How do you guys do it?

Roger Roger

Roger Roger

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I know that as an Alaska Pilot, complete with an Alaska Pilot Beard (tm), I'm pretty much contractually obligated to mock 121 jet pilots who have an autopilot, turbine engines, and second crewmember.

That said, you guys have my respect for dealing with the schedules you do...I've found that 10 hours required rest with a 20 minute drive each way, sleeping in my own bed each night, working only during daylight hours is plenty fatiguing, even with hand flying lots of legs a day (ie, no chance to fall asleep). My hat is off to the folks that do min rest overnights in a strange hotel with a wait for a long van ride and do it safely.

Seriously though, how do you cope? Does it help that you're (probably) working a lot fewer days a month overall than someone on an air taxi schedule? Lots and lots of caffeine?
 
I don't fly the multi-leg stuff much anymore, but it took a solid year flying non-sked long-haul to not feel shattered 24/7. Eventually I learned how to manage my rest, and figure out how my body reacts to certain schedules. For you though? You might start by not being such a girly man. :D

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121 pilots got it easy. Even the regionals. Try 135 charter, sleeping in hotels 25 days/month. Sleep 10, fly 6, sit around 8, sleep 10, sit around 10, fly 2, sleep 20, fly 12 etc etc. At the end of my stint doing that stuff, I was tired, angry, unfit, and about 10 lbs heavier than I'd been when I started. I honestly have no idea how people live long enough to be a career jet chater pilot. Aeronautically, it's much less challenging than Freight, but in terms of being fit for duty, it's a thousand times worse. Stagger through the door after 25 days on the road and your own dog will try to bite your face off because it doesn't recognize you.
 
Roger Roger said:
Man I figure after a year or so of that I'd either be able to sleep anywhere any time, or dead!
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It just takes time. The biggest thing for me was learning to sleep during the daytime. Also, I always swap myself to the local time if possible. Just what works best for me. Once you get used to the schedules (as best you can, at least), this job is actually a lot of fun. 23 countries and counting!

Boris Badenov, there are 121 charter pilots, too!
 
Roger Roger said:
Seriously though, how do you cope? Does it help that you're (probably) working a lot fewer days a month overall than someone on an air taxi schedule? Lots and lots of caffeine?
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I'm one of the privileged few that stays in one time zone most of the time...that really helps. When I commuted to DFW (and had east coast kickoff flights), I was a bit of a zombie on days off.

dasleben is right, don't be a girly man. (I hate it when I agree with him.)

Here's what I've found:
(1) Sitting around the airport is the fatiguing part, for me.
(2) Moving your circadian rhythm around also difficult, such as a trip that has you go (of course) from a PM schedule to an AM schedule, with a minimum rest overnight...on Day Three!
(3) Food at regular intervals helps. Cooler bags are awesome.
(4) Get out and be active on layovers when you have the time. Slam-clicking makes me more tired.

Boris Badenov said:
Oh, whatever. Everyone knows you guys just sit back and press the easy button for the two three days a month you do.
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I'll look for the easy button the next time I go to work, sir. :D
 
I'll admitt that I don't think I've learned to sleep better I've just adjusted to sleeping less. I don't sleep THAT bad on the road but when I get home I'm a mess. It's guaranteed that when I return I'll have a really hard time getting to sleep on night one and no matter what time I eventually do fall asleep I'll wake up at 6a or earlier and lay there until 7 when I finally give up and get out of bed so I don't drive my wife crazy. The process gets marginally better on night 2 but on day 3 I crash in the afternoon for 2-3 hours which resets the clock a bit and all is well.
 
Boris Badenov said:
Oh, whatever. Everyone knows you guys just sit back and press the easy button for the two three days a month you do.
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Hey, 95.3 block and 9 landings for me on the last trip (with some days off in between). I'm actually proficient, and it's scary.
 
Psh, I did 1 leg (1.0 block) and now I have to sit in the hotel or whatever I want to do until 3 or 4 pm tomorrow to do another 1 leg (1.0 block) back.

Dang this charter sometimes :)
 
Cav said:
I'll admitt that I don't think I've learned to sleep better I've just adjusted to sleeping less. I don't sleep THAT bad on the road but when I get home I'm a mess. It's guaranteed that when I return I'll have a really hard time getting to sleep on night one and no matter what time I eventually do fall asleep I'll wake up at 6a or earlier and lay there until 7 when I finally give up and get out of bed so I don't drive my wife crazy. The process gets marginally better on night 2 but on day 3 I crash in the afternoon for 2-3 hours which resets the clock a bit and all is well.
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3 days off? You mainline reserve guys, I don't have that once this month!

I agree with what you're saying though. I just woke up from a nap right after getting home and I'll just be close to resetting by the time I have to work Monday am.
 
Boris Badenov said:
121 pilots got it easy. Even the regionals. Try 135 charter, sleeping in hotels 25 days/month. Sleep 10, fly 6, sit around 8, sleep 10, sit around 10, fly 2, sleep 20, fly 12 etc etc. At the end of my stint doing that stuff, I was tired, angry, unfit, and about 10 lbs heavier than I'd been when I started. I honestly have no idea how people live long enough to be a career jet chater pilot. Aeronautically, it's much less challenging than Freight, but in terms of being fit for duty, it's a thousand times worse. Stagger through the door after 25 days on the road and your own dog will try to bite your face off because it doesn't recognize you.
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Sounds a lot like my job, minus there is literally never going home. Days off aren't days off, they are just days you don't fly. In 3 flights, I've totaled 34 hours and change, single pilot.
 
I don't consume caffeine daily anymore. Best thing I ever did for my sleep! No more toothpicks in the eyelids after lunch...
 
scooter2525 said:
Air ambo, best schedule in aviation jobs.
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EMS...Earn Money Sleeping.

Our neighborhood Learjet medevac jock owns the hangar next door to where I work...keeps his scout and his wife's tcart in there...and has oodles of free time to tinker/fly. He is basically my hero. Well, after the retired guy that tinkers around rebuilding Super Cubs...if he feels like it.
 
crazyjaydawg said:
3 days off? You mainline reserve guys, I don't have that once this month!

I agree with what you're saying though. I just woke up from a nap right after getting home and I'll just be close to resetting by the time I have to work Monday am.
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All pairings, reserves included, over here are guaranteed 4 days off between pairings. It is a HUGE nugget in the CBA!
 
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