Overtime

[KentK-MA-1107]

Hey Mitch Happy New Year!
I've got a few questions for you. I was wondering how does overtime factor into flying schedules and how do you go about picking up extra flights? Is it a fairly common thing that is done or do some airlines not allow it? I remember in one of your posts from last year or so that you were talking about flight times and pay and you said you acually flew like 85 hours but got paid for something like 105, how does that work out?
Also I was reading in Melvin's forum and he showed his first year pay which was just shy of $27,000 after taxes and including per dium, he did mentioned that he picked up a bit of overtime. Is having overtime avaiable to me as a
1st year FO something I could count on?

Also how does trip swapping with other pilots work? and do all airlines allow this?

Thanks for your help Mitch take care,
Kent

[Compass Mitch]

Happy New Year to you as well!

Yes, picking up open time is common at most airlines. I would say that a majority of airlines offer this ability through the company computers, as it is required through many of the labor contracts.

You can go into the computer system and see what uncovered flying there is at your base in your position (FO, Captain) and 'pick it up' if duty time regulations allow.

Keep in mind that you are limited to flying 100 hrs / month and 1000 hrs / year. However, the average line of monthly flying for a pilot ranges from 75-95 hours depending on several factors. So, anything between your scheduled line and 100 hours is fair game to pick up usually.

When airlines are understaffed, they offer time and a half to pick up overtime. For instance right now any open time that is picked up between now and the end of the month at Compass is 1.5x pay, because Compass is understaffed due to delays in the training pipeline.

The other option that is more popular amongst the pilots is picking up a trip or flights that another pilot is trying to get rid of. Let's say that a pilot is assigned a 2 day trip that happens to be on their spouse's birthday. He/she can 'advertise for trade' that 2 day trip to anyone that wants to pick it up. Let's say another pilot wasn't working those days, wanted some extra cash and FAR duty rules allowed it, they could pick it up. It benefits both parties!

By doing this, at ExpressJet I was able to make about as much as Melvin did during my first year. Working overtime takes time away from home, but it certainly helps the W2.

This extra pay isn't something you should always count on. The amount of uncovered flying differs each month, and as the airlines have cut their schedules back during a weak economy there is less open time.... but things change in a New York minute in the airline business.

Work rules give you the ability to fly (as you mentioned) 85 hours but get paid for 105. If the legs you fly get in under block time (you had a tailwind, no delay, etc) then you still get paid the scheduled amount of time. So if you have lots of underages, then you may be able to pick up open time later in the month..... like if you were scheduled for fly 90 hours but it only took 82, then there is 8 extra hours you could work, bringing your pay to 98 hours, but only flying 90 or so. Also, deadheading pays per hour, but doesn't count towards the 100 hour monthly limit.

Follow me? Most of the examples I used here are based off the ExpressJet contract, which was industry leading for the 50 seater. Most other regionals are pretty similar.

[KentK-MA-1107]

In your post you mentioned that deadheading PAYS per hour but doesn't count towards the 100 hours per month max. How does that work, pay for deadheading??

[Compass Mitch]

Originally Posted by KentK-MA-1107

In your post you mentioned that deadheading PAYS per hour but doesn't count towards the 100 hours per month max. How does that work, pay for deadheading??

You are paid block time for the flight time of the flight you are deadheading in back on... from the time the door closes until it opens.

However, this time doesn't count towards the 100 hour monthly limit for operating the aircraft, so if you aren't flying the aircraft because you are deadheading, you are not logging flight time.

Example... you could fly 95 hours in a month, plus deadhead 10 hours to earn pay of 105 hours.

Some companies pay full deadhead pay, some pay 75% pay for each hour of deadheading.


FYI for anyone not clear on what deadheading is... it is flying in a passenger seat to be repositioned to another city/base in order to keep the operation running adequately staffing wise.

[KentK-MA-1107]

OK so deadheading is different from jumpseating in regards to commuting to work. So deadhead pay would be if I was needed to move to another base to cover a flight and ordereed to do so by the airline. Jumpseating is basiclly getting a ride into your home base while commuting on your own time.

[Compass Mitch]

Originally Posted by KentK-MA-1107

OK so deadheading is different from jumpseating in regards to commuting to work. So deadhead pay would be if I was needed to move to another base to cover a flight and ordereed to do so by the airline. Jumpseating is basiclly getting a ride into your home base while commuting on your own time.

Exactly....