The great big "ask an airline pilot" thread!

Phillip D

California Dreamer wrote: »

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on where you go. You are not giving a lot of information on which way you or someone you know wants to go. So earning potential really is unlimited but depends on lots of factors.

Say working for air lingus . Flying Airbus A320/321/330 I'd say max I would be looking at would be around 100k gross after 30 years on the job

MoeJay

Phillip D wrote: »

Say working for air lingus . Flying Airbus A320/321/330 I'd say max I would be looking at would be around 100k gross after 30 years on the job

All the info you could ever want is on http://www.ppjn.com

MoeJay

Hansanter wrote: »

On the subject of navigation etc... can anybody tell me the purpose of the Glenteige and Wolftrap DME stations ? http://iaip.iaa.ie/iaip/IAIP_Frame_CD.htm


Thanks.. H./

They are used to supplement navigation by increasing the number of DME stations to enable more DME/DME fix capability for use in RNAV.


https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Area_Navigation_(RNAV)

Inquitus

How are ye finding having all this time on your hands?

1123heavy

Inquitus wrote: »

How are ye finding having all this time on your hands?

No different from the rest of the population I believe, for me anyway.

I know colleagues using it to catch up on some housework, spend time with the family at home, those with more free time are doing everything from volunteering to learning a new language. Brushing up on some tech knowledge in between too.

And of course many are partial to the odd moan or two in whatsapp groups :rolleyes:

Inquitus

1123heavy wrote: »

No different from the rest of the population I believe, for me anyway.

I know colleagues using it to catch up on some housework, spend time with the family at home, those with more free time are doing everything from volunteering to learning a new language. Brushing up on some tech knowledge in between too.

And of course many are partial to the odd moan or two in whatsapp groups :rolleyes:

A lot of us, including myself, can work from home, so while it does mean more time with the family, I have to hide away to do my 8 odd hours of work a day.

Are the airlines supporting you with continued pay to at least some degree, or is this likely to cause financial hardship for pilots if it drags on too long?

1123heavy

Inquitus wrote: »

A lot of us, including myself, can work from home, so while it does mean more time with the family, I have to hide away to do my 8 odd hours of work a day.

Are the airlines supporting you with continued pay to at least some degree, or is this likely to cause financial hardship for pilots if it drags on too long?

Regarding the pay bit, that very much depends on the airline. As I understand it, Ryanair have placed most guys on unpaid leave, Aer Lingus have cut everyone's pay by 50%, Stobart have put all but a very small number of pilots on unpaid leave, CityJet have put everyone on unpaid leave.

Open to correction on those

Bikerman2019

Fair play to EI for delivering PPE from China, but anybody delivering groceries? Whatever it takes to keep busy and help the community


https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-british-airways-pilot-helps-during-pandemic-by-becoming-food-delivery-driver-11969256

Bikerman2019

Bikerman2019 wrote: »

Fair play to EI for delivering PPE from China, but anybody delivering groceries? Whatever it takes to keep busy and help the community


https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-british-airways-pilot-helps-during-pandemic-by-becoming-food-delivery-driver-11969256

While admiral, it also shows a good sense of caring for his community. It is worth noting that he is likely on the lower end of the payscale and has many debts post his previous redundancy, so he is also trying to keep the lights on keep the wolves from his door.

veetwin

How often do commercial pilots have to actually fly a real plane to keep current? Will we see planes flying circuits empty just to keep their licences?

Hansanter

MoeJay wrote: »

They are used to supplement navigation by increasing the number of DME stations to enable more DME/DME fix capability for use in RNAV.


https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Area_Navigation_(RNAV)

Interesting... Many thanks MoeJay.


H./

lintdrummer

veetwin wrote: »

How often do commercial pilots have to actually fly a real plane to keep current? Will we see planes flying circuits empty just to keep their licences?

In my company if a period of 30 days without flying elapses we would require either a familiarisation flight with a training captain or a session in the sim.

60 days without flying and you must do both.

We also require 3 takeoffs and landings every 90 days to remain current. That can be achieved in the sim but bashing the circuit might be an option we'll see used.

6 months without flying and you would potentially need to go through the type rating again before resuming line flying. Hopefully it doesn't come to that!

smurfjed

Wow that’s strict. We have 90 days, 6 months and 36 months.

martinsvi

smurfjed wrote: »

Wow that’s strict. We have 90 days, 6 months and 36 months.

same here

Inquitus

How long can you sustain yourselves while furloughed? The €305 a week COVID payment is a far cry from a Pilot's salary, I would imagine, have you had to consider the 3 month mortgage holidays proposed for workers in your situation.

Also as a follow up to the requirements to stay current, have your airlines offered to give you the required Sim and/or Plane time to make sure you meet the requirements?

Bleak

Can I ask what the first heading often given for eastbound flights departing Dublin on 28 or 10. Is it RULAD or RULAT?

Cessna_Pilot

Bleak wrote: »

Can I ask what the first heading often given for eastbound flights departing Dublin on 28 or 10. Is it RULAD or RULAT?

Close...RULAV!

Muahahaha

What sort of maintenance do the aircraft need when laid up at the moment. Would the engineers start the engines once a week or so? And will there come a point they need to be flown empty just to give them a proper run out.

1123heavy

Muahahaha wrote: »

What sort of maintenance do the aircraft need when laid up at the moment. Would the engineers start the engines once a week or so? And will there come a point they need to be flown empty just to give them a proper run out.

Probably cause to open a 'great big ask the engineer' thread

adam88

smurfjed wrote: »

Wow that’s strict. We have 90 days, 6 months and 36 months.

I don’t think I’d trust a pilot that hasn’t flown in 89 days

I work in healthcare and carry out procedures every day. I was sick for 3 months few years ago and was nervous coming back

Bleak

Cessna_Pilot wrote: »

Close...RULAV!

Thanks. Any idea where about RULAV is? Irish Sea somewhere around LIFFY?

basill

Bleak wrote: »

Thanks. Any idea where about RULAV is? Irish Sea somewhere around LIFFY?

12nm SE of LIFFY on a bearing of 104 degrees.

RULAV is N5326.2W00510.0

All this time off and I just learnt how to find that out off the company ipad!

Bleak

basill wrote: »

12nm SE of LIFFY on a bearing of 104 degrees.

RULAV is N5326.2W00510.0

All this time off and I just learnt how to find that out off the company ipad!

Thanks

Tenger

basill wrote: »

All this time off and I just learnt how to find that out off the company ipad!

Don’t tell them that, it will get included into line training!!

California Dreamer

adam88 wrote: »

I don’t think I’d trust a pilot that hasn’t flown in 89 days

I work in healthcare and carry out procedures every day. I was sick for 3 months few years ago and was nervous coming back

Good thing you will have no where to fly to so!

Silly statement!!!

OK here's one for the technically minded pilot, please

What's the relevance of an obstacle in the TOFP (Take Off Flight Path), which is a 1.2% upslope plane from either the end of the runway, the end of the clearway, or the 35ft "screen height" (not sure) when the TOCS (Take Off Climb Surface) is a 2% slope and any obstacles infringing have to be declared?

The Type A chart shows the TOFP plane. I suspect this is something to do with single engine climb out

Could someone with the knowledge and competence to educate me please let me know

Thanks all!

faceman

Probably a dumb question. With so many pilots grounded for an extended period, when flights do resume will pilots just jump back in the hot seat or will you be required to do some tests etc?

If yes, does this cause a logistical nightmare with getting the industry moving?

smurfjed

Various governing authorities around the world have issued waivers for training currencies and medical expiries, these will probably allow most pilots to just jump back in the seats. Without these waivers they would all have to go through simulator training to maintain their currencies.

jordanfaf

I’m looking to transfer career paths from my current. And have always had an interest in becoming a pilot.
I’ve done a few single prop lessons in Weston but nothing past that so far.

I have a bachelors degree in an unrelated field (architectural technology). Would I need to return to college to do a related degree?

Before I indulge myself any further I have a few questions regarding the process on becoming a pilot and the skills that are beinficial or required

1) Maths is not my strongest Skill. I’d need a calculator to do pretty basic stuff. Would this be a deal breaker or cause me to seriously struggle in getting licensed?

2) what would be the expected duration of training and rough costs in Ireland to get to a commercial level

3) are there any paths anyone would reccomemd besides commmercial flight (cargo, private charter etc?)

4) what is the day in the life of a pilot like?

Oh also I’m 5ft 5 male, are the days of minimum height requirement gone?

lintdrummer

jordanfaf wrote: »

I’m looking to transfer career paths from my current. And have always had an interest in becoming a pilot.
I’ve done a few single prop lessons in Weston but nothing past that so far.

I have a bachelors degree in an unrelated field (architectural technology). Would I need to return to college to do a related degree?

Before I indulge myself any further I have a few questions regarding the process on becoming a pilot and the skills that are beinficial or required

Hi there.

I'll give you a few answers from my experience. But first I'd say that you need to think long and hard about this before you commit. We're entering an enormous period of uncertainty generally and more specifically a big downturn in the aviation industry. Demand for pilot jobs is going to be down for the next 2 - 3 years.
As for needing a relevant degree, absolutely not necessary. I have no degree, although I did train post secondary school for a practical job in the aviation industry. While a degree related to aviation would be nice, it would be very low on my list of steps towards a flying career. I work with people from all sorts of backgrounds. If you have the aptitude and perseverance you will succeed.
Top of my list would be to get a Class 1 medical. If you had any known/unknown medical issue that would prevent you from obtaining a Class 1 then you will not be able to fly commercially so get that done before you potentially waste money elsewhere.

Your other questions:

1) Maths is not my strongest Skill. I’d need a calculator to do pretty basic stuff. Would this be a deal breaker or cause me to seriously struggle in getting licensed?
Again not really a deal breaker. I wouldn't be the hottest with maths either. During your training you will need to use maths in the classroom and in the air but it's all fairly basic. You can use a calculator in the written exams but there are a few formulas to remember. In the air you need to be able to do some mental arithmetic to work out winds and holds but you get the hang of that pretty quickly. In real life in the airlines, the mental maths helps again for quick assessment of winds etc. but you'll find many guys taking their phones out because "there's an app for that" :pac:

2) what would be the expected duration of training and rough costs in Ireland to get to a commercial level
Can't really help you there, I was lucky enough to get a place on a sponsored cadet scheme. Very roughly, if you go full time and do an integrated course it would take about a year and a half and I'd expect to pay about €100k.
If you go modular, training in your free time whilst holding down a job, it will take quite a bit longer but will be cheaper. Check out www.afta.ie

3) are there any paths anyone would reccomemd besides commmercial flight (cargo, private charter etc?)
My only experience is in commercial passenger operations. You could become a flight instructor, but that seems to rarely be a job for life. In this country jobs in cargo or private charter are few and far between but if you're willing to relocate then that might be an option.

4) what is the day in the life of a pilot like?
On an early shift for a departure at 6.30am: you'll be up at 4am, in the Ops room at 5.30am. Print and review the flight plans, weather and Notams. On board the aircraft at least half an hour pre-departure. Fly the first sector. Turn the aircraft around and fly the second sector home. That might be it, or if it's a multi sector day you'll turn it around and do it all over again! Usually home by around 2 or 3 pm.


Oh also I’m 5ft 5 male, are the days of minimum height requirement gone?
You're grand, that height won't be an issue.

Best of luck whatever you end up doing!