777 FO Month in Review...balancing QOL and Money

So far on the 777 I have exceeded Airbus Captain pay every month while flying less than I would have as an Airbus Captain.
I am sure my streak will come to an end. Every month it has been pure luck and happenstance that I was able to pick up a trip that put me over the hump.

[@CaptainHenny]

The most honest person on the internet. Thanks for sharing.

[@qf2994]

The flying part is great but it’s also so important to understand what goes on behind the scenes as well. I love these types of videos. Keep up the great work Darren!

[@geekontheflightdeck]

Thank you for watching. I try to be transparent about my flying life.

[@olebetsy3638]

The way you breakdown your schedule and pay provides great insight for me as a current CFI pursuing a position of your caliber someday, thank you for what you do Darren!

[@app2bs]

Thanks!

[@anostalgic3402]

Thank you for the transparency Darren. It is appreciated how easily you break it down for non-US pilots to understand.

[@chrisbungostudios]

Wonderfully informative. And you're really good at the graphics too. Keep 'em coming!

[@geekontheflightdeck]

Thanks, I’m still getting the hang of it, but I’m having fun learning.

[@papatango2362]

I like this museum green screen background. Nice change from the maintenance shop.

[@ClashWithJadog]

Thanks Darren for the monthly reviews. It gives a much more realistic and wholistic view of what being a pilot is actually like.

[@66Bravoproductions]

Excellent videos. Probably the first channel run by an "real" airline pilot that I don't cringe or say WTF. Please compare "Junior Airbus Captain" versus "Senior Airbus FO" in a future video. Pay/QOL/etc. - AA guy here

[@TheBrockus]

Great video and love the Diggnation shirt. So happy that they brought it back

[@geekontheflightdeck]

I had to dig this shirt out. So glad I didn’t donate it. Watching Kevin and Alex feels like you’re just hanging out on the couch.

[@geekontheflightdeck]

And thank you

[@bannoneldridge9269]

Thanks for sharing. I’m in my 40’s and building time towards my commercial. Hoping to make it to where you are one day. These videos certainly help keep me motivated! I’m in DFW as well.

[@ritchieb1612]

Darren.. this must take a minute too get all this into one's head especially those up and coming just starting out pilots. Nice this is working out for brother. Your content is always interesting!!

[@SputnikF22]

Thank you for the honesty and the breakdown!

[@Foxxnioxx]

Thanks for the video, Darren.

[@mziyabo]

This is fantastic transparency for anyone considering this career.😊

[@geekontheflightdeck]

Thank you. I aim to keep it real and tell it like it is.

[@Simple_man_65]

Rock on Darren!!! 👨🏽‍✈️✈️

[@emanuellopez1179]

I love your videos, hopefully I can fly the 777 one day

[@XX-166]

Very informative.. keep these coming

[@zbvv002]

amazing video!! longing for another family nonrev video from ya

[@geekontheflightdeck]

Thank you. Kids school gets in the way. We all miss the random trips.

[@blakechinn5792]

Keep going ❤love the channel

[@MrSchmekker]

That’s crazy money 💀💀😁 I would say I’m not jealous, but I am

[@georgeswindel8367]

Very interesting, many thanks.

[@abdia1494]

This is my dream life style man

[@sirjasonakana]

Another very interesting video

[@geekontheflightdeck]

Thank you for watching.

[@anime_addicted9]

Is that duxford air museum in the back round ? I was there about a month ago for an air show it’s spectacular

[@geekontheflightdeck]

The Museum of Flight in Seattle

[@gregmeadors9624]

@@geekontheflightdeckone of my favorites! Smithsonian is my favorite but we live much closer to Seattle than DC. 😊

[@Adam_Gray]

Win - Win = Early Retirement 💙✈🙌🏼

[@charlessmotherson2131]

Mr. Darren, question. Have you ever flown just cargo on the triple 7?

[@geekontheflightdeck]

I have not.

[@charlessmotherson2131]

Just curious. I was wondering if the airline ever offered that to you sometimes as a way to get away from passenger flight. It appears pilots have a different attitude flying cargo.

[@SteffenHamre]

Thanks a lot for the honesty and transparency regarding the mainline pay. For a non-US citizen viewer; how much average tax would you pay out of this?

[@geekontheflightdeck]

Ballpark of $6000 in taxes

[@climbto370]

I wish we had more deliveries, more retirement and then more vacancies! The last vacancy bid in terms of 777/787 slots was just pathetic. Safe flights!

[@ritchieb1612]

Should have read as'' working out for you brother'' I'm an old buck now🤣🤣

[@AnApacheMedjai]

I have another question sorry. This questions about relief pilots. When the captains taking his break and designates either the FO or FB as PIC while he’s on his break, does that FO/B officially log PIC time? Or is it still SIC time?

[@geekontheflightdeck]

Great question. Only the Captain logs PIC. Period. Even when they are sleeping. When a new Captain is getting trained and are sitting in the Captain seat they still get SIC time only as the Check Airmans gets PIC time. Long story short even when a FO is in charge they still get SIC only.

[@felipecook3828]

Hey Darren, I appreciate you sharing all of this to us aspiring pilots. I am a CFII with around 700hrs and I am not sure how I am ever going to get the 500xc hours needed for an ATP rating. Do you have any suggestions?

[@geekontheflightdeck]

Is there someone you know you can split block time with? Have you attended any aviation conventions that have job fairs attached?

[@felipecook3828]

@@geekontheflightdeck Thank you for replying Darren! I have not attended any conventions, do you have any suggestions for how I find out more about these?

[@papatango2362]

Happy Halloween

[@charlessmotherson2131]

Your videos are very informative. Just don't give management a reason to mess up your hussle!😅

[@geekontheflightdeck]

I walk a fine line. I purposely don’t state many things including who I for. While it might be easy to figure out I never want to appear to be a spokesman.

[@AnApacheMedjai]

1:16 you mention the blue in this 2nd calendar you show is time you weren’t called to fly, but because you’re available for short call reserve you’re being paid correct? So essentially you’re being paid to hang out with your family? Am I understanding that correctly?

[@geekontheflightdeck]

Your understanding is correct. I have to be ready to head to ready to head to the airport in a reasonable time

[@dariszimmer9223]

So even if you are okay with it and want to, you’re not allowed to go over 85 hours while on reserve status? If you’re a line holder can you go over 85 hours?

[@geekontheflightdeck]

I can go over 85 hours by picking up flying. I can’t be assigned more than 85 hours by the company. For line holders the company sets limits a few months if the year to make sure pilots don’t time out before the end of the year. The limits are generally higher than 85 hours.

[@jacobwilson615]

Hey, Darren, thanks for the info! How does your reserve scheduled vs actually used compare now to when you were flying narrow bodies or at a regional?

[@geekontheflightdeck]

The reserve rules and system are very different. The flying is very different as well. Keeping it simple I was used much more on reserve as a Regional Pilot than Mainline pilot even when I was on the narrow body.

[@nickoverbay5662]

How long would it take a new hire to hold the 777 in mia?

[@geekontheflightdeck]

It goes to and down by right around 4 years currently

[@johnfranco7371]

Opinion: better content being generated on YT vs TT

[@geekontheflightdeck]

Thanks. I'm here now. Tiktok had turned into Tiktok shop.