Cheechako
Well-Known Member
A glimpse into the daily life of an airline pilot:
Each airline does it a little different, but the concept is universal. The monthly bid for schedules! Skywest publishes all the schedules on the 10th of each month. These schedules are called "lines." The lines consist of a series of "pairings." The pairings are basically trips- anywhere from locals to 4-day trips with the occasional 5-day thrown in. The lines and pairings are published in stapled booklets that are available at the crew lounges and the break rooms of the major hubs. Each domicile has its own book. Every month crews pour over the lines and pairings looking for that perfect schedule- one that fits in with our own personal schedule- weekends off, wednesdays off, birthdays, holidays, band camp, etc. These choices are due the morning of the 17th (entered via the Skywest employee website) and awarded that afternoon.
The hierarchy of pilots in a domicile determines how many choices one must make. When I was in Salt Lake City, I was in the 190s. That meant I had to look through the 230+ lines and list my favorite 190 (+3 for contingencies) in order of best to least. I am now #11 out of 45 in Colorado Springs so my choices are a litte easier to pick. It is still a challenge, especially with Thanksgiving in November. When I bid my lines, I look for locals or back-to-back 2-day trips with weekends off (me and the missus enjoy church-going and being together as often as possible). Impossible where I was in SLC, almost guaranteed here in COS- thus the move here this summer. I have a choice to make for November. I can get locals over the weekends (still able to go to Sat. church) and have the full week of Thanksgiving off (my folks are coming to town), or have weekends off (plus Turkey day) but have to work one day while my parents are visiting... ungh.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.....
Each airline does it a little different, but the concept is universal. The monthly bid for schedules! Skywest publishes all the schedules on the 10th of each month. These schedules are called "lines." The lines consist of a series of "pairings." The pairings are basically trips- anywhere from locals to 4-day trips with the occasional 5-day thrown in. The lines and pairings are published in stapled booklets that are available at the crew lounges and the break rooms of the major hubs. Each domicile has its own book. Every month crews pour over the lines and pairings looking for that perfect schedule- one that fits in with our own personal schedule- weekends off, wednesdays off, birthdays, holidays, band camp, etc. These choices are due the morning of the 17th (entered via the Skywest employee website) and awarded that afternoon.
The hierarchy of pilots in a domicile determines how many choices one must make. When I was in Salt Lake City, I was in the 190s. That meant I had to look through the 230+ lines and list my favorite 190 (+3 for contingencies) in order of best to least. I am now #11 out of 45 in Colorado Springs so my choices are a litte easier to pick. It is still a challenge, especially with Thanksgiving in November. When I bid my lines, I look for locals or back-to-back 2-day trips with weekends off (me and the missus enjoy church-going and being together as often as possible). Impossible where I was in SLC, almost guaranteed here in COS- thus the move here this summer. I have a choice to make for November. I can get locals over the weekends (still able to go to Sat. church) and have the full week of Thanksgiving off (my folks are coming to town), or have weekends off (plus Turkey day) but have to work one day while my parents are visiting... ungh.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.....