away from home, and the different outfits you used to/currently fly for. i know it's prying a little, and i'm sorry if i offend anyone, but i am trying to get a feel for which aviation avenue to follow. thanks!

 

[Shamus]

My flying history: 1. Flight instructing and banner towing. 2. Flying light twins cargo(checks) and charter to the Bahamas. 3. Same company upgraded to King Air captian. 4. Currently flying air ambulance in Learjets.


Currently, I am home every night, but the days are very long. My last flight was very typical. 3 hours from Ft. Lauderdale to Grenada, wait on the ground for 2 hours while the medical crew goes and gets the patient. 3 more hours back to Florida to clear customs and refuel, that takes another hour. 2 hours to San Antonio. 2 hours waiting for the medical crew to drop the patient off at the hospital. 2 hours to get back to Ft. Lauderdale, and then another to put the plane in the hangar, paper work ect. That makes for about a 15-16 hour day, and you can imagine waiting around all day for a phone call, and then at 10 o'clock at night when your ready for bed they tell you you have a 1 am wheels up. In that case you've been awake for 30 something hours since the day before. I have 400 hours with this company, and I have only done one domestic flight which is pretty cool, and I am building time like crazy. No complaints, but I didn't relize how long of a day it can be. Good luck.

 

[Shamus]

Sorry, I forgot about the schedule. I have 6 scheduled days off a month. I usually fly a total of about 18 days per month.

 

[CapnVegetto]

hi y'all. i was wondering if you could either post or PM me examples of your schedules, typical amount of time home and away from home, and the different outfits you used to/currently fly for. i know it's prying a little, and i'm sorry if i offend anyone, but i am trying to get a feel for which aviation avenue to follow. thanks!

Current schedule: 24/7 call, 4 days in a row off a month. Realistically, home every night, almost no flying on the wrong side of the clock. In about 5 months, I've gotten 2 "be a the airport ASAP" calls. Rest of them were the afternoon or evening before a tomorrow morning or afternoon departure. I work probably an average of 12 to 15 days a month, some more some less. Charter is either flying your a$$ off, or sitting around not doing anything.

I came here with about 2400 hours, and about 1100 hours of SIC jet time, and 75 hours in their equipment type. After flying about 3 months as copilot, and proving that I could do the job, they upgraded me to captain, and have recently made me an SIC in the CE-650. Next step will be captain in the 650 (2 week initial at Simuflite), and if I'm still here after that, type rating in the CL-60 (Challenger, 3 week Simuflite initial). Maybe a CE-525 type, or Kingair School at Simcom if someone is needed.

Job before that was Mesa airlines. Do a search for info on that. Only thing I have to say is MESA F-ING SUCKS. Airline lifestyle is not for me.

Before that I flew copilot in a LR-35 part 91 corporate. That job paid really well, (started at $45K, up to $50K if I'd stayed a year) but f-ing sucked, as I was never home (gone about 20-25 days a month, on call all the time, NEVER any days off). That job lasted about 7 months before I'd had enough.

Before that was probably my fav job ever, flying charter for a $hitty little 135 outfit in Learjets as copilot. 9-11 scheduled days off a month, made more money than any regional airline FO, home every night, really neat flying, (went all over the place), Company was about to go under, unfortunately, so I jumped ship.

Flight instructed and begged for time prior to that.

 

[cforst513]

heh heh, good stuff, capnvegetto. i am mainly focussing on time spent away from home, and so far you guys have been helpful. granted, every situation is unique, i realize this, but i don't want to do the airline thing, i don't think, b/c i want to be home w/ my family and my be there for my kids. granted, i'm 22 now and am trying to get my foot in the door. need to learn how to fly first let's not get ahead of ourselves, right? keep them coming!! good info so far.

 

[400A]

I Hope Not

My flying history: 1. Flight instructing and banner towing. 2. Flying light twins cargo(checks) and charter to the Bahamas. 3. Same company upgraded to King Air captian. 4. Currently flying air ambulance in Learjets.


Currently, I am home every night, but the days are very long. My last flight was very typical. 3 hours from Ft. Lauderdale to Grenada, wait on the ground for 2 hours while the medical crew goes and gets the patient. 3 more hours back to Florida to clear customs and refuel, that takes another hour. 2 hours to San Antonio. 2 hours waiting for the medical crew to drop the patient off at the hospital. 2 hours to get back to Ft. Lauderdale, and then another to put the plane in the hangar, paper work ect. That makes for about a 15-16 hour day, and you can imagine waiting around all day for a phone call, and then at 10 o'clock at night when your ready for bed they tell you you have a 1 am wheels up. In that case you've been awake for 30 something hours since the day before. I have 400 hours with this company, and I have only done one domestic flight which is pretty cool, and I am building time like crazy. No complaints, but I didn't relize how long of a day it can be. Good luck.

I hope you exagerated your day otherwise you have commited major violations. according to your statement you flew 10 hours and were on duty 17 hours. I would delete your post before a fed takes notice and tries to figure out what operation you fly for.

If you are really doing this, and then taking another 1 am you being very dangerous. Do some homework on the King a crash in Dalton Ga. a few years back.

 

[FlyFlyFly]

Here is a typical week for me:

Monday On and Gone

Tuesday On and gone

Wednesday On and home at 9 pm

Thursday Back on at 7am and off at 6pm

Friday On and Gone

Saturday On and back home at 4pm

Sunday On at 10am and off at 4pm

Repeat for as long as you can stand it with 5 to 7 days off a month. Flying 65 to 106 hours per month.

 

[Shamus]

400a

400A. Oh, you better understand the regs a little better then that. The Planed Completion Time was well within 14 hours, and a two pilot crew is allowed to fly 10 hours, hell you can even fly over 10 hours obviously for weather and unforseen events, or you are Part 91 flying home.

 

[bigD]

I'm pretty much expected to be available to fly M-F, and I typically find out my schedule the week prior. I get the same days off that any other employee in the company gets - holidays, etc...and two weeks vacation of my choosing, which gets bigger the longer I stay with the company. I also get a week's worth of sick days too, if necessary.

I'm on call M-F, but there's an understanding that if you call me after 5pm, you're not necessarily going to be flying the next morning. In other words, I'm free to have a beer at the end of the day without having to worry about getting a last minute call. Honestly though, assuming I'm legal and well rested, I'll do my best to accomodate whatever my guys need. I have yet to be called to fly on less than 24 hour's notice, however. ::knocking vigorously on wood::

Usually I'm away from home 1-3 nights per week, with a day trip (home at about 6pm) once per week as well. I tend to log about 30 hours per month.

This is for a small Part 91 flight department with 3 airplanes, although my airplane is the only one in this city (the other two are at headquarters).

 

[FL350]

My schedule is almost identical to Big D, with fewer RONs. I hope that the people with crappy schedules are the only ones writing in. If this thread represents a good cross section of the industry, I am luckier than I thought.

 

[FracCapt]

400A. Oh, you better understand the regs a little better then that. The Planed Completion Time was well within 14 hours, and a two pilot crew is allowed to fly 10 hours, hell you can even fly over 10 hours obviously for weather and unforseen events, or you are Part 91 flying home.

Hmmm.....here you say the PLANNED completion time was well within 14 hours....yet....in the other post you say...well, read for yourself..

Currently, I am home every night, but the days are very long. My last flight was very typical. 3 hours from Ft. Lauderdale to Grenada, wait on the ground for 2 hours while the medical crew goes and gets the patient. 3 more hours back to Florida to clear customs and refuel, that takes another hour. 2 hours to San Antonio. 2 hours waiting for the medical crew to drop the patient off at the hospital. 2 hours to get back to Ft. Lauderdale, and then another to put the plane in the hangar, paper work ect. That makes for about a 15-16 hour day

Ok....so, which story are you going to stick with? It was well within 14 hours and you lied about it being a "typical" day.....or they regularly "schedule" you to be within 14 hours, but it's unrealistic to finish within those 14 hours?

I'd be willing to bet that 400A has a little better understanding of the regs than you do, kid.

BTW, remember that if we're talking 91, there are NO duty time or flight time limits....it only applies to 135/121. I'd guess you're doing 135, unless you happen to work for a company with lots of sick employees.

 

[gern_blanston]

Small Part 91 flight department with 1 plane and 2 pilots with access to contract pilots as necessary. 300 hrs per year and 5 or 6 RONs per month. 2 or 3 personal trips per year and the rest is business. We normally get 30 days notice on the trips, but we are technically on call 24/7. However, if we get less than 72 hrs notice on a pop-up, it's our option whether or not we take the trip. (Usually one of us and a rent-a-pilot are available, and we try to cover all the trips.)
Mostly US and Canada with a trip to Europe and a trip to New Zealand every 18 months.
I have no complaints.

 

[Brett Hull]

Month of April:

11 trips
3 overnights (one trip was a 2 nighter)
41 hours of flying
Occasional pop-ups, maybe 6/year
Mostly domestic with a little Bahamas
1 A/C that does about 500/year
3 Dorky pilots
I'd guess around 65%/35% business/personal
Usually don't know what we're doing until 5 p.m. the day before
But most importantly, if I say "Trip's cancelled due to Wx", the boss says "O.K.".

We're a little more busy leading up to the Christmas holidays.

 

[FracCapt]

But most importantly, if I say "Trip's cancelled due to Wx", the boss says "O.K.".

No...the most important thing is...what does the boss say when you say "Trip is cancelled due to beer" or "Trip is cancelled due to BBQ"?!

You have so much to learn....

 

[Shamus]

FracCapt

Thanks kid!??? The flight is assigned within the 14 hours, dispatch does not accout for all the ground delays, nor does it matter because do not they have to account for the return trip home because it is a Part 91 emptly leg home. Kid???

 

[gern_blanston]

Ground delays don't count. If you leave the ground on a '135 flight with a reasonable expectation of goin' over, you're treadin' on some pretty thin ice. Dispatch isn't responsible, the crew is, and that '91 empty leg still counts as duty time.
Don't get in trouble, Man. All of the POI's I've ever had would be foaming at the mouth and gnashing their teeth hearing a story like that.

 

[400A]

400A. Oh, you better understand the regs a little better then that. The Planed Completion Time was well within 14 hours, and a two pilot crew is allowed to fly 10 hours, hell you can even fly over 10 hours obviously for weather and unforseen events, or you are Part 91 flying home.

I have a very good understanding of the regs. I am also aware of what planned completion time is, and you my friend did not comply. I also know that based on your own bragging post(like you were some kind of hero) that you did not allot for penalty rest. HHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!

I have been flying on the same charter certificate fo 12 years. I have watched many guys try to bend that reg, only to be violated or revoked. You just keep playing word games with the feds, and see how that works for you.

By the way, unless that medical team is employeed by your air ambulance operation, you were NOT part 91 on the way home.

The feds will also tell you that since you do customs so much, then you knew there could be delays, therefore the were not unexpected.

Dont worry though, I am sure your ops guys can make the paperwork LOOK right. you will be ok. Towers dont keep records, and FBO computers dont time stamp either. Then there is that darned flight plan..... More of a paper trail than you thought. Yep, seen them do that too.

 

[cands]

hi y'all. i was wondering if you could either post or PM me examples of your schedules, typical amount of time home and away from home, and the different outfits you used to/currently fly for. i know it's prying a little, and i'm sorry if i offend anyone, but i am trying to get a feel for which aviation avenue to follow. thanks!
__________________
Our flight department is 2 airplane 2 pilots, we only fly the twin Cessna when the Learjet is in MX.
Normal schedule is 20 Hours a month, on call 8 am to 5 pm no weekends. Time away from home max 3 nights a month

 

[cforst513]

Our flight department is 2 airplane 2 pilots, we only fly the twin Cessna when the Learjet is in MX.
Normal schedule is 20 Hours a month, on call 8 am to 5 pm no weekends. Time away from home max 3 nights a month

wow... that's something like what i want to do. you want to walk my resume in in about 8 years?

 

[cands]

I'll be waiting for it