First Month as an Airline Pilot

Jet

Jet

Well-Known Member
I just finished my first month as a regional airline pilot. I was hired with about 600 hours TT to fly the Embraer 135, Embraer 140 and Embraer 145 out of Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport. Words can't describe my first flight in the jet, it was exciting and such an adrenaline rush on takeoff and landing but after 7 hours of flight time that first day I realized that this isn't all fun and games. It is a JOB (work)!

I'm on reserve with 11 days off a month and I'm on call the rest. Since I'm junior I almost always get the early shifts and they often call me just after 4 am to be at the airport at 6:30. I've flown every day I've been on reserve but have had a handful of easy days where I get off work before 10 or 11 am. I got to spend over 20 nights in base but I don't get any weekends off. I can't group all my days off together if I wanted because of the 30/7 reg so a typical month of reserve is work 4/off 2/work 5/off 3/work 5/off 3/work 5/off 3.

Most of the time I get 30 minutes between flights so between preflight, postflight, programming the flight plan, getting the clearance and weather there often isn't much time to grab food so I ended up losing 8 pounds for the month from skipping meals. I do snack on fruit, nuts, bars, jerky, etc if I have it.
A typical flight is about 1 hour and 45 minutes, some longer, some much shorter. We always go from the hub to small town and back to the hub, never small town to small town. Here are some typical destinations from KDFW: Madison, Wisconson; Pensacola, Florida; Morelia, Mexico; Ft. Wayne, Indiana; San Angelo, Texas; Sherveport, Louisiana; Midland, Texas; Gulfport, Mississippi; Dayton, Ohio; Mobile, Alabama; Moline, Illinois; Fayettville, Arkansas; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; etc.

All in all it has been a good experience for me. The only downside to the job is time spent away from the signifiance other and family as well as having to start at first year pay again if you get furloughed. Reserve is actually not that bad IF you live in base. It's a lot of work but the job gets easier every time I go to work and get more familiar with everything. Most of the Captains are nice and make an effort to help and teach you what you need to know.

Best of luck to those that choose this life. Godspeed!
 
rausda27 said:
Don't let the companies lack of planning force you to avoid eating meals. You need to stay rested fed and hydrated. Seriously.
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The company will determine when you need a meal, comrade! :)

Seriously though, good advice above. Take care of yourself, the company sure won't.
 
rausda27 said:
Don't let the companies lack of planning force you to avoid eating meals. You need to stay rested fed and hydrated. Seriously.
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Good advice.

I had some questionable breakfast in Milan once and had to visit the loo about five prior to pushback.

The captain said that he wanted to get through the before start checklist and I took it off the panel and said, "I'll read it real loud" or would you rather wait?

Always take care of your physiological needs.


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Jet PM me your number and I will give you a call. I was on RSV for almost 3 years most of it on the bottom on the RSV list and had a good QOL and always had more then 11 days off a month. Also if you need to eat take a food break the CP should back you up if not it is in the content.
 
Congrats on your first month. You will learn that food and your health come first and the on time comes second. Most CA's should be cool with you rushing in at the last minute and dropping the break to get an on time and most importantly, get paid and then start doing all the tasks. Enjoy the time while it is new...eventually it doe get repetitive. Good luck out there!
 
You'll get faster at the preflight routine and buy yourself more time to eat. If it still isn't enough, remember that the contract has language regarding crewmembers staying fed. It's vague but it's there.
 
Jet said:
I just finished my first month as a regional airline pilot. I was hired with about 600 hours TT to fly the Embraer 135, Embraer 140 and Embraer 145 out of Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport. Words can't describe my first flight in the jet, it was exciting and such an adrenaline rush on takeoff and landing but after 7 hours of flight time that first day I realized that this isn't all fun and games. It is a JOB (work)!

I'm on reserve with 11 days off a month and I'm on call the rest. Since I'm junior I almost always get the early shifts and they often call me just after 4 am to be at the airport at 6:30. I've flown every day I've been on reserve but have had a handful of easy days where I get off work before 10 or 11 am. I got to spend over 20 nights in base but I don't get any weekends off. I can't group all my days off together if I wanted because of the 30/7 reg so a typical month of reserve is work 4/off 2/work 5/off 3/work 5/off 3/work 5/off 3.

Most of the time I get 30 minutes between flights so between preflight, postflight, programming the flight plan, getting the clearance and weather there often isn't much time to grab food so I ended up losing 8 pounds for the month from skipping meals. I do snack on fruit, nuts, bars, jerky, etc if I have it.
A typical flight is about 1 hour and 45 minutes, some longer, some much shorter. We always go from the hub to small town and back to the hub, never small town to small town. Here are some typical destinations from KDFW: Madison, Wisconson; Pensacola, Florida; Morelia, Mexico; Ft. Wayne, Indiana; San Angelo, Texas; Sherveport, Louisiana; Midland, Texas; Gulfport, Mississippi; Dayton, Ohio; Mobile, Alabama; Moline, Illinois; Fayettville, Arkansas; Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; etc.

All in all it has been a good experience for me. The only downside to the job is time spent away from the signifiance other and family as well as having to start at first year pay again if you get furloughed. Reserve is actually not that bad IF you live in base. It's a lot of work but the job gets easier every time I go to work and get more familiar with everything. Most of the Captains are nice and make an effort to help and teach you what you need to know.

Best of luck to those that choose this life. Godspeed!
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<- still stuck on IOE through no fault of his own, although glad to hear there's someone junior to me in DFW. Looking forward to it. Are you in a crash pad?
 
Jet said:
Most of the time I get 30 minutes between flights so between preflight, postflight, programming the flight plan, getting the clearance and weather there often isn't much time to grab food so I ended up losing 8 pounds for the month from skipping meals.
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No No No Sir!

None of the crap. You will be stretched thin enough as is, do NOT go hungry.

The pilot contract it your friend...i.e. Section 10-A.7

If you need time to go grab some food, and I mean real food, do it. I know you are new and you don't want to rock the boat, but it is your right.

Good luck, and stay safe.
 
X-Forces said:
No No No Sir!

None of the crap. You will be stretched thin enough as is, do NOT go hungry.

The pilot contract it your friend...i.e. Section 10-A.7

If you need time to go grab some food, and I mean real food, do it. I know you are new and you don't want to rock the boat, but it is your right.

Good luck, and stay safe.
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If the company determines you need to eat, they will provide you food. Until then......work.

:D
 
Congrats on the job! Get yourself some grub though. Its not something you should have to fight for. Even without a contract, I've kept pax and even well, we'll just say "extremely urgent biological material" waiting so i could take 15 minutes and eat some real food.

On the flip side, theres two absolute laws ive learned while flying:

1. Always carry a jacket, even if its 110 outside
2. Never pass up a chance to eat, you dont know when you'll get your next meal.
 
Definitely bring food with you. We get a lot of 18 min turns in the Brasilia, and while we are never second guessed for putting on the brakes and getting something to eat, it's just easier (and much healthier) to chow down in cruise with your own grub. Those little ebag coolers are fantastic for this.
 
I'm really happy for you. Fly safe and enjoy it. I'm hopeful to begin throwing out resumes soon (610TT 90ME) :)
 
One of the easier things to do is to have one of you grab food for the crew while the others get to the airplane. The only issue is sometimes settling up since a lot of people only use debit cards now instead of cash. Ahhh, cold McDonalds at TOC, can't say I miss that!
 
rjmore said:
One of the easier things to do is to have one of you grab food for the crew while the others get to the airplane. The only issue is sometimes settling up since a lot of people only use debit cards now instead of cash. Ahhh, cold McDonalds at TOC, can't say I miss that!
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Yeah, sounds pretty gross and very unhealthy. Just pack healthy food, it's pretty easy. Bring a jump rope too, and you'll avoid looking like an overweight lump.
 
Congrats - great writeup, appreciate the frankness. Question, if you don't mind me asking are you more in the early 20s or closer to the early 30s? I'm 35 heading for 36, not married, but living with a longtime girlfriend. I'm getting close with ~400TT and an hour of multi or so (MEI-II are next up). The idea of the crashpad makes me want to say i'm too old that *&%, but it's still more appealing than desk jockeying for the 15th year in a row. Do you see a lot of regional guys my age that are just starting out like you?
 
sounddoc said:
Congrats - great writeup, appreciate the frankness. Question, if you don't mind me asking are you more in the early 20s or closer to the early 30s? I'm 35 heading for 36, not married, but living with a longtime girlfriend. I'm getting close with ~400TT and an hour of multi or so (MEI-II are next up). The idea of the crashpad makes me want to say i'm too old that *&%, but it's still more appealing than desk jockeying for the 15th year in a row. Do you see a lot of regional guys my age that are just starting out like you?
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Yes... there are a lot of career changers in this industry. In the last month I have flown with brand new (read less than 100 in type and at company) guys/gals who ranged from 22- 54.
 
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