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Can you pick your base as a pilot?
Pilots can choose if they want to live in base or if they want to commute to their base. Commuting used in this context refers to getting a space-available ride to work on an airline or cargo flight. The flight benefits and jumpseat agreements pilots have as part of their job affords the option of commuting.
How much do civilian pilots make?
The median annual wage for commercial pilots was $93,300 in May 2020. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $47,570, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $200,920. Airline pilots usually begin their careers as first officers and receive wage increases as they accumulate experience and seniority.
Can I choose where I want to fly as a pilot?
As long as you have at least a little bit of seniority you can choose where you wish to be based and even which aircraft. Larger aircraft usually pay more per hour (read: minute) and usually fly longer trips. Airline pilots live and die by seniority. There is a master list of every pilot at the airline, from first hired to last hired.
Do airline pilots have routes?
The short answer is: No, we do not have regular routes. We can fly any number of routes in a given month. An airline’s mechanism to schedule pilots and flight attendants is complicated and crewmembers themselves are responsible for selecting a schedule that meets their needs every month.
Why do some airlines hire pilots from other countries?
Some airlines are growing faster than they can find pilots in their home base. They then look for expat pilots; pilots from other countries willing to fly for them. That can be under a temporary contract, until they have found enough “of their own people”, or it can be with a permanent or open contract.
How do airline pilots bid for schedules?
Airline pilots can bid for trips and schedules based on seniority. It is a complex process. Lots of software. If you are flying something other than scheduled airline, you fly the passengers to where they want to go. You get paid. But….