While most of us are working a 40-hour week, it might surprise you to learn that airline transport pilots average just 75 hours per month in the air. But, they normally spend an additional 150 hours each month on other important required tasks. Although these pilots are limited in the number of hours they can fly per week, they must still perform ground duties such as maintenance checks, studying weather reports, building flight plans, refueling, preflight inspections, post flight checks, and other necessary activities. US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations are in place limiting the number of hours airline pilots can fly to ensure flight safety. They also specify the minimum amount of rest time required between flights. These boundaries largely determine how many hours a pilot will spend flying versus hours spent completing necessary pre-and post-flight duties. Other professional pilot jobs require a commensurate amount of flight time worked. They may also require significantly more time on the ground servicing aircraft, flight planning, attending to customers, and other tasks.
Airlines operate on a seniority-based system, whereby the pilot employed the longest is the highest on the pilot seniority list and the most newly-hired pilot is lowest. When hired by an airline, pilots receive a seniority number. A pilot's seniority number reflects their position on an airline's seniority list, essentially ranking them based on how long they've been employed by that airline, with the best number belonging to the longest-tenured pilot and below that to the newer hires. And this number stays with them throughout their career at that airline and directly impacts their choice of flight routes, the city where they will be “based,” as well as vacation time, and opportunities for promotion.
Each month, the airline scheduling department publishes all routes and schedules for the following month, which are called “lines”. Each pilot bids for the “line” he or she would like to fly, in order of preference. The most senior pilot is awarded their first choice; the next most senior pilot will receive the second choice, and so on. Vacation time works similarly to choosing the monthly schedule and is also based on seniority. While methods vary between airlines, the scheduling department will typically publish a bid for vacations, and pilots are given a choice of two-week time slots during the following year. Once these slots are published, pilots bid for the vacation times they want in order of preference. Again, the most senior pilot will be awarded their first choices, then the next most senior pilot receive their selections, and so on down the seniority list.
The airline industry generally moves with the rest of our economy, so when the economy does well, so do the airlines. Conversely, when the economy struggles, the airlines may as well. While it is challenging and expensive for an airline to furlough pilots, it does sometimes happen, with a case in point being the onset of the pandemic when the unemployment rate jumped in April 2020 to a level not seen since the 1930s. When an airline furloughs, they do so in reverse seniority order, where the most recently hired pilot is the first to be let go, then the next most junior, and so on. Having as much seniority as possible is crucial in situations like this, as senior pilots will be far more likely to maintain their jobs, aircraft positions, and quality of life. Even getting hired a few months or weeks earlier can make a huge difference when it comes to tough situations like airline furloughs.
Flight lengths are important in calculating hours. A short-haul flight can last from 30 minutes to three hours, a mid-haul flight may take anywhere from three to six hours while a long-haul flight can last from six to over 15 hours. As mentioned in a recent post, ultra long-haul flights are those of 16-plus hours’ duration. The limitations of flight time impact the pilot depending upon the length of flights. For example, long and ultra long-haul pilots work longer shifts, but they generally receive greater periods of time off between working days than do short-haul pilots. Relief pilots are typically required on long and ultra long-haul flights where the duration is long enough to necessitate crew members to take over piloting duties while the primary pilots rest. This normally occurs on international or very long domestic routes exceeding 8 hours in flight time, thus allowing for adequate crew rest periods during the cruise phase of flight.
The number of flight hours a pilot works can also depend upon the type of pilot certificate held. Flight instructors train student pilots on how to operate an aircraft, understand flight principles, check safety features and flight instruments, and to take off and land the airplane safely. They also develop specific lesson plans and follow curricula for ground training courses when not logging flight hours. They may also train pilots on the ground using flight training devices or simulators. The average flight instructor spends 80 hours per month, but can spend up to 100 hours in flight with another 100 hours of ground instruction per month.
A commercial pilot is generally responsible for checking the safety and security of the aircraft and its systems, including fuel levels and weight and balance as well as the accuracy of the flight plan if it was generated by a third party. They are also responsible for communicating with air traffic control as they navigate the route of flight, responding to all changes in conditions. Commercial pilots of various types generally also fly an average of 75 hours per month and work additional ground hours. Airline transport pilots, in general, tend to log more flight hours than the average commercial pilot or flight instructor. An airline transport pilot works for an airline which transports passengers and cargo on a fixed schedule. Flight crews typically consist of a captain, who has the final authority for the flight as pilot-in-command, and a copilot or first officer. Airline transport pilots fly an average of 75 hours per month but can fly up to 100 hours in a 30-day period. Many will be away from home for consecutive days during trips with long-haul and/or overnight flights.
As a private pilot, I always said flying was great fun, but serious business. I envy and respect both commercial and airline transport pilots for their professionalism and willingness to undertake such awesome responsibility for passenger safety. So, when you're next walking off a flight, take a moment to thank the cockpit crew.
Until next time…safe travels.
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