NZFF

How many flights would the average domestic Air NZ pilot do (for any aircraft)

For Beechcrafts, it is around 4 to 6 flights a day (depending on the routes)
For Q300s, it is around 4 to 6 as well. (depending on the routes)
For ATRs anywhere from 2 to 6 (somedays they get longer runs like CHC to Hamilton)
For 737s between 2 and 6 sectors (depends on sector length)

And then I think they only can work a certain amount of days before they have to have a few off.
Are you just wondering what you want to fly in the future or something

A 737 crew would probably get between 2 or 3 and 6 or so sectors in a day I think.
Of course this depends on block time, routes, contract and legal stuff, delays and everything else
I hear 3 and 4 sectors a day is common, so I think that would be fairly average.

Does anyone know how this compares to Pacific Blue? Or how the Air NZ Link rosters compare to say QantasLink or REX or any other?

Anthony wrote:

QUOTE (Anthony @ Sep 1 2008, 04:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does anyone know how this compares to Pacific Blue? Or how the Air NZ Link rosters compare to say QantasLink or REX or any other?

I jumpseated for the *morning shift* starting with the 0645 out of Christchurch, flew 5 sectors; CH-WN-AK-CH-WN-CH and finished about 1500ish.

HTH

SeanG

SeanG wrote:

QUOTE (SeanG @ Sep 1 2008, 11:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I jumpseated for the *morning shift* starting with the 0645 out of Christchurch, flew 5 sectors; CH-WN-AK-CH-WN-CH and finished about 1500ish.

HTH

SeanG

How did that opportunity arise?

NZ255 wrote:

QUOTE (NZ255 @ Sep 2 2008, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How did that opportunity arise?

FLIGHT EXPERIENCE (Pacific Simulation), ..... Alister,s Captain (team leader) ..mmm must be checking operational procedure , i wonder , Sean .. maybe you should stay back in the PACSIM hanger helping Albatross , and i,ll do the follow up flight checks and the romp around the country

Cheers Sean.
Lucky you getting to jumpseat. I might ask about it on my next Pacific Blue flight, see if I can convince them to let me (or of course go work for them and sit in the front seats all the time )
Sounds like it's about the same no matter which airline you work for.
Pay might be a different story though

I had a friend write to Pac Blue for a jump seat ride (he is flying Dunedin - CHCH friday) and he was declined. Not an easy thing to get. We have a good relationship with Pac Blue at Pacific Simulators/ Flight Experience.

If I may I'll take this opportunity to push Flight Level 390 - it's a blog by a US Airbus captain and if you go back to the start and read right through (it'll take a few nights, especially if you read the comments) you'll be left with a pretty fair idea of what life on the line is like ...

If you ask questions in the comments he actually answers them which is pretty cool, a lot of bloggers don't do that, plus there are a scattering of great photos, plus it's generally great reading

Gary

Thanks VERY much for the link Gary!

The number of sectors flown is very much dependent on the respective length of each sector.
B737 aircraft can fly a max of 6 sectors as long as they fit within the maximum daily duty limit.
The duty time limit is normally 11 hours for up to 5 sectors reducing to 10 hours for 6 sectors depending on the duty start time.
Duty time commences 45 min prior to the first flight off blox and finishes at 15 min after the last flight is on blox.
There are many other limits which may affect this such as flight time limits.
Pilots shall not fly more than:
35 hrs in 7 days
100 hrs per 28 days
1000 hrs per 12 months.

These limitations might not sound like much but if you have done a 5 or 6 sector day passing in an out of a frontal system with full approaches everywhere then you will be pretty well shagged at the end of the day!

Wait a minute....so if 24 hours in a day times 365 days in a year equals 8760 hours.....then you only have to work about 1/9th of the year? Did i do the maths right?

NZ255 wrote:

QUOTE (NZ255 @ Sep 3 2008, 07:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wait a minute....so if 24 hours in a day times 365 days in a year equals 8760 hours.....then you only have to work about 1/9th of the year? Did i do the maths right?

Plus time before and after each flight
Normally pilots sign on about an hour before each flight and are still on duty for about 1/2 an hour afterwards. (at least for ATRs. Pilots on the larger aircraft would have to arrive earlier)