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- Thread starter GypsyPilot
- Start date
Avalon781ML
Well-Known Member
In my estimation it would be the junior 75 pilots who recently came from the regional world and whom may not make $250k in two years of work. It’s not a great alternative but maybe they have a better grasp on what’s going to happen in the coming years than I do.
lostplanetairman
Well-Known Member
At the same time in history, it was the exact opposite at Airways. When I was at ALG it was next to impossible to get hired at Airways. There was no flow and there was a policy to not raid their wholly owned regional operations. I left before 9/11 so I wasn’t part of the ensuing events. Coworkers are now nearing retirement age as captains at AA. But the lost a lot under the old Airways contract during the fight over seniority.
Murdoughnut
Well sized member
In my estimation it would be the junior 75 pilots who recently came from the regional world and whom may not make $250k in two years of work. It’s not a great alternative but maybe they have a better grasp on what’s going to happen in the coming years than I do.
Does anyone get to Purple or Brown and only then realize that back of the clock flying isn't for them?
EIR
It's 5 o'clock somewhere
Yes. They tough it out until they can hold a day line or jump ship for a legacy.
GypsyPilot
Mohawk Town
It’s definitely not for me, nor is it for anyone else according to modern medical science.
It’s why I like international infra-Asia flying. It’s night flying, but for my body clock it’s day flying. On long layovers I wake up around 7-8 pm and then go out. Hiking and stuff I do early in the morning. Then I sleep all day.
Works great for me. Some people have FOMO and can’t handle that schedule, but they sure look tired trying to adjust to different time zones.
Brian29
Well-Known Member
Its the only appropriate way to experience CAN.
Could you expand a little more on your layover/rest strategy? I’m debating leaving senior NB FO for ultra junior WB FO and I can’t figure out if I’ll like it or hate it.
poser765
Well-Known Member
People kind of lost their mind about this, but a certain demographic or two, it’s probably a Cush deal.
I had an envoy jumpseater a while that was a CKA. He was telling me had been doing a lot of OE for AA dudes that took the early out during covid. Seems great… some damn good money, work on your own terms, cash out all your sick vacation, spend a few months waiting for sims/OE.
SquatThrust
Well-Known Member
I'm not the person you replied to obviously, but I employ the same method as Gypsypilot.
It's pretty simple. I live on the east coast of the US. Guangzhou, for example, is exactly 12 hours opposite on the clock from my home. 3pm for me is 3am in Guangzhou. Night or early morning departures in Guangzhou are thus on the front side of the clock for my body. The trick to it though is strictly adhering to a sleep schedule that keeps you aligned this way. ANC-CAN arrives in CAN around 3am-5am local usually. That's 3pm-5pm back home. Perfect timing to pig out at the White Swan breakfast buffet at 0630 for 'dinner', and then go to bed around 11am-12pm (think 11pm - 12am back home). Sleep for 8 to 10 hours. Wake up, explore at night, eat, work out, breakfast (dinner) explore during the morning, back to bed by 11am-12pm the next day. Wake up rested for a 3am local time departure. The longer you're in country, the harder it is to prevent your body from gradually acclimating, but 24-48hr layovers are pretty easy to do this way. You also have to be willing to tell your other crew members, 'sorry, this is my sleep plan.', but nearly everyone is cool about it since getting good rest is important. And if they aren't cool with it, who cares, it's #mybodymychoice.
trafficinsight
Well-Known Member
This is why I'm cool with narrowbody for my career lol.
I'll just visit those places.
I'll just visit those places.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
I'd love to hear how this looks to @USN88 since he was in front of all this in departing the Purple flaming dumpster.
Big difference between a (presumably junior) guy who is just going to plain quit Purple to go back and be a street capt at a regional vs an AA pilot who has taken an early retirement buyout and is going back to a regional for spending money.
poser765
Well-Known Member
Oh absolutely. “Certain demographic” was carrying a LOT of weight in my post.
CFIT99
I'm probably commenting ironically...
TL;DR
synopsis: get good at napping
(this is for comedic value, I've never flown past 7 hours, but plan to in the future)
I was worried about all that stuff too, but after doing it it’s a whole bunch easier than words on a screen make it seem. I seriously overthought the crap out of all of it but after doing anything from 6 to 13 hour time zone changes I can surprisingly roll with it all. And to me, it’s better than NB schedules and is way different from NB redeyes. If you can sleep on the plane, it’s a game changer.
Avalon781ML
Well-Known Member
Definitely… more than a handful get here, struggle thinking they can get through it, are miserable, and leave with a bittersweet taste in their mouth after about a year. For those that have figured out it isn’t sustainable for themselves or their families and moved on I sincerely wish them the best. This is not for everyone… just like corporate isn’t for everyone… or pax hauling etc.
Brian29
Well-Known Member
Same. It’s kind of the best part of the job
Avalon781ML
Well-Known Member
What kills me is going 3/4 of the way around the world… getting a 28 hr layover and then going back the opposite way… it can turn into a real poop show beyond that point.