Bidding is based on a pilot’s seniority which is their position in relation to other pilots in the same base/aircraft/seat position (such as a group of New York City-based Airbus A220 First Officers). Generally speaking, pilot schedules are organized on an approximately monthly basis and usually around a month prior a pilot will “bid” for his or her schedule using their company system. Unions negotiate contracts with their respective airlines known as collective bargaining agreements, or CBAs, which may establish further limits on schedules but in no case can be less restrictive than the FAA’s basic regulations. In addition, in 2014 the FAA established new regulations governing rest requirements and duty limitations under 14 CFR Part 117.įinally, with a few exceptions, all US airline pilot groups are represented by a pilots’ union. These ‘regs’ lay out limitations on maximum flight time amounts a pilot can fly in a certain time period.
When it comes to schedules for US-based pilots, the foundation for everyone at an airline operating under 14 CFR Part 121 (the regulations that govern the flying of “scheduled air carriers”) is a basic set of rules established and enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration. What Factors Determine an Airline Pilot’s Schedule? Regulations, the FAA, and Company Contracts If you’re considering becoming an airline pilot, this article will help you understand the basics of what a pilot’s schedule looks like. Given the huge variety of methods and systems for pilots to build and adjust their schedules, a pilot’s familiarity with his or her company’s particularities can have a major impact on their quality of life.
When it comes to the benefits that attract pilots to the airline lifestyle and keep them there for a career, few would rank higher than the schedules. What is an airline pilot’s schedule like? In this article, we’ll help you understand this question more in detail.Ī career as an airline pilot provides many unique opportunities such as the ability to travel to varied destinations, see parts of the world you may otherwise never come across, and work with a variety of people to safely and comfortably get customers to their destinations.