Forgot what it’s like to work for a living. Ouch. I fly a smaller plane now. Smaller plane = more legs per day…for the most part. Doing a 21 hour 3 day trip. Day one was 5 legs including an international turn to start. First flight had a fuel readout MEL. We had to use [...]

By the time I finish this blog post I will have completed my reserve stint…..having flown zero reserve hours. This is in stark contrast to the last 4 years when I was on reserve. I was abused….errr used constantly. Lots of dead heads. Lots of ferry flights. Lots of sitting around. I was the bottom [...]

I’m on reserve until Friday. I’ve flown zero hours during my last 7 days of reserve thus far. Being senior has it’s privileges. I’m in the top 1% of the First Officer reserve list at my base. I’m the last person to get called when flight assignments need to be covered. My phone has never [...]

Bids closed. I got what I asked for…but not what I wanted. Everyone has priorities when bidding. I wanted the following: Maximum Days Off No Two Day Trips Monday and Tuesdays off Maximum Pay (high hour line) Christmas Off Those were my prefernences in order….and that’s where I screwed myself. Because I weighted pay OVER [...]

Bidding closes soon. I am going to preference Day trips first….then weekends off…..then 3 day trips with weekends off….then four day trips working weekends. Lots of days off is important as well. Day trips are horrible for commuters but great for those who live in base and want to be home every night. Day trips [...]

Last day of IOE. Three quick legs and done. I walked down to the front desk at 4:50AM. The hotel gives breakfast bags for early departures. I made my choices of items the day prior and picked a muffin, banana and orange juice and that’s exactly what was waiting with my name on it. Van [...]