[pclancy]

This thread is for people who are interested in a commercial career in flying to ask a qualified commercial pilot questions about their daily lives, technical/system questions, career guidance, licencing, how best to become an airline pilot etc

Over time it will become full of good nuggets of information and serve as a good reference point for people wanting a career in the flight deck.

It is not intended for general discussion, general aviation or PPL questions, chit-chat, discussion of sensitive hr/corporate airline information or anything that could break the A&A forum charter.

Asking Questions: Please only post if you are asking or answering a question so as to keep it nice and tidy. commercial pilots are requested to include their licence type, relevant rating held and hours in their response ie ATPL(F), 738, 500. I don't expect you to divulge your airline or personal details but at least it might serve as some proof to your credentials

We'll see how it goes and sticky if its busy enough.

[Lustrum]

How far in advance do you know your roster? Do you know this week that next Monday you will fly Dublin-Heathrow-Dublin-Milan-Dublin or how does it work? Also I know that many pilots give out about missing birthdays and other occasions, but how easy is it to get someone to cover flights if there's something on that you really can't miss?

[XWB]

Originally Posted by Lustrum

How far in advance do you know your roster? Do you know this week that next Monday you will fly Dublin-Heathrow-Dublin-Milan-Dublin or how does it work? Also I know that many pilots give out about missing birthdays and other occasions, but how easy is it to get someone to cover flights if there's something on that you really can't miss?

Ok 1st off my experiance and ratings..well ATPL, about 35 years or so in Aer Lingus, retired summer 2010(may be forced to make a return as there are not enough long haul commanders apperantly), ratings on 737(2,3,4,5), 707, 747, Fokker 50, a330, a320 and a range of private jets. Overall over 32,000 flight hours(I actually had to go look at my logs for that...best I can make out I'd guess approx 22,000+ jet (to be honest I got to 22,000 and got sick of counting), 1000 prop and the rest is just cessna jollies to and from abbyshrule, weston etc and private adventures...and then there's sim time etc)

Ok roster question. It varies with season(and seniority) but usually you will have 3 weeks to a month's notice. Now I know the rosters now have got a bit tighter of late so that may be less, but I'd still imagine it to the somehwere in that region.
Generally if you get your request for a wife's birthday or anniversary or kids etc in before the roster is done up(so a month in advance) they try and help you out, though they may not always be able to. The only incidence of people getting late changes to their roster I know of was when their wife was about to pop and they got a call...generally then you'd find someone was sound enough to cover their sectors for them.
In my early days we used to chop and change all the time because life was more laid back then. In later years they got stricter on notice before you swapped(ie dont just show up and say your's covering..tell HR or someone).

[Delta Kilo]

Great idea!

On short hall, how long roughly are the turn around times for an established/flag carrier airline. We all know of the target 25 mins in LCC but how long are they generally in airlines such as EI or BA for instance. Is it a case of go go go when on the ground or have you time to relax?

What do you do for lunch? Are you always on the A/C so you have to bring a packed lunch and eat it in between legs or is there any point during the day where you can leave the A/C for 30 mins and go to a crew room to relax or anything? Is it just the FO who does the pre flight inspection or do you rotate so each gets to "stretch the legs" between legs?

[TyroneGal]

Minimum height restriction for commercial pilot? Do these still apply? I'm 157cm / 5ft 1.5" (female:-) ) They stipulate 5ft 2 / 5ft 3 for cabin crew so i'm assuming same for pilot :-S

[XWB]

Originally Posted by Delta Kilo

Great idea!

On short hall, how long roughly are the turn around times for an established/flag carrier airline. We all know of the target 25 mins in LCC but how long are they generally in airlines such as EI or BA for instance. Is it a case of go go go when on the ground or have you time to relax?

What do you do for lunch? Are you always on the A/C so you have to bring a packed lunch and eat it in between legs or is there any point during the day where you can leave the A/C for 30 mins and go to a crew room to relax or anything? Is it just the FO who does the pre flight inspection or do you rotate so each gets to "stretch the legs" between legs?

About 40 mins or so depending on delays, slots etc.

You can leave the aircraft for your walk around to stretch the legs and you get a break for a quick bite to eat between legs. Usually every 2nd leg you might eat something. But generally even inflight you can have a nibble if needs be. In my day the hostess would bring you a cuppa and bikkie, I think cos cutting means you have to bring your own...as long as it isnt sushi or raw eggs...or spanish water

TyroneGal -

Minimum height restriction for commercial pilot? Do these still apply? I'm 157cm / 5ft 1.5" (female:-) ) They stipulate 5ft 2 / 5ft 3 for cabin crew so i'm assuming same for pilot :-S

Yes they do apply. It's down to cockpit ergonomics(spelling may be wrong). Basically if you're short you wont reach the overhead panel...or if you have stubby little legs you might not reach the rudder. When I applied it was 5'4 but I'm not sure about that now.

[Lustrum]

XWB unless a few more pilots turn up here you may be a busy man!

With regard to the type ratings, I understand they're only valid for 1 year so are they renewed by keeping current and in-flight training or do you have to have a proficiency test every year?

Also I presume your ratings on the older 737s for example are out of date, so if you wanted to renew them for say a 737 NG would it be less work for you than for someone who was getting their first rating ie. is there a fast track method because you previously had a similar rating? Same goes for stepping up from A320 to A330?

Thanks for your time for all this and the AL stuff by the way

[xflyer]

XWB unless a few more pilots turn up here you may be a busy man!

Well I would help but it does say 'airline pilot'. So I'm excluded.

Walks away sadly

But there are a few airline pilots who visit here. They'll chip in.


Not me though, I'll just go back in my box........sigh!

[XWB]

Originally Posted by xflyer

Well I would help but it does say 'airline pilot'. So I'm excluded.

Walks away sadly

But there are a few airline pilots who visit here. They'll chip in.


Not me though, I'll just go back in my box........sigh!

Of course we can make an exception for you xflyer!

Lustrum -

XWB unless a few more pilots turn up here you may be a busy man!

With regard to the type ratings, I understand they're only valid for 1 year so are they renewed by keeping current and in-flight training or do you have to have a proficiency test every year?

Also I presume your ratings on the older 737s for example are out of date, so if you wanted to renew them for say a 737 NG would it be less work for you than for someone who was getting their first rating ie. is there a fast track method because you previously had a similar rating? Same goes for stepping up from A320 to A330?

Thanks for your time for all this and the AL stuff by the way

It can depend on the airline. In Aer Lingus you do recurrent training so that doubles up a bit. You renew your IR also on a yearly basis so it is all rolled into one. As far as I know if you are off the line for over 28 days you have to hop in for a quick whizz in the sim, although I'm not 100% on what the timescale is...28 is a rough guess. I wont lie however, to a certain extent the senior pilots tend to intimidate standards into passing them and tend to get a little less "guff" of the standards examiner. There are also spot checks etc for knowledge and ability so always throw an eye over your ATPL manuals, ops books and all your TR written materials if you have a day off and are idle.
To cut a long story short..you wont go a year without being checked for something and they tend to check it all at once then.

I am not overly familier with the systems on the 737NG, but if they are similer to the 737-500 I would take to it quicker, but I'd have to go through all the same hoops, I'd just find it a fair bit easier than a newbie.

A320 to A330 is quite easy as the systems are more or less the same and the A330 is designed to be easy to convert to from other Airbus a/c.
Now when I did my A330 TR I was going 747 to A330, having flown 737s and the 707 before that, so it was a bit of a "culture shock" starting on the A330. But from what I was told by former A320 FOs, the A330 is more or less a bigger A320.
I only flew about 4 sectors on the line in the A320, I was mostly long haul from '92 onwards

[pamsym]

Before I write, I am not assuming that I will recieive a call for an interview for the EI cadetship but 1) I like to stay optimistic and 2) I plan on being an airline pilot with or without the cadetship and will therefore hopefully some day face an interview.

So.....if anyone has any helpful info/tips on what to expect in the pilot interview process I would be very grateful to hear. Is there any way to prepare for a group assessment? Can someone with a little flying experience expect a bit of a technical grilling in the interview (admittedly that question is cadetship specific)?

[XWB]

Originally Posted by pamsym

Before I write, I am not assuming that I will recieive a call for an interview for the EI cadetship but 1) I like to stay optimistic and 2) I plan on being an airline pilot with or without the cadetship and will therefore hopefully some day face an interview.

So.....if anyone has any helpful info/tips on what to expect in the pilot interview process I would be very grateful to hear. Is there any way to prepare for a group assessment? Can someone with a little flying experience expect a bit of a technical grilling in the interview (admittedly that question is cadetship specific)?

For a cadetship they will not expect a speech on turbine engines, however they will expect you to have some small degree to aircraft knowledge if it is your chosen passion. They may infact ask you if you have any technical knowledge and get you to list off what you know. Perhaps "do you know anything about the aircraft we operate". You can then tell them anything..be it a technical description of the aircraft or some points on airbus's marketing strategy when they put it into service. Give whatever you have. Just dont make it seem like you learned off a load of info to throw out at them. Be sincere.

For DE interviews you MUST have a technical knowledge and will be grilled indepth on certain systems and componants of the aircraft.

You cannot prepare for the group assesment really...it's a personality based exercise and you are who you are.

[el tel]

If you dont mind, i have a couple of Airplane-related questions:

You ever…seen a grown man naked?

Do you…like movies about gladiators?

Have you ever been…in a Turkish Prison?

[XWB]

Originally Posted by el tel

If you dont mind, i have a couple of Airplane-related questions:

You ever…seen a grown man naked?

Do you…like movies about gladiators?

Have you ever been…in a Turkish Prison?

Yes

Yes

And it was more the other way round

.....and dont call me Shirley

[Priority Right]

I'm new here. Used to be a member but haven't posted in years but have been keeping an eye on aviation forum. I used to fly for BMI and now I'm with another airline. Type rated on A320 and have flown 320 the 319 and 321. Roughly 2500 hours.

In both the airlines I've worked for we got our schedule in the middle of the month and that covers all the next month. We don't have seniority so everyone gets their fair share of flying and days off 5/3/5/4.

Who does the walkaround depends on who is flying the next sector. So you on a 4 sector day you usually do 2.

We do two sims every year. 1 every six month that runs over 2 days. It's intense but I'd hate to be flying without it. One of these sims renews our IR.

Edit to ask XWB. Do Aer Lingus not provide food for their staff?

[scholar007]

Something thats been bothering me for a while now.

Ya know when you're barrelling down the runway and ya reach V1 - time for take off and ya pull back on the yokibob - how does the plane know its time to fly - like why doesn't it keep going in a straight line? What does pulling back on the stick and rotating tell the plane to do?

Sorry if I am not explaining this correctly. Thanks Captain.