Airline Pilot Schedules | What You Should Know

Airline pilots have one of the most complex work schedules of any career. There's no such thing as a 9-to-5 job in our world, and understanding how our lifestyle comes together is tough... Especially if you don't have a family member in aviation. The terms we use as flight crews to describe our work schedule, like "2-day" or "standup," may seem foreign to you. While there's no way for me to cover everything in one video, my goal is to give you an overview of each type of flight assignment so that you can start piecing together a more complete picture of your career moving forward. You'll learn a LOT in your first few months as a pilot, and I hope this helps you feel more prepared than I was leaving flight school.
Here's an overview of what we'll cover:
0:00 Introduction to Pilot Schedules
1:09 Day Trips and Turns
2:04 CDOs (Continuous Duty Overnights/Standups)
3:01 2, 3, 4 Day Trips
3:49 NGPA and Scholarship Opportunities
4:47 My Favorite Type of Trip
5:34 Commuter Trips
5:53 Monthly Transition Schedules
6:24 Reserve Pilots
6:41 Cargo Pilots
7:27 Extensions/Junior-Manning
8:10 Comment Your Questions Below!
The NGPA is the largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender aviation professionals and enthusiasts from around the world. This organization proves that aviation is an inclusive community for each one of you watching, no matter your background. Plus, there are annual scholarship opportunities for members and allies looking to further their aviation careers. This year's application process is due by August 31st, 2021. Click here for more information: www.ngpa.org/scholarships
Links:
- NGPA: www.ngpa.org/
- Understanding Extensions (ALPA): www.alpa.org/-/media/ALPA/Fil...
- Forum Discussion Junior Manning: www.airlinepilotforums.com/ai...
__________________________________
If there's something you want to learn about becoming an airline pilot, shoot me a message on Instagram @swayne.martin or leave me a comment below!
(Cockpit scenes filmed under Part 91 with approval of Envoy Air, Inc. Footage not recorded in chronological order.)
Follow Me On Instagram: / swayne.martin
Pilot/Travel Gear YOU Should Use: www.amazon.com/shop/swaynemartin
My Filming Gear: www.amazon.com/shop/swaynemar...
Content Credit:
-@ohareaviation has a great KZbin for planespotting (credit for the B-roll shots of our Envoy Embraer 145s)
-KZbin: Kinetic Studios, 3 DELTA FOX
-Music Licensing: Artlist
Thanks for watching!
-Swayne

[@SwayneMartinPilot]

What kind of trips would you like to fly as an airline pilot?

[@sohamdesai4758]

I guess cargo it doesn't have passenger that's why

[@benderaviation]

Well I thought not flying passengers would be the way to go but 2 weeks away from home doesn't sound great. Can you write up something or do a video on the difference pilots might see flying Union vs Non-Union regionals?

[@fly.dy1]

International long haul 787, passenger.

[@gabrielvazquez1691]

Whatever I don’t return to base. I like the idea of being in a new place as much as possible. I want to be away as much as possible.

[@alfredsantella6477]

Whatever you decide! It's all good to me. ❤ ✌ 👊 🇺🇸 ✈ Al from SRQ

[@JoshOnGuitar]

Swayne, I appreciate how you make informational, helpful content without the ego stroke of other pilot "influencers". It's nice to watch content and actually learn something every second instead of having to skip through half the video that's just B roll of "how awesome my life is". Keep it up.

[@simonwilkosz7562]

I can’t wait for it to come out, I’ve binged every single other video already

[@n155nn9]

Me too I love the 5 flights one day I can never watch it to many times

[@BryantWhite86]

How many years do you expect until you have decent seniority? Does the quality of life improve much compared to where you are now?

[@adamsmithintin2803]

About 2 years and yes

[@OliButlerTV]

Starting my commercial pilot education in three weeks, just wanna let you know that you've kept my motivation alive during the pandemic. Really appreciate your content Swayne, figured I wanted to let you know that your content is very inspiring. Happy days from Norway!

[@ntgoodfight1428]

Just wanted to see how its going

[@sahwa4203]

I'm eagerly waiting for this, cuz I want to know about pilot schedules 😁

[@SwayneMartinPilot]

They're super complex but I love it

[@DrexAviation]

I have been here since your first glider lesson, it is amazing to see how you have grown and how your journey as a pilot became

[@ghostlyrblx3499]

Swayne has helped me so much with wanting to be a pilot, I love is videos and his personality, he is a amazing guy and always disservice the best. I don’t know where ill be with wanting to be a pilot without him:)

[@fly.dy1]

Can't wait dude, you've been such an inspiration to me. Love from Ghana 🇬🇭

[@fly.dy1]

@@jaym3240 Nice! Which part of it are you from?

[@robainscough]

Wow, I used to live in Ghana back in the late 1980's. Remember the days of playing golf on sand raked (and oiled "greens"). It was a wonderful experience/country, so many happy people ... especially on the coast. I'm sure Ghana has changed much since I was there, but I have great memories.

[@fly.dy1]

@@robainscough Yep! They actually changed their airport ALOT now. It's amazing! You should see it :)

[@robainscough]

@@fly.dy1 Some day I hope I can visit again ... flight was on KLM (Amsterdam to Ghana) after landing we parked way out on the tarmac and had to walk to two lines separated by male line and female line and a single person booth where they performed "private" search of everyone ... very security conscious. There was only ONE paved road out from the Accra to our destination near the coast ... looking at Google maps today and Ghana has really changed A LOT, many more facilities!

[@fly.dy1]

@@robainscough Wow my mom went on the exact same flight, on 2019, she took some pictures and showed me the changes at the airport. And yes, Ghana has changed alot!

[@tomdickens7856]

At my former pseudo-airline part 135 job, we did all of the above. Day trips, 2 day trips, and sometimes two or three week trips. These were great since you would stay at the same town each night and fly pretty much the same schedule each day, 5 days a week. However, at my current job, we work morning and afternoon shifts 5 days per week. Sometimes the adventure of having an overnight in a random town in Iowa is pretty fun, but the consistency of a normal schedule is great too!

[@rileymccollor]

Love the videos Swayne. Very interesting seeing what a pilot actually deals with day to day

[@mikahong]

I've been looking forward to this, I think you make great content.

[@XX-166]

Excellent video, superior video editing so keep them coming.

[@MarcusAurelius7777]

Thanks for posting this

[@jeysalim]

High quality video as always. Thank you.

[@elianarose4781]

and again blows my mind and makes me more stoked for flying a plane one day

[@connorandjimsvillerailroad]

I have been following your channel for a while now and got curious to see where it all began so I went way down in your vidoes...I JUST GOT MY PILOTS LICENSE AT HANOVER!!! what a small world. I started watching your vids on N9525V and N5335J, planes I fly on a regular basis. I am flying to First Flight Airport on Sunday as ,my first flight with my PPL in 35J. I am only commenting on here so you see it. I just think this is really cool and I wanted to share. See you in the sky!

[@Zack-zm5yy]

Can you make a video discussing delays, diversions, and what happens to other flights when the inbound is delayed and how pilots handle that kind of stuff?

[@aztecpilot9862]

HA! Hurry up and wait while dispatch and crew scheduling figures it out.

[@maxmaxmaxmaxmaxmaxmaxmaxmax1]

Wait for the Operations Control Center to figure it out.

[@callumwatson6685]

Halfway through CFI, and have been watching you the entire way. Thanks for all the tips Swayne!

[@G_Aviation]

Dude this looks epic!

[@mzj.dressage7376]

Waiting patiently but so excited!!!

[@GG-sr4ww]

Great video as always. Your airplane footage is really awesome. I could watch the ERJ all day.

[@cmm170526]

Great video and fantastic information! Thank you 👍🏻

[@erikgonzalez2278]

just like I always say You are my favorite pilot and Jetting Julia is my favorite FA, I was so excited to see a new video from you!!

[@soupafi]

Been a while, glad to see you back!

[@devanandhaanilkumar5562]

Made my day 😊 thankyou Swayne

[@talon5368]

Always look forward to seeing your content. I had the pleasure of being a passenger of yours earlier this year from DFW to ABI.

[@ASAviation]

Amazing video as always Swayne! If you ever need any E145 clips for b-roll I'm always happy to provide some clips! I live in CMI so the E145 is all we get here. It's amazing to see parts of this aircraft that we as spotters or passengers otherwise never get to see!

[@erethjallsen8819]

Great video! Super helpful

[@KeemBeckford]

Love these videos !!

[@tommymonroe9528]

Love the vid Swayne!!

[@chrisgossman6512]

Nice to see you again.

[@alchemicfitness]

Excellent Content 🙌🏽

[@sohamdesai4758]

Can't wait for this video 🎥🎥 ❤❤❤

[@spencerboothe2406]

Super cool video thanks… I also wanted to add I just did a trim for a 145 as a ramp agent and never realized how good the 145 looks up close

[@SwayneMartinPilot]

She has her angles!

[@christiantrevino7433]

I missed your videos. Great vid!

[@rebeccaroehmholdt4258]

Can’t wait to watch 🙌🏻

[@kenstevenson4133]

Good job. Pretty complicated subject. Thanks for sharing.

[@ronquast8648]

I love your videos! Such an amazing insight into the life of a pilot. Thank you for sharing it all with us. If you are ever in Austin Tx I’ll buy you a cold beer ! Take care.

[@peteralberti]

Would still like to see a video about the pre-flight walk around. You can't check the same things on airline equipment as we do in GA. What DO you check, and how? That'd be interesting. Thanks for all you do!

[@fax5634]

Very Inspirational

[@OHAREAVIATION]

Fabulous job!!!

[@maskscot]

Swayne, I'm trying to become a airline pilot just like yourself! I love everyone of your videos and you make it seem like it's so much fun to fly! I'm hoping I can be your first officer one day when you are captain. I'd love to receive that honor!

[@youngin_aj6578]

been waiting 🔥👍

[@joel1239871]

I love these insider looks at a commercial pilot's life.

[@vishnuswarooprajesh2061]

Amazing and informative at the same time.

[@SwayneMartinPilot]

Thank you!

[@lukeWiz44]

Excited for a new video.

[@artnstuffstudios7684]

First time I'll see a premier live

[@bbryant2002]

Swayne! Just started on the ground for Envoy loving the AA family

[@rickyflogel4828]

Been watching your videos for years. Still absolutely love the content! I wish I could see you at Oshkosh but ill be there later than Tuesday. 😭

[@wahidchy7420]

nice video. I am so excited. ❤️❤️❤️

[@AV-14]

So excited 🤩✈️

[@markmccann2448]

When I was at Northwest Airlink back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, out CDO trips were called Hi-Speed overnights.

[@Kaipeternicolas]

Great video. Sick intro song!

[@loushambamronita4619]

Eagerly waiting 🤗

[@brianreynolds1098]

Well, you've tipped your hand. Wanna know something? I REALLY care about whether or not my pilot is competent and cool under pressure. You appear to meet both criteria. Would fly with you in command anytime, Swayne. Love the vids, even if I'm past the prime, so to speak. Looking forward to the next one to continue to inform and entertain the future pilots of this world. Well done, as always.

[@lukab3648]

Great video 😀😀

[@IanHorsford]

Hey Swayne, thank you for the video. I always look forward to ur awesome content. Question….is there an upgrade in ur near future any time soon?

[@atittudeboy788]

I was waiting for this video 😍😍🤩

[@SwayneMartinPilot]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@jacksteven3818]

Love your videos Swayne! Can I suggest a video for getting through flight school exams and study with tips and tricks? Currently doing my PPL! ✈️

[@kevinmalloy2180]

Excellent video as always Swayne! Had never heard of NGPA, but good to know the organization is providing support so all are welcome in flying.

[@robertbauers2210]

I worked for two different Commuter (Regional) Airlines. Not as a Pilot. As a FA most of the terms you discussed was the same with the two Airlines I worked for. Business Express a former Delta Connection NWAirlink And American Connection Carrier which was merged into the American Eagle system back in 2000 I also worked for Continental Express (Pre ExpressJet) Standup And C.D.O at COEX and BEX was Reduced Rest. Both used Junior Manned and Drafted also Extended on Line. BEX and COEX used Pairings for Sequence. Have you flown with a FA or heard of Jim Witcher? Unsure of his base. He was high Seniority with Business Express and he is still with Envoy

[@scotty11782]

Thanks Swayne

[@keithcarlson5344]

Swayne, are you still flying the 145? I looked for you on my 145 flight from ORD to LIT this week! Can't wait for your next videos.

[@c1oud09]

Great video! Sorry I kinda slept passed the notification…but still good video! :D

[@gezb99]

Hey Swayne - the quality of your video's is amazing, more please - stay safe ;O)

[@robbinmizushima5907]

Thanks Swayne! I’m currently a junior in high school dreaming to be a pilot for Hawaiian Airlines and thanks for the info! Borahe 💜!

[@rajbahadurverma6762]

Very good Video

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog as always! You are a media pro, and a ATPL! Do you get AA miles when you stay at hotels at work? When you fly and/if you stay over night in Canada or Mexico do you get Per Diem in Canadian $, US $ or Pesos or not at all?

[@captiankj]

Martin I’m only 13 and your giving me so many advice and I’m so happy to become a airline pilot!

[@SwayneMartinPilot]

That's the goal! Keep up the hard work!

[@Keppy601]

Love the synth music at 0:50!

[@funkyybuddha2438]

Dude great very informative videos as I consider getting into this industry.

[@DeadstickAdventures]

Your videos are always quality Swayne! Do you edit yourself?

[@SwayneMartinPilot]

I do!

[@masonbachara]

Ay another upload, hopefully i get lucky one day and get to fly on your plane your flying 😂😂

[@gregeastwood5761]

Mainline cargo trips are generally long. Feeder cargo lines are oftentimes short CDO like schedules. Depending on how the particular line is setup, you may spend 4-5 nights a week away from home-but you are home every day; or, you leave home very early in the am and get back very late in the evening-but you are home every night.

[@NathantheGreat428]

I cant wait

[@robainscough]

How long did or does it take for one to get sufficient seniority to be able to select the schedules they want? Keep up the great videos, thank you!

[@connorstohl6050]

Hi Swayne, does your friend Drake have a KZbin Channel or other social media where he talks about his job as a cargo pilot? I would love to see more of the cargo side of commercial aviation.

[@joejoejohnson8207]

The dream job flying a 757-200 Whatever is left to Toncontin Honduras Washington National not easy to fly in either.. San Diego Tricky, dreaded parking garage. NYC both airports challenge.. Its a great job but close calls happen..

[@mattk.9589]

As being an ATC I was always curious to why pilots were deadheading back and such. Thanks for the insight.

[@PeterParker-737]

I can’t wait 😂

[@Karan_Sanjeev]

Hi Swayne, your videos are awesome! I really enjoy watching them. I want to become pilot, can you please recommend which flying school I should join?

[@jaysonbelyea8981]

NGPA? Fabulous! ❤️❤️❤️

[@watsonlatta288]

Yesssss live premier

[@yazanarab4301]

Good job captain 👏 keep going and uploading more videos 🤍😃 What is the difference between type rating and ATP CTP course and the training u will get at airline when u apply to?

[@akupuppy12]

Great video! I have some questions... Could you have went straight from UND to Envoy Air? Why did you work for Mokulele Airlines before Envoy? Was it for the experience? Did you chose Envoy Air because of the flow-through program to American Airlines? I think you are based in Chicago, IL; how do you like the city? I hear about crime in the news lots... do you like it and feel safe? Do you want to stay there long term or is it just a nice city while you are young? Thank you!

[@JoseHernandez-vw7rd]

Hey Dwayne just a quick question, are you planning on jumping into the left seat soon? I feel you should have 4 stripes by now. Just curious if you're doing that soon or moving up in equipment?

[@StevenJohnson737]

I’m very out of the loop on how envoy works their schedules these days but I was in Ord for 7 years and day trips didn’t exist for line holders. 2 day back to backs were rarely in the bid packets. Day trips were more common in NY. Having done everything from junior reserve to senior line holder the best schedule I’ve ever had was doing CDO RAPs or CDO stand-bys. You would work maybe 1 or 2 CDOs a month where scheduling couldn’t touch you when you got back and get paid 75 hours for it. So biggest work to pay ratio in the company. If min guarantee wasn’t enough you, you could consider the 95% of days you weren’t called in as off days and pick up an OT day trip here and there on actual days off and get 85 hours for maybe working 15 hours. Same pay and a high time line, 1/4th the work. Work smarter not harder. CDO standby lines weren’t bad either. It’s like a 9-5 except it was 3 hour days where you would just go to the airport, have dinner, watch Netflix and go home. Either way you actually have a life outside of work and are home pretty much every night. As far as 3 or 4 day trips where you actually have to work for your money; na, miss me with that! Oddly there is some kind of false notion amongst pilots that because lines are more senior that they are better than reserve. But honestly as long as you’re not a permanent commuter without a future plan to live in base it’s not so bad. Everyone has their own priorities.

[@TheSheiban]

Love your videos and hoping to get my Airline Medical Examiner's certification in the near future, so knowing these really helps when it comes to communicating with flight crews. BTW, did you do a flight from YYZ-ORD on the 19th of June? I could've sworn it was your voice on the PA :)

[@SwayneMartinPilot]

Not me this time! That's awsome - I get TONS of AME questions in these videos. If you ever seen medical questions, feel free to pitch in!

[@CaptainChemtrails]

3 day trips to Hawaii with 24+hr layovers were my favorite back before Covid.

[@dpteejay3936]

CANT WAIT UNTIL YOU BECOME A CAPTAIN LOOKING FOWARD TO FLYING WITH U IN THE FUTURE

[@samiulislam6464]

Love from Bangladesh 🇧🇩🇧🇩 and again thanks 💓

[@reggiejohnson9151]

Never Miss 🐐✈️

[@ashishduvvuri9175]

Can you cover what is in your pilot bag? (like the headphones, flashlight, that kind of stuff)

[@SwayneMartinPilot]

Planning to!

[@PilotJonathan]

Great video as always and very interesting for me, since I’m about to finish ground school and scheduling was definitely not part of the syllabus! Does anyone know if there are significant differences between US and EU based carriers when it comes to scheduling? ✈️

[@sotstorm7514]

EU based is a lot more restrictive. 12 hours minimum rest for example. I believe that US based crews can work longer days than EU based. Also, if you end up with a LCC like EZY or RYR then almost everyday will end up back at home base, rather than the trip variations Swayne mentions. Legacy carriers have more options along the lines of Swayne’s examples. Hope that helps.

[@PilotJonathan]

@@sotstorm7514 Thanks, yeah, we did learn about minimum rest and FDP here in EASA land, and the ULCC do definitely have a bit of a difference philosophy, thanks for your insight!

[@alfredsantella6477]

Swayne your the best! Thanks for posting!! Al from Sarasota, Florida 🌴 🇺🇸🌈👮✈

[@steveshay2082]

Thanks for putting in the plug for NGPA. I was sad they didn't make it to Sun n Fun this year, but I think they will be there next year. Maybe you will be too. I'm a SnF volunteer/supervisor and this year's event was so much fun.

[@jakesnussbuster3565]

Our airport here (MHT) is going to be getting envoy soon, hope to see you while I'm fueling, although I doubt you'd end up here

[@edwood7741]

Are you considering flight time when choosing a line? If block time determines pay, I would think that would be an important factor. Thanks for another great video.

[@fly-navy]

The zoom on the reserve flying with the huge smile is actually pretty funny.