Do pilots have set schedules?

Airline pilots fly an average of 75 hours per month and work an additional 150 hours per month performing other duties, such as checking weather conditions and preparing flight plans. Pilots have variable work schedules that may include several days of work followed by some days off.

Do pilots plan their route?

A: Flight plans are filed with air traffic control. Pilots receive a clearance from ATC and fly that clearance. If there is a reason to change the route, pilots request an amended clearance. ATC will approve the amendment unless there is a traffic conflict.

How often do pilots have to move?

Depends on the airline and the pilot’s seniority. At my airline, senior pilots who don’t want to be away a lot bid day trips or just overnight trips. So they might only be gone 5 nights a month or less. Other pilots are on 3 and 4 day trips and might be away 15 nights.

Do pilots get to choose their flights?

Bidding — Pilots choose their aircraft, schedules and bases by bidding. Airlines periodically post vacancies to fill captain or first officer positions at various domiciles.

Do pilots have flexible schedules?

Many pilots, especially helicopter pilots, have very flexible work schedules. It’s common for pilots to work one week on, one week off, or two weeks on, two weeks off, or even six months on, six months off. It depends on the job, but this is very common.

How does pilot know the route?

Pilots rely heavily on computerised controls and with the assistance of the autopilot and the flight management computer, steer the plane along their planned route. They are monitored by air traffic control stations they pass along the way.

Do airline pilots have routes?

The short answer is: No, we do not have regular routes. We can fly any number of routes in a given month. An airline’s mechanism to schedule pilots and flight attendants is complicated and crewmembers themselves are responsible for selecting a schedule that meets their needs every month.

Can a pilot work only one route for the month?

So while a senior pilot may end up with their perfect schedule, a newer pilot to the airline may be assigned trips that they may not want. It is possible, if a pilot is senior enough, to work only one type of route for the month. However, this is very rare.

How often do airline pilots mix up their flights?

Not very often at all. If they do occasionally, it is purely by coincidence. The only exception may be very senior pilots flying international on wide-bodies where the routes and patterns are not as many and varied as are domestic routes. Most airlines have a monthly bid of mixed trips.

What determines the schedule of an airline pilot?

Answer Wiki. A pilot’s schedule depends greatly on (1) seniority and (2) whether they are a commuter or not. The primary consideration for anything in an airline pilot’s life is seniority.