Packrat

That's the reality of the airline business. In the early '60s United was hiring guys with fresh commercial tickets right out of flight school. Other airlines had 20 year F/Os.

Look at USAir. After all the furloughs, the junior guy had something like 18 years seniority.

Fortunately, it looks like the airlines are going into a big hiring surge right now, but a hiccup in the economy could take us right back to the bad old days of 9/11 with furloughs and service reductions.

To assume that the average F/O time at any airline, regional or major, does not reflect the reality of the business.

skypilot35

I didn't ask the question but that was certainly helpful. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

Flyboyxc91

Quote:
Originally Posted by meah View Post
blocking=door closed parking brake off/faa time/payroll clock
soft=being paid for not sitting in cockpit with door closed and parking brake off

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blocking 1hr, but min day guarantee is 4hr = 3hr soft (day pays 4hr) - blocked 1hr
blocking 4hr, and 1.5hr deadhead = 1.5hr soft (day pays 5.5) - blocked 4hr
30hr layover and not working for a day, 4hr min day guarantee = 4hr soft (day pays 4) -blocked 0hr

in this example:
total = 5hr block and credit of 13.5hrs(what is on your paycheck) = 8.5hr soft pay.
this means only 5hrs went towards your monthly faa block limits.
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So this opens up more time in your monthly faa block limit to credit more hours than legal block.
clear as mud?

Its a sh'tshow way of paying pilots but hope this helps.
I didn't ask the question but that was certainly helpful. Thanks for taking the time to answer.



Thanks so much for all your responses, I love this forum!!! I am a new graduate from college and a PPL pursuing my commercial ratings at the moment so I have a lot of questions. Here is another... I get the breakdown provided, but no doubt there is much more "soft time" than your example typically (I know it was theoretical)... What I am getting at is, I just always thought you got paid for your "flying/block" time and nothing else as this is always the mantra of "Airline pilots make $>100/hr).... YEA FLYING IN AIR/WHEELS UP..... at any rate what actually QUALIFIES for "soft time"

Thanks So Much!

jumppilot71

Are you kidding? I made more working security. FML, I'm a 1st FO now.

rcfd13

The payscales are all public knowledge. It's not like it should be that much of a surprise for people. Figure that you'll be on reserve as a captain and take the pay rate * 75 hour guarantee + about ~100 hours of per diem per month.

A 7 year brasilia captain on reserve would make ($57.82 * 75) + ($1.80 * 100) * 12 months = $53,640. Holding a line or flying a lot on reserve would probably increase that to about 60k.