What does it take to become a 777 or 747 or 380 captain?

I'm still confused on why you think international would be 'top' after what's been presented here to you.


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It's takes the most experience right?
The natural profession of things are to some degree CFI then REGIONALS then MAJORS national then MAJORS international?
 
Why would jobs like this be so high in pilot qualification requirements then?
Could you point me towards a low time international wide body job?

My friend's husband went from a flight school to Mesa with 250 hours, worked there for a few years and then on to Continental flying the 767 to Europe. Granted, he's a long way from CA as he is about 10,000 on the list now at United. It's what he wanted and it make him happy. She has a great job that allowed her to transfer so they could move to the area where they were both from so he would not have to commute.
 
Have the basic credentials, be at the right place at the right time, know the right people...The biggest ass-hat on the property can get hired at the most coveted airlines...Seen it happen!
 
Experience doesn't necessarily equal 'girth'.

Many European carriers, the least experienced pilots fly long haul as the more senior choose to be at home more often.
 
That's not what I meant. I said that after 4 hours I get stir crazy, therefore I know long haul is not for me. I didn't say 4 hrs = long haul.

Oh heck, if it's a three man trip, if you're sitting for four hours, have Jeeves re-run the break schedule.
 
I've flown the 767 to Asia and the 727 intra-Europe. I enjoyed international flying but it's not the end all, be all. Thank gawd there are some people who think it is and want to do it so I don't have to. The cool thing about international flying is the catering is way better and the hotels are way, way, better. I've stayed at the Pan Pacific in Singapore and the Holiday Inn Express in Fresno. That said, with international you have controllers you can't understand, times zone changes that make you a zombie, and.....China. China is a disaster on so many levels. Now, if the company would build schedules where it was one leg ANC-Asia. Three days off. And one leg back to ANC. Well, I'd be all over that. But they build schedules at min cost for the stockholders and min enjoyment of the crewmember. So, I bid reserve in base and make the same pay for working a fourth as hard. When you get to this level, you look at a matrix of working as little as possible for max pay.

Keep your dreams. Nothing wrong with that. There are lots of guys out there that won't be happy unless they get to fly the big iron into Incheon. I just wouldn't say they are anything special. They just like Iteawon.
 
Success in this industry is a journey, not a destination. With that said and many people have already said it, flying an widebody aircraft as a Captain does not mean happiness if you can't wake up and be happy with where you are. Sure is it cool to say? Maybe, but I'm willing to bet the majority of people on this forum would take a good paying job, flying for a safe company that treats them well not necessarily on a widebody.
 
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