XJT Line Pilots...

[SkyBoy1981]

Hi all

Just wondering what the average day is like for most XJT line holders? I know lines vary, but speaking on average..how long are most duty days? How many days off are most lines providing per month? Just trying to get an idea of what to expect later down the road for planning purposes. Thanks!

 

[Ben Franklin]

Hi all

Just wondering what the average day is like for most XJT line holders? I know lines vary, but speaking on average..how long are most duty days? How many days off are most lines providing per month? Just trying to get an idea of what to expect later down the road for planning purposes. Thanks!

I am a very senior line holder.

Most of my days involve getting up around 0830 and reading the Wall Street Journal or Investor's Business Daily as I am a regional pilot and my money works for me.

Then, I grab a :30 minute shower with exotic bath salts and sparkling water.

When I get out, there is usually a young lady there to pat me dry and put baby powder on my freshly shorn balls.

I hop in the limo shorlty thereafter and ride to the airport - usually making a few stock trades along the way so that I can educate my crew on the finer points of the market and keep my trading skills sharp.

When I get to the plane, everything is set up and the Flight attendant has my coffee made with just the right amount of real cream and sugar.

My taxiing skills are impeccable and my take off is barely felt in the cabin... the flight is perfect as I always know what altitude to fly at for the smoothest ride - my 178 hours in type ensures this.

After landing, the flight attendant calls up and says, "Captain, sir.. the passengers are wondering when we will be landing.."

I let out a laugh, the kind of laugh that a seasoned airline veteran of 4 years only knows how to do and it provides reassurance for all.

We taxi into the gate area under a hail of water from the airport fire trucks as every one of my arrivals is a celebration for the team - complete with photo opportunites.

I usually meet the press at the top of the jetway and then sign autographs for the passengers - I do this for free since I am independently wealthy and my Captain salary is so high.

The passengers know that I care.

Then I walk down with my entourage to the lobby area where another limo is waiting to take me to my 17 bedroom mansion.

I take 15 days off on my yacht and then do it all again.

If you pay your dues and play your cards right, you can have a life like mine in the airlines.

Drop me a line sometime. If my senior schedule allows us to fly together, I will show you my portfolio and give you some tips on airmanship and stock trading.

That is my typical schedule, but again, I am fairly senior in this business.

Sincerely,

B. Franklin

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

(Funniest post EVER)

I will sit down now, I've been clapping and giving you a standing ovation sir!

Dan

 

[Bawb]

Ben Franklin was a great American who understood humor, language, people, science, government and commerce. Usted no entiende nada.

 

[Vik]

You're my heeeero Ferris Bueller!

I am a very senior line holder.

Most of my days involve getting up around 0830 and reading the Wall Street Journal or Investor's Business Daily as I am a regional pilot and my money works for me.

Then, I grab a :30 minute shower with exotic bath salts and sparkling water.

When I get out, there is usually a young lady there to pat me dry and put baby powder on my freshly shorn balls.

I hop in the limo shorlty thereafter and ride to the airport - usually making a few stock trades along the way so that I can educate my crew on the finer points of the market and keep my trading skills sharp.

When I get to the plane, everything is set up and the Flight attendant has my coffee made with just the right amount of real cream and sugar.

My taxiing skills are impeccable and my take off is barely felt in the cabin... the flight is perfect as I always know what altitude to fly at for the smoothest ride - my 178 hours in type ensures this.

After landing, the flight attendant calls up and says, "Captain, sir.. the passengers are wondering when we will be landing.."

I let out a laugh, the kind of laugh that a seasoned airline veteran of 4 years only knows how to do and it provides reassurance for all.

We taxi into the gate area under a hail of water from the airport fire trucks as every one of my arrivals is a celebration for the team - complete with photo opportunites.

I usually meet the press at the top of the jetway and then sign autographs for the passengers - I do this for free since I am independently wealthy and my Captain salary is so high.

The passengers know that I care.

Then I walk down with my entourage to the lobby area where another limo is waiting to take me to my 17 bedroom mansion.

I take 15 days off on my yacht and then do it all again.

If you pay your dues and play your cards right, you can have a life like mine in the airlines.

Drop me a line sometime. If my senior schedule allows us to fly together, I will show you my portfolio and give you some tips on airmanship and stock trading.

That is my typical schedule, but again, I am fairly senior in this business.

Sincerely,

B. Franklin

 

[spitfire1940]

I agree with Dan CFI ...

one of the best, funniest, most ironic posts EVER on flightinfo ....

but seriously, what's your day like?

 

[AcroChik]

Now I Know What My Future Holds

So, Ben, should I take take that job at NetJets or wait until the Chief Pilot at a legacy spots me on a grocery checkout line?

The best laugh I've had on this forum. Great job. Thanks.

 

[T-handle]

Now that is what we call "Living the dream....."

 

[flyer172r]

(In my best Simpsons Comic Book Guy impersonation) "Best..post..ever."

 

[WolfManPack]

Bravo!

And again I say Bravo!

That was simply halarious.

 

[rattler]

I am still laughing also, nice work!

For the orginal poster:

Day 1
EWR-CVG 1350-1556
CVG-EWR 1625-1820
EWR-DTW 1950-2147

Day 2
DTW-CLE 1710-1802
CLE-MDT 1905-2014

Day 3
MDT-CLE 0710-0824
CLE-LGA 0925-1055
LGA-CLE 1300-1438
CLE-IAD 1645-1757

Day 4
IAD-CLE 0655-0808
CLE-MCI 0910-1020
MCI-EWR 1055-1440

This is part of a monthly line that pays 90 hours, and has 12 days off. Often I trade my line down to 75 hours of pay with 15-18 days off in what we call the line improvement window. This month I may pick up an extra trip because I need the money. I guess it's that time of the year again.

Hope that example helps.

 

[RSRVWINDSURFR]

What is so funny?

 

[Heavy Set]

My day tends to be very similar to Ben Franklin's average day - but without the shorn balls...

 

[greyhound]

How about lines to mexico?

What are those like and are they pretty senior?
Examples?

Thanks..

 

[Capt. Caucasian]

What are those like and are they pretty senior?
Examples?

Thanks..

There are no lines to Mexico. The Mexico and Canada stuff is intermixed with the domestic. Also, I would wager that lines with higher amounts of Mexico go junior, except for maybe Veracruz. All in all I would say that Mexico sucks and most folks don't like going down there. Its just a pain in the rear to sit for 33 hours in Saltillo, Torreon, Chihuahua, San Luis Potosi, Crap Hole, East Armpit, etc.

Frats,

 

[want2fly]

Do people from all the bases fly all over the route map or do people tend to stay fairly close to their base? I noticed the example from the person based at newark seemed to stay pretty close to the northeast with the exception of MCI. Is that always the case or is that just how that line happened to be?

 

[JetMonkey]

There are no lines to Mexico. The Mexico and Canada stuff is intermixed with the domestic. Also, I would wager that lines with higher amounts of Mexico go junior, except for maybe Veracruz. All in all I would say that Mexico sucks and most folks don't like going down there. Its just a pain in the rear to sit for 33 hours in Saltillo, Torreon, Chihuahua, San Luis Potosi, Crap Hole, East Armpit, etc.

Frats,

It's what you make of it my friend, I use to not mind Mexico when I was with XJT. The Hamptin Inn in Saltillo had free beer after 5pm, Torreon had free breakfast (use to be hot), a new release move, coke, and popcorn for about 6 bucks across the street (try doing that in the States), Nice lady in the hotel restaurant in Chihuahua will whip you up an awsome omlette for part of your free breakfast, and theres also free breakfast in San Luis Potosi. And ALL those places has free internet so you can email your honey back home if she or he can't stand not to hear from you for 33 hours.

 

[Standby 1]

Do people from all the bases fly all over the route map or do people tend to stay fairly close to their base? I noticed the example from the person based at newark seemed to stay pretty close to the northeast with the exception of MCI. Is that always the case or is that just how that line happened to be?

We tend to meander our way across the route map, as a general rule of thumb, but there are of course exceptions. For example, I don't think the EWR or CLE people are doing the LAX to Mexico flying right now (but I could be wrong, since I don't keep up with their flying out of other bases). I'm IAH based, but last month, my flying took me up to the northeast for much of the time.




...

 

[coex]

Do people from all the bases fly all over the route map or do people tend to stay fairly close to their base? I noticed the example from the person based at newark seemed to stay pretty close to the northeast with the exception of MCI. Is that always the case or is that just how that line happened to be?

As standby said, we all fly throughout the system. I've done trips with a Montreal overnight, and then the next night in Guadalajara Mex. (I'm CLE based) We also do trips like CLE-YYZ (Toronto) - IAH - MCI overnight, and then back to CLE the next day. It is pretty common to touch all three hubs in a four day trip.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

Thanks everyone, especially Rattler, for the replies. I was extremely uncertain about how the lines were constructed but you all have helped to clear it up. Thanks again.

 

[RSRVWINDSURFR]

Nice lady in the hotel restaurant in Chihuahua will whip you for 33 hours.

Ahhhhhhhhh yes, Juanita.........

 

[SkyBoy1981]

ROFL! Good call.

 

[Capt. Caucasian]

I look upon going through Customs with utterable loathing.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

One other thing...when "trading" a trip, is that simply just giving it to someone else who is willing to take it? What is "dropping" a trip and when are you permitted to do this? Thanks again for the info. I've been flying corporate for over 3 years, so I'm trying to learn all of the airline scheduling terminology.

 

[MJG]

When did we start flying to Crap Hole again? Damm it, I need to know about these things before I bid !

 

[Mookie]

B-Franklin,

in regards to the shorn scrotum...do you use shaving cream, or alfresco? Aftershave??

thanks for the great laugh, outstanding!
Mookie

 

[coex]

One other thing...when "trading" a trip, is that simply just giving it to someone else who is willing to take it? What is "dropping" a trip and when are you permitted to do this? Thanks again for the info. I've been flying corporate for over 3 years, so I'm trying to learn all of the airline scheduling terminology.

I guess it depends on how you look at it. During our line improvement window you can trade a 4 day trip for a 1 day trip. So yes you are trading one trip for another, but you are also getting rid of (or dropping) a lot of flying. I hope that makes more sense.

 

[rattler]

Also, you can add extra flying=more money, or drop trips=more days off. It allows you a little extra flexability with your schedule.